State of Indiana MWBE Certification

The Basics

Minority and Women's Business Enterprises Division

• The Division was established in 1983 and is currently housed within the Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA)

• Promote, monitor, and enforce the standards for certification of minority and women’s business enterprises

• Provide equal opportunity to minority and women enterprises in the state’s procurement and contracting process

Terrie DanielMWBE Deputy Commissioner

Jessica RobertsonIDOA Commissioner

Program Leadership

Doing Business in IndianaMinority and women business enterprises that wish to provide goods or services to state agencies (with the exception of certain businesses that seek to do business with the INDOT) should be certified by the Division of Supplier Diversity.

• Register as a bidder and certify Buy Indiana status with IDOA Procurement at: http://www.in.gov/idoa/2464.htm.

• Read Indiana Statute and Indiana Administrative Code which govern Minority & Women's Business Enterprises Certification

• Obtain & Complete MWBE Certification application.

Division Overview

1. Certification

2. Outreach

3. Business Development

4. Contract Compliance

Benefits of Certification• Qualify for MBE/WBE subcontracting opportunities on

state contracts.

• Receive notification of state business opportunities.

• Receive notice of upcoming events.

• Qualify as an MBE/WBE for purchasing by casinos and state universities, as well as other public and private organizations.

Mission

The Minority and Women's Business Enterprises Division assists minority-owned and woman-owned businesses by:

• Creating a fair, competitive, and equitable business environment

• Providing networking opportunities to clients

• Working to increase utilization

• Monitoring & enforcing program compliance

Governor's Commission on Minority and Women's Business

Enterprises• Advocates for MWBE goals in state contracting.

• Establishment of annual MWBE goals based upon disparity study results which provides statistical analysis of utilization of minority- and woman-owned business enterprises in state contracts every five years.

State of IN Participation Goals

Sub-Contracting

• Incentives are given for MBE and WBE sub-contracting in the procurement scoring process.

• Dually certified firms must choose one certified status per project. (MBE, WBE or VBE)

• Sub-contractors must provide a commercially useful function.

Applying for Certification Enterprise must…

• Submit its application on the form(s) provided by IDOA & all requested documentation

• Demonstrate that it meets the requirements concerning ownership and control

• Cooperate fully with IDOA’s requests for information and documentation (failure to cooperate may result in denial of certification)

• Disclose all material and relevant information (any material misrepresentation or omission may be grounds for denial)

• 51% or more of firm owned by qualifying minority* or woman (*Minority groups include African American, American Indians, Hispanics and Asian Americans or as defined by 13 CFR 124.103)

• Possess expertise in the field

• Control the business enterprise

• United States Citizen

Reference: Indiana Administrative Code: 25 IAC 5-2-1

Qualifications

Processing Your Application• Division staff reviews certification application for

accuracy

• Verify requested documents from checklist

• If additional documentation is requested, must be submitted within 5 business days of request

• 30 day notification letter sent for next step in the process

Onsite Visit• On-site visits occur between 8am – 5pm, Monday

through Friday at company headquarters

• Interview with principal officers of the enterprise

• Determination within 90 business days of the completion of onsite investigation

• Applicant will be notified via email/phone listed on certification application for site visit

Certification Decision

• After onsite is complete, MWBE application goes before review committee

• Business Relations Specialists recommends certification or denial

• Certification eligibility notification letter sent from the Division to applicant

• If eligible, certification is immediate and is valid for three years

Certification Decision

• Denial letters are delivered certified mail to the applicant outlining denial decision

• Applicant has a right to appeal

• Appeals must be filed within fifteen (15) days after the person is given notice of the order

• Enterprise can re-apply for certification 12 months after final denial date

UNSPSC Codes• United Nations Standard Products and Services Code

(UNSPSC)

• Coding system to classify products and services that a business provides

• Applicant UNSPSC’s verified at onsite visit by Business Relations Specialist

• UNSPSC’s will be listed on applicant certification letter and in the State of Indiana MWBE Certified Business Directory upon certification

I'm Certified – Now What?

Get Connected!

MWBE State Directory• All certified firms appear in the State of Indiana MWBE

Certified Business Directory located at http://www.in.gov/idoa/files/certification_list.xls.

• State Directory is updated daily

• Excellent Tool

• Open to the public

Affidavit of Continued Eligibility (ACE)

Changes in any of the following:• Address• Phone Number• Email Address• Services Provided• Ownership• Control

UNSPSC Amendments

• Amendment form submission• Scope of Business Change• Ownership Change • Change in day to day control of operations

• Complete re-certification application every 3 years

• Submit Affidavit of Continued Eligibility annually

• Random site visits conducted at the discretion of the Division

Re-certification Process

Indiana Veteran’s Business Enterprise

(IVBE)

IVBE Overview

• Governor Mike Pence signed SEA 564 on April 25, 2013, expanding veteran-owned small business opportunities in Indiana

• The law was effective July 1, 2013• Established a 3% goal with veteran-owned small

businesses

IVBE Program Goal

Create an environment that: • Promotes meaningful business opportunities • Builds productive partnerships• Creates successful integration of Indiana veteran-

owned businesses within the business infrastructure of the state of Indiana

Program Eligibility

1. An Indiana firm, with its principal place of business located in Indiana

2. Firm must be certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs

3. Certification must be dated before contract award

The state of Indiana utilizes the Federal Center for Veterans Business Enterprise and its VetBiz registry that follows the guidelines as set by (38CFR Part 74) Veterans Business

Regulations to determine eligibility.

How to Become an IVBE

1. Register with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligible firms are:

• A small business concern • A majority veteran-owned business• A majority service disabled veteran–owned

business2. Register your company with the Secretary of State 3. Complete the Indiana Department of Administration’s

Bidder Registration

Procurement ProcessContracts > $75K

RFP solicitations for contracts >$75K• Subcontracting Program• Must be used to provide the goods or services specific

to the contract• IVBE must provide a letter from the U.S. Department

of Veterans Affairs to verify VA classification to the prime contractor

• IVBE will be required to submit subcontractor payment information into the PayAudit tool for monitoring of prime contractor goal commitment

Procurement Process Contracts < $75K

Vendor Price ProposedPreference Requested Evaluation Price

1 $50,000 None $50,000

2 $55,000 IVBE 15% $46,750

• Modeled after the price preference available to Indiana Small Businesses

• Must meet definition from SEA 564 found under 5-22-14-3.5• Example

• Vendor #1 = Lowest Price Proposed• Vendor #2 = Lowest Evaluation Price • Vendor #2 will still receive $55,000 for the product

EO 13-04 and SEA 564SEA 564 Definition

• A business qualifies if it is an Indiana Small Business and is owned and controlled by veterans as defined by 15U.S.C. 632(q)(3) as in effect 1-1-2013

• Must have a current verification under 38 CFR 74 from the Center of Veterans Enterprise of the USDVA

• Owned and controlled by one or more veteran who have been Indiana residents for at least 1 year

• Has its principal place of business in Indiana

Helpful Resources

• IDOA website http://www.in.gov/idoa/2862.htm• Information about the Veteran's Business

Enterprises program, e-mail: indianaveteranspreference@idoa.in.gov

• Secretary of State – Starting your Business websitehttp://www.in.gov/sos/business/3648.htm

Contact UsTelephone: (317) 232-3061

Fax: (317) 233-6921

E-mail: mwbe@idoa.in.gov

Website: www.in.gov/idoa/mwbe Twitter: https://twitter.com/IndianaMWBE

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IDOA.MWBE

Address:Minority and Women's Business Enterprises Division

402 W. Washington Street, Room W469Indianapolis, IN 46204

Hours of Operation:8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday

(excluding state holidays)

Questions and Answers