(Updated Aug. 1, 2023)
The University of California actively collaborates with small, local, and diverse businesses, ensuring fairness and sustainability in our partnerships. We guarantee equal access to business contracting opportunities for all business enterprises at the university, abiding by state and federal laws.
The Small Business First program enhances contracting and procurement opportunities for certified Small Businesses (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) through a streamlined quotation process. This direct quotation-to-award approach simplifies the procurement process, making it faster and more efficient.
Effective from March 1, 2021, all non-construction contracts and procurement at the University of California between $10,000 to $250,000 (excluding tax but including shipping) that cannot be procured via existing strategically-sourced agreements must be awarded to a Small Business/Minority Business (SB/MB) or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), whenever feasible.
Additional Information:
- To make an award, only one quote is required for purchases below $100,000 and only two quotes are required for procurements from $100,000 to $250,000.
- All small and diverse businesses, along with other potential goods and services providers to the university, are encouraged to register as potential suppliers via CalUsource. The university publishes various solicitations online through our UC-wide public bid site and individual campus procurement sites.
- Small and diverse businesses are required to register with their respective state's small business certification program.
The University of California relies on these certifying agencies and does not offer self-certification for small and diverse businesses outside of state certification programs. California-based companies can register at the Cal eProcure site for this purpose.
Checking exemptions first ensures you are not completing any unnecessary work and that your purchasing process goes as efficiently as possible. The exemptions to the Small Business First program are:
- Strategically sourced agreements
- Federally funded purchases
- Construction (orders processed through Design & Construction Management)
- Concessions
- Interagency agreements
- Local/federal government agreements
- Higher education institution agreement
- Research sub-awards
- Medical and patient care
- Revenue/reimbursement agreements
Exemptions Include University Agreement and Bobcat Buy Purchases
If you are purchasing from Bobcat Buy or against a strategically sourced agreement (systemwide and local) in the Oracle Financial System, the Small Business First program policies do not apply.
Enter Exemption Reason (if applicable)
If the purchase is exempt and not subject to the Small Business First program, please include a note in the Notes and Attachments section of your ServiceNow ticket. Specify the reason for the exemption if you are not using Bobcat Buy or citing an existing purchasing agreement.
- Not subject to Small Business First program, as federal funds are being used for this purchase.
- These items will be purchased through a strategically sourced agreement. Therefore, this purchase is not subject to Small Business First program
- When none of the exemptions apply, complete the ServiceNow Requisition or Purchase Agreement and cite a certified Small Business or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise. Certification by a state or the US Federal Government is required, and supplier self-certification is not allowed.
1. Upload documentation in the Attachments section of the ServiceNow ticket to confirm business certification as either a Small Business (SB) or a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE). You can find these certifications by visiting the State of California Cal-eProcure website or by requesting access to supplier.io via procurement@ucmerced.edu. These platforms allow you to search for certifications based on business name, commodities, and other relevant criteria.
2. Obtain a printed copy or screenshot of the certification that shows the business's certification.
3. Attach certification(s) to your ServiceNow! ticket.
Depending on the purchase price, one or two price quotes are required from a certified SB or DVBE:
- One Price Quote: Between $10,000 and under $100,000
- Two Price Quotes: Between $100,000 and under $250,000
- (Both required from the same type of business, either an SB or DVBE. They cannot be one quote from an SB and one from a DVBE.)
The required quote(s) must be attached to the ServiceNow ticket.
If you believe you have a legitimate business reason why your purchase cannot use a Small Business or DVBE business, a completed and signed waiver must be completed and attached to the ServiceNow ticket. UC Procurement Services offers a reference guide, lists of current supplier agreements with UC locations, and searchable databases for suppliers, along with related resources. The waiver will be reviewed by the UC Merced Senior Contract Manager or designee. If the waiver is disapproved, the purchase will be awarded to a certified Small Business (SB) or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE).
For more information on the benefits of using small and diverse businesses, as well as additional ways to locate them, please contact Theresa Mason, the Senior Contract Manager.
Contact: Theresa Mason
Email: tmason4@ucmerced.edu
We appreciate your support and compliance with the UC Small Business First program!