Supplier Diversity

Dartmouth is committed to prioritizing minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, disabled-owned, and LGBTQ-owned businesses throughout our purchasing process, while actively striving to expand our business with diverse suppliers. We recognize the significant value these suppliers bring to our community, and their evaluation is fully integrated into our procurement process. All procurement decisions, however, are based on a combination of competitive pricing and other critical factors, including quality, suitability, delivery, and service, in line with Dartmouth's policies and federal regulations.

What is Supplier Diversity

Supplier diversity is a business strategy that seeks to provide equal access and opportunities to diverse-owned business or part of an underrepresented or underserved group in the procurement of goods and services.

Understanding Dartmouth Supplier Diversity

Our Vision

Dartmouth strives to make minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, disabled-owned, and LGBTQ+ -owned businesses an embedded priority across our entire purchasing environment.

Mission Statement

Dartmouth recognizes the importance of supplier diversity in all aspects of our purchasing practices. By creating new relationships and continuing to nurture those we already have, we aim to strengthen economic development and viability for diverse businesses in our community.

Who are Diverse Suppliers?

A certified diverse supplier can clearly demonstrate that their business is at least 51% owned, operated, and managed by a diverse individual or group of members by presenting a certificate issued by an independent certifying government agency, quasi-government or nongovernmental-organization.

Dartmouth also supports and encourages self- certified NH diverse small businesses with at least 51% owned, operated, and managed by minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, disabled-owned, and LBGTQ+-owned businesses or group that is part of a traditionally underrepresented that includes Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanics or Chicanos/Latinos.

Diverse Organizations

(links to certification organization coming soon)

DBE - Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
DOBE - Disabled Business Enterprise
EDWOSB - Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business
HUBZ - Historically Underutilized Business Zone Program
LGBTQ - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and/or Transgender Owned Business
MBE Minority Business Enterprise - All other MBE
MBE Minority Business Enterprise - Asian American Owned Business
SBA - 8(a) Hispanic American
SBA - 8(a) Native American (Includes Native Alaskans Hawaiians)
SBA Small Businesses - 86) Asian Pacific American
SEE Small Business Enterprise
SOB - Small Disadvantaged Business
SDVOB - Service Disabled Veteran Business
VOB - Veteran Owned Business
WBE - Woman Owned Business Enterprise
WOSB - Woman Owned Small Business

Search Dartmouth Diverse Suppliers (coming soon)

Why Supplier Diversity?

An inclusive procurement strategy widens the pool of potential suppliers and promotes competition in the supply base, which can improve product quality and drive down costs. And by providing more sourcing options, inclusiveness can make supply chains more resilient and agile — an increasingly important advantage in the uncertain times.

76% of all diverse suppliers meet buyers' expectations,
and another 23% exceed them, according to research group of
The Hackett Group, 2016