Supplier Engagement

A business concern that is at least 51% owned, controlled, and operated by one or more minorities including African American, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens.

A business concern that is at least 51% owned, controlled, and operated by a woman or women who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens.

A business concern that is at least 51% owned, controlled, and operated by a person or persons who have served on active duty in the military, naval or air services; and who have been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.

A business concern that is at least 51% owned, controlled, and operated by a person or persons with a permanent physical or mental impairment who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens.

A business concern with 250 or fewer employees or average annual gross receipts of $10 million or less averaged over the previous three years.

Supplier inclusion is the practice of sourcing goods and services through a variety of suppliers that can include diverse, small, and locally owned businesses.

The university, its surrounding community and its partners are diverse and ensuring its supply chain is inclusive assures increased competition and innovation;  better pricing; and the opportunity to positively impact the local workforce and economy.

1. Increased competition
2. Increased innovation
3. Competetive pricing
4. Supplier agility

1. Be aware of the university's supply chain goals 
2. Include a variety of businesses when sourcing through request for quotes and request for proposals
3. Include a variety of businesses when sourcing for smaller purchases using your credit card
4. Reaching out to procurement or supplier engagement to assist with finding diverse, small or local businesses
5. Nominate small, diverse, and local businesses that have provided exceptional service
6. Recommend small, diverse and local businesses
7. Provide feedback to procurement and supplier engagement when working with new suppliers on how to improve supplier inclusion efforts

Businesses interested in developing relationships with the university should send an email of interest along with their capability statement to supplierdiversity@udel.edu.

No, the university accepts local, state, federal, and national diversity certifications.

Yes, effective January 2026, the University of Delaware launched the UD Exchange Supplier Portal (powered by Jaggaer). This supplier/payee registration and onboarding platform is a secure, web-based, self-service portal which allows all invited suppliers/payees to self-register and maintain company record/profile in real time.

Note: The University does not accept unsolicited requests from suppliers to be onboarded. You must be currently engaged in a transaction with UD to be invited to create an account in the system. Businesses interested in developing relationships with the university should send an email of interest along with their capability statement to supplierdiversity@udel.edu.