The Small Business Diversity Office (SBDO) fosters economic growth in California through campus use of businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and small local businesses in the communities surrounding USC’s campuses. The SBDO administers:
- Government Subcontract Plans for USC Research Units
- Small Local Business Program initiative for small businesses within 26 targeted zip codes
- Minority, Women, and Veteran Diverse Supplier Initiatives
Contact information
Rhonda Thornton-Crawford, PhD
Director and Small Business Liaison Officer
rhondat@usc.edu
Mission
The mission of the USC SBDO is to provide professional, responsive and quality services to support the University of Southern California’s academic, research, social and economic goals. Its vision is to surpass the USC goal to procure 15% of all purchases, regardless of funding source, from diverse and local community suppliers.
Goals
USC values the quality, capabilities, cost-competitiveness and value-added customer service of all diverse suppliers. To assist in the advancement of the diverse supplier spend goal, the USC SBDO provides accessibility to and awareness of diverse and local suppliers throughout USC and the local community. This is accomplished through SBDO market-specific programs, collaborative partnerships, seminars, forums and promotional events.
USC Local Vendor Program
Use of small local suppliers contributes to USC’s diverse supplier spend goal. Therefore, the university promotes the use of small businesses located in one of the 26 targeted zip codes surrounding the University Park, Health Sciences, Alhambra and Marina del Rey campuses:
| 90006 | 90015 | 90033 | 90230 |
| 90007 | 90017 | 90037 | 90231 |
| 90008 | 90018 | 90043 | 90232 |
| 90011 | 90021 | 90058 | 90291 |
| 90012 | 90023 | 90062 | 90292 |
| 90013 | 90031 | 90063 | |
| 90014 | 90032 | 90071 |
Diverse suppliers
The supplier classifications below—with the exception of Minority Owned Large Business (MOLB), and Woman Owned Large Business (WOLB)—contribute to USC’s 15% diverse supplier spend goal; classifications with a “Yes” designation contribute to diverse supplier goals set forth in federal and/or state contracts. For a complete description of supplier classifications, refer to USC Supplier Portal Diverse Supplier Classifications (see Related Documents, bottom).
| Code | Description | Certification Requirements | Qualifies for Federal or State Contract Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOLB | Minority Owned Large Business | Self-identified | No |
| MOSB | Minority Owned Small Business | Self-identified | Yes |
| PHY | Physically Challenged Business | Self-identified | No |
| WOLB | Woman Owned Large Business | Self-identified | No |
| WOSB | Women Owned Small Business | Self-identified | Yes |
| HBCU/MI | Historically Black College/ University and Minority Institution | Self-identified | Yes |
| S | Small Business | Self-identified | Yes |
| ANC | Alaska Native Corporation | Self-identified | Yes |
| SDB | Small Disadvantaged Business | Self-identified | Yes |
| 8(A) | Certified Business Development Program | Certified through the Small Business Administration | Yes |
| HUBZone | Historically Underutilized Business | Certified through the Small Business Administration | Yes |
| CDVBE | California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise | Certified through the State of California | Yes |
| VOSB | Veteran Owned Small Business | Self-identified | Yes |
| SDVOSB | Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business | Self-identified | Yes |
Minority, Women and Veteran Business Enterprise (MWVBE) certification
MWV Business Enterprise certification is the process that a business must undergo to verify the company’s 51% ownership by U.S. citizens who meet the criteria for minority, women, disadvantaged or veteran business owners who manage and operate the business on a daily basis.
Who can certify?
All qualified suppliers are strongly encouraged to certify with one of the recognized agencies to prequalify for projects and services for which certified suppliers are required. Certification fees vary; suppliers should check directly with the agency for an application and any related fees.
What are the benefits of certification?
Certified MBEs, WBEs and DBEs are included in the System for Award Management (SAM) database that is accessible to prime contractors when bidding on public or private contracts that require inclusion of certified MBE, WBE and DBE.
More information about SBA certification programs can be obtained by:
- Reviewing the SBA website (see Supplier certification resources below)
- Visiting the U.S. Small Business Administration website
Federal and State certification of diverse suppliers
Diverse supplier certification is one of the tools used to seek, validate and vet qualified minority, women, veteran and disadvantaged business concerns for sponsored research projects.
- For the university to receive credit toward federal- or state-sponsored projects goals, MBE, WBE or VBE certification is required. The Small Business Administration (SBA) or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must certify these businesses. The SBA will certify qualified businesses for 8(a) Business Development Program and HubZone Empowerment Contracting Program.
- Environmental Protection Agency upgrade program includes new certification requirements for MBEs, WBEs and DBEs.
- The supplier certification resources listed below will assist suppliers with the certification process.
- To receive credit for using diverse suppliers on the university’s state contracts, the supplier must be a California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (CDVBE) and upload proof of certification to its profile in the USC Supplier Portal.
Supplier certification resources
- Department of General Services (DGS)
- U.S. Department of Education List of Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- U.S. Department of Education List of Minority Institutions
- Small Business Administration – Glendale, CA
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council
- U.S. Federal Contractor Registration (SAM)
- WBENC-LA
USC SBDO services for USC departments
USC SBDO provides many services for USC departments. For federal and state contracts, the SBDO:
- Administers the USC Small Business Diversity Office;
- Prepares and administers the university master plan for small government subcontract plans in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs and DFARs);
- Provides and administers small business individual subcontract plans ISPGs for university research projects;
- Submits small diverse supplier compliance reports to applicable government funding agencies and USC Contracts and Grants; and
- Provides annual monitoring of small business concern spend compliance to USC Contract and Grants research units.
Community partners
The following organizations offer resources and services to business owners:
Contact information
Rhonda Thornton-Crawford, PhD
Administrator and Small Business Liaison Officer
rhondat@usc.edu
Let’s talk diversity! USC SBDO virtual office hours
USC SBDO offers virtual office hours every Wednesday afternoon from 2:00pm to 3:00pm via Zoom (Passcode: DIVERSITY). Feel free to drop in with questions and connect with the staff.