Supplier Diversity Program

Supplier Diversity Program is sponsored by New York State Department of State. Enhances opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses in state contracting.

Supplier Diversity and Inclusion – The City University of New York Supplier Diversity Provisions The University is committed to promoting supplier diversity and to ensure that NYS-certified minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) and NYS-certified service-disabled veteran owned businesses (SDVOB) are provided an equal opportunity to offer goods and services at competitive prices and thrive as a vital part of the socioeconomic fabric of the City of New York.

The University aspires to have a world-class Supplier Diversity Program and be recognized as a leader in this space. – Martin Sturla, Chief Procurement & Supplier Diversity Officer Certify → Educate → Access → Succeed CUNY’s strategy to connect MWBEs and SDVOBs with business opportunities at CUNY starts with certification.

In order to participate in CUNY’s supplier diversity program, MWBEs and SDVOBs must certify with the State of New York. After certification, we educate vendors on how CUNY purchases goods and services, including how to locate our opportunities and the available resources to vendors. Subsequently, CUNY strives to connect vendors to the appropriate decision-makers, usually our Purchasing Directors.

Vendors are included in our solicitation outreach efforts and provided the opportunity to provide the University with goods and services at competitive prices. We measure the success of our Supplier Diversity program when a MWBE or SDVOB succeeds in fulfilling a purchase order or contract as a prime contractor, or otherwise as a subcontractor or supplier.

The University has an overall 30% MWBE participation goal and 6% SDVOB participation goal. Every CUNY campus (Senior Colleges, Community Colleges, Honors and Professional Schools) is required to make a good­ faith effort to achieve the University’s MWBE and SDVOB goal.

The Office of the University Controller (OUC) and CUNY’s Purchasing Directors are actively engaged in increasing the number of MWBE and SDVOB vendors that provide goods and services to the University.

To foster a more competitive market, OUC works to eliminate barriers to entry on CUNY contracts and provides guidance to MWBEs and SDVOBs on available resources (business education, access to capital, networking opportunities) to help grow their business capacity and effectively compete on CUNY contracts.

The University also sets MWBE and SDVOB subcontracting goals on contracts where supplier diversity goals are practicable, feasible, and appropriate. The supplier diversity subcontracting goal is determined by assessing each project and determining the amount that would be subcontracted out to NYS-certified MWBEs and SDVOBs. Goals are calculated as a percentage of the payments.

Additionally, OUC is responsible for monitoring compliance with New York Executive Law Article 15-A and Article 17-B, which establishes business and employment participation goals for minority and women-owned businesses and service-disabled veteran owned businesses on certain CUNY contracts.

For CUNY procurements that have established Supplier Diversity (MWBE/SDVOB) participation goals, prime contractors are required to complete a Supplier Diversity (MWBE/SDVOB) – Utilization Plan and/or a Request for Waiver. The Utilization Plans identify MWBE and/or SDVOB subcontractors and their participation in the contract. Plans are made available on this webpage pursuant to 5 CRR-NY 142.

5(b) and 9 CRR-NY 252. 2(k). Fiscal Year 2022 – SFY Q4 Update