Supplier Diversity Program
The Las Vegas Valley Water District’s Supplier Diversity Program encourages the participation of Local Emerging Small Businesses and minority, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBE) in our organization's purchasing and contracting activities. This is accomplished by:
- Participating in Community Supplier Diversity events where businesses can attend seminars, as well as meet buyers
- Participating in additional educational seminars with rotating topics, including how to do business, how to submit a request for proposal (RFP), online registration and subscriptions
- Providing educational presentations at various local organizations and events
- Working with the Latin, Asian, Urban, and Women's Chambers of Commerce along with the Nevada Association of Minority Contractors
- Helping to increase internal awareness and utilization with our Supplier Diversity Program
Like other suppliers, MWDBEs and small businesses must compete in the same bidding processes and deliver quality goods and services.
Register as a supplier at the Nevada Gov eMarketplace.
Supplier Diversity Program facts
An MWDBE is a business enterprise that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more minorities/women/disabled persons who also operate and control the business.
Federal definitions determine businesses that qualify.
- Minority-Owned Business: A for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the U.S. or its trust territories, at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by minority-group member citizens who are Asian, African-American, Hispanic or Native American.
- Women-Owned Business: An enterprise in business at least six months and at least 51 percent women-owned by a U.S. citizen or legal-resident alien.
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE): A business at least 51 percent owned, controlled and with daily operations managed by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged persons, as defined by federal law (DBE Regulation 49 CFR Parts 23 and 26). The business's average annual gross receipts also must be under specified dollar amounts depending on the industry.
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business: A small business owned and controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans who served in the active military, naval or air service; were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable; and whose disabilities were incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval or air service.
Small business qualification varies by industry according to average annual receipts or annual employment and net worth of company CEO. Values range from $250,000 to $750,000. View the U.S. Small Business Administration's size standards.
A Local Emerging Small Business is defined as an organization that is certified by the Governor's Office of Economic Development. Learn how to apply.
The Las Vegas Valley Water District Board of Directors passed a resolution in 1993 directing the General Manager to develop the program and attached a list of ways to utilize diverse businesses. The resolution and attachment are in the Supplier Diversity Program Guidelines.
No mandates currently exist in Nevada. As a member of the Regional Business Development Advisory Committee, the Water District is required to report utilization of diverse businesses to the state legislature for evaluation. Increasing diverse-supplier participation helps avoid state mandates. As a public agency, we operate under NRS Chapter 332 and NRS Chapter 338 purchasing statutes.