West Chester University of Pennsylvania
OP-T2-24: Historically Underutilized Businesses

It is the University’s policy to seek and recruit small and disadvantaged businesses, including minority and women owned business enterprises (MBE/WBE), for inclusion on the vendor list. Vendors are identified through minority magazines, trade fairs, and the Commonwealth Office of Minority and Women Business. On a yearly basis, at least one MBE trade show is attended by the Purchasing Director or his/her designee. The names, addresses, phone numbers and product listings, if available, of identified small and disadvantaged businesses are shared with other universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education as requested. Business Services tracks and reports annually the total dollar amount of contracts and purchase orders awarded to such vendors. When identified, qualified small and disadvantaged businesses are added to the vendor list for the goods or services they can provide. Business Services will make every reasonable attempt to include one or more of these businesses on every request for quotation or proposal. The University may also reduce the level or change the type of bonding requirements and modify progress payments for small and disadvantaged businesses. However, bid and proposal evaluation procedures do not allow for preference or advantage ratings for any vendors, but provide equality for all vendors.