Supplier Diversity

Supplier diversity is the proactive business process that seeks to provide suppliers with access to purchasing and business opportunities. Supplier diversity is defined by:

• Enterprise and Supply Management (SM) policies and objectives
• The purchasing process
• Continuous improvement and monitoring

Supplier diversity objectives include:

• Continuous improvement of supplier diversity and relationships with small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses (SMWOBs)
• Continued broad market research analysis of the supplier community to identify and select the best suppliers
• Process improvements that promote opportunities for all suppliers to provide value-added products and services
• Awareness and information making all Postal Service personnel responsible for supplier diversity

The supplier diversity objectives are aligned with Postal Service and Supply Management objectives, which is a top-down approach. Laws, regulations, contract clauses, and contract provisions also contribute to shaping supplier diversity objectives.

The Supplier Diversity Corporate Plan is developed to ensure a continued focus on improving our supplier relationships with SMWOBs. The Plan, which is comprised of nine elements, outlines a variety of activities that align with processes and procedures identified in the Postal Service’s SPs and Ps.