Reporting on supplier diversity.

Supply chain diversity vs supplier diversity: what is the difference

Supplier diversity tracks direct (Tier 1) spend with diverse-owned firms. Supply chain diversity is the broader system, including the Tier 2 subcontracting …

· Maya Okonkwo

8(a) annual review: what the SBA actually looks at

Every 8(a) participant must submit an annual certification to SBA by the anniversary of their admission date. Miss it and you risk …

· Mario Bailey

What happens to your 8(a) contracts if your ownership changes

SBA requires prior approval before any transfer of ownership in an 8(a) firm. Do it without approval and your contracts are at …

· Mario Bailey

Supplier diversity and Scope 3 / ESG reporting: how they connect

Tier 2 diversity spend and spend-based Scope 3 emissions are calculated from the same purchase data, by the same procurement teams, using …

· Maya Okonkwo

Tier 2 supplier diversity in the supply chain, explained

Tier 2 is the diverse spend your direct suppliers make on your behalf. This guide covers how it's calculated, the federal subcontracting …

· Maya Okonkwo

Nearshoring, reshoring, and the case for diverse domestic suppliers

Reshoring and nearshoring are rebuilding domestic supplier bases at the same time federal subcontracting rules and Scope 3 reporting reward local sourcing. …

· Will Moss

Procurement vs supply chain management: what suppliers need to know

Procurement buys things. Supply chain management runs the system those purchases live inside. The distinction decides which compliance rules apply to you, …

· Maya Okonkwo

Second-tier spend reporting in the supply chain: a how-to for primes

How prime contractors and corporate buyers actually capture second-tier spend: the direct vs. indirect allocation math, what FAR 52.219-9 requires in eSRS, …

· Maya Okonkwo

The ROI of supplier diversity in the supply chain

A buyer-side look at what diverse suppliers actually return: federal subcontracting compliance under FAR 19.7, Tier 2 spend reporting, Scope 3 data …

· Maya Okonkwo

Guide · 7 min

Supplier Diversity vs DEI in 2026: Why One Survived the Rollback and One Didn't

Supplier diversity and DEI get lumped together, but they live in different parts of the law. DEI is voluntary HR policy that …

· Will Moss

Article

Article · 5 min

The HUBZone July 1 Cliff: A Field Guide for Firms in Redesignated Areas

Sixty days from today, the SBA's HUBZone redesignated-area transition expires. If your firm's eligibility depends on a 2023-redesignated address, July 1 is …

May 1, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Article

Article · 6 min

100 Days Past the 8(a) Audit Deadline: A May 2026 Compliance Status Check

January 19 was the largest enforcement deadline in the 8(a) program's 55-year history. We covered the rule structure when it landed. 102 …

May 1, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Article

Article · 6 min

Reading the FAR Part 19 Overhaul as a Founder, Not a Procurement Officer

The September 26, 2025 FAR Part 19 overhaul has been thoroughly covered for procurement officers. Bid protests, set-aside justification memos, internal compliance …

Jan 20, 2026 · Mario Bailey

How to verify a supplier's small business and socioeconomic status

A supplier's word that they're an SDVOSB no longer counts toward your goals. Here's how to confirm SB and socioeconomic status against …

Dec 30, 2025 · Mario Bailey

Tier 1 vs Tier 2 diverse spend: what counts and how to report it

Tier 1 is the spend you pay diverse and small suppliers directly. Tier 2 is what flows through your suppliers. Here's what …

Dec 26, 2025 · Mario Bailey

FAR 52.219-9 explained: the subcontracting plan clause for primes

If your contract crosses the threshold, you owe the government a subcontracting plan with goals you have to report against. Here's what …

Dec 4, 2025 · Mario Bailey

Writing diverse and small supplier requirements into your RFPs

Building small and diverse supplier expectations into a solicitation is a sourcing and compliance problem, not a slogan. Here's how to write …

Dec 3, 2025 · Mario Bailey

Commercial vs individual subcontracting plans: which to use

If you sell commercial products or services across many federal contracts, a commercial subcontracting plan can replace a stack of individual plans …

Dec 2, 2025 · Mario Bailey