Subject Area: Procurement/Disbursement
Responsible Office: Financial Services
Sponsor: Chief Financial Officer
Originally Issued: January 1996
Revised: March 2010
Refer Questions To: Mark Fehlberg, 773-702-3321

Policy

Statement of Non-Discrimination

In keeping with its long-standing traditions and policies, the University of Chicago considers students, employees, applicants for admission or employment, and those seeking access to the programs on the basis of individual merit. The University, therefore, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status, and does not discriminate against members of protected classes under the law.

The Affirmative Action Officer (773-702-5671) is the University official responsible for coordinating the University’s adherence to this policy and the related federal, state, and local laws and regulations (including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act).

Procurement Services is responsible for establishing procurement standards and procedures to ensure that positive efforts are made to utilize minority-owned, women-owned, and small business enterprises to the fullest extent practicable. Procedures to further this goal shall include the following steps:

1. Make information on forthcoming opportunities available and arrange time frames for purchases and contracts to encourage and facilitate participation by minority-owned, women-owned, and small business enterprises.

2. Consider in the contract process whether firms competing for larger contracts intend to subcontract with minority-owned, women-owned, and small business enterprises. In order to assure that its contractors and vendors abide by the spirit and terms of this policy, the University will require major contractors and vendors to submit plans for economic opportunity for minority-owned, women-owned, and small business enterprises.

3. Encourage contracting with consortiums of minority-owned, women-owned, and small business enterprises when a contract is too large for one of these firms to handle individually.

4. Use of the services and assistance, as appropriate, of such organizations as the Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency in the solicitation and utilization of minority-owned, women-owned, and small business enterprises.

Procurement Services will be responsible for tracking progress toward the University of Chicago’s goal of providing enhanced opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned, and small business enterprises to participate in the University’s procurement process.