State University of New York at Cortland
OP-15: Inclusive and Local Purchasing

By Executive Order, all New York State Agencies are required to take affirmative steps to utilize minority and women businesses for agency purchases. The intent is to give those targeted businesses an opportunity to benefit from the massive purchasing activity of the State, on the assumption that those targeted businesses have been historically excluded from participation and often as developing small businesses have not had an equal chance to compete. The College is given M/WBE goals expressed as percentages of total purchasing volume and is instructed to take special outreach measures and in some cases extend competitive price advantages to M/WBE's. While attainment of goals is expected by the University, Cortland College continues its program on a voluntary basis, recommending M/WBE utilization where feasible and in the interest of the institution, attempting to strike a balance between the principle of best value vs. affirmative opportunity.