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Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) - The Florida Office of
Supplier Diversity's (OSD) function is to improve business and economic opportunities for Florida's
women-owned and minority-owned businesses. OSD's efforts toward this goal can be categorized into
four primary functions, namely, Certification of Minority Business Enterprises, Compliance, Advocacy
and Outreach, and Matchmaking Activities.
MBE Certification
In keeping with Governor Bush's One Florida Equity in Contracting Plan (Word Downloadable Document).
OSD has streamlined its MBE Certification process by requiring less supporting documentation from the
vendor and limiting the approval period to fifteen days. For additional information on the MBE
certification process and certification eligibility criteria, please contact OSD or access the
MBE Certification Procedure and
Eligibility Criteria links.
Compliance
OSD is also responsible for monitoring state agencies' compliance with statutory requirements relating
to minority business enterprises. For example, OSD is responsible for reviewing and approving state
agencies' minority business enterprise utilization plans required under sec. 287.09451(6), Florida
Statutes, and for ensuring state agencies' compliance with them. OSD is also responsible for recording
and measuring the use of certified minority business enterprises in state contracting.
Advocacy and Outreach
With a view toward fostering positive working relationships between MBEs and state agencies, OSD serves
as an advocate for minority business enterprises in state contracting, and as an information resource
for MBEs, state agencies, vendors and the public.
MatchMaking Activities
In recent years, OSD has turned its attention toward "matchmaking" activities which are designed to
build relationships between minority businesses and state agency procurement specialists, non-minority
vendors, and other decision makers. These matchmaking activities include, among other things, assisting
minority business enterprises in identifying those state agencies most likely to purchase the type of
goods and/or services that their businesses provide and hosting an annual MatchMaker Trade Fair Regional
Workshop.
Certification Overview
The main objective of the MBE Certification program is to increase the number of minority business
enterprises, throughout Florida, that are certified by the Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD).
Certification officers are responsible for identifying and certifying minority business enterprises by
conducting thorough and effective eligibility reviews while ensuring that vendors receive prompt and
responsive customer service. Eligibility Criteria are set forth in Chapter 287, Florida Statutes and
Chapter 38A-20, Florida Administrative Code. OSD maintains a list of certified minority business
enterprises which is available upon request.
The Certification Officers are also available on a daily basis to answer questions and provide
information and technical assistance to vendors, local governments, and state agencies regarding the
State's MBE Certification Program. Vendors and others can learn more about the MBE Certificaton Program
by attending any of the many seminars, workshops and tradefairs hosted by OSD throughout the
State.
Certification Procedure
The process of becoming certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with the Office of Supplier
Diversity has recently been streamlined through the implementation of MyFloridaMarketPlace.
A business desiring MBE certification must first register with MyFloridaMarketPlace by going to the
MyFloridaMarketPlace Website and clicking on Online Vendor
Registration. The vendor registration process allows a vendor to request minority certification and
requires the vendor to identify its minority designation.
The vendor must submit supporting documents to OSD that support the claim of minority status within
twenty-five days (25 days) after submitting its online request for MBE certification.
(see Supporting Documents List).
Failure to submit the required supporting documentation within 25 days shall result in automatic denial
of the request for MBE certification. The data entered by the vendor, together with supporting documents
will be processed by OSD who will notify the vendor within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the
supporting documents of its decision.
If after review, OSD determines that the vendor meets the requirements for MBE certification, OSD shall
email the MBE certificate to the vendor. If the vendor's MBE certification request is denied by OSD the
vendor will receive email notification of the denial.
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