Reporting on supplier diversity.

Equipment Financing for Veteran-Owned Businesses: SBA 504, 7(a), and What VetCert Changes

Two SBA programs cover equipment purchases, and only one of them gives veteran-owned businesses a real financial edge. Here's which is which.

Aug 8, 2026 · Mario Bailey

SBA Microloans for Minority-Owned Businesses: The $50,000 Program Nobody Explains Right

The SBA microloan program was built for exactly the businesses that get turned down everywhere else: too new, too small, not enough …

Aug 8, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Business Credit for WOSB Firms: What Actually Builds It, and Why It's Separate From Certification

Certification doesn't touch your business credit score, and nobody checks your PAYDEX when they verify WOSB status. Here's what each one actually …

Aug 8, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Surety Bonds for 8(a) Contractors: The 90% SBA Guarantee Explained

SBA guarantees a bigger share of your bond if you're 8(a) certified. Here's the 90% vs 80% split, the fees, and how …

Aug 8, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How long does each diversity certification take? Costs and timelines for 2026

Federal certifications are free but take 3–18 months; private certifications cost $270–$1,700 and process in 60–120 days. Here's the full breakdown before …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

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

Cleveland Clinic alone spends $14B+ annually and has an active supplier diversity program. Ohio's EDGE certification and the city's M/WBE program are …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a vendor for Washington, D.C.: registration, certification, and bids

Washington, D.C. runs vendor registration through OCP eSourcing and local certification through DSLBD's Certified Business Enterprise program. Here is exactly where to …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a supplier for the University of Texas at Austin: registration and supplier diversity

UT Austin doesn't run a bid list, so there's no single 'register here' button. The real entry points are the state CMBL, …

Jul 27, 2026 · Will Moss

How to become a supplier for UPMC: registration and supplier diversity

UPMC runs a certification-gated supplier portal and reports 6.7-7% diverse sourceable spend, far above the healthcare average. Here is how registration actually …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a supplier for the University of Wisconsin: registration and supplier diversity

The University of Wisconsin System runs procurement for 13 universities through ShopUW+, a Jaggaer supplier portal. Registration there plus a VendorNet listing …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a supplier for the University of Washington: registration and supplier diversity

UW requires a current supplier registration on file before it can pay you, and the full onboarding can run from 1-2 weeks …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a supplier for the University of Pennsylvania: registration and supplier diversity

Penn registers suppliers through the Jaggaer-powered Penn Marketplace portal, not a public bid board. Here's how to get an invitation, what the …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a supplier for the University of Minnesota: registration and supplier diversity

The University of Minnesota spent over $54.3 million with diverse suppliers in FY24, up from $50.5 million the year before. Registration runs …

Jul 27, 2026 · Will Moss

How to become a supplier for the University of Michigan: registration and supplier diversity

U-M runs purchasing through Procurement Services and registers suppliers in its MConnect system. The university tracks minority-, women-, veteran-, and small-business suppliers …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a supplier for the University of Illinois: registration and supplier diversity

The University of Illinois System buys through the state's higher-ed procurement rules, not a private vendor portal. Registration runs through the Illinois …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a supplier for the University of Florida: registration and supplier diversity

UF won't add you as a supplier until a department agrees to buy from you. Here's how the myUFL Supplier Portal registration …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a supplier for UCLA: registration and supplier diversity

UCLA onboards suppliers through PaymentWorks, joins small businesses to a dedicated list via SupplierDiversity@finance.ucla.edu, and routes contracts over $100,000 through the UC …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a supplier for UC Berkeley: registration and supplier diversity

UC Berkeley buys through the UC systemwide platforms CalUsource and SupplierOne, not a standalone Berkeley portal. Here is how registration, the Small …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to become a supplier for Trinity Health: registration and supplier diversity

Trinity Health runs one of the largest Catholic health systems in the country, and it sources suppliers through a STARS SMP portal …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

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

Tucson runs its solicitations through a free OpenGov e-procurement portal and certifies local small firms through its own SBE and DBE programs, …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

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

Tampa runs vendor registration and solicitations through the OpenGov eProcurement portal, and its Equal Business Opportunity office certifies WMBE and SLBE firms …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey

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

Seattle retired its old Online Business Directory in August 2024 and moved registration to an OpenGov portal. Here is how to register, …

Jul 27, 2026 · Will Moss

How to become a vendor for the City of San Jose: registration, certification, and bids

San Jose runs vendor notifications through Biddingo and rewards local and small firms with a price and evaluation preference under Ordinance 27136. …

Jul 27, 2026 · Mario Bailey