Small Business Inclusion (SBI) works to ensure purchasing decision makers at UAB provide fair opportunities to Diverse Business Enterprises (DBEs) as suppliers of goods and services. Our department supports UAB’s strategic plan by helping to ensure we are good stewards of our resources and support the economic development in the City of Birmingham.
We partner with the Planning Design & Construction (PD&C) team to increase DBE participation in the procurement and construction process. We also support PD&C with Small Public Works projects, ensuring fair opportunities for DBE participation.
FAQ
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What is Small Business Inclusion (SBI)?
Our department focuses on connecting those who make purchases at UAB with resources to help them understand the importance of economic inclusion and access to opportunities for Diverse Business Enterprises (DBEs). Often those DBEs are capable of providing similar services for similar prices as larger corporations.
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How can I get involved in creating better opportunities for Diverse Businesses at UAB?
Thank you for visiting our page to learn more about making diverse purchasing decisions! We would love the opportunity to give a presentation to your team. Please review the following information, and reach out to Tamika Logan-Reynolds at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .- Identify opportunities within your department.
- Increase your department dollar spend with DBE’s on goods & services that are not under a contract with UAB.
- Have someone in your department responsible for pushing the diverse spend.
- Attend regular training, educational, and tradeshow events sponsored by SBI.
- Be recognized as a leader in your department as an advocate for Small Business Inclusion.
- Commit to improving your dollar spend in two or more areas.
- Motivate your peers.
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How do I become a DBE Vendor?
All UAB vendors are required to register through UAB iSupplier, an online vendor portal that enables suppliers the ability to maintain purchasing and accounts receivable address(es) and contact information as well as retrieve UAB purchase orders.
Learn about the UAB iSupplier process. -
What are some terms I should know about SBI?
1. Diverse Supplier: Companies that are owned by a minority, a service disabled veteran(s) or a woman(women).
2. Certified Minority and Women-Owned Businesses: (M/WBE) Businesses which have been certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC), Birmingham Construction Industry Authority (BCIA), or other agencies with comparable standards to be 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a minority individual or group or by one or more women; for publicly held businesses at least 51% of the stock must be owned by one or more minorities or women who are U.S. citizen or legal people with permanent residence status.
3. Ownership:- For a sole proprietorship or partnership to be deemed a minority business enterprise, at least 51% of the company’s assets or interests must be owned by a minority business.
- For a corporation to be considered a minority business enterprise, legal and equitable ownership of at least 51% of all classes of stocks, bonds and other securities issued by the corporation must be owned by a minority person or minority persons.
- Any ownership interest held by minority person subject to an option or security interest held by a non-minority person or business entity affecting the incidence of operation and control of shares in the profits of the enterprise shall not qualify as being an interest held by such minority persons.
4. Control: This term requires that the primary power, direct or indirect, to influence the day to-day management of a business enterprise shall rest with minority persons.
5. Operated: Involved in the day-to-day company decisions concerning the business operations in an active and internal capacity of the business performance.
6. Subcontract: Any agreement or arrangement between a contractor and any party or person for the furnishing of supplies or services.
7. Small Business Development: Effort to increase the capability, capacity and capital of a supplier toward long-term success through programs such as Small Business Inclusion, teaming and other inclusive methods.
8. Supplier Recruitment: Effort to inform, educate and enlist potential suppliers for future purchases.
9. Prime: The corporation or entity that provides products and services to the customer, which is the end user. The product or service is typically in its final value added configuration.
10. Second Tier: A first tier supplier is a supplier that provides the products/services and invoices to the Prime for goods and services rendered directly by that supplier. A second tier supplier is a supplier that provides the products/services and invoices to the first-tier supplier for goods and services rendered.
11. Direct Second Tier Purchases: Second Tier supplier products and services, which can be identified in support of Prime’s requirements.
12. Double Counting: DBE purchases that are captured as first-tier dollars by UAB in support of the same contract, relationship or the Prime’s requirements. Additionally, DBE to DBE should not be reported as second-tier dollars.
13. Qualified DBE: A minority-owned business that meets the certification performance requirements of the Prime.
14. Traditional Buyers: Buyers and decision makers who procure products, services, and commodities through the Department of Purchasing.
15. Non-Traditional Buyers: People who make and/or influence purchasing decisions for products, services and commodities from outside the Department of Purchasing.