Supplier Diversity Definitions

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)

To qualify as an MBE, the firm must be a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, operated and controlled by minority group members. Ownership by minority individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, those minority group members control the management and daily operations.

Minority group members are defined as:

  1. Asian-Indian - A U.S. citizen whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
  2. Asian-Pacific - A U.S. citizen whose origins are from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
  3. African-American - A U.S. citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
  4. Hispanic - A U.S. citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America or the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin only.
  5. Native-American - A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or Native Hawaiian, and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. Native Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and proof can be provided through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number).

To certify your business as an MBE, visit the National Minority Supplier Development Council home page.

Women Business Enterprise (WBE)

To qualify as an WBE, the firm must be a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women members. Ownership by female individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, the management and daily operations are controlled by the woman or women members.

To certify your busines as a WBE, visit the Women's Business Enterprise National Council.

Small Business

To qualify as small business, a business concern eligible for assistance from SBA as a small business is one that is organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States. It must operate primarily within the United States or make a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor. Together with its affiliates, it must meet the numerical size standards as defined in the Small Business Size Regulations, 13 CFR 121. To determine the size standard of your business, visit the Small Business Administration (SBA) homepage.