Supplier diversity
What is supplier diversity?
Supplier diversity at Microsoft means fostering greater levels of diversity in our supplier base to reflect the global diversity of our customers.
Our commitment to helping people realize their potential extends from our products to our procurement practices to you, the supplier. The Microsoft mission encompasses all people and every area of our enterprise. We embrace a core set of values, and we look for suppliers who share those values and can help us to fulfill our mission.
Microsoft diverse supplier application of interest
Are you a diverse-owned business interested in doing business with Microsoft? Information provided will be used to create a business profile. NOTE: Submission of the application does not guarantee Microsoft supplier status. Your company will be contacted directly by our sourcing team if there are opportunities that align with your company’s capabilities.
United States requirements
Who qualifies as a “diverse” business at Microsoft?
For US-headquartered businesses, a diverse business is 51 percent or more owned, operated, and managed by someone who fits in one or more of following categories:
- Woman who is a US citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States
- Minority who is a US citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States
- Veteran who is a US citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States
- Disabled person who is a US citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States
- Disadvantaged business (business owner must be a US citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States)
- LGBT business owner who is a US citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States
Or if the business is:
- Located in a HUBZone: operates and employs individuals residing in a Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), as defined by the US Small Business Administration (SBA)
For non-US headquartered businesses, local regulations and standards apply to the definition and recognition of a diverse supplier.
Microsoft requires that businesses categorized as “diverse” be certified by a third party, and partners with multiple resources to help diverse businesses obtain the necessary information, accreditations, and contacts to get started working with Microsoft. Please see the “United States accreditation organizations” tab for specific organizations we partner with as well a link for you to tell us more about your diverse-owned business.
Visit the Microsoft Small Business Program page to learn more about the program.
United States accreditation organizations
Official accreditation organizations
Any Microsoft supplier claiming to be diverse-owned, must be 3rd party certified as 51 percent or more owned, operated, and managed by a person or persons who meet one or more of the identified diversity categories.
Preferred third-party certifications (United States only):
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
National Minority Supplier Development Council
National Veteran Business Development Council
Disability:IN
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Federal agencies
Microsoft board memberships and partners:
Billion Dollar Roundtable
National Minority Supplier Development Council
Northwest Mountain MSDC
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
Women’s Business Enterprise Council - Pacific
United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Women Presidents’ Organization
Women Presidents’ Educational Organization
National Veteran Business Development Council
Technology Industry Group
Disability:IN
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
UW Foster School of Business
Stanford School of Business
Business Consortium Fund, Inc.
International country requirements
Microsoft works across many countries to foster greater levels of diversity in our supplier base to reflect the global diversity of our customers. Review the country initiatives to learn more.
South Africa
The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) program is a form of economic empowerment initiated by the South African government to establish a legislative framework for the promotion of black economic empowerment. Microsoft Procurement ensures compliance with South African laws and regulations to strengthen the partnership with suppliers in Microsoft South Africa. The supplier designation of B-BBEE Level 4 (3, 2, or 1) must be considered to participate in a sourcing activity or purchase of amounts greater than ZAR100,000 (approximately USD6,500). If recommended B-BBEE level (or higher) suppliers (by category) are not included in a sourcing activity, a written business justification is required by Procurement.
Spain
Spanish employment law requires companies employing 50 or more employees to have at least 2 percent of their workforce be employees with disabilities or implement alternative measures established by law (commercial contracts with special companies employing workers with disabilities, making donations to special centers for the development, integration, and creation of jobs for them, etc.). To comply with this legislation, Microsoft Procurement facilitates alternative measures for the purchase of goods and services with certified suppliers who employ people with disabilities.
Australia
Microsoft Procurement encourages the collaboration with Indigenous Owned/Women Owned Businesses, Social enterprises, and Disability Enterprises by implementing procurement policies. The Reconciliation Action Program (RAP) provides a framework to support the reconciliation movement. Developing RAP in Microsoft Australia builds relationships between diverse businesses and organizations by improving socio-economic outcomes for historically disadvantaged group of enterprises. Any Microsoft Australia supplier claiming to be diverse-owned, must be 3rd party certified as 51 percent or more owned, operated, and managed by a person or persons who meet one or more of the identified diversity categories.
Preferred organizations by Microsoft Australia
Supply Nation
Visit Supply Nation
WeConnect International
Visit WeConnect International
Social Traders
Visit Social Traders
Australian Government Disability and Carers
Visit Australian Disability and CarersAddressing racial injustice
Microsoft is making commitments to address racial injustice and inequity for the Black and African American community in the United States. We will additionally take important steps to address the needs of other communities, including the Hispanic and Latinx community, across the company in the next five years.
We are focused on three multiyear, sustained efforts:
- Increasing our representation and culture of inclusion
- Engaging our ecosystem
- Strengthening our communities
Learn more about Microsoft initiatives.
“It starts with each of us making a commitment to do the work, to help drive change, and to act with intention.”
Satya Nadella, Microsoft
Frequently asked questions
The Microsoft Supplier Diversity program is primarily focused on businesses that are headquartered in the United States. However, similar programs are being developed in other countries with specific country laws and regulations governing supplier diversity.
While certification is not required to do business with Microsoft, a third-party certification is required to be designated as a diverse supplier in the Microsoft procurement system.
No. There is no cost for registering with Microsoft as a diverse supplier. However, typically, there are costs related to becoming certified. For additional information on becoming certified, please contact one of our preferred certifying agencies.
No. Completing a supplier diversity profile is not a guarantee of business nor does it identify companies as a preferred/approved supplier. The Supplier Diversity Program serves as a bridge between diverse suppliers and Microsoft Procurement. After a company completes their diversity profile, procurement can review the supplier’s information and determine if there is a potential match for appropriate opportunities.
Yes. Microsoft Procurement encourages buyers to consider using diverse suppliers whenever possible and tracks diverse spend as one of the company’s top metrics.
No. For all sourcing opportunities, Microsoft awards business to the best supplier based on cost, quality, value, and risk.
Glossary
A business concern not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more disabled individuals or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more disabled individuals who are either a US citizen or lawful permanent resident.
A small business located in distressed areas, designated as an Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), which appears on the list of Qualified HUBZone Small Business Concerns maintained by the Small Business Administration. A small business must meet all of the following criteria to qualify for the HUBZone Program:
- It must be located in a historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone).
- It must be owned and controlled by one or more US citizens.
- At least 35 percent of its employees must reside in a HUBZone.
The criteria used by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) are:
- Majority (at least 51 percent) owned, operated, managed, and controlled by an LGBT person or persons who are either US citizens or lawful permanent residents
- Exercises independence from any non-LGBT business enterprise
- Has its principal place of business (headquarters) in the United States
- Has been formed as a legal entity in the United States
A minority-owned business is a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, operated, and controlled by minority group members. "Minority group members" are United States citizens who are Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American. Ownership by minority individuals means that the business is at least 51 percent owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, the management and daily operations are controlled by those minority group members.
Each of these is a certified type of business enterprise that can be employed to meet diversity requirements. "Veteran" refers to both veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. For more information, see the definitions of each type in this glossary.
The management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans or—in the case of a service-disabled veteran with permanent and severe disability—the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran. Service-disabled veteran means a veteran, as defined in Article 101(2) of Title 38, United States Code, with a disability that is service connected, as defined in Article 101(16) of Title 38, United States Code.
A business that is at least 51 percent unconditionally owned by one or more veterans (as defined in 38 United States Code 101(2)), or in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock is unconditionally owned by one or more veterans; and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more veterans.
The criteria used by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) are:
- 51 percent ownership by a woman or women
- Proof of effective management of the business (operating position, by-laws, hire-fire, and other decision-making roles)
- Control of the business as evidenced by signature role on loans, leases, and contracts
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