Border States seeks out diverse and disadvantaged businesses capable of supplying quality goods and services at competitive prices. We are steadfast in our commitment to supplier diversity and utilize qualified, diverse and disadvantaged businesses in all aspects of our company’s operations to meet customer requirements, leverage market positions, improve shareholder value and strengthen the economic vitality of the communities where we live and work.
We are constantly expanding our base of diverse suppliers. Border States is a member of the Minnesota Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC), and we encourage diverse suppliers to contact our supplier diversity coordinator for more information about our Supplier Diversity Program.
As we continue to develop this program, we also invite qualified diverse suppliers that meet the following standard supplier requirements to join us in a mutually beneficial relationship. We are currently seeking suppliers that provide:
Quality goods and services
Timely performance
Competitive pricing
Ongoing support
Purchasing decisions are based on the capabilities of the suppliers, and management makes the final purchasing decisions on inventory items. Our operations vice president, branch managers and branch operations managers and supervisors make the final purchasing decisions for other necessary supplies and corporate services.
Border States recognizes and reports on the following defined suppliers:
Diverse Supplier – A diverse supplier is a company that is 51 percent owned and operated by women or minority races.
Disadvantaged Supplier – A disadvantaged supplier is usually certified by a federal, state or local governmental agency as having met eligibility requirements as a result of economic disadvantages with respect to education, employment, lack of business training, business location or social disadvantage.
Border States is accountable for business activity with diverse and disadvantaged firms. We utilize CVM Solutions to track and report transactions with diverse and disadvantaged suppliers. Data collected is reported quarterly.
