Any Microsoft vendor claiming to be diverse must be officially certified as 51 percent or more owned, operated, and managed by minorities, women, or veterans, or must be an SBA-certified HUBZone (Historically Under Utilized Business Zone). The following organizations provide certification on a national basis and are the preferred certifying agencies for Microsoft vendors.
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Women's Business Enterprise National Council
(wbenc.org)
The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the nation's leading third-party certifier of women's business enterprises (WBEs) for the private sector. In partnership with women's business organizations throughout the United States, WBENC provides access to a national standard of certification and provides information on certified women's businesses to purchasing managers through its Internet database, WBENCLink.
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National Minority Supplier Development Council
(nmsdc.org)
The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has standardized procedures to assure consistent and identical review and certification of minority-owned businesses. The NMSDC affiliate nearest the business' headquarters conducts the certification process.
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Center for Veteran Enterprise
(vetbiz.gov)
The Center for Veteran Enterprise (CVE) manages the Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database. VIP is the only federally-controlled database in which a legal verification process is used to determine service disabled or veteran status of a small business. VIP registration is free.
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U.S. Small Business Administration
(sba.org)
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) manages the HUBZone (Historically Under Utilized Business Zone) Empowerment Program. This HUBZone program is designed to stimulate economic development and create jobs in urban and rural communities. The SBA regulates and implements the program, determines which businesses are eligible to receive HUBZone contracts, maintains a listing of qualified HUBZone small businesses that federal agencies can use to locate vendors, and adjudicates protests of eligibility to receive HUBZone contracts.
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Many state and local governments also have their own registration and certification programs. Microsoft accepts certifications from more than 300 third-party certifying agencies.
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Registering Your Interest in Becoming a Microsoft Supplier
