Border States seeks out diverse and disadvantaged businesses capable of supplying quality goods and services at a competitive price. We are steadfast in our commitment to supplier diversity. We 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 through our Supplier Diversity Program brochure.
We also invite qualified diverse suppliers who meet the following standard supplier requirements to join us in a mutually beneficial business relationship:
Quality Goods and Services
Timely Performance
Competitive Pricing
Ongoing Support
Purchasing decisions are based on the capabilities of the supplier. Management makes the final purchasing decisions on inventory items. Our Operations Vice President, Branch Managers or Branch Operations Managers/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% owned and operated by women or people of color.
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 use Dun & Bradstreet’s Supply Management Solutions to track and report transactions with diverse and disadvantaged suppliers. Data collected is reported quarterly.
