Supplier Diversity
MBE, WBE and ACE BusinessesCMHA is committed to providing access to economic opportunities for Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), Woman-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs) and Advancing Community Employment (ACE) program businesses. These opportunities include construction, technical services and professional services as well as equipment and supplies.
Helpful Supplier Diversity Links
Helpful Supplier Diversity Links
Supplier Diversity
- CMHA strives to spend at least 20% of expenditures for goods and services on MBEs and at least 10% with WBEs.
- When a contractor subcontracts any portion of a CMHA contract, the contractor must use their best efforts to subcontract at least 20% of the CMHA contract price to MBEs and at least 10% to WBEs.
- Contractors for CMHA are required to ensure that at least 25% of all labor hours are worked by ACE workers and Targeted ACE workers.
- CMHA maintains and promotes (internally and to its contractors) a directory of self-certified MBEs, WBEs and ACE businesses.
An MBE is a business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more Minority persons. Those Minority owners must:
- Enjoy the customary incidents of ownership
- Share in the business’s risks and profits in a way that is proportional to their ownership interest
- Be able to exercise final authority over all aspects of the business’s daily operations
A WBE is a business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women. Those women owners must:
- Enjoy the customary incidents of ownership
- Share in the business’s risks and profits in a way that is proportional to their ownership interest
- Be able to exercise final authority over all aspects of the business’s daily operations.
A business is considered an ACE business if it meets any of the following criteria:
- You are at least 51% owned and controlled by Low- or Very Low-Income Persons
- Over 75% of your business’s labor hours in the past three months were performed by ACE Workers
- You are at least 51% owned and controlled by current public housing residents or HCVP (Section 8) voucher holders.
- CMHA encourages its contractors, as well as its own staff, to use the Vendor Directory when searching for businesses to provide goods and services. With ACE program requirements, businesses are encouraged to subcontract to ACE businesses.
- CMHA notifies directory participants of upcoming contracting and/or procurement opportunities available through CMHA or prime contractors.
- CMHA connects directory participants with management, technical, and other business resources or assistance from CMHA or collaborating organizations when such resources become available.
MBEs or WBEs can apply to CMHA’s Vendor Directory by submitting the MBE/WBE Self-Certification Form (Form DEI-9) to MBE/WBE@cmha.net.
ACE businesses can apply to CMHA’s Vendor Directory by submitting this ACE Business Directory Application (Form DEI-4) to ACE@cmha.net. If your business is chosen for CMHA contract, then you must complete ACE Business Certification Application (Form DEI-5) to certify your status as an ACE business.
ACE businesses can apply to CMHA’s Vendor Directory by submitting this ACE Business Directory Application (Form DEI-4) to ACE@cmha.net. If your business is chosen for CMHA contract, then you must complete ACE Business Certification Application (Form DEI-5) to certify your status as an ACE business.
No, if CMHA previously certified your business as a Section 3 Business it is no longer a Section 3 Business because of HUD changes to the definition of a Section 3 Business. Effective April 6, 2022, CMHA terminated all active Section 3 certifications.
For questions regarding CMHA’s ACE/MBE/WBE Programs, please contact Lydia Sanders at 216.271.3247. Or email ACE@cmha.net or MBE/WBE@cmha.net.