Central Washington University, as a public institution, is committed to ensuring that minority-owned, women-owned, small, disadvantaged, HUB Zone, veteran-owned and service-disabled-veteran owned businesses have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in purchasing and contracting. 

The Procurement and Contracts department goal of increasing support of supplier diversity meets one of the University’s core values by assisting area business, social, and government leaders in strengthening and diversifying the area’s economic base.  When we diversify the University’s supplier portfolio, it increases our ability to secure better pricing, higher quality products and services through increased competitive bid participation. The department is also participating in the Governor’s Business Diversity task force.

DES Supplier Diversity Handbook

Please review the supplier handbook.  Once you visit that webpage, select "Open Handbook" to be taken to the table of contents. 

CWU agency leadership is required to complete the Executive Management training (including Purchasing and Procurement Ethics, and Supplier Diversity) by April 1, 2023 or within 90 days after hire for new agency leadership. 

                              How to Locate and Select Diverse Suppliers
Our Procurement and Contracts department is committed to providing information to our University departments who would like to engage with diverse suppliers.

• If you are a CWU department searching for a small and or/diverse business:

• You can find DES state contracts with diverse businesses.  
• Visit the OMWBE Directory of Certified Firms to find more information.
• Visit the SBA Dynamic Small Business Search to identify small and diverse businesses.
• Visit the VetBiz database contains U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Veterans Enterprise online directory of Veteran-Owned (VOSB) and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB) small businesses.
• If you are a supplier that is already certified by the state, please ensure you are registered in Washington Electonic Bidding System WEBS to receive notices about bidding opportunities.

• If you are a supplier interested in OMWBE certification, please contact the State of Washington Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise OMWBE.

For information regarding CWU’s supplier diversity program, contact Stuart Thompson (Director of Procurement and Contracts) stuart.thompson@cwu.edu or 509-963-1004.