University of California, Irvine
OP-T2-24: Historically Underutilized Businesses

UC Irvine maintains a Small Business Development and Sustainability Coordinator position. This positions acts as a liaison to the small and disadvantaged business community and helps to open doors to UCI business opportunities. The Small Business Program provides the following services to the campus and business communities: • Identifies suppliers of goods/services for possible use by UCI. • Creates a favorable atmosphere for business contracting with small business enterprises. • Counsels vendors on how to do business with UCI. • Provides key campus buying personnel with vendor source materials in the form of directories and source lists. • Acts as liaison between small business vendors and campus buyers, referring vendors to the procurement specialists as appropriate. Small businesses interested in doing business with UCI may register with the Small Business Program. This is not a requirement, but if businesses register, information about that company will be entered into appropriate vendor data systems. The data will then be made available to campus buyers. The Small Business Coordinator also is involved in outreach activities and hosts business fairs directly benefiting small and disadvantaged business while also encouraging the use of green and sustainable products and services.