Buyer sourcing guide · Wisconsin

How to Find Certified Diverse Suppliers in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's Supplier Diversity Program at the Department of Administration certifies minority-owned (MBE), woman-owned (WBE), and service-disabled veteran-owned (DVB) firms, and lists all of them in one public search.

By Mario Bailey, Editor-in-Chief · Reviewed against official Wisconsin and federal sources · Last verified July 2026

Heads up

Wisconsin's federal DBE certification runs separately through WisDOT, and its certified-firm data sits in the login-based Civil Rights and Compliance System rather than a public directory. WisDOT is not currently accepting new DBE/ACDBE or interstate applications under the USDOT Interim Final Rule issued October 3, 2025; only recertification and reevaluation submissions are open. Confirm a firm's current status before relying on it.

Wisconsin state directories

Start with the official state directory. It lists firms Wisconsin has certified, and it is the source public buyers and prime contractors use to confirm a firm counts toward state and federally funded contract goals.

Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program Certified Firm Search

The Department of Administration's search of every certified MBE, WBE, and DVB firm, filterable by products and services, NIGP, NAICS, and construction division codes, plus city and county.

Open the directory ↗

North Central Minority Supplier Development Council

The regional National Minority Supplier Development Council affiliate serving Wisconsin. Corporate buyers source certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) through its network.

North Central Minority Supplier Development Council ↗

Federal set-aside firms in Wisconsin

For federal contracts and subcontracting plans, search SAM.gov and filter by location and socioeconomic status: 8(a), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB), and HUBZone. These are separate from the state and council certifications above, and buyers count them differently.

Verify before you rely on a certification

A certificate on its own is not proof. Before you count a Wisconsin supplier toward a diverse spend goal or a subcontracting plan:

  1. Confirm the record is active, not expired, in the issuing directory above.
  2. Check the certification type matches what your program counts. MBE, DBE, WOSB, and CBE are not interchangeable.
  3. Keep a dated screenshot or export of the directory record for your compliance file.

More Wisconsin resources

A diverse business in Wisconsin?

Get certified so buyers find you in these directories. Our guide covers every certification, what it costs, and how to apply.

How to get certified →