Certifications for Small and Diverse Suppliers & Contractors
Small and diverse suppliers and contractors may benefit from certification. It is not required to be certified to sell goods or provide services to the State of Colorado, however, the State encourages proper certification in support of allowing the State to accurately capture the small and diverse suppliers and contractor information the State of Colorado utilizes. The Colorado Minority Business Office offers free consultation to help suppliers and contractors determine if certification is appropriate for them.
The list below contains different types of certifications available based on business size and ownership.
Small Businesses
Woman-owned Businesses
- Women-Owned Small Business and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB/EDWOSB), Small Business Administration
- Women's Business Enterprise (WBE/WBENC), Women's Business Enterprise National Council
Minority-owned Businesses
- (Economic and Social) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
- Minority Business Enterprise Certification (MBE), National Minority Supplier Diversity Council
- 8(a) Business Development Program, Small Business Administration
- Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), Small Business Administration
- Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Small Business Administration
Veteran-owned Businesses
- Veteran-owned Small Business and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB/SDVOSB), Small Business Administration
- Veteran Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (V-DOBE®s) and Service-Disabled Veteran Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (SDV-DOBE®s), Disability:IN
- National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC)
Businesses Owned by Members of the Disability Community
Businesses Owned by Members of the LGBTQ+ Community
- LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE), National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Government Certificate Recognition
State of Colorado
Currently, the only business ownership type with preference in State procurement is the Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Learn more about the SDVOSB and the State's contracting goal.
Bridge and Highway Construction (Colorado Department of Transportation, CDOT)
CDOT offers Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Emerging Small Business (ESB) certifications.
Cities, Counties, Local Government, Special Districts
Check with local entities to learn more about certifications they may recognize.
Federal Certifications
Certifications for small and diverse businesses are administered by the Small Business Administration, (SBA). Colorado APEX Accelerators (formerly PTAC) offer no-cost confidential consulting, bid matching and education opportunities and can assist suppliers wanting to sell to the Federal government.
Colorado Supplier Diversity Navigator
Connecting small and diverse businesses with the resources to be successful in State contracts and procurement.
Services Provided
- Assistance with responding to solicitations for State contracts*
- Availability of opportunities
- Interpretation of solicitation documents
- Solicitation response procedures and best practices
- Bond assistance
Contact Us
Form: Complete our Request for Assistance Form
Email: DPA_SupplierDiversityHelp@state.co.us
Phone: 303-866-5765
*Assistance does not imply guidance that will give a respondent an unfair advantage when answering a solicitation.