TL;DR
CDW runs a formal supplier diversity program called Coradiant. To register, you submit your business profile through CDW's supplier portal at cdw.com/supplier-diversity. CDW recognizes MBE, WBE, SDVOSB, VOSB, LGBTBE, DOBE, HUBZone, 8(a), and SDB certifications. Relevant categories include IT hardware, software licensing, cloud services, and professional/managed services.
CDW is one of the largest technology solutions providers in the United States, posting over $20 billion in annual revenue and serving hundreds of thousands of business, government, education, and healthcare customers. Their supplier diversity program, Coradiant, is a structured effort to source goods and services from certified diverse businesses.
If your company sells technology products, IT services, staffing, logistics, or related professional services, CDW is a realistic procurement target. Here is exactly how to pursue it.
What is CDW's Coradiant supplier diversity program?
CDW launched Coradiant as its formal supplier diversity initiative, operated through its diversity, equity, and inclusion function. The program focuses on developing long-term relationships with diverse suppliers rather than one-off transactions.
CDW is a member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and participates in supplier diversity efforts aligned with the council's MBE certification standards. CDW also maintains relationships with WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council) and other certification bodies.
The program spans CDW's direct procurement (goods and services CDW buys for internal operations) and, where applicable, resale relationships with smaller technology vendors and service providers.
Certifications CDW recognizes
CDW's supplier diversity program accepts the following certifications:
| Certification | Issuing Body | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) | NMSDC regional affiliate | Minority-owned, 51%+ |
| WBE (Women's Business Enterprise) | WBENC affiliate | Women-owned, 51%+ |
| SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned) | VA / SBA | Veterans with service-connected disability |
| VOSB (Veteran-Owned Small Business) | VA / SBA | Veteran-owned, 51%+ |
| LGBTBE | NGLCC | LGBTQ+-owned, 51%+ |
| DOBE (Disability-Owned Business Enterprise) | Disability:IN | Disability-owned, 51%+ |
| HUBZone | SBA | Located in historically underutilized zones |
| 8(a) | SBA | Socially/economically disadvantaged, SBA-certified |
| SDB (Small Disadvantaged Business) | SBA self-certification | Socially/economically disadvantaged |
If you hold more than one certification, list all of them in your registration. CDW procurement staff use certification filters when sourcing for specific contracts and customer engagements.
How to register as a CDW supplier: step by step
1. Confirm your certification is current
Before you register, verify your primary certification is active and not within 60 days of expiration. An expired certification will stall your application. Check your certificate date with your issuing body — NMSDC affiliates, WBENC, SBA, or the VA — before you start.
2. Prepare your business profile documents
Have the following ready before opening the portal:
- Certificate(s) of diverse ownership (PDF, official copy)
- DUNS/SAM UEI number (required if you do any federal business)
- NAICS codes that describe your primary services
- W-9 or equivalent tax documentation
- Company capability statement (one page, PDF)
- References from two to three current or past clients
3. Submit through CDW's supplier diversity portal
Go to CDW's supplier diversity page and click the supplier registration link. The online form collects your business name, EIN, ownership demographics, certification details, primary NAICS codes, and a brief description of your capabilities.
CDW's portal is not the same as SAM.gov — you must register separately here even if you are already registered in the federal System for Award Management.
4. Attach your capability statement
A capability statement is not optional in practice. Even if the form marks it optional, procurement staff who review registrations use it to match suppliers to upcoming sourcing needs. Keep it to one page. Lead with your core competency, certifications, and two or three concrete past-performance examples with dollar values or scale indicators.
5. Follow up after 30 days
CDW does not guarantee outreach after registration. If you have not received acknowledgment within 30 days, contact the supplier diversity team directly through the contact form on the Coradiant page. Reference your registration submission date.
What CDW procurement buys from diverse suppliers
CDW's supplier base covers technology-adjacent categories. Focus areas for diverse supplier sourcing include:
- IT hardware: servers, networking equipment, storage, endpoints
- Software and licensing: enterprise software, SaaS subscriptions, security tools
- Professional services: implementation, integration, project management
- Managed services: help desk, infrastructure management, cloud managed services
- Staffing and workforce solutions: IT staffing, contract labor
- Logistics and fulfillment: shipping, warehousing, configuration services
- Marketing and creative services: internal CDW operational needs
If your business does not sell technology products directly, CDW still sources marketing services, facilities-related vendors, and professional services for its own operations. Check the current sourcing categories on the Coradiant page before registering, as priorities shift based on CDW's internal procurement calendar.
What CDW looks for in diverse supplier candidates
CDW's procurement team evaluates suppliers on more than certification status:
Financial stability. CDW is a large company with high transaction volumes. Suppliers need to demonstrate they can fulfill orders at scale or, for service providers, staff and deliver engagements without financial strain.
Existing technology partnerships. If your company holds reseller authorizations from major OEMs — Cisco, Microsoft, Dell, HP, Lenovo — note them in your registration. CDW is a multi-brand reseller, so authorized channel partners align directly with its sourcing model.
Past performance with comparable customers. Reference engagements with enterprise, government, education, or healthcare customers carry more weight than small commercial projects.
Insurance and compliance documentation. CDW requires suppliers to carry appropriate liability insurance. Minimums vary by category. Be prepared to provide certificates of insurance when requested.
Typical onboarding timeline
The registration-to-first-engagement timeline at large technology companies typically runs three to twelve months. Registration gets you into the supplier database; an actual purchase order depends on a sourcing need, budget cycle alignment, and procurement team review.
To shorten the timeline:
- Attend CDW supplier diversity events and NMSDC national and regional conferences where CDW participates
- Connect with CDW's supplier diversity team on LinkedIn after registering
- Reference your CDW registration in responses to any RFQ or sourcing inquiry where CDW is the end customer
Sources and further reading
- CDW Coradiant supplier diversity program: cdw.com/content/cdw/en/about/diversity-inclusion/supplier-diversity.html
- NMSDC MBE certification: nmsdc.org
- SBA 8(a) and HUBZone certification: sba.gov/federal-contracting
- VA Veteran-Owned Small Business verification: va.gov/osdbu
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be SBA-certified to register with CDW? No. CDW accepts both federal certifications (SBA, VA) and third-party certifications (NMSDC, WBENC, NGLCC, Disability:IN). You do not need a federal contract to participate in CDW's supplier diversity program.
Does CDW have a revenue minimum for diverse suppliers? CDW does not publish a hard revenue floor. Suppliers who cannot demonstrate capacity to handle purchase orders at enterprise scale are unlikely to advance past initial review for product categories. Service providers have more flexibility at smaller revenue levels.
Can I register without a diversity certification? CDW's supplier diversity portal is specifically for certified diverse businesses. If you are not yet certified, pursue certification first. The SBA's 8(a) and HUBZone programs are free; NMSDC MBE certification runs $350–$1,250 annually depending on your affiliate council.
How often should I update my CDW supplier profile? Update your profile whenever your certification renews, your NAICS codes change, or you add significant new capabilities or OEM authorizations. Outdated profiles are frequently deprioritized in sourcing searches.
Changes made:
- "Their supplier diversity program — branded Coradiant — is a structured effort" — removed the em-dash parenthetical pair, replaced with a comma appositive: "Their supplier diversity program, Coradiant, is a structured effort". The em-dash in step 1 ("Check your certificate date with your issuing body — NMSDC affiliates...") is a genuine interruption introducing a clarifying list; kept.
- "CDW's supplier base covers a wide range of technology-adjacent categories" — cut "wide range of", now reads "covers technology-adjacent categories". Tighter and no filler.
- "evaluates suppliers on several factors beyond certification status" — changed to "evaluates suppliers on more than certification status". Removes the weak filler "several factors".
- "CDW is no exception" — removed the cliché sentence entirely. The timeline sentence that followed ("Registration gets you into the supplier database...") carries the same meaning without it.
- "However, suppliers who cannot..." in the FAQ — removed "However," (borderline connector used as sentence-opener).
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