Minority Business Enterprise Program

The University of West Florida is committed to cultivating relationships with all minority and women-owned firms as well as attaining the maximum participation of those firms in the procurement process for all goods and services for the University. The University encourages the participation of all minority and women-owned firms, especially underutilized local minority firms.

Upcoming Events

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Section 287.09451, Florida Statutes, encourages all state agencies and universities to spend assigned percentages of procurement dollars with certified minority business enterprises (CMBEs). The categories targeted are construction, architectural and engineering services, contractual services, and commodities. The University of West Florida is actively seeking prospective minority businesses that would be eligible for certification through the Department of Labor and Employment Security, Office of Supplier Diversity located in Tallahassee. Certification will be both beneficial to the University and State as well as enhance your vital role in the business community.

To obtain an application for State certification, visit the Office of Supplier Diversity: http://www.dms.myflorida.com/osd .

In order for your firm to qualify for certification you must:

be a small business, as defined in Section 288, Florida Statutes; and,
have 51% minority ownership and currently performing a useful business function; and,
be domiciled in Florida and majority of minority owners must also reside in Florida; and,
have management and daily operations controlled by minority persons.

A minority person is defined as:

Black American - A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa; or,
Hispanic American - A person of Spanish or Portuguese culture, with origins in Mexico, South America, Central America, or the Caribbean, regardless of age; or,
Asian American - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands, including the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778; or,
Native American - A person who has origins in any of the Indian Tribes of North America; or,
American Woman

Objectives of UWF MBE Program:

Locating and identifying minority/women-owned businesses that provide goods or services purchased by UWF;
Educating UWF personnel of the availability of minority vendors;
Encouraging prime contractors to invite MBE's to bid on subcontracting opportunities;
Presenting networking opportunities for UWF personnel, other governmental agencies, the community and vendors to increase the number of MBE firms.