Supplier Diversity Newsletter

Greetings Partners,

New OMWBE State Certified Businesses

Every month we share a list of the most recent state certified businesses including the firm’s name, contact information, business description, etc. This list is best utilized regularly in combination with OMWBE's Directory of Certified Firms.

Please contact Timolin Abrom for assistance using our online directory, or to schedule a virtual training for your procurement team.

Email: timolina@omwbe.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 280-3121

The Next Toolkit Workshop

The Toolkit Workshop on March 24th will focus on Planning and Forecasting, including practice on searching for minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses. We encourage anyone who originates a spend request, as well as contract managers, procurement specialists, and their supervisors, to attend these workshops.

Supplier Diversity Toolkit Consulting

OMWBE will work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to update their purchasing process documents beginning on March 24th. The project team will be revising WDVA’s written procedures so that they are more efficient, include use of the Tools for Equity in Public Spending, and reflect current best practices during these workshops.

Members of the Supplier Diversity Team have also been attending the Department of Transportation’s continuous improvement workshops (including Dispute Resolution Process and Prompt/Early Payment Subcommittee and Set-Aside/Unbundling Subcommittee) to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in these processes.

If you are interested in learning how the Supplier Diversity Toolkit Program can provide consultation and facilitate support, please contact equitytoolkit@omwbe.wa.gov.

EO 22-01 Toolkit Assessment

The Supplier Diversity Team is reaching out to agencies and commissions to assess their use of the tools for equity in public spending specified in Executive Order 22-01: Equity in Public Contracting. This information will help us identify opportunities to support use of these tools as appropriate and applicable. The Supplier Diversity Team will be reaching out to each contact person identified as required by the executive order to set up time for a conversation.

If you would like to include others on our distribution list to receive these monthly supplier diversity emails, please let us know at supplierdiversity@omwbe.wa.gov.