IT & Technology sector
Supplier diversity in it & technology.
The technology sector is one of the fastest-growing areas for diverse suppliers. From federal IT modernization to Fortune 500 digital transformation, certified diverse tech companies are in high demand.
Corporate programs
52
tracked in this sector
Certifications buyers ask for
4
listed below in priority order
Sector data
$30B+ in federal IT contracts to small and diverse businesses
Why certification matters here
What certification opens for it & technology suppliers.
Technology is experiencing unprecedented demand for diverse suppliers. Here's why certification matters:
Federal IT Modernization: The government is investing billions in cloud migration, cybersecurity, and digital services. Small business goals create massive opportunities for certified tech firms.
Corporate Digital Transformation: Fortune 500 companies are actively seeking diverse tech vendors to meet their supplier diversity commitments.
Subcontracting Requirements: Large IT prime contractors (Accenture, Deloitte, SAIC) have diversity goals they must meet on federal contracts.
Innovation Sourcing: Many corporations specifically seek diverse tech startups for innovation and new capabilities.
Federal IT spending exceeds $100 billion annually, with significant portions targeted to small and diverse businesses.
Certifications by buyer impact
Which certifications it & technology buyers actually use.
Not every certification is worth pursuing for every business. The ones below are the certifications it & technology federal agencies, prime contractors, and Fortune 500 procurement teams require or reward in their solicitations and supplier registration portals.
8(a)
8a
8(a) Business Development
Business development program for small disadvantaged businesses.
- Cost
- Free
- Timeline
- 90-180 days
HUBZone
HUBZone Certification
HUBZone Business
For small businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones.
- Cost
- Free
- Timeline
- 60-90 days
MBE
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
Minority Business Enterprise
For businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by one or more minority group members.
- Cost
- $350 - $1,500
- Timeline
- 60-90 days
WOSB
Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
Women-Owned Small Business
Federal certification for businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by women.
- Cost
- Free
- Timeline
- 30-90 days
Where contracts come from
Government buyers, corporate buyers.
Government buyers
Federal and state agencies.
Federal IT Opportunities
Key agencies buying technology:
- Department of Defense (DoD): Largest IT buyer, cybersecurity, software development
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Border technology, cybersecurity
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Healthcare IT, EHR systems
- Civilian agencies: Cloud services, modernization projects
Contract Vehicles
- GSA IT Schedule 70 (now MAS)
- CIO-SP3/SP4 (small business specific)
- Agency-specific BPAs and IDIQs
- 8(a) STARS III
Compliance Requirements: FedRAMP for cloud, CMMC for defense, various security clearance requirements.
Top federal agencies
- Department of Defense $40B+
- Department of Homeland Security $8B+
- Department of Veterans Affairs $6B+
- General Services Administration $5B+
Corporate buyers
Fortune 500 procurement.
Tech Giants
Major technology companies with strong diversity programs:
- Microsoft: Comprehensive supplier diversity, cloud partners
- Google: Diverse supplier program, startup partnerships
- Salesforce: Active diverse vendor engagement
- Amazon (AWS): Growing diverse supplier initiatives
Systems Integrators
Large SI firms subcontract to diverse tech companies:
- Accenture Federal
- Deloitte Digital
- IBM Consulting
- CGI Federal
How to Connect: Most have online supplier portals. Attend technology industry events and matchmaking conferences.
Top corporate buyers
- Microsoft Supplier portal →
- Google Supplier portal →
- Salesforce Supplier portal →
- Amazon Supplier portal →
Buyers in this sector
Corporate programs sourcing from it & technology suppliers.
Each company below runs an active supplier diversity program that buys in this sector. Pages list the certifications they accept, the procurement contacts, and the supplier registration steps. Annual diverse spend, where reported, comes from each program's most recent public disclosure.
Leidos
Substantial investment in diverse supply chain diverse spend
BAE Systems
Substantial annual diverse spend diverse spend
SAIC
Strong track record of diverse spend diverse spend
Booz Allen Hamilton
Significant diverse supplier investment diverse spend
Boeing
Over $4 billion diverse spend
RTX (Raytheon Technologies)
Over $3 billion diverse spend
General Dynamics
Over $2 billion diverse spend
Northrop Grumman
Over $2 billion diverse spend
Lockheed Martin
Over $2.5 billion diverse spend
What buyers screen for
How it & technology procurement teams evaluate suppliers.
What Tech Buyers Look For
Security Posture
- SOC 2 compliance (increasingly required)
- FedRAMP authorization (for federal cloud)
- CMMC certification (for defense)
- Data handling policies
Technical Capabilities
- Cloud expertise (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Agile/DevOps methodologies
- Modern technology stack
- Scalability
Past Performance
- Similar project experience
- Customer references
- Case studies demonstrating impact
Team Qualifications
- Relevant certifications (AWS, Azure, etc.)
- Security clearances (for federal)
- Technical depth
First ninety days
A practical sequence to follow.
Your 90-Day Plan
Days 1-30: Foundation
- Register in SAM.gov with appropriate NAICS codes
- Document your technical capabilities and past performance
- Identify certification path (8(a), WOSB, NMSDC, etc.)
- Begin security compliance assessment
Days 31-60: Certify and Position
- Apply for appropriate certifications
- Develop capability statement for tech focus
- Register in corporate supplier portals
- Consider GSA Schedule application
Days 61-90: Build Pipeline
- Set up SAM.gov saved searches for IT opportunities
- Connect with prime contractors for teaming
- Attend tech industry matchmaking events
- Join relevant tech trade associations
Tech-Specific Tips
- Invest in security certifications (SOC 2, etc.)
- Build relationships with prime contractors early
- Consider joint ventures for larger opportunities
- Keep technical staff certifications current
FAQ
Questions it & technology owners ask.
Do I need FedRAMP to sell to the federal government? +
FedRAMP is required if you're providing cloud services that will store federal data. Not all IT services require FedRAMP - consulting, staff augmentation, and on-premise solutions may not need it. However, FedRAMP authorization is increasingly valuable and can differentiate you from competitors.
What certifications are best for tech companies? +
For federal: 8(a) is powerful for sole-source contracts up to $4.5M. WOSB/SDVOSB have set-asides in IT. For corporate: NMSDC (MBE) and WBENC (WBE) are the gold standards that most Fortune 500 companies recognize and actively seek.
How do I partner with large IT prime contractors? +
Research their supplier diversity pages, register in their portals, attend industry days and matchmaking events, and reach out to their small business liaisons. Many primes actively seek diverse subcontractors to meet their contractual obligations.
Is GSA Schedule worth it for a small tech company? +
GSA Schedule (MAS) can be valuable but requires investment. It takes 6-12 months to obtain and requires ongoing compliance. Consider if you have the capacity to pursue federal opportunities at scale. For many small firms, starting with 8(a) and subcontracting relationships makes more sense initially.
Other sectors
Adjacent industry guides.
Start here
Confirm which certifications fit your it & technology business.
The quiz checks ownership, location, revenue, and NAICS codes against the eligibility rules for every federal, national, and state certification we track, then orders the matches by which it & technology buyers accept each one.