Minority-owned Businesses Play Important Part in UK Construction
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 11, 2013) — Recently, Commerce Lexington Inc. officially launched its Minority Business Accelerator (MBA) initiative by announcing a major procurement through an innovative local partnership that will infuse millions into the coffers of local minority-owned businesses.
National Diversity Solutions (NDS Value) has awarded a $2.4 million contract with Messer Construction for the management of doors, frames and hardware in the construction of University of Kentucky’s new residence halls. At the media event, UK Vice President of Facilities Management Bob Wiseman also announced the university’s Supplier Diversity Initiative contract with NDS Value that will provide a web-based portal to register, qualify and communicate with current and potential diverse suppliers of certain goods and services. The portal is expected to be operational this week.
Once approved, suppliers will be eligible to receive invitations to participate in opportunities to provide UK with goods and services through a competitive RFP/RFQ process. There is no cost associated for suppliers to register or participate in identified opportunities to provide impeccable quality at competitive costs.
The overall goals of the UK Supplier Diversity Initiative are to:
· Develop and maintain a database of designated diverse suppliers for use by construction managers, general contractors and other purchasing entities seeking qualified contractors/vendors
· Create a management system for continuous evaluation of performance for inclusion of diverse contractors/vendors
· Increase the total amount of contracted goods and services acquired from diverse contractors/vendors
· Serve as a liaison for diverse contractors/vendors desiring to do business with the university in conjunction with the UK Purchasing Division
“Embracing and nurturing diversity is the responsibility of every member of the university community,” said George Brown, UK Facilities Management supplier diversity business enterprise coordinator. “It must be clear and convincingly evident that diversity is an essential value that informs every area and aspect of the university community. A genuine commitment to diversity as a core value establishes and sustains an inclusive and celebratory view of diversity as a systemic influence on the conduct of students, faculty and staff and as members of society.”
The diverse business categories are:
· Minority Business Enterprises in which the company is held by one or more African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Indian Americans, and other groups owning and controlling at least 51 percent of the company as defined by federal law.
· Women-owned Business Enterprises in which one or more women own and control at least 51 percent of the company.
· Disabled Business Enterprises in which at least 51 percent of the business is owned and controlled by one or more disabled/physically challenged individuals pursuant to the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
· Veteran-owned Businesses in which at least 51 percent of the business is owned and operated by a service veteran.
· Disabled Veteran-owned Businesses of which at least 51 percent of the business is owned and operated by a service veteran with a related disability of at least 10 percent.
Commerce Lexington’s Vice President of Community and Minority Business Development Tyrone Tyra highlighted the effectiveness and potential of the Minority Business Accelerator program, saying, “The Accelerator initiative offers a significant opportunity for growth-oriented corporations and strong minority businesses to get stronger and create more jobs in our area.”
Commerce Lexington Inc. strives to promote and sustain the economic growth, development and self-sufficiency of minority business owners and entrepreneurs; to recruit minority-owned businesses into the area and to provide business referral services to the appropriate minority business assistance agencies.