Small and diverse businesses drive our economy on both the national and local levels. Promoting an environment for these businesses to thrive is important to IEHP, and we are taking steps to accomplish this by fostering an inclusive procurement process that provides the maximum opportunity for small and diverse businesses to participate as partners and suppliers of goods and services. An additional benefit of ensuring that these suppliers are included in the procurement process is increased competition, which leads to lower costs and increased levels of innovation, service and product quality. By utilizing and partnering with small and diverse companies, IEHP will continue to build a supplier base that contributes to our competitive advantage.
In addition to small businesses, IEHP is interested in engaging with businesses that fall into one or more of the following diversity categories:
• Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
• Woman Business Enterprise (WBE)
• Women Owned Small Business (WOSB)
• SBA 8(A)
• Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
• Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (ED-WOSB)
• HUB Zone (HUBZone)
• Veteran Owned Business (VBE)
• Service Disabled Veteran (DVBE)
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT)
• Alaskan Native
• Disabled
• AbilityOne Program
• Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
These businesses must be at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by persons who fit into one of these categories. MBE, WBE, LGBTBE and SDVOB businesses must be certified as such by an independent certification agency. Owners of businesses that fall into the other categories must be willing to sign a self-classification affidavit.
