Buyers

The Statewide Equity Office is helping buyers and sellers connect through the Colorado Supplier Diversity Directory. You can use this directory for both small and large dollar purchases.

• For non-competitive opportunities, search the directory and help businesses get a start in public procurement by using their products or services.
   
• When bids are required, search the directory, download the email addresses, and send email notifications to the appropriate businesses within a defined business category.

What business types can I find in the directory?

HUBZone Businesses
HubZones are economically disadvantaged areas as determined by the US Small Business Administration (SBA).

Small Businesses
Businesses within the size standards of the SBA.

Diverse-Owned Businesses
Businesses with 51% or more ownership and control of the business by women, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ persons.

Veteran-Owned Businesses
Business owners who have completed service and received an honorable discharge in the United States Military. This includes Service Disabled Owned Veteran Owned Small Businesses, SDVOSBs). Learn more about the State’s contracting goal for SDVOSBs.

The directory includes businesses with no verifications. Should I only buy from suppliers with a designated verified status?

All businesses in the directory are verified as in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State. State employees should always make purchasing decisions based on quality, availability, and best value. Sometimes the best solution will be with a large national company. Many large national companies can have a local economic impact by having Colorado locations and employing Colorado residents.

I want to buy with confidence. How do I know the businesses are correctly verified?

We have a verification program, relying on verifying certifications issued from other entities, tax records, or employee lists to verify businesses are within acceptable size standards. The directory unifies business certifications in Colorado and assists buyers in locating qualified businesses. 

How is the utilization of businesses tracked? 

The Statewide Equity Office is using data in CORE (the State’s financial system) to report the utilization of these businesses.  

Where should buyers or sellers go for more information?

Reach out to the Colorado Supplier Diversity Navigator! The navigator connects small and diverse businesses with the resources to be successful in State contracts and procurement.

Below are more lists to help find small and diverse businesses.

State and Local Government

Colorado Department of Transportation Certified Suppliers

• The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE)
• Emerging Small Business Directory

Colorado Department of Agriculture - Colorado Proud

• Asian American and Pacific Islander Owned
• Black Owned 
• LGBTQ+ Owned

City & County of Denver

• Vendor Certification Search

Federal Government 

• SBA Small Supplier Dynamic Search
• SBA Veteran-Owned Supplier Search

Private Sector 

If you often find yourself using Amazon for purchases, check out Amazon’s supplier diversity setting and set your search criteria to highlight small and diverse suppliers.

• Asian Chamber of Commerce Colorado
• Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce
• Colorado Springs Black Chamber of Commerce
• Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce
• Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce
• Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce
• Hispanic Contractors of Colorado 
• Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County
• Latino Chamber of Commerce of Pueblo, Inc.
• Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce (no member directory)
• Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce
• Shop BIPOC

Find other Chambers of Commerce through the Colorado Chamber of Commerce.
 

Buying from small and diverse businesses strengthens our local economy by creating jobs, helping improve and maintain our local public infrastructure through tax revenue, and benefiting our communities both socially and economically.    

The State benefits from a stronger competitive base with a more diverse supplier pool. It means the State can better respond to emergencies, more continuity in the supply chain, and better adaptability to fluctuations in the economy.  

Below are the steps you can take to create a more diverse supply chain.

1. Identify funding sources and understand legal parameters

Funding will impact what you can implement and understanding legal parameters will help you establish a program that is legally defensible and compliant. 

2. Use data

Define terms and supplier classifications to measure supplier utilization. Determine if you accept self-certified (self-identified) classifications or if you require certification to accept the business ownership designation. A certified supplier is considered more credible as the supplier has to complete a process where another entity certifies or validates their supplier ownership designation. Use data to understand what is being purchased (total spend) and compare it to what you spend with small and diverse suppliers.  

For construction, look at reporting by prime contractors on their utilization of small and diverse subcontractors. Identify barriers and find solutions to remove them by creating community groups with internal stakeholders to inform your work.

3. Create policy

Create a policy for the utilization of small and diverse suppliers. The policy should address why it is important, how it will be implemented, and when implementation will begin.

4. Find opportunities

Make a conscious effort to include small diverse suppliers in your supply chain. Use small and diverse suppliers with small-dollar spending (state and local government, public institutions of higher education, and K-12 schools have established spending thresholds for small-dollar purchases, also known as discretionary spending).  

Using small and diverse suppliers for these purchases presents a big opportunity for both buyers and sellers!

5. Ask for certifications for small and diverse businesses or diversity plans

Ask for certifications from suppliers when receiving a solicitation response to understand the participation of small and diverse businesses. Knowing who's responding to solicitations helps agencies understand where to increase outreach efforts to encourage the participation of small and diverse businesses.  

6. Use tools and create your own supplier lists

Find small and diverse suppliers (see the links below) and contact these suppliers when opportunities are available.

7. Community outreach

Include information on your agency website on how suppliers can work with you for both small and large dollar purchases.

Participate in trade shows, expos, and events to meet and talk with small and diverse suppliers and use procurement data to inform where to focus outreach efforts.