Apply in 3 Steps
The Supplier Diversity program features a mobile-friendly application with greater accessibility, encouraging more small businesses to get certified and participate in contracting. There are 3 steps for submitting a new or renewal application:
- Register in the System for Award Management (SAM).
- Submit the Small and Minority Business Enterprise (S/MBE) application on CT Gateway.
- Complete the review process.
Application Steps
Step 1: Register in the System for Award Management (SAM)
For-profit companies must register for All Awards as a small business on SAM.gov. To determine whether your company qualifies, see the SBA’s Table of Small Business Size Standards, which uses your company's primary NAICS code to determine size. Nonprofits will skip this step. SAM registration is FREE and valid for 1 year.
For assistance, call the SAM Help desk at 866-606-8220. See below for additional resources.
Step 2: Submit the S/MBE application on CT Gateway
Log into CT Gateway and click on SMBE Supplier Diversity Application. Detailed instructions are provided on each application page. You may apply for either the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) or Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certificate. State certification is FREE and valid for 2 years.
For assistance, watch the training video, attend a hands-on clinic, reach out to one of our partner small business organizations, or email us.
Step 3: Complete the review process
After submitting your S/MBE application, additional information may be requested, and companies may be subject to a site visit. All communication happens through email so check your email regularly! If your company does not respond to requests within a two-week period, the application will be closed.
After approval, certificates are available to print from the CT Gateway dashboard. At renewal time, the system will notify certified companies via a courtesy email 120, 90, 60, and 30 days before expiration. Applications are reviewed in the order received so renew as early as possible.
Once certified, if your company makes any organizational changes, you must communicate these changes in writing to the DAS Supplier Diversity Program Team. We will determine if the change(s) impacts your company’s certification eligibility as defined by the Connecticut General Statutes and/or applicable regulations. Failure to communicate changes may result in de-certification or denial of re-certification to the program.
Don't Forget to Register on CTsource!
After registering on CTsource, the State Contracting Portal, you will receive an email each time a solicitation opens that is related to the products and services that you sell. You may also look for open solicitations on the Bid Board and find current/past contracts on the Contract Board. As an added benefit, your company will be available in CTsource buyer searches.
