California Supplier Clearinghouse Diversity Program Program

The program summary on this page was last updated on 03/28/2018. If any of the information or links are out-of-date, please contact us.

Firms owned by minorities, women, disabled veterans, and LGBT people (MBEs, WBEs, DVBEs, and LGBTBEs) can gain better access to contracts with the California Public Utilities Commission if they are certified through its Supplier Diversity program. The CPUC has set a 15 percent contracting goal for MBEs, 5 percent for WBEs, and a 1.5 percent goal for DVBEs (there is currently no stated goal for LGBTBEs). Once certified, a firm is added to the Supplier Clearinghouse, which is used by California's utility companies to meet their  goals. The CPUC only certifies firms as an MBE, WBE or LGBTBE. The commission automatically recognizes DVBEs certified by the state's Department of General Services but does not issue DVBE certification.

Does this local/state program offer reciprocal certifications with other local/state programs? The CPUC offers Comparable Agency Verification (CAV), a verification process whereby an applicant for WMBE/LGBTBE certification with the Supplier Clearinghouse may be accepted, if the applicant’s company has WMBE/LGBTBE certification in good standing with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and/or the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). Only the NMSDC, WBENC, and NGLCC are accepted as comparable agencies.

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