The mission of MDHA is to provide minority, women, small, and service-disabled veteran business enterprises with fair and equal accessibility to all its procurement opportunities. Collectively we refer to these businesses as “Diversity Business Enterprise (DBE).” MDHA is committed to increasing the participation in all aspects of its’ contracting of purchasing programs, including but not limited to procurement of equipment, construction and development projects, and professional services.
Diversity Business Enterprise Policy
It is the policy of MDHA to assist minority, women, and small business enterprise firms in their aspirations of viability and growth, which support a more stable economic community. To this extent, we join with community agencies and organizations that support these businesses to create more significant opportunities for these entrepreneurs to attain mutually beneficial social and economic objectives. Accordingly, minority, women, and small business enterprise firms will be given the maximum practicable opportunity, consistent with efficient performance and applicable law, to compete for and participate in contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, and other procurement actions. Businesses bidding or proposing on procurements are required to comply with the provisions of these procedures. MDHA prohibits discrimination against any person or business pursuing procurement opportunities based on race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. MDHA will conduct its contracting and purchasing programs to prevent any discrimination and resolve all allegations of discrimination.
Diversity Business Enterpise Certifications
Certification ensures that minority, women, and small business firms benefit from MDHA procurement opportunities. Minority, women, and small businesses are included in our vendor listing according to capacity, capability, procurement code, and M/W/SBE status. Identification of minority, women and small businesses is necessary to evaluate their participation in MDHA contract activity and calculate the percentage of construction and purchases awarded annually to M/W/SBE’s. MDHA will accept minority, women, and service-disabled business certifications, including small business approvals from the following agencies:
Certification ensures that minority, women, and small business firms benefit from MDHA procurement opportunities. Minority, women, and small businesses are included in our vendor listing according to capacity, capability, procurement code, and M/W/SBE/SDVBE status. Identifying minority, women, and small businesses are necessary to evaluate their participation in MDHA contract activity and calculate the percentage of construction and purchases awarded annually to M/W/SBE/SDVBE firms. MDHA will accept minority, women, and service-disabled business certifications, including small business approvals from the agencies listed below:
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certifications
Minority group members own, operate, and control at least 51% of the company. Definitions for minority groups include the following categories: Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native Indian. We accept MBE certifications from the following organizations:
- Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (GODBE)
- Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA)
- Small Business Administration, TN District Office (SBA)
- National Minority Supplier Development Council-TSMSDC-MBE
Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Certifications
Women own, operate, and control at least 51% of the company. We accept certifications from the following organizations:
- Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (GODBE)
- Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA)
- Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
- National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE) Certification
Service-disabled veterans own, operate, and control at least 51% of the company. We accept certifications from the organizations listed below.
- Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (GODBE)
Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Approval
As defined in section 4.44.010 of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Code of Laws, a business independently owned and operated, the number of employees or the annual sales volume for the applicable industry shall not exceed Metro Nashville Government’s established limits. Therefore, we accept Metro Nashville Government’s Business Assistance Office (BAO) Small Business Enterprise Approvals.
- Metro Nashville Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (BAO) bao@nashville.gov
For questions regarding MBE/WBE/SDVBE Certification and SBE Approvals, please contact MDHA Diversity Business Enterprise Program Consultant at: gdavis@simsdiversityconsult.com
MDHA DIVERSITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM REGISTRATION PROCESS
To participate in MDHA’s Diversity Business Enterprise Program please follow the steps below. Please review the DBE Program Registration Checklist. Gathering the documents listed before beginning the registration will help to speed up completing the process.
Step 1. Please register by completing the DBE Registration Form by using this link: https://form.jotform.com/220097933661156
Step 2. MDHA Marketplace Registration. Please use the following link: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company id=51162 to register in the MDHA Marketplace procurement program to receive timely notifications of MDHA procurement opportunities for goods and services.
To help bidders/proposers in their efforts to identify and outreach to Diversity Business Enterprise (DBE) firms, Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) collect information from DBEs through the Diversity Business Enterprise Program Registration process.
The DBE Directory is a resource reference tool. Users of the Directory should make their own determination about the firm’s capability to perform or enter a contract. Also, Users should not use the directory for unsolicited advertising, spam, or any other unauthorized use.