Oklahoma Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC)

The OMSDC seeks more participation from the private sector of the economy and provides a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification for minority-owned businesses in Oklahoma. In turn, it solicits major corporations and private entities to increase their amount of purchasing and procurement with its certified MBEs.

To qualify for certification, the business owner must:

• be from one of the racial minority groups (i.e. African American, American Indian, Hispanic American, Pacific-Asian American)
• have full control of the operations of the business, and
• hold 51% or more of the ownership. 

The cost of the certification to the minority business applicant is $150. To obtain and submit an application, contact the OMSDC office at 405-767-9900, fax 405-767-9901, or by e-mail: OKLAMSDC@aol.com. The office address is Pavilion Building, 6701 N. Broadway, Suite 216, Oklahoma City, OK 73116. In general for minority businesses, this certification could prove to be very helpful in trying to obtain business from participating major companies and buyers in the private sector. More information is available from the OMSDC website www.OMSDC.org.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA provides certifications to eligible small businesses that want to do business with agencies of the federal government. The certifications may be of particular assistance to minority-owned small businesses and are described as the following:

• Section 8-A Business (8-A) certification designates a small business with the most severe disadvantaged condition which makes it eligible for special set-a-side and negotiable, federal contracts.
• Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) certification designates a socially and economically disadvantaged small business, that is generally eligible for federal government contracting and procurement. A business certified as 8-A, above, is also automatically certified as a SDB.
• Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones) certification denotes a business that is eligible to receive more favorable consideration for government contracts and benefits by being located in a special geographical area.

An owner of a business seeking either 8-A or SDB certification must qualify as being both socially and economically disadvantaged. Racial minorities are automatically presumed to be socially disadvantaged; however, to qualify economically for 8-A or SDB certification, the applicant's net worth -- excluding the assets of the business and primary residence from the calculation -- cannot exceed $250,000 or $750,000, respectively.

For current state information contact the Oklahoma SBA District Office (Minority Business Development staff) directly at 301 N.W. 6th Street, Suite 116, Oklahoma City, OK 73102; tel. 405-609-8000, fax 405-231-4876.

Currently, SBA's Minority Business Development staff conducts seminars each month regarding applying for the above certifications as following:

The 2nd Tuesday of each month, 9 a.m. to noon, the Small Business Development Center, Langston University campus in Oklahoma City, 4205 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK 73105, tel. 405-962-1628, fax 405-962-1639.

The 3rd Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m. to noon, the Small Business Development Center, Rose State College, in the Tom Steed Center, 6191 Tinker Diagonal, Midwest City, OK, tel. 405-733-7348, fax 405-733-7495.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT)
The ODOT is the state agency in Oklahoma whose major purpose is developing and building our transportation arteries and systems. It provides a "Disadvantaged Business Enterprise" (DBE) certification for qualified minority and women-owned businesses in Oklahoma.

To qualify for DBE certification, the minority or female owner:

• must have full operational control of the business and 51% or more of the ownership
• must provide a service, product or needed item that is involved with transportation projects (i.e. roads, highways, bridges, airports, mass transit operations, related buildings, support facilities, etc.).

After certification, the goal is to utilize more DBEs for the numerous projects in Oklahoma handled by the various transportation agencies and contracting sources.

To obtain an application form to apply for certification, contact: Regulatory Services Division, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, 200 N.E. 21st, Room 1-C-5, Oklahoma City, OK 73105, tel. 405-521-6046 direct or toll free 800-788-4539.

 City of Tulsa
To identify and do more purchasing with qualified minority and women-owned businesses, the City of Tulsa has a Minority/Women/ Disadvantaged Business (M/W/DB) program for which it provides a certification. Under the program, Tulsa City departments are required to set purchasing and procurement goals for doing business with the M/W/DB certified firms.

For initial qualification, the minority, woman or disadvantaged applicant must have full operational control and 51% or more ownership of the business.

As an added opportunity across the state, such businesses outside of Tulsa that are already certified under other accepted programs such as under SBA or ODOT, may also become M/W/DB certified under a reciprocal procedure and acceptance. The program is administered by Tulsa's Human Rights Department. For more information to apply, contact the M/W/DB Program, Human Rights Department, City of Tulsa, 707 S. Houston, Room 303, Tulsa, OK 74127; tel. 918-596-7818, fax 918-596-7826, www.cityoftulsa.org.

Please note that the Oklahoma Department of Central Services (DCS), the general buying agent for many state agencies in Oklahoma, no longer has a "Minority Business Certification and Contracting" program. All businesses must register with DCS through general competition under the codes for the service(s) or product(s) that they provide. For more information regarding the buying or solicitation procedures and forms (for quotes, bids, etc.,) contact the Oklahoma Department of Central Services, Will Rogers Bldg., Room 116, 2401 North Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105. You may also call toll free 800-213-9521 and ask to be connected to Central Purchasing or call 405-522-0955 direct. The agency also has information on its web site at www.dcs.state.ok.us.

Find A Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Certified Business

To find lists of businesses certified minority- and women-owned, follow the links below:

• Oklahoma Department of Transportation (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) 
• U.S. Small Business Administration (The Central Contractor Registration serves as the primary database of minority- and women-owned businesses for the federal government.)
• Oklahoma Minority supplier Development Council (OMSDC) - Miniority Business Enterprise
  (Note: The OMSDC shares its lists of minority- and women-owned suppliers with its members free of charge but typically charges others for the list.)
   

General Minority Business Membership Organizations

American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma
Cathy Wilkins, State Executive Director, 918-665-7087 or 800-652-4226

Capitol Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma
Aquilla Pugh, Manager, 405-427-4444

Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, Tulsa
Rueben Gant 918-585-2084

Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Fred Ramos, President, 918-664-5326

Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
David Castillo, 405-616-5031

Northside Chamber of Commerce, Lawton, OK
Annette Dawkins, Executive Director, 580-355-9547

Oklahoma Consortium for Minority Business Development
Marilyn Murrell, 405-424-7526

Oklahoma Minority Supplier Development Council
Debra Ponder-Nelson, Executive Director, 405-767-9900

Asia Society of Oklahoma
Kyle Wang, 405-306-3912

Nuestra Comunidad, Spanish-English Bilingual Newspaper
David Cevallos, 405-685-3822
spanishnews@cox.net
www.okspanishnews.com