Diverse Supplier Qualifications

Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)

A minority-owned business is a minimum of 51 percent owned by one or more minority group members. A minority individual or group must control the policymaking process and direct the daily operations of the firm. If the business is publicly owned, minority group members must control a minimum of 51 percent of the voting stock and must direct the management and daily business operations.The University recognizes the following groups as minority:

  1. African/Black American: United States citizens whose origins are in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
  2. Hispanic American: United States citizens of Hispanic heritage from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America or the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean basin only.
  3. Native American: United States citizens who are American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, or Native Hawaiian and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. Native Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band, or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and must provide proof through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll registration number).
  4. Asian-Pacific American: United States citizens whose origins are from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific, or the Northern Marianas.
  5. Asian-Indian American: United States citizens whose origins are in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other subcontinental Asian countries.

Women Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

A women-owned business is a minimum of 51 percent owned by one or more women. A woman or women must control the policymaking process and direct the daily operations of the firm. If the business is publicly owned, a woman or women must control a minimum of 51 percent of the voting stock and must direct the management and daily business operations.

Veteran Owned Business Enterprise (VET)

A veteran-owned business is a minimum of 51 percent owned by one or more veterans. Veterans must control the policymaking process and direct the daily operations of the firm. If the business is publicly owned, Veterans must control a minimum of 51 percent of the voting stock and must direct the management and daily business operations. Eligible businesses must be formally certified as veteran-owned through the VA’s Center for Verification and Evaluation.

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Enterprise (SDVET)

A service-disabled veteran owned business is a minimum of 51 percent owned by one or more service-disabled veteran. Service-disabled veterans must control the policymaking process and direct the daily operations of the firm. If the business is publicly owned, service-disabled veterans must control a minimum of 51 percent of the voting stock and must direct the management and daily business operations.

Disability Owned Business Enterprise (DISABLED)

A disability-owned business is a minimum of 51 percent owned by one or more individuals with a disability. Individuals with a disability must control the policymaking process and direct the daily operations of the firm. If the business is publicly owned, individuals with a disability must control a minimum of 51 percent of the voting stock and must direct the management and daily business operations.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)

A disadvantaged business enterprise is a minimum of 51 percent owned by one or more persons who are socially or economically disadvantaged under the DOT’s framework. Social disadvantage means an individual who is a women or a minority group member. Economic disadvantage means, excluding primary residence, an individual who does not have a personal net worth exceeding $1.32 million. Additionally, the firm’s average three-year annual revenue cannot exceed $26.29 million. Socially or economically disadvantaged persons must control the policymaking process and direct the daily operations of the firm. If the business is publicly owned, socially or economically disadvantaged persons must control a minimum of 51 percent of the voting stock and must direct the management and daily business operations.

LGBTQ+ Owned Business

The Small Business Administration encourages business owners to contact nearby offices and resources to determine which Business Development Program is right for the firm.