1. State Contracting & Certification
Robert Major, Vendor Relations Coordinator

2. Office of Supplier Diversity
The Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) certifies Florida-based woman-, veteran- and minority-owned small businesses. We provide technical assistance, training and targeted information about contract opportunities, special events and networking activities.
Florida Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs) are the first group of businesses referred to state agencies and other stakeholders seeking to diversify their purchase order and contract opportunities. CBEs are also listed on the Office of Supplier Diversity’s public directory at osd.dms.myflorida.com/directories.

3. Discussion Topics Terms unique to state contracting
Procurement from a vendor’s perspective
Statewide contacts for procurement and contracting for CBEs
MyFloridaMarketPlace
Certification process
Vendor Resources

4. Terms Unique to State Contracting
Invitation to Bid (ITB)
A scope of work is specifically defined.
Vendors asked to submit pass/fail information like licenses, references, and certifications, and contracts are awarded to the responsive and responsible vendor with the lowest price.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Used when it is not practicable for the agency to specifically define the scope of services or deliverables.
Vendors are evaluated on price, capabilities, commodities and services that meet requirements in the RFP.
Invitation to Negotiate (ITN)
Used to achieve a specific goal and/or receive the best value.
The agency is able to more specifically define what it needs during negotiations, consider solutions and adjust requirements to obtain the best value.
E-Quote
An informal procurement used to purchase goods or services below $35,000, and the agency defines what it needs in the quote process.
ITB=Price
RFP Price=Quality
ITN=Best Value

5. General Procurement Process
When a state procurement is solicited:
Solicitation is posted on the public Vendor Bid System (VBS).
Notifications are ed to vendors registered in Vendor Information Portal for the requisite commodity codes.
Solicitation will outline beginning and end dates, with specific events that occur throughout the process in the timeline of events.
Solicitation changes (addenda) are also posted on VBS.
Most solicitations have a question-and-answer process.
Pre-Response Conferences may also be held. These are informal and are not binding on the agency. Official responses are submitted in writing during the Q & A process.
Any questions regarding the solicitation are directed to the procurement officer. The procurement officer is the sole point of contact for the vendor.

6. State Term Contracts
Information about the state term contracts and other contracts are available on State Purchasing’s web page.

7. MyFloridaMarketPlace
MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) is the state’s online purchasing system.
Allows for centralized procurement activities for both buyer and vendor
Allows single registration that enables vendors to receive notifications for ALL state agency solicitations by commodity code
24/7 access to bid opportunities and information through
Vendor Bid System
Sourcing (tool that allows for issuing formal and informal solicitations)
Vendors are able to modify the following:
Username/password
General business information
Contact information
Certified Business Enterprise selections
Business locations
Commodity codes
Solicitation selections

8. MyFloridaMarketPlace
MFMP Customer Service Desk Phone: Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EDT

9. Why Certify? First tier referrals
Listing in Online Directory provided to state purchasing directors and used by cities, counties and private sector companies:
Targeted communications, including contract opportunities, special events, networking activities, technical assistance and training

10. Certification Process
Designations:
Woman (WBE)
Veteran (VBE)
Minority (MBE)
Requirements:
Registered in MyFloridaMarketPlace
51 percent owned and managed by woman, veteran or minority
Permanent resident of Florida
Net worth less than $5 million
Fewer than 200 employees
Business domiciled in Florida
U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien
(Governed by Florida Statutes and Chapter 60A-9 of Administrative Rules)

11. How Do I Get Started?
First step: Register as a vendor through the MyFloridaMarketPlace Vendor Information Portal (VIP) at

12. MFMP Registration
1. During the registration process, you may select any of the following designations for certification:
Woman
Veteran
Minority
2. Upon completion, review the supporting documentation list from OSD.
3. Submit your documents to OSD.
4. Staff will review documentation.
5. If additional information is needed, OSD will contact you.
6. If determination is made for certification, it will be processed online and certificate will be ed to record on file.

13. Documents For Certification
Veteran (those seeking VBE):
Veteran Application AND DD214 OR
Document for service-disabled

14. Documents For Certification
Minority or Woman: (one of the following)
SBA(8)(a) Federal Certification
Birth certificate
Passport
Naturalization records
Foreign birth certificate
Tribal registration card (Native American)
Permanent Resident Alien card OR
Affidavit of minority designation

15. Documents For Certification
Permanent Resident of Florida: Declaration of Domicile in the clerk of court’s office in the county courthouse AND one of the following:
Florida driver’s license
Homestead exemption OR
Voter Registration

16. Documents For Certification
Ownership: To establish 51 percent ownership interest, ANY of the following shall be considered:
Articles of incorporation or Articles of organization (LLC)
Sole proprietorship
Partnership agreement OR
Federal SBA(8)(a) certification

17. Documents For Certification
Management: To establish 51 percent management interest, ANY of the following shall be considered:
Partnership agreement
Resume(s) OR
Payroll within the last 12 months

18. Documents For Certification
Small Business Domiciled in Florida: To establish business domicile, ONE of EACH under each category below:
1. Registration from the Department of State
2. Business with fewer than 200 employees
Payroll within the last 12 months
3. Net worth of business not more than $5 million
Financial Statements OR
Last two years of federal filed tax returns

19. Documents For Certification
Useful Business Function: (one of the following)
Affidavit of Corporate Representative
Notarized statement of useful business purpose by authorized corporate representative OR
Copy of recent quote submitted by company OR
Recent signed contract/invoice

20. Documents For Certification
Licensing: A small business must have and maintain all state or otherwise required licensing before becoming a Certified Business Enterprise. If a professional license is required for the industry, the owner/manager seeking the certification must be the licensed qualifier.
Professional (licensed and regulated by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation)
Business operational license/business tax receipt (city/county) OR
Attestation of no license required (industry does not require licensing)

21. How Long Is the Process?
Approximately 15 business days to process certification documents when all requested documents are received by OSD.
Registration in MyFloridaMarketPlace is NOT automatic certification as a WBE, VBE or MBE.
Businesses are certified for two years.

22. Recertification Online process at dms.myflorida.com/osd
Company FEID/Tax ID number
Gross revenue last fiscal year
Gross revenue from state term contracts
Net worth of your company
Number of employees
Owner/co-owner names and responsibilities
License/permit numbers for any certificates required for your business operations
If you miss your recertification period, you must re-apply.
Keep your information up-to-date in MFMP.
Include an active address and monitor your messages.

23. Vendor Resources
Market research tool - Florida Accountability Contract Tracking System (FACTS)
View active bid opportunities – Vendor Bid System
Other bid opportunities – posted on OSD vendor page

24. Contact Information
Procurement personnel can be found on the DMS website at DMS.myflorida.com: home page Business Operations State Purchasing

25. Contact Information
Other useful information is also located here, such as how to register in VBS through MyFloridaMarketPlace.

26. Contact Information
Robert Major, Vendor Relations Coordinator Office of Supplier Diversity 4050 Esplanade Way, Suite 380 Tallahassee, Florida dms.myflorida.com/osd