• To increase the level of goods and services provided by DBEs to the University of Pittsburgh
• To increase the availability of meaningful business opportunities afforded DBE businesses

DBE Development Program

In recognition of its social responsibility, the University actively promotes the development and use of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and enterprises employing the physically challenged as a means of improving the general economic well-being of the community and the functioning of our local and national economies. Accordingly, all purchasing units are required to actively and diligently promote the procurement of materials, supplies, equipment, MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) items, and services from minority, women-owned and physically challenged entrepreneurs, and to lend full support to the program by identifying and suggesting prospective occasions or items of need for which these supply sources might be developed.

Definition of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)

A "Disadvantaged Business Enterprise" is intended to mean a business concern owned by a minority or woman that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) unconditionally owned by one or more minority or women individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged, or a publicly owned business that has at least fifty-one percent (51%) of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more such individuals and that has its management and daily business controlled by one or more such individuals. Individuals who certify that they are a member of named groups, i.e. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives (Eskimos and Aleuts) and Asian and Pacific Island Americans are to be considered socially and economically disadvantaged.

Definition of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)

A "Minority Business Enterprise" is intended to mean a business concern owned by one or more minority individuals that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) unconditionally owned by one or more minority individuals, or a publicly owned business that has at least fifty-one percent (51%) of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more such individuals and that has its management and daily business controlled by one or more such individuals. Individuals who certify that they are a member of named groups, i.e. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives (Eskimos and Aleuts) and Asian and Pacific Island Americans are to be considered socially and economically disadvantaged.

Definition of Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

A "Women-Owned Business Enterprise" is intended to mean a business concern owned by one or more women that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) unconditionally owned by one or more women, or a publicly owned business that has at least fifty-one percent (51%) of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more such individuals and that has its management and daily business controlled by one or more such individuals.

For information regarding the University of Pittsburgh's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Development Program, contact Renee Galloway, Supplier Diversity Administrator , 3301 Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh PA 15260, phone (412) 624-5261, fax (412) 624-9339 or e-mail rgalloway@bc.pitt.edu.

Obtaining Certification

To ensure that the University is dealing with approved certified DBE suppliers of goods and services, and to give equal opportunity to all qualified DBEs in pursuit of University business, the University allows those enterprises which are not "certified" a ninety (90) day grace period to apply for certification from any of the certifying organizations and a one hundred eighty (180) day period for obtaining certification. If the enterprise is not certified after six (6) months of a University business relationship, the University may cease providing informal preferences for that enterprise until certification is granted.

Listed below are the local certifying organizations:

• Small Business Administration (SBA) - Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) or 8(a) certification is necessary if expenditures with a company are to count towards SDB commitment for contracts or projects associated with federal government funding, which come under P.L. 95-507 or other federal laws or regulation.
• Commonwealth of PA - MBE/WBE and/or Socially and Economically Restricted Business (SERB) certifications by the Commonwealth of PA are necessary when considering expenditures for contracts or projects associated with Commonwealth grant or contract funding.
• Allegheny County - MBE/WBE/or DBE Certification by Allegheny County is widely accepted by both public and private corporations and organizations interested in identifying approved certified suppliers of goods and services.
• Port Authority - All DBEs listed and certified by Port Authority are certified to meet the eligibility as outlined in DOT regulations 49CFR, Part 26.
• Pittsburgh Regional Minority Purchasing Council (PMRPC) - The PRMPC is an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). The NMSDC Network includes a National Office in New York and 39 regional councils across the country. There are 3,500 corporate members throughout the network, including most of America's largest publicly owned, privately owned and foreign-owned companies, as well as universities, hospitals and other buying institutions. The regional councils certify and match more than 15,000 minority owned businesses (Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American) with member corporations that want to purchase goods and services.

Certification is necessary for contracted spending to be counted as DBE, WBE, or MBE commitment activity under certain agencies, i.e., Federal, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The University of Pittsburgh, however, when contracting for all non-Commonwealth or Federally funded commodities and/or services accepts certification from any of the above certifying agencies. Application for certification can be made to the certifying agencies at the site and locations listed below:

Organization	Contact Information
Small Business Administration (SBA)	Carl Knoblock , District Director Pittsburgh District Office Federal Building - Room 1128 1000 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: (412) 395-6560 Fax: (412) 395-6562 Website: www.sba.gov/pa/pitt/
Commonwealth of PA	Pennsylvania Department of General Services Application and Instruction Guide for Certification as a Minority/Women Business Enterprise For more information about certification call (717) 787-6708. Website: www.dgs.state.pa.us/cabd/mwbcert.htm
Allegheny County: Office of Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises	Ruth Byrd-Smith , Director 204 County Office Building 542 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: (412) 350-4309 Fax: (412) 350-4915 E-mail: mwdbe@county.allegheny.pa.us Website: www.county.allegheny.pa.us/mwdbe/
Port Authority: Office of Equal Opportunity	Edward J. Greene, DBE Contract Compliance Coordinator (412) 566-5257 E-mail: Web@portauthority.org Website: www.ridegold.com/work/pgDBE.asp
Pittsburgh Regional Minority Purchasing Council (PMRPC)	Alexander (Nick) Nichols, Executive Director / President PRMPC 425 Sixth Ave., Suite 2690 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-391-4423 email: nichols@prmpc.org Website: www.prmpc.org/index.html

Resources

• Sales Tax Exemption Certificate
• Guide to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Subcontracting