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| Overview |
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MBECO promotes the development
of certified Minority
Business Enterprises
(MBE), Women Business
Enterprises (WBE),
and Disadvantaged Business
Enterprises (DBE).
It does this by facilitating
their participation
in Rhode Island's business
and economic development
opportunities. Specifically,
MBECO services in certification,
enforcement, business
assistance and advocacy.
Certification is a
marketing tool, used
specifically to enhance
your ability to do
business in public
markets. Where an
agency has affirmative
purchasing goals, certification
increases your chances
of receiving a contract.
Certification does
not guarantee that
you will be successful
each and every time
you bid; but it may
add a competitive
edge to your bid. MBECO
works extensively with
state and local agencies
to help them fulfill
their business purchasing
goals. MBECO actively
promotes the participation
of certified businesses
in public and private
purchasing and contracting
programs. For more
information on Rhode
Island's procurement
system, contact www.purchasing.ri.gov.
MBECO offers the following
services designed to
meet the needs of the
Minority (MBE) and
Woman-Owned (WBE) business
communities. MBECO
also assists with
new legislative and
policy proposals that
facilitate the involvement
of minorities and women
in the mainstream of
the economy. |
| Procurement
and Marketing |
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MBECO
publishes directories of
certified MBE, WBE, and
DBE firms. It provides
a resource and referral
service for certified firms
with information about
federal, state, municipal
and private sector and
procurement opportunities,
bidding and contracting,
financial resources, business
assistance agencies and
organizations, business
membership and networking
organizations. |
| Eligibility |
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A small business concern which is at
least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by one or more socially
and economically disadvantaged individuals or in the case of a publicly
owned business, at least fifty-one (51%) of the stock of which is owned
by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and
whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or
more such individuals. |
| Application Process |
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Firms seeking certification as an MBE, WBE, or DBE must complete and submit the following certification documents. Please note that we require that you provide us with five (5) separate and completed sets of the application form and all required supporting documentation. In addition, please note that out of state firms must first seek certification from their home state Unified Certification Program (UCP) prior to seeking certification in the State of Rhode Island. Please note that the average processing time for a complete application is approximately eight (8) to ten (10) weeks. |
| State Procurement Opportunities |
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As of
April 1, 1997 State law
requires that State Bids
must be solicited from
vendors by computer, rather
than by mail and/or print
advertisements. The address
on the Internet is www.purchasing.ri.gov.
It is therefore essential
that you take a few minutes
to register your company
on line in order to access
purchasing opportunities
with the State of Rhode
Island and its quasi-state
agencies. It is important
to note that your firm
does not need to be certified
as a Minority Business
Enterprise, Women
Business Enterprise, or
Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise to access the
Rhode Island Vendor Information
program. |
Rules, Regulations, Procedures And Criteria Governing Certification And Decertification Of MBE Enterprises |
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Contact/Resource:
Phone: 401-574-8670
FAX: 401-574-8387 |
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