The Business Diversity Program (BDP) is committed to ensuring that vendors, suppliers, service providers, consultants, architects, engineers, and contractors who serve the University reflect the diversity of the Washington state business community. The Program helps strengthen the economic development and viability of small, minority and women-owned businesses and helps to ensure that the University receives quality goods and services at competitive prices.

The BUSINESS DIVERSITY PROGRAM:

• Seeks to assure equality of opportunity for small, minority, and women-owned businesses

• Conducts business opportunity fairs and provides information on how to do business with the University

• Provides training opportunities and educational forums for businesses

• Supports UW departments and schools/colleges in sourcing qualified businesses

• Encourages the University's larger suppliers and contractors to develop and expand their commitment to business diversity with their suppliers and subcontractors.

• Recommends qualified businesses become certified as minority or women business enterprises with the State Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises.

NEW—FOR VENDORS

OMWBE asked us to contact vendors about the 2009 Vendor Community survey. The survey results will be compiled by the Department of General Administration and used to inform recommendations to change state government purchasing policies and processes to encourage and facilitate government purchases from Washington small businesses.

2009 Vendor Community Survey Form

"We will become an academic community that mirrors the varied faces of our society. The challenges of our time require the energy and ideas of all our people. We cannot afford to leave out the creativity and innovations of any segment of society. But beyond this practical argument, equality of opportunity is a matter of simple justice. It's the right thing to do, and the University will do it." (October 2004)