MBE Certification

Certification Benefits:

The Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council (SMSDC) is an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). Our mission is to create opportunities and an environment for minority enterprises to grow and actively add value to corporate members through positive business relationships.

SMSDC certification offers many benefits to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) including:

Capacity Plus – Johnson Controls’, in collaboration with the SMSDC offers Certified MBEs the tools and management perspective to help your company demystify the corporate procurement process. This two-year process provides practical insights to help you address your business challenges and build capacity to work with Fortune 500 corporations.

Face Time – facilitates connections through a range of business and social events where corporations seek certified & qualified MBEs. Your company will benefit by having access to business opportunities and the people who can help you expand!

Certified MBE Subscription Services – extends your certification to other MSDC regions enabling you to expand and grow your business.

MBE Idol – This competition is for certified MBE’s to present their marketing proposal to a panel of corporate executives and a live audience for an opportunity to meet one-on-one with the Supplier Diversity Professional from Dell.

MBE2MBE – Online Search Tool and Collaboration Survey program designed to locate and network with over 500 local or regional Certified MBEs to create new business opportunities and obtain more lucrative contracts.  To access the MBE2MBE online search tool, please log into the SMSDC portal to access this tool.

CERTIFY

NMSDC is the only national minority business development organization providing certification throughout the U.S. where Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) are owned and operated by minorities ready to do business. NMSDC is nationally recognized for providing the “Gold Standard” certification for MBEs.

Certification with the Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council (SMSDC) provides minority owned businesses in Southwest Texas, El Paso, San Antonio, Harlingen, Laredo, Midland/Odessa, and the states of New Mexico and Oklahoma with many benefits such as:

• Marketing and networking events
• Educational workshops conducted by national experts
• Regional Task Force Meetings
• NMSDC’s MBE Database
• Corporate Supplier Diversity Portal Registration
• Business Opportunity Fairs and much more.

Certified MBE status provides our corporate members with the highest level of assurance our minority businesses are 51% ethnic minority owned and operated by an individual(s) meeting U.S. citizenship requirements and are a for-profit enterprise.

Certification Fees for both New MBE Certifications and Re-Certifications:
MBE’s Classifications are defined by their annual sales:

Class 1: Sales under $1M; $300

Class 2: Sales $1M – $10M; $400

Class 3: Sales $10M – $50M; $650

Class 4: Sales over $50M; $800

*** Expedited applications or late re-certifications will require additional fees. ***
*** Application fees are non-refundable. ***

Large Enterprises:
Large Enterprises over $101M will be charged additional fees which would apply to both NEW/Recertifications.

MBE Pre/Post-Certification Workshop:
It is strongly recommended to attend the MBE Pre-Certification Workshop, that is held Wednesdays from 10:00am to 12:00pm CST.

Applicants can now schedule an appointment for one-on-one call specific to your company.

During the workshop, the certification application is reviewed in detail, along with the requirements, procedures, timeframe, and benefits of being certified.

We can also discuss:

• Criteria for Certification
• Review of the application process
• Answer most common application questions

Those who have successfully completed their application learned by participating in the Pre-Certification Workshop, the application process is faster.

If you have any questions on MBE Certification or to schedule your appointment email: alana@smsdc.org

Renew your certification
Certified MBEs are required to re-certify annually in order to maintain certified status and remain listed in both local and national minority business databases.

• Submit and upload the most recent Federal Tax Returns and Declaration of Minority Status with the updated application.
• Pay the non-refundable application fee.
• Completion of renewal is done within 30 days.
• Expedited applications or late re-certifications will require additional fees.

ALL CLAIMS OR DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF THE MBE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, WHETHER THE INITIAL DENIAL OR AFTER AN APPEAL, BETWEEN YOU AND SMSDC WILL BE RESOLVED THROUGH BINDING ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT (FAA), TITLE 9 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE, AND ARBITRATION RULES.  YOU AGREE ,UNDERSTAND  AND CHOOSE BINDING ARBITRATION INSTEAD OF LITIGATION TO RESOLVE ALL CLAIMS. BY PROCEEDING WITH THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, NEITHER YOU NOR SMSDC WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LITIGATE A CLAIM IN COURT WITH RESPECT TO THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.