Using Diverse Suppliers

Many sponsors require that grantees make efforts to utilize small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses whenever possible. In addition, recipients of sponsored awards must comply with applicable state, federal, sponsor, and university requirements for procuring goods and services when funds from these sources are used.

These requirements may include the need for sponsor approval prior to acquisition of goods or services.

General Requirements for Selected Sources

All Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements

OMB Circular A-110, Section 44(b) states:

"Positive efforts shall be made by recipients to utilize small businesses, minority-owned firms, and women's business enterprises, whenever possible. Recipients of Federal awards shall take all of the following steps to further this goal. 

1. Ensure that small businesses, minority-owned firms, and women's business enterprises are used to the fullest extent practicable.
2. Make information on forthcoming opportunities available and arrange time frames for purchases and contracts to encourage and facilitate participation by small businesses, minority-owned firms, and women's business enterprises.
3. Consider in the contract process whether firms competing for larger contracts intend to subcontract with small businesses, minority-owned firms, and women's business enterprises.
4. Encourage contracting with consortia of small businesses, minority-owned firms and women's business enterprises when a contract is too large for one of these firms to handle individually.
5. Use the services and assistance, as appropriate, of such organizations as the Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency in the solicitation and utilization of small businesses, minority- owned firms and women's business enterprises."

New York State contracts that are over $1 million incorporate the Omnibus Procurement Act of 1992 whereby Cornell must state that it "has made reasonable efforts to encourage the participation of New York State Business Enterprises as suppliers and subcontractors, including certified minority and women-owned business enterprises, on this project, and has retained the documentation of these efforts to be provided upon request to the State."

Other New York State agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Conservation, have specific goals for Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) participation.

If you are unsure of the requirements of your award, please contact Sponsored Financial Services at uco-sfa@cornell.edu or the accountant for your award.

For assistance with identifying diverse vendors, please contact Cornell Procurement Services at procurement@cornell.edu or (607) 254-5300.