Cornell University endeavors to promote the development of mutually beneficial business partnerships so that small, small disadvantaged, small woman-owned, small veteran-owned, small service-disabled veteran-owned, and small HUBZone business concerns (hereafter collectively referred to as “small/small disadvantaged business concerns”) have competitive access to participate under Cornell University's procurement of materials, supplies, and services consistent with effective and economic purchasing practices.
Cornell University's departments and purchasing personnel should plan procurements consistent with forecast requirements in a manner that encourages participation by small business concerns, including economic quantities, reasonable delivery schedules and allowing sufficient time to these types of business enterprises to submit bids. When mutually beneficial, Cornell University will provide assistance to small/small disadvantaged business concerns.
Goals
- Educate vendors regarding how to conduct business with the university
- Give reasonable business opportunity to minority-owned, women owned, small disadvantaged, HUB Zone, veteran owned and service-disabled-veteran owned businesses
- Purchases of goods and services from such concerns to the fullest extent possible, consistent with this policy and the efficient performance of operations
Program Objectives
- Promote a competitive procurement processes that includes all segments of the business community and incorporate socially responsible and sustainable purchasing practices.
- Enhance our supplier population to secure better prices and higher quality products and services through increased competition.
- Develop and maintain a supplier population that is representative of the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the community we serve.
- Reflect our commitment as an economic partner in the communities in which we conduct business.
- Provide university staff who are involved in the acquisition of materials and services with adequate tools and training to locate and utilize vendors who meet their spending requirements.
Roles & Responsibilities
Small Business Liaison Officer (SBLO)
- Submit, in a timely manner, small business subcontracting plans to applicable agencies
- Work with the Office of Sponsored Programs where a small business subcontracting plan is required and complete the plan in a timely manner
- Work with purchasing agents on applicable solicitations to ensure adequate involvement of small business concerns
- Provide tools to assist campus users in identifying small business concerns
- Provide opportunities for vendors to learn how to do business with the university
- Certify small businesses concerns and oversee management of information and identification
- Maintain vendor database category fields to enable accurate reporting
- Maximize opportunities for small business concerns to compete for university business, regardless of funding source
Cornell Departments
- Notify the SBLO if a Request for Proposal (RFP) is being initiated that includes the requirement for a small business subcontracting plan
- Notify the purchasing agent and SBLO when a requisition is submitted using funds within a subcontracting plan
- Maximize opportunities for small business concerns to participate in purchases within the department’s delegated authority
- Assist in preparing reports, as necessary
- On applicable solicitations, work with SBLO to ensure adequate inclusion of small business concerns in solicitation process
- Participate in vendor outreach (e.g., informational meetings, vendor fairs), as requested
Federal Contracts and Grants - Small Business Development Program
Federal contracts in excess of $550,000 require preparation and submission of Small Business Development Plans (SBDPs), which require that Cornell submits a plan for utilizing small and small disadvantaged business. The plan identifies the supplier, the percentage of the award, and dollar amount of the award. The government also requires annual reports detailing progress in meeting the goal proposed in the original SBDP. Failure to utilize small and small disadvantaged businesses properly can cause reduction in the award amount, loss of an award, or failure to receive an award.
