The First Step in doing business with the City of Austin as a Certified Minority-Owned, Women-Owned Business Enterprise or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE/DBE) is to become a registered vendor for the City. Your business can register online using the City’s Vendor Self Services (VSS) website at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/purchase . By registering on VSS, you will be able to enter your company contact information and commodity codes for all of the goods and services that you wish to sell to the City at your convenience. VSS will alert you by email if a solicitation for one of your commodity codes comes available. To find out more information about our Purchasing Department, please review our new City of Austin Vendor Source Guide.  We are very excited about our Vendor Source Guide because it was produced by one of the City’s certified vendors in collaboration with City staff. For more information about VSS call (512) 974-2018.

 Step 2: Complete a Certification Application

The Second Step involved in becoming a Certified MBE/WBE with the City of Austin is to complete a Certification package. SMBR reviews application packets in order to determine if a business enterprise can become a Certified MBE/WBE for City of Austin Contracts. (Forms can be downloaded and printed from our website or you can call us and we will send you an application). Certification applications are available at http:www.ci.austin.tx.us/smbr/certsvcs.htm . For more information on City of Austin Certification, call (512) 974-7645. 

Step 3: Do Your Homework

Now that you have become a certified MBE/WBE or DBE with the City of Austin it is vital to:

• Study the procurement opportunities and ask questions if you need clarification. Our Project Managers and SMBR Compliance staff members are here to help.

• Communicate with potential Prime Contractors who will solicit your bids.
• Attend Pre-Bid Meetings if possible. You will meet the potential Prime Contractors, Project Managers and SMBR Compliance Staff Members.
• Market your business to potential Prime Contractors. We are told that building relationships can help you grow your business.
• BID or let the Prime Contractor know that you are unable to bid.

Small & Minority Business Resources (SMBR) is opening the door to opportunities for small minority- and women-owned business enterprises who want to do business with the City of Austin. For more information about SMBR please visit our website at http:www.ci.austin.tx.us/smbr or call (512) 974-7677.

Please note: within the City of Austin we use the terms Vendor, Contractor, Subcontractor, and Business Owner interchangeably so if you have any questions, please let us know.