Indiana University Institutional Policies – Business Diversity in Procurement

SUBJECT: Purchases from Minority and Women Business Enterprises

SOURCE: Office of the President

POLICY NO: BDI-1

DATE ISSUED: July 1, 2006

RATIONALE:

Indiana University is committed to diversity and non-discrimination in all aspects of its operations. This commitment includes the recognition of the inherent value of doing business with Minority and Women Business Enterprises (M/WBEs). The university further recognizes that a pro-active utilization of M/WBEs will act to diversify the university’s business operations.

POLICY:

While recognizing that Indiana University must comply with the Buy Indiana statute, all invitations for quotes and bids are sent with Indiana University’s expectation for diversity, including but not limited to M/WBE participation in procurement contracts for professional services, materials, supplies and equipment, and in contracts for the construction, architectural services, renovation or repair of university facilities and equipment.

  1. This expectation extends to all tiers of contractor utilization.
  2. Indiana University’s annual MBE and WBE utilization goals will parallel those set by the Indiana Department of Administration for its own business diversity efforts. These goals are not quotas rather they provide direction and a benchmark for evaluating Indiana University’s progress.

DEFINITIONS:

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) is "a large or small minority-owned business concern owned and controlled by minority individuals." The term "large or small business concern owned and controlled by minority individuals" means a business that is at least 51% owned by such individuals; or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more such individuals. "Minority individuals" include Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and Asian-Indian Americans.

The term "Native Americans" includes American Indians, American Eskimos, American Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians. The term "Asian-Pacific Americans" includes United States citizens whose origins are from Japan , China , The Philippines, Vietnam , Korea , Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Territories of the Pacific, Northern Marianas, Laos , Cambodia , and Taiwan . The term "Asian Indian Americans" includes United States citizens whose origins are from India , Pakistan , and Bangladesh .

Women Business Enterprise (WBE) is a large or small woman or women owned business concern that is at least 51% owned by one or more women, and proof of effective management and control (operating position, by-laws, hire-fire and other decision-making role, signature role on loans and contracts) of the business is by one or more women. The woman or women must have a contribution of capital and/or expertise, and must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. Resident Alien Status.

PROCEDURE REFERENCE:

Indiana University shall evaluate its progress toward meeting these goals on an annual basis. In order to make this evaluation, the university shall maintain a record of all M/WBE contractor and M/WBE supplier bid or proposal submissions and shall document majority firm efforts to include minority and women business participation in their contract awards.

CROSS REFERENCE:

RESPONSIBLE ORGANIZATION:

Office of Business Diversity and University Purchasing Department