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About MBEWBE

 

About The Program

The University of Missouri System's Minority Business Development Program encompasses University Health Care as well as the four campuses: UM-Columbia, UM-Kansas City, UM-St. Louis and UM-Rolla. The director of the program works closely with Procurement and Design and Construction at each campus, ensuring that Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) are included in the pool of suppliers, contractors and consultants eligible to do business with the University, and whose products and services the University uses.

Mission

To establish and implement initiatives that will increase business opportunities at the University of Missouri System for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs).

Primary Roles and Responsibilities
  • To identify Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises - suppliers/distributors, contractors and design consultants - that are interested in business opportunities at the University of Missouri System, and whose products and services the University procures.
  • To apprise minority and woman-owned businesses of the requirements for doing business with the University, and assist them in successful business transactions with the University of Missouri System.
  • To market M/WBEs to internal University departments.
  • To promote the M/WBE Program internally and externally.
Sources of Identification and Recruitment of M/WBEs
  • Minority Supplier Business Councils in Kansas City & St. Louis.
  • Kansas City Hispanic Association Contractors Enterprise (KCHACE).
  • Minority Contractors Association (MCA) of Kansas City.
  • St. Louis Minority Contractors Association (MOKAN).
  • General Services Administration's (GSA) monthly networking breakfasts in Kansas City.
  • National Minority Supplier Development Council's (NMSDC) annual conference and business opportunity fair.
  • Business Investment Expositions in Kansas City and St. Louis.
  • Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED).
  • Business journals, newspapers and M/WBE directories.
Types of Businesses Identified

Contractors; architects; engineers; consultants; suppliers and distributors.
Products and services procured by the University of Missouri are listed on the Internet.

Bid Information

Minority and women-owned businesses that are interested in doing business with the University should complete the appropriate document for the University's database: Vendor Registration Form. As opportunities become available, M/WBEs will be notified. In addition, bid announcements will be posted on the Internet, as well as distributed to the appropriate Councils and organizations, particularly in Kansas City and in St. Louis. Information relative to future construction projects will be sent to contractor associations, posted on the Internet, published in the Newsletter and sent directly to contractors and suppliers.

M/WBEs should notify the University of any changes in their profiles.

 

Community Outreach
  • Business Investment Expositions - The University of Missouri participates in specific community functions and activities to promote its Minority Business Development Program. This includes the Kansas City Minority Supplier Council and St. Louis Minority Business Council's business fair and exposition, the Ike Skelton's procurement conference and exposition, Minority Enterprise Development Week and Networking Breakfasts.
  • Advertising - The University promotes its Minority Business Development Program in various publications in St. Louis and Kansas City.
  • Workshops - The University of Missouri System co-sponsors workshops that are tailored to meet specific needs of M/WBEs, including financing, certification, business plans and marketing.
  • On-site Visits - On-site visits are made to M/WBEs. During these visits, the potential for future business opportunities and guidelines on how to do business with the University are discussed.
  • One-on-One Sessions - One-on-one sessions are conducted with M/WBEs. Topics include information on upcoming bid opportunities, bid-pricing history and feedback on (M/WBE) bid documents.
  • Facilitation of Meetings - The Director of the Minority Business Development Program facilitates meetings between M/WBEs and minority business leaders and University personnel. Such meetings address specific issues relative to doing business with the University and improving communications.
  • Mini Business Fairs - Each University of Missouri campus periodically conducts mini minority business fairs. Key decision-makers from various campus departments are invited to meet M/WBEs. The goal of the mini fair is to increase business opportunities for M/WBEs.
  • Web Site - The Minority Business Development Program's web site provides information pertinent to doing business with the University, with linkages to each of its Campuses. M/WBE directories may also be accessed through this site.
Future Initiatives Include the Following:
  • Business Surveys - Surveys designed to identify barriers to M/WBE participation in business activity at the University will be administered. The findings from the surveys will be used to further improve the Minority Business Development Program and to establish goals and objectives to maximize M/WBE participation.
  • Professional Conferences/Publications - The success stories of the Minority Business Development Program will be shared with other organizations and higher education institutions.
  • Minority Business Development Workshops/Symposiums - Workshops will be sponsored to help meet the needs of M/WBEs.
  • Supplier Diversity Conferences - Missouri's colleges and universities, government entities and others will be invited to meet and build business relationships with Missouri's M/WBEs.
Minority Business Development Newsletter

The University of Missouri System Office of Management Services publishes a quarterly newsletter. The purpose of the newsletter is to promote internal and external awareness of the Minority Business Development Program, to spotlight minority and woman-owned businesses, and to identify M/WBEs who received contracts and awards from the University of Missouri System. The Newsletter is published online and in hard copy.
 

Reviewed 2019-08-05