Supplier Diversity Newsletter

Greetings Partners,

New OMWBE Certified Businesses

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

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

Email: supplierdiversity@omwbe.wa.gov

Toolkit Update

The 2023 Toolkit Workshops are approaching! Please RSVP now for the events you would like to attend. We recommend signing up for the entire series, to learn the latest supplier diversity tips and best practices from colleagues around the state.

Visit our website to see a brief description of each topic, with information about specific audiences that might find the content particularly relevant. We are using the Access Equity application to manage invitations this year and presenting them on the GoToMeeting platform for increased security.

Forecasting Template Added to the OMWBE Toolkit

The Department of Enterprise Services has developed a forecasting data collection tool that is now available on the Planning and Forecasting page of the toolkit. We will provide two workshops to assist agencies with preparing to collect data in April, and reviewing the content before submitting it in August.

Access Equity Phase 1 Launch

Friday, January 27 is the official launch date for Phase 1 of Access Equity, and we are pleased to announce that we have our first contracts in the system!

The organizations in Phase 1 are completing training on using the Contract Compliance and Outreach modules, and are prepared for successful adoption. We would not have reached this point without the support and dedication of our Phase 1 Agencies and Universities, whose experiences will help guide our future endeavors as we look toward Phase 2 and Beyond.

As we look ahead, 2023 will bring new and exciting progress as Access Equity is introduced to the rest of our state agencies and educational institutions. The launch timelines and expectations for these organizations are being finalized and will be shared in the coming days.

Please email AccessEquity@omwbe.wa.gov with any questions.

Agency Inclusion Plans - Move to Fiscal Year

Several agencies have reached out to us recently to ask about 2023 Agency Inclusion Plans, which are created annually in collaboration with OMWBE.

We typically send out instructions starting in October/November of the previous calendar year – However, we are revising this timeline as we modernize our planning and reporting process. Starting this year, we are moving the Agency Inclusion Plan timeline from Calendar Year to Fiscal Year.

The next Inclusion Plan agencies submit will cover FY 2024 (July 2023 – June 2024). We will be reaching out to agencies with additional instructions to help you navigate creating your FY 2024 Agency Inclusion Plan.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. DSHS “Beloved Community” Award The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) recently held their "Beloved Community" award ceremony, in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This award celebrates the contributions of individuals, organizations, and businesses making significant and lasting contributions that continue to create an environment where diversity is honored and respected and actions are taken to effect the changes and reforms needed to create the beloved community.

Business Category: Malcolm Waters, CEO, Ovation Technology

Ovation Technology LLC is certified with OMWBE as a Minority-Owned Business (MBE), and helped DSHS obtain much needed computer equipment quickly and efficiently to support the overnight requirement that most state employees work from home at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congratulations to Malcom and the team at Ovation Technology!

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.