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March 2, 2023
Dear State Bidders, Vendors/Suppliers, and Certified SB/DVBEs:
As of January 1, 2023, all businesses, including applicants and certified Small Businesses (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE), are encouraged to provide voluntary diversity data information in their Cal eProcure registration profiles. Our records indicate that nearly 14,000 certified businesses have not yet updated their diversity data information. Is your business one of them?
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Collecting voluntary diversity data is part of California’s commitment to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in state procurement, per Executive Order (EO) N-16-22 and Assembly Bill 2019 (Petrie-Norris, Chapter 730, Statutes of 2022): Small business enterprises - aiming to increase opportunities for minority-owned business, women-owned business, and LGBTQ-owned business in state contracting.
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Why is the state collecting the data? The purpose of the voluntary data collection is to improve the state’s outreach and certification of small, diverse, and disabled veteran-owned businesses and gain a better understanding of where potential state contracting discrepancies exist. More than 200 state departments as well as 42 reciprocity partners (e.g., local governments, transportation agencies, public utilities, water and school districts) that accept the state SB and DVBE certifications can use the voluntary data to develop new strategies to ensure California’s supplier base is reflective of our diverse state.
How do I enter my voluntary data in Cal eProcure? To voluntarily provide information that your business is at least 51% owned by – and management and daily operations are controlled by – one or more individuals of diverse backgrounds, please see the step-by-step guide on updating your diversity data by clicking here: Diversity Data Procedures.
Disclaimer: In compliance with the California Constitution, Article1, Section 3, diversity information shall not be used to discriminate or grant a preference in state contracting. By voluntarily providing the information, you agree and authorize the state to display this information in your public certification profile.
Certified SB and DVBE businesses that have technical questions while completing the diversity information can email OSDSHelp@dgs.ca.gov.
Thank you for your support!
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