Small Business Development - Frequently Asked Questions
- How can my business supply goods/services to the University?
- How can I learn more about community and business development resources available to me?
- Where will I find information about available contracts, RFPs, and other opportunities to bid for the University's business?
- What is the University's guideline on the definition of a "small business?"
- Who can I contact for more information?
1. How can my business supply goods/services
to the University?
The University asks all businesses to pre-register, free
of charge, with our Strategic Sourcing group. For specific
steps, please see Becoming a UCOP
Supplier.
2. How can I learn more about community
and business development resources available to me?
There are many resources available to small businesses, some
are government managed outreach programs and some are coalitions
of business leaders, community organizations and other advocate
groups. A few resources of note include:
The U.S. Small Business
Association
The California
State Advocate for Small Business
The Northern California
Supplier Development Council
Please also check with the U.C. campus closest to your location. Many small business outreach programs are based at the local city level. Each U.C. campus, laboratory and hospital has a Small Business Coordinator who would be happy to help you find an appropriate local contact.
3. Where will I find information about
available contracts, RFPs, and other opportunities to bid
for the University's business?
System-wide and UCOP opportunities are now posted centrally
on our new web site: http://www.ucop.edu/strategicsourcing/. All campuses also maintain
their own websites where similar information can be found,
usually specific to that one campus. Click on "Campus Links
/ Materiel Management" to be directed to those sites.
4. What is the University's guideline
on the definition of a "small business?"
A Small Business Enterprise is an independently owned and
operated concern certified, or certifiable, as a small business
by the Federal Small Business Administration (SBA). (A general
rule of thumb is that a concern with not more than 500 employees
may be considered a small business. Size standards by Standard
Industrial Classification codes may be found in the Federal
Acquisitions Regulations, Section 19.102. The University
may rely on written representation by vendors regarding their
status.) Source: University Policy BUS-43
5. Who can I contact for more information?
Please address comments and questions to our UCOP Small Business
Contact:
UC Office of the President
1111 Franklin Street, 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94607
Email: