Diversity Initiatives

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to fostering a diverse supplier base. The Supplier Diversity Program or Diverse Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, is designed to ensure that businesses of diverse backgrounds and ownership have the opportunity to become valued suppliers as a means of improving the general economic well-being of the community and functioning of our local and national economies.

The University’s Supplier Diversity Programs strive to increase the availability of meaningful business opportunities afforded to diverse suppliers by increasing the level of goods and services provided to the University by diverse business enterprises.

University Spending Goals

Spending with diverse suppliers is an institutional priority. The University has established the following goals, some as part of the Plan for Pitt, to support community and economic development by increasing spending with diverse businesses. The information and resources on this page are intended to assist departments with identifying suppliers and contributing to these goals:

  Construction Non-Construction
Diverse Businesses1 10% 15%
Black-Owned Businesses 8% 5.5%

Diverse businesses are those that are at least 51% owned by a member of the following groups: Black/African-American, Caucasian women, Hispanic American/Latinx, Asian Indian American, Asian Pacific American, and Native American (which includes Native American, and Aleut, Alaskan Native).

The University has also established similar goals to increase spending with local suppliers, Visit this page for information about buying local, including resources. 

Helpful Definitions

Diversity Business Enterprise (DBE)

A "Diversity Business Enterprise" is a business owned/operated by a minority that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) unconditionally owned by one or more minority individuals or women who are both socially and economically diverse, or a publicly owned business that has at least fifty-one percent (51%) of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more such individuals and that has its management and daily business controlled by one or more such individuals. Individuals who certify that they are a member of named groups, i.e. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives (Inuit and Aleuts) and Asian and Pacific Island Americans are to be considered socially and economically diverse.

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)

A "Minority Business Enterprise" is intended to mean a business concern owned by one or more minority individuals that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) unconditionally owned by one or more minority individuals, or a publicly owned business that has at least fifty-one percent (51%) of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more such individuals and that has its management and daily business controlled by one or more such individuals. Individuals who certify that they are a member of named groups, i.e. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives (Inuit and Aleuts) and Asian and Pacific Island Americans are to be considered socially and economically disadvantaged.

Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

A "Women-Owned Business Enterprise" is intended to mean a business concern owned by one or more women that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) unconditionally owned by one or more women, or a publicly owned business that has at least fifty-one percent (51%) of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more such individuals and that has its management and daily business controlled by one or more such individuals.

University-wide Contracted DBE Suppliers

Visit this page to review the directory of contracted suppliers. To find suppliers with a DBE status, filter by the “DBE” column.

Non-contracted DBE Suppliers

Visit this page for a list of suppliers who have requested inclusion on our list and for whom we are able to verify a DBE status through a certifying organization.

Tools for Finding DBE Suppliers

Internal and external resources to identify DBE suppliers, including the PRISM Search DBE Suppliers Tool.

Guide to DBE Researcher Subcontracting

Information and resources related to preparing a Small Business Subcontracting plan for federal research. 

Supplier Spotlight

Learn more about featured DBE suppliers with whom the University has worked.

Events & Training

Learn more about and register to attend an upcoming virtual session of How to Increase Spending with Diverse & Local Suppliers.

Become an Pitt Caterer

Join the Pitt Panther Community as a University of Pittsburgh caterer!  Learn more about how to apply to become a caterer for Pitt.