Apply for Recognition as a Third-Party Certified Business

The Supplier Diversity Office has established relationships with several reliable and well-respected certification organizations and now accepts their certifications.

Supplier Diversity Office

The Details of Apply for Recognition as a Third-Party Certified Business

What you need for Apply for Recognition as a Third-Party Certified Business

The SDO fully recognizes certifications issued by a small number of third-party certifying organizations.

If your company is not certified by one of the organizations listed below, the SDO will not provide this full recognition option, and you must apply for certification either as a Massachusetts-based business or an out-of-state business.

Recognized Third-Party Certifying Organizations Certification Category
Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC) MBE
Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) (New England - WBENC) WBE
City of Boston MBE/WBE
Veteran Business Certification (VetCert) VOSB/SDVOSB
NGLCC - National LGBT Chamber of Commerce LGBTBE
Disability: IN (formerly The US Business Leadership Network-USBLN) DOBE and SDVOBE

How to apply Apply for Recognition as a Third-Party Certified Business

Instructions: Create a profile in the SDO Certification Portal and, after logging in, select the green button “Apply/Verify my Third-Party Certifications”.

More info for Apply for Recognition as a Third-Party Certified Business

Certification status and dates: The ongoing certification status resulting from such recognition is contingent on the applicant’s standing with the original certifying organization. The Massachusetts certification start date will be the date the SDO completes the review and issues an approval of the application. The Massachusetts certification expires on the same date as the original certification issued by the third-party organization.

Certification reciprocity with the City of Boston: In addition to the SDO recognizing MBE and WBE certifications issued by the City of Boston, the city also will recognize MBE and WBE certifications issued by the SDO.

Use the below links to access information about our Third-Party Certification Organizations.

Contact for Apply for Recognition as a Third-Party Certified Business

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