Supplier Diversity Newsletter

New OMWBE Certified Businesses

Greetings Partners,

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

State Agency FY 2026 Business Diversity Spending Goal Plans

State Agencies: Your FY 2025 Business Diversity Spending Goal Plan and established agency goal will be carried forward for FY 2026. The Supplier Diversity Team is establishing processes that will help Washington State Agencies utilize more certified businesses and work consistently to meet their goals. We will keep you updated. If you represent a state agency, and would like to update your FY 2025 Goal plan for FY 2026, please email the Supplier Diversity Team at supplierdiversity@omwbe.wa.gov.

Q&A and Office Hours

Our bi-weekly Supplier Diversity Office Hours have been successful and we are proud to provide a regular schedule to answer your supplier diversity questions. While our last meeting was cancelled, Supplier Diversity Office Hours will be available again on July 2, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!

One of the questions we received at the last meeting was about the definition of subcontractors. We worked with DES and AGO on the definition located in the glossary of our Access Equity User Guide.

Subcontractor [Sub] - One not in the employment of the contractor (or prime) who is performing all or part of those services under a contract through a separate contract with the contractor.

Another question was “What do we do if a subcontractor doesn’t confirm their payments?”

The answer is “If a subcontractor is non-responsive and you need to close out the contract, the Contract Agents or Admins can confirm the payments for them before processing the close out.”

Engage with Community Events

Summer is event season! Attend or support forums, expos, and trade shows like the 2025 Regional Contracting Forum to meet diverse suppliers and strengthen your network. OMWBE is coordinating the Regional Contracting Forum this year. There is still time to sponsor the event and claim a table for your organization. For more information, please contact Doug Mora at douglas.mora@omwbe.wa.gov.

Community engagement helps bridge the gap between procurement teams and the businesses you aim to support. These events often foster new partnerships that can lead to long-term contracting opportunities.

OMWBE's Annual Report for FY 2024

OMWBE recently published our annual report for FY 2024. You can view this report on our website, which includes information tracking the growth and demographic makeup of our Certified Business Directory, statewide supplier diversity spending, and for the first time ever—a comprehensive look at the progress individual state agencies made towards their FY 2024 Business Diversity Spending Goals.

Supplier Diversity Highlights:

• Established Business Diversity Spending Goals for state agencies, for the first time in over 25 years.
• Washington State spent $308,203,351 with OMWBE Certified Businesses, representing 3.76% of eligible state spending, up 0.55% from FY 2023.
• State Agencies achieved 5.20% certified business utilization.
• Institutions of higher education achieved 1.20% utilization.

Certification Highlights:

• Waived certification fees eliminating costs to small and diverse businesses.
• Launched Public Works Small Business Enterprise (PWSBE) State Certification.
• 3,986 businesses were certified with OMWBE at the end of FY 2024.
• 3,390 businesses held OMWBE State Certification, and 1,598 businesses held OMWBE Federal Certification. Businesses can be dual-certified.

LGBTQ Business Enterprise Certification

A Milestone in Expanding Business Recognition in Washington State

In partnership with the Washington State LGBTQ Commission, OMWBE is proud to announce the launch of a new certification category:

LGBTQ Business Enterprises (LGBTQBE)

This program marks a major step forward acknowledging the presence, contributions, and capabilities of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs across the state. Small businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ are now eligible to get certified with OMWBE—and recognized in the same directory that agencies already use to find vendors.

This achievement was made possible through the dedicated work of the Washington State LGBTQ Commission, whose advocacy and partnership helped bring the certification to life. Their insight and leadership ensured the program was built with intention, access, and economic opportunity in mind.

What This Means for Buyers

If you currently work with certified vendors, nothing changes—your options just expanded. This new certification integrates into OMWBE’s existing infrastructure, offering an even more complete picture of who’s ready to deliver high-quality goods and services across Washington State.

Key Benefits for Public Agencies:

• Greater Vendor Choice – Access a larger pool of qualified businesses
• More Representative Procurement – Help ensure state contracts reflect the full spectrum of Washington’s business community
• Stronger Economic Networks – Create opportunities that lead to sustainable, local growth and resilient communities

LGBTQBE vendors will appear in our Certified Business Directory starting July 2025. Businesses may qualify for multiple State Certifications with OMWBE. While LGBTQ-owned businesses do not currently count towards state agency Business Diversity Spending Goals, they may be included in the future.

Let’s continue building a state economy that reflects—and respects—all of us.

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.