Initiative objectives
Premier supports, encourages, and will facilitate procurement from diverse suppliers for its enterprise purchases and purchases by Premier participating members. Contracted suppliers also are encouraged to support and procure from diverse suppliers. All purchases from diverse suppliers must meet Premier standards for quality, service and competitive pricing.
The supplier diversity initiative includes:
- Documented policies to encourage the use of diverse suppliers.
- Start here to introduce your products and technology to Premier.
- Announcement of new diverse supplier contracts in Supply Chain Advisor, Premier’s online purchasing catalog, and
- Tracking of diverse supplier expenditures by Premier and its contracted suppliers.
- To learn more, download the brochure (.pdf).
- Premier Diversity Recognition Awards annually recognize Premier members and contracted suppliers whose efforts to support minority, woman, veteran and small business suppliers help strengthen local community business development efforts.
Regional contracting strategies
Premier’s supplier diversity initiative integrates inclusive diversity practices into Group Purchasing Services' operating units. The process ensures that "diverse suppliers," classified as small, minority, and woman-owned businesses, are proactively considered for Premier contracting opportunities.
The key diversity market is identified as states with a minority population of more than 25 percent, and includes the 11 Empowerment Zone cities designated by the federal government. Premier Group Purchasing Services may employ a regional contracting strategy to assist a member and/or a contracted supplier in achieving its supplier diversity expenditure targets.
Second-tier plan
Each contracted supplier is expected to acknowledge and assist in the development of diverse suppliers. Each supplier is encouraged to contribute a minimum expenditure goal of 3 percent toward minority business enterprises and 2 percent toward woman business enterprises annually.
A supplier's second-tier expenditures are directly related to raw materials and/or the packaging and distribution of the finished products available within Premier's contracted products and services. Suppliers communicate to Premier their second-tier diverse suppliers that are agency-certified.