Business Diversity 

Overview

Business Diversity promotes access to procurement opportunities with Chicago Public Schools for certified minority and women business enterprises located in the Chicagoland area.

Goals

Business Diversity has two divisions with separate goals for each division:

  • Goods and Services Contracts: 30% minority business enterprises (MBE) and 15% women business enterprises (WBE)
  • Construction Contracts: 30% MBE and 15% WBE

Current initiatives

In an effort to advance supplier diversity at CPS more creatively, Business Diversity:

  • Encourages CPS vendors to sponsor student internships
  • Has established the Mentor Protégé Program to assist capacity building for M/WBE firms
  • Has facilitated the hiring of community residents on CPS projects

Accomplishments

In fiscal year 2007 Business Diversity reported the following Chicago Public Schools' supplier diversity accomplishments:

  • Goods and Services contracts: 25% MBE and 12% WBE
  • Construction contracts: 32% MBE and 8% WBE

Resources

In an effort to promote equal access to Chicago Public Schools opportunities, Business Diversity hosted a Small Business Opportunity Fair in Fiscal Year 2008 which attracted over 250 local small businesses.

As a major employer and purchaser of goods and services, CPS is committed to the goal of enhancing economic opportunities for certified minority-owned and woman-owned business enterprises in the Chicagoland area, by promoting access to procurement opportunities within Chicago Public Schools.

Program Goals

Promote diversification of CPS’ contractor/vendor base through increased opportunities for diverse vendors.

Category goals:

  • MBE: Minority Business Enterprise 30%
  • WBE: Woman-Owned Business Enterprise 7%
Certified Vendor List MBE & WBE Board Policy MWBE Solicitation Forms

Current Initiatives

In an effort to advance supplier diversity at CPS, the Business Diversity department:

  • Assure that M/WBE vendors are informed of CPS contracting opportunities
  • Provide M/WBE vendors with relevant information and assistance related to CPS procurement practices and procedures, and bid/proposals specifications and requirements
  • Establish a Mentor Protégé Program to assist capacity building for M/WBE firms

For more information email us at: businessdiversity@cps.edu

MBE & WBE Certification

Assist Agencies are comprised of not-for-profit agencies and/or chamber of commerce agencies that represent the interest of small, minority and/or women owned businesses. These organizations can help explain the certification process and assist applicants with the completion of various bid forms and applications.

Assist Agencies

Sister Agencies



 

 
Contact Us

Chicago Public Schools
42 W. Madison St.
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 773-553-1000

Office of Business Diversity
Director: Opal L. Walls
Phone: 773-553-2980
Fax: 773-553-2998
Email: businessdiversity@cps.edu
cps.edu/businessdiversity

Department of Procurement
Chief Procurement Officer:
Jon Maples
Phone: 773-553-2280
Fax: 773-553-2251
Email: purchasing@cps.edu
cps.edu/procurement

Past Events

December 13, 2016
CPS Annual Outreach Event 2016

Contact information

Business Diversity
125 South Clark Street
16th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Phone: (773) 553-2980
Fax: (773) 553-2981

Page Last Modified on Friday, June 30, 2017