Supplier Diversity

W. T. Byler Co. continually seeks support and participation from the diverse community as a completed edge to our bids. Many owners, agencies and general contractors have recognized that the socioeconomic business community is important business strength. Having qualified minority owned business participation does present advantages in competing for contracts from the government and large corporations, therefore enhancing the capabilities of the small business community. These advantages often come in the form of goals established for minority owned business participation to W. T. Byler Co. contracts, as either a prime contractor or subcontractor

Outreach Efforts

Traditionally, some contracts are set-aside for certified minority owned businesses and are exempt from outside competition. Independently owned and operated, these businesses by definition are not dominant in the field of operation in which they are bidding; therefore they qualify under the criteria and size standards for small businesses as determined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). They include, but are not limited to:

  • US-owned Small Business (SB)
  • Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
  • Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
  • Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)
  • Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
  • Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
  • Native American-Owned Business

Our project managers procure and sub-contract according to owner / client socioeconomic participation goals for their projects and maximize the use of socioeconomic businesses, when applicable, to meet the needs of the projects we execute.

W. T. Byler Co. continually engages in business opportunities capturing the advantage of diverse perspectives. We seek project-qualified Supplier Diversity Advocates in mutually beneficial relationships that strengthen our ability to win contacts. We believe the practice encourages healthy competition and enables us to deliver quality projects to our customers.

Second Tier Goals

When selecting our minority owned business participation, W. T. Byler Co. reviews our goal participation with committed suppliers and subcontractors. We recommend they too develop a diversity program. Tailored to our industry, we often suggest that material suppliers and subcontractors utilize independent transport drivers for deliveries. They must report their diversity supplier spending directly to the corresponding project manager.

Timely Payments

The W. T. Byler Co. procurement process includes contract negotiated payment intervals, which ensures timely, mutually agreed upon payment terms and conditions. Our process ensures that diversity and other firms alike are paid in a timely fashion.

Glossary of Terms (summarized):

Women-Owned Small Business

Small business concern (a) which is at least 51 percent owned by a woman or women; or in the case of many publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women; and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

Minority-Owned Business Enterprise

Minority refers to Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans.

  • Native American includes American Indians, American Eskimos, American Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians.
  • Asian-American includes United States citizens whose origins are from Japan, China, the Philippines, Viet Nam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific, Northern Marianas, Laos, Cambodia and Taiwan, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Veteran or Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise

Veterans are individuals who have served on active duty with the US Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard for any length of time and at any place, and who were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Reservists or members of the National Guard called to Federal active duty or disabled from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty while in training status also qualify as a veteran. 'Service disabled' means a veteran who possesses a disability rating letter issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs establishing a service connected disability rating between 0-100%.

HUBZone Small Business

HUBZone refers to a small business whose principal office is located and operated within a Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) as designated and certified by the Federal government. The business must also have at least 35% of its employee base residing within the HUBZone.