BEP and VBP Goal Compliance

The mission of CEI's compliance unit is to ensure compliance in the State’s procurement process regarding various aspects of supplier diversity contracting. The compliance unit oversees the individual contract goal-setting process, utilization plan reviews, and the monitoring of BEP and VBP-certified prime and subcontractor usage. It also provides required reporting and assistance to all agencies and public institutions of higher education.

The State has an aspirational goal to spend at least 30% of its total dollars with firms certified through BEP. The State's Procuring Institutions determine the goal for each contract based on the availability of BEP certified vendors against the overall availability of vendors within certain market sectors. The goal for each particular contract must be “narrowly tailored” to the State’s needs, to reflect the industry or product markets needed to perform the contract. The goal must be based on the availability of BEP-certified firms that can perform a commercially useful function through direct participation within the scope(s) of work of the contract.

Materials:

• BEP/VBP Project Goal Setting Manual (Rev. 2-8-2021)
• BEP/VBP Goal Setting & Review Form (Rev. 9-18-2024)
• BEP/VBP Vendor Search
• BidBuy All Firms Search

At its meeting on August 26, 2025, the Business Enterprise Council for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities (BEP Council) voted to adopt a revised process for reviewing class contract exemption requests under Section 7(2) of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act (BEP Act). This new process will take effect on January 5, 2026. Section 7(2) of the BEP Act allows the BEP Council, at the written request of an affected agency or public institution of higher education, to exempt an entire class of contracts from State contracting Business Enterprise Program (BEP) goals when there is a written determination, based on the best information available, that an insufficient number of certified firms are available to ensure adequate competition and reasonable pricing. These exemptions are valid for a period of one year. Under the revised process, purchasing entities will no longer submit class exemption requests as part of their annual compliance plan submissions. Instead, entities will be required to submit requests using the newly created BEP Class Contract Exemption Request and Review Form. 

Materials:

• BEP Class Contract Exemption Request and Review Form (Effective January 5, 2026)

A Utilization Plan is included in all bids or proposals and demonstrates a vendor’s proposed utilization of vendors certified by the Business Enterprise Program to meet the targeted goal. The Utilization Plan shall demonstrate that the Vendor has either: (1) met the entire contract goal or (2) requested a full or partial waiver and made Good Faith Efforts towards meeting the goal.

Materials:

• Utilization Plan Version 25.1
  
• Good Faith Effort Guidance

BEP subcontracting data is maintained through the Supplier Diversity Management Portal (SDMP) and accessible to all prime contractors and BEP subcontractors.

New prime contractors and subcontractors must register and use the SDMP for Contract Compliance Reporting. Learn how to fully utilize SDMP with a live trainer by clicking on the link below. Then, scroll down to the “System Training” section, click “See Online Training Times”.  Select "View" next to "Contract Compliance Reporting - Vendor Training" and click "RSVP for Training" to attend.

Supplier Diversity Management Portal (SDMP)

If you are aware of any irregular or inappropriate activity pertaining to the actions of the Commission on Equity and Inclusion or the Business Enterprise Program, complete the following Vendor Complaint Form, and a representative will be in contact with you regarding your complaint.