For Suppliers
Supplier Diversity Resource Office
APL is committed to fulfilling its small business goals as well as giving every supplier a fair and reasonable opportunity. We believe in working with a set of suppliers that deliver value, fresh perspectives, and nimble thinking within diverse organizations. This includes:
- Small Businesses (SBs)
- Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs)
- Woman-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs)
- Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)
- Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs)
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs)
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Minority Institutions (MIs)
- Alaskan Native Corporations (ANCs)
- Indian Tribes
We actively seek to expand relationships with these types of suppliers, which we view as an often-untapped source of talent.
Our Commitment
The APL Supplier Diversity Resource Office (SDRO) was established to support diversity in APL鈥檚 procurements and achieve its small business program goals. It is committed to doing so by:
- Being an advocate for small businesses. As the first point of contact, the SDRO provides counseling to potential small business suppliers on procurement opportunities and how to do business with APL.
- Fostering the growth and continued success of small business programs.
- Partnering with APL鈥檚 procurement and contracts teams and technical departments. The SDRO assists these departments in identifying potential suppliers for the acquisition of goods and services.
- Directing and participating in outreach activities. These activities identify and encourage the use by APL of goods and services from qualified and diverse small businesses.
Interested in Potential Opportunities with APL鈥檚 SDRO?
APL is interested in working with a diverse range of businesses. If you are interested in doing business with APL, learn about APL and our mission areas. APL is a not-for-profit university affiliated research center (UARC) that solves complex research, engineering, and analytical problems that present critical challenges to our nation. Our scientists, engineers, and analysts serve as trusted advisors and technical experts to the government, ensuring the reliability of complex technologies that safeguard our nation鈥檚 security and advance the frontiers of space. We also maintain independent research and development programs that pioneer and explore emerging technologies and concepts to address future national priorities.
Prospective suppliers may contact us at PartnerandSupplierResources@jhuapl.edu. Please include the following information:
- Company name, brief overview, and website address
- Business size (e.g., small business) and socioeconomic classification
- Capabilities documentation and/or line card to capture product/service offerings and key competencies
- Whether you are a current or previous supplier for APL. If you are a current supplier, also identify the purchase order/subcontract number
- Any unique information you would like APL to know about your company and your products/services
- Contact information
If APL is interested in partnering with you as a supplier, you will receive an invitation to register on APL鈥檚 Supplier Portal.
If you represent a small business, please review our cybersecurity resource page. We also welcome you to speak with one of our experienced cybersecurity experts at smb-cyber@jhuapl.edu.
APL鈥檚 Supplier Portal
The Supplier Portal is APL鈥檚 main tool for suppliers to self-manage their compliance documents, including annual representations and certifications, payment/banking information, and business classification. All steps must be completed to become an APL supplier.
A Supplier User Guide will be available on the homepage of the portal to assist you.
To begin the process, follow the instructions in the 鈥淚nterested in Potential Opportunities with APL鈥檚 SDRO?鈥 section above. If APL is interested in partnering with you as a supplier, you will receive an invitation to register on the Supplier Portal.
Note: Registering on the Supplier Portal does not mean you are registered as a supplier with APL. You will need to complete the registration questionnaire and it will need to be approved before you are considered registered with APL.
How to Become a Registered Supplier
Step 1
Receive an invitation from APL to register on the Supplier Portal
Step 2
Create a new account on the Supplier Portal or log in with an existing account
Step 3
Complete and submit the Supplier Portal registration questionnaire
Step 4
APL will review your answers to the registration questionnaire and provide approval (may require follow-up)
Ongoing
Maintain your questionnaire and update it as requested
Tips for Small Businesses Who Want to Do Business with APL
- Identify your product or services by providing a CAGE Code and Unique Entity ID (UEI) number in the System for Award Management (SAM). Information about the SAM.gov website and an instructional video that explains how to establish a UEI are available on our How We Partner Together webpage.
- Provide your primary for your products or services.
Next Steps
For APL, developing and maintaining relationships with small and diverse businesses is not only imperative, it is simply good business. The SDRO is committed to small business development.
Once the vetting process has been completed, if your company is identified as having the capabilities for (a) our government contracts or (b) building, maintaining, or operating APL鈥檚 campus infrastructure, we will contact you for further information.
APL鈥檚 SDRO Contacts
Contact the Supplier Diversity Resource Office
The SDRO is managed by two supplier diversity program managers. For assistance/guidance with APL鈥檚 Supplier Outreach Program, please contact:
- Lisa M. Righter, Supplier Diversity Program Manager and Outreach Officer
- Orlando D. Stevenson Sr., Supplier Diversity Program Manager