Skip to Content

Home >> Supplier Diversity >> Supplier Diversity

Supplier Diversity

The Supplier Diversity Initiative exists as a resource for diverse vendors to the University of Virginia, as well as prime contractors and University faculty and staff.

Looking for information about SWaMFest VIII? Click here to learn about Virginia's premier supplier diversity event.

Mission Statement

The University of Virginia is committed to be a leader in supplier diversity by developing sustainable relationships with qualified, reliable, small, women, and minority owned businesses. We will actively seek out the best firms which will enable the University of Virginia to deliver high-quality education, research, public service and healthcare.

What is a SWaM Vendor?

In order to be classified as a "SWaM" business, vendors must be certified as such by the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (VDMBE). Vendors may request DMBE certification at http://www.dmbe.state.va.us/swamcert.html.

SWaM firms are small businesses and businesses owned and operated by women or minorities. The Commonwealth of Virginia defines these three types of firms as follows:

Small Business

An independently owned and operated business which, together with affiliates, has 250 or fewer employees, or average annual gross receipts of $10 million or less averaged over the previous three years.
Woman-Owned Business

Any business concern that is at least 51% owned by a non-minority woman or women (a minority woman is classified as a minority) who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest in which is owned by one or more women, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of such individuals.
Minority-Owned Business

A business concern which is at least 51 percent owned by one or more minorities or in the case of a corporation, partnership or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest in which is owned by one or more minorities and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of such individuals.

A "minority individual" means a person who is a citizen of the United States or a legal resident alien and who satisfies one or more of the following definitions:
  • "African Americans" means all persons having origins in any of the original peoples of Africa and who are regarded as such by the community of which these persons claim to be a part.
  • "Asian Americans" means all persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands, including but not limited to Japan, China, Vietnam, Samoa, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, Northern Marinas, the Philippines, U. S. territory of the Pacific, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Srilanka and who are regarded as such by the community of which these persons claim to be a part.
  • "Eskimos and Aleuts" means all persons having origins in any of the peoples of Northern Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and Eastern Siberia and who are regarded as such in the community of which these persons claim to be a part.
  • "Hispanic Americans" means all persons having origins in any of the Spanish speaking peoples of Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands or other Spanish or Portuguese cultures and who are regarded as such by the community of which these persons claim to be a part.
  • "Native Americans" means all persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America and who are regarded as such by the community of which these persons claim to be a part or who are recognized by a tribal organization.

Resources for SWaM Vendors

Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services pursues the goal of increasing the amount of business done with SWaM firms by providing information and undertaking new initiatives to reach out to the diverse vendor community:

Resources for Departments

Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services also pursues the goal of increasing the amount of business done with SWaM firms by providing information to departments about the goods and services offered by SWaM vendors.

  • Procurement and Supplier Diversity Services works directly with University departments to provide information about SWaM firms.
  • This website includes a search of VDMBE-certified vendors that allows users to find SWaM vendors by the type of commodity they provide, and which gives Integrated System Supplier Numbers for those that are already registered in our system.
  • University departments can contact Supplier Diversity directly (see contact information below)for help in finding SWaM vendors.

Contact Us

Les Haughton -- Director, Supplier Diversity

E-mail: lh7sn@virginia.edu
Phone: 434-924-7174
Fax: 434-982-2690
Lorie Jean Strother -- SWAM Contract Administrator

E-mail: ljs8n@virginia.edu
Phone: 434-243-2373
Fax: 434-982-2690
Shannon Wampler -- Senior Supplier Diversity Coordinator

E-mail: saw2w@virginia.edu
Phone: 434-924-3173
Supplier Diversity - Carruthers Hall

1001 North Emmet Street
P. O. Box 400202
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4202