Ohio Administrative Code
Title 3364 - University of Toledo
Chapter 3364-12 - Diversity Training
Section 3364-12-01 - Supplier diversity
Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) Policy statement
The university of Toledo (UToledo) is committed to the efforts of strengthening relationships and increasing supplier diversity and inclusion by providing procurement opportunities for goods, services and construction projects to qualified diverse suppliers. This includes but is not limited to state of Ohio certified minority business enterprises (MBE), women business enterprises (WBE), veteran business enterprises (VBE), bureau of services for the visually impaired ("BSVI"), and small businesses as established in the encourage diversity, growth and equity (EDGE) program, along with services disabled veteran owned, and LBGT owned.
UToledo's supplier diversity program is designed to foster and create the development and growth of these diverse suppliers thus contributing to the economic development of our community and surrounding areas.
UToledo's supplier diversity and inclusion program's core objectives are to provide education, outreach and to demonstrate continued growth year over year in number of suppliers and dollar opportunities awarded to diverse suppliers.
Departments are encouraged to explore opportunities to include diverse suppliers to compete for their purchases whenever possible. When all business considerations are determined to be equal among competitive suppliers, UToledo will consider awarding contracts to diverse suppliers up to a five percent differential in price; if budget/resources are available.
(B) Roles and responsibilities
All departments, divisions, agencies and authorities of the university will comply with this policy to ensure equality of opportunity and nondiscrimination in the internal affairs of the university, with the public, and with individuals or organizations that do or desire to do business with the university.
UToledo's purchasing department is responsible for identifying and qualifying diverse suppliers and for ensuring equal opportunity for suppliers in the formal request for proposal processes for goods and services.
For construction projects, the facilities and construction team encourages prime and sub-contracting opportunities (tier two) and requires certain percentages of small business participation where applicable.
All departments have a social responsibility to include these qualified suppliers as part of competitive procurement actions to promote, increase and improve the participation of diverse suppliers.
(C) Procedure
UToledo's purchasing department will work with national, regional and local certification entities to maintain awareness of resources and will encourage suppliers who have not obtained their certification to connect with one of the certifying agencies for assistance.
The purchasing department will actively search for certified diverse suppliers who can provide competitive, high quality goods and services as part of all strategic sourcing events. Purchasing will maintain supplier diversity information on the supply chain website for campus users operational purchases.
Reporting: Monitoring and reporting campus purchase activity is an integral part of this supplier diversity program. Monthly, colleges and departments will submit electronically to supply chain the actual amounts spent with diverse suppliers.
Related Links:
Certified MBE suppliers via the DAS website
https://eodreporting.oit.ohio.gov/mbe-certification
Certified WBE suppliers via the DAS website (database not yet available)
Certified VBE suppliers via the DAS website (database not yet available)
EDGE suppliers via the DAS website
https://eodreporting.oit.ohio.gov/edge-certification
Certified MBE suppliers via the OSMDC website https://ohiomsdc.org/
Certified MBE suppliers via the NMSDC website https://nmsdc.org/
Certified MBE and WBE suppliers via the city of Toledo
https://toledo.oh.gov/business/how-to-do-business-with-the-city/mbe-wbe
BSVI website: Services for the Visually Impaired | Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities