The University of Missouri System’s supplier diversity effort provides a direct way for the institution to generate economic development particularly for minority, women, veteran, service disabled veterans, and disadvantaged owned businesses in Missouri. The goal is to ensure supplier diversity is part of both the pool of suppliers and part of the supply chain in all areas of the university's sourcing activities in our procurement and design and construction groups.
Minority Classification
A minority or women business is defined as an organization in which 51% of the ownership interest, stock or otherwise, is owned by minority or women group members. The determination of minority or women status depends solely on ownership and operation and is not related to employment of minority persons or women.
Supplier Diversity Eligibility
Businesses recognized as diverse suppliers come from Federal Public Law 95-507. These firms should have certification from a recognized certification agency. They are at least 51% owned, controlled and operated by a United States Citizen(s) who is:
- African-American
- Asian-Indian
- Asian-Pacific
- Hispanic
- Native-American
- Service Disabled Veteran Enterprises (SDVE)
- Veteran-owned businesses
- Woman-owned businesses
The University also recognizes Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (SDB/DBE) who are certified by the Federal Government (SBA). Those firms certified based on net-worth requirements of the firms versus race and/or gender.
The supplier diversity effort is NOT a set-aside or preference program. Its design is to provide every opportunity for minority and women-owned businesses to participate in sourcing opportunities at the University of Missouri, system-wide. These firms must be qualified and cost competitive just like any other firm.
Service Disabled Veteran Owned Enterprises (SDVE)
The University of Missouri has a 3% Service Disabled Veteran Enterprise goal on all bids/proposals and grants a three (3) point bonus preference to a Missouri based, certified Service Disabled Veteran Enterprise (SDVE) bidder/proposer. A Service Disabled Veteran Enterprise shall mean a business certified by the State of Missouri Office of Administration as a Service Disabled Veteran Enterprise, which is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by one (1) or more Serviced Disabled Veterans or, in the case of any publicly-owned business, in which at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the stock of which is owned by one (1) or more Service Disabled Veterans, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one (1) or more Serviced Disabled Veterans.
Reviewed 2022-10-14