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

OMWBE's Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report is now available!

Supplier Diversity Highlights:

• Agencies and institutions of higher education spent a combined $371,937,325 with OMWBE Certified Businesses, representing 4.15% of total eligible state spending.
• Statewide spending rose 0.39% between FY 2024-2025. State agencies achieved 6.01%, and institutions of higher education 1.13%.
• Increased compliance with Access Equity, across state agencies and educational institutions.

Certification Highlights:

• Launched LGBTQ Business Enterprise (LGBTQBE) State Certification.
• 4,726 businesses were certified with OMWBE at the end of FY 2025.
• 3,953 businesses held OMWBE State Certification, and 2,197 businesses held OMWBE Federal Certification. Businesses may hold multiple certifications.
• 244 businesses held a total of 350 loans enrolled in the Linked Deposit Program at the end of FY 2025 worth a combined total value of $125,082,045.
• Responded to 5,337 certification related questions from small and diverse businesses.

Word from the Assistant Director of Supplier Diversity

As we recognize Black History Month, we honor the legacy of innovation, resilience, and economic leadership demonstrated by Black entrepreneurs and business owners throughout history. Their contributions have shaped industries, strengthened communities, and expanded opportunity in ways that continue to inspire our work today.

At OMWBE, Supplier Diversity is not simply a reporting requirement—it is a strategic lever for economic equity and statewide impact. When agencies intentionally include certified minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses in public contracting, we do more than meet aspirational goals—we build generational wealth, strengthen local economies, and advance Washington’s commitment to our communities.

This month, and beyond, we encourage agencies to:

• Review your current spend with certified firms
• Engage early with OMWBE certified businesses during planning phases
• Strengthen internal accountability for prompt pay and subcontractor inclusion
• Attend Supplier Diversity Office Hours to discuss strategies and challenges
• Goal Plan Review - What is working and what is not?
• Ensure you're caught up with all payment audits for FY26 - reach out to AccessEquity@omwbe.wa.gov if you need any help or attend our biweekly Office Hours

Supplier Diversity is most successful when it moves from compliance to culture — when it becomes embedded in how we plan, procure, and measure success.

Thank you for your continued commitment to expanding opportunities across Washington State.

With appreciation,

Timolin Abrom
Assistant Director, Supplier Diversity
Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises

Access Equity Q & A

At the last Office Hours we received two questions asking if we receive referral information from newly certified businesses.

Supplier Diversity Trivia - Agency Edition

How well does your agency know Supplier Diversity requirements? Test your knowledge before checking the answers below!

Question 1
To count toward your agency’s Supplier Diversity goal, a firm must:

1. Be a small business

2. Be OMWBE-certified and active

3. Be registered in WEBS

4. Have previously worked with your agency



Question 2
Certification must be active:

1. At time of bid submission
2. At time of contract execution
3. At time of final payment
4. At fiscal year close

Question 3
The most effective way to increase diverse spend is to:

1. Review utilization at fiscal year end
2. Engage certified firms early in the procurement process
3. Add reporting requirements after award
4. Rely solely on prime contractors

Question 4
Why is prompt payment important in Supplier Diversity efforts?

1. It supports small business cash flow
2. It improves subcontractor retention
3. It strengthens trust in public contracting
4. All of the above

Question 5
Supplier Diversity reporting primarily tracks:

1. Total number of contracts
2. Annual spend with certified businesses
3. Outreach events conducted
4. Number of small works roster vendors

Question 6
If a subcontractor is not certified at the time of contract execution:

1. Their spend counts partially
2. Their spend counts if under a threshold
3. Their spend does not count toward agency goals
4. It can be corrected retroactively

Question 7
Pipeline development means:

1. Increasing contract size
2. Preparing and connecting certified firms before procurement
3. Waiting for firms to respond to RFPs
4. Emergency contracting



Answer Key: 1-B, 2-B, 3-B, 4-D, 5-B, 6-C, 7-B

Why This Matters

Strong Supplier Diversity performance requires:

• Early engagement
• Accurate certification verification
• Ongoing utilization monitoring
• Timely subcontractor payment
• Continuous communication with OMWBE

Agencies that integrate these practices into procurement planning see stronger outcomes — not just stronger year-end numbers.

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.