Reporting on supplier diversity.

How to become a US Foods supplier (and what its supplier program actually wants)

US Foods does not run an open vendor application. You get in through the local market procurement team, and your category fit …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a AutoZone supplier (and what its supplier program actually wants)

AutoZone runs vendor registration through its own portal, not Ariba or Coupa, and a category manager has to sponsor you before you …

Jul 26, 2026 · Will Moss

The micro-purchase threshold: how small businesses win government work without proposals

Most small businesses chase RFPs and miss the $15,000 micro-purchase threshold, where federal agencies buy with a credit card and zero competition. …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to set up sam.gov opportunity alerts for your NAICS codes

Most small businesses find out about federal contracts after the deadline has passed. Setting up SAM.gov opportunity alerts takes about 20 minutes …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become an Allstate Insurance diverse supplier

Allstate Insurance is a Billion Dollar Roundtable member with $57B in revenue and a formal supplier diversity program that actively tracks MBE …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in automotive: how to get into the GM, Ford, and Stellantis supply chain

The Big Three automakers pioneered supplier diversity and collectively spend over $3 billion annually with diverse suppliers. Most diverse businesses enter at …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a vendor for the City of New York City: registration, certification, and bids

New York City runs vendor enrollment through PASSPort and payment setup through PIP, advertises every solicitation over $100,000 in the City Record …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Washington DC: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

Washington DC sits inside the densest federal contracting market in the country. Winning here means mastering both federal certifications and DC's local …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Detroit: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

GM, Ford, and Stellantis are all headquartered in the Detroit metro and collectively spend over $3 billion annually with diverse suppliers. The …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Baltimore: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

Baltimore runs one of the most layered supplier diversity markets on the East Coast, with city M/WBE, Maryland state MBE, DoSEM DBE, …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a Berkshire Hathaway Energy diverse supplier

Berkshire Hathaway Energy operates formal supplier diversity programs across its Iowa, Nevada, and California utilities, with state commission reporting requirements that create …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Connecticut SBE/MBE Certification: Complete Application Guide 2026

Connecticut's SBE and MBE certifications are issued by the Department of Administrative Services and open the door to state contracting set-asides. Connecticut …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Raleigh-Durham: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

Research Triangle Park hosts IBM, Cisco, SAS, Biogen, and GSK, all with active supplier diversity programs. North Carolina's state HUB certification was …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Charlotte: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

Charlotte is the second-largest banking center in the US, with Bank of America, Truist, and Wells Fargo all running active supplier diversity …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

DBE vs ACDBE certification: transportation vs aviation programs

DBE and ACDBE are sister programs under separate federal regulations. Applying for the wrong one wastes months. The split comes down to …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity in Tampa: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

Tampa's supplier diversity market is anchored by MacDill Air Force Base, Raymond James, and Publix — plus state certification through the Florida …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Maintaining HUBZone compliance after certification: what triggers recertification and audits

Getting HUBZone certified is the easy part. Staying certified requires tracking employee residency, monitoring your principal office address, and knowing exactly what …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to Find Government Contracts in 2026: 7 Steps + Where to Look

Start at SAM.gov, register your entity, filter to set-asides your business qualifies for, then mine SBA SubNet, agency forecasts, and APEX Accelerators …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

NAICS 561730 Federal Contracting Guide: How Diverse Businesses Win Landscaping Services Contracts

The federal government spends over $1 billion annually on landscaping and grounds maintenance under NAICS 561730, with 8(a) and HUBZone set-asides making …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Global supplier diversity certifications: the complete list by country

Supplier diversity certification exists in over 30 countries, but the standards, administering bodies, and legal weight vary enormously. This reference covers every …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Simplified acquisition procedures: winning federal contracts under $350,000

Between $15,000 and $350,000, contracting officers can skip most of the full procurement paperwork and award contracts faster. Most small businesses never …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to sell to Natural Resources Conservation Service as a diverse small business

Natural Resources Conservation Service is a major federal buyer with $500M annually in annual procurement. This guide covers how diverse small businesses …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to sell to National Institutes of Health as a diverse small business

National Institutes of Health is a major federal buyer with $8B annually in annual procurement. This guide covers how diverse small businesses …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey