Helping Diversify SIUE
At SIUE, we strive to nurture an open, respectful and welcoming climate that facilitates diversity in learning and economic development. Integral to this commitment, we strive for a student body, workforce and vendor community that is both diverse and inclusive. As a part of our efforts to diversify the vendor community at SIUE, the Purchasing Department is available to help you find certified diverse businesses to solicit quotes from for your purchases. Our preferred certifying program is the State of Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI) Business Enterprise Program (BEP), which certifies minority-, women- and persons with disabilities-owned small businesses. Only CEI BEP-certified vendors are recognized by Southern Illinois University System’s supplier diversity program.
Each year, we aim to spend a minimum of 30% of our overall budget with certified diverse firms. In addition to our BEP goal, we try to spend a portion of our overall budget with veteran-owned small businesses. Veteran businesses must be certified under the Veteran Business Program (VBP).
The following link can be used to search for certified diverse vendors or register as a diverse vendor: CEI BEP and/or VBP Certification Portal. To search, scroll down to click on the BEP and/or VBP Certification Directory. There is no need to log in to the database.
The goal of the SIUE Supplier Diversity program is to provide a resource that will assist the University community in locating and establishing relationships with historically disadvantaged businesses and assure compliance with required reporting in the State of Illinois.
There are many ways to support the expansion of our diverse vendor community. A few examples include:
- Identify multiple vendors for price quotes. Reach out to Purchasing for diverse vendors in your area of need or learn how to utilize the CEI database.
- Proactively plan for expenditures and ensure vendors have enough time to prepare a response.
- Encourage vendors to subcontract or purchase project supplies from diverse vendors.
- Communicate with the Purchasing Department to arrange for on-campus meetings with diverse vendors, even if you do not immediately need their services.
- If you identify a woman- or minority-owned business that is not yet certified OR a vendor who is certified through a certifying body other than CEI, please contact our office.
If you are utilizing an Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative (IPHEC) awarded vendor, please ask the awardee if there are any diverse suppliers or subcontractors they can utilize for your procurement. These awards have already been competitively solicited and are exempt from the multiple quote requirement, but many have BEP Utilization Plans already in place.
