DOING BUSINESS WITH THE SMITHSONIAN
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION’S MISSION

Increase and 

diffusion of 

knowledge

“Create knowledge, 

Preserve our national 

and natural heritage, 

Share knowledge”
DIVERSITY AT THE SMITHSONIAN

Broad diversity of activities fill mission

Decentralized smaller 

procurements

Contracts under Simplified 

Acquisition Threshold

Centralized large contracts Federal and Trust, from $150,000 

up to and above $1 million 

Annual expenditures for procurements and contracts –

23% Small Business Goal

Annual Expenditures: $250 million – Federal

 $150 million - Trust
WHAT THE 

SMITHSONIAN BUYS
➢Professional, Scientific and Technical 

services: $84M

➢Real Estate $46M

➢Construction and Renovation $41M

➢Information Technology $12M

➢Administrative Support $10M

➢Arts and Entertainment $7M

➢Electronics, Electrical, and Transportation 

Equipment: $6M

➢Wholesale Trade $6M

➢Educational Services $5M

Smithsonian

Top Buys

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM

➢ Smithsonian Institution’s Supplier Diversity 

Program:

➢ Advocate for Diversity and Inclusion in SI 

procurements and contracts

➢ Negotiate SI-wide small business participation 

goals

➢ Monitor SI-wide SDP SB & HUSB 

accomplishments

➢ Answer the question “How Would I Know?” 

for Small Businesses

➢ Support policies that advocate for small 

businesses

➢ Conduct small business outreach initiatives
THE SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM

The Smithsonian’s Supplier 

Diversity Program Goals:

➢A Diversity of small businesses 

working at the Smithsonian to 

accomplish our mission.

➢Each museum, research 

institute and office working 

together to achieve 

Procurement and Small 

Business Participation goals.
➢SDP Policy Development and 

Maintenance

➢SDP Program Management

➢SDP Goaling and Reporting

➢SDP Outreach

➢SDP Inreach

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM 

AREAS

Smithsonian National Museum of African 

American History & Culture
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM FRAMEWORK

• PERFORMANCE • PURPOSE

• PROCESSES • PEOPLE

GOAL #3

Continuously 

Improve Supplier 

Diversity Program’s 

Efficiency and 

Effectiveness

GOAL #1

Equip the 

Smithsonian Unit 

SDP Liaisons as a 

cadre of Small 

Business Experts 

GOAL #2

Operate as a Valued 

Partner in Carrying 

Out the 

Smithsonian’s 

Mission

GOAL #4

Serve as an Effective 

Advocate and 

Resource for Small 

Businesses
SMITHSONIAN INITIATIVES FOR SMALL BUSINESS VENDORS 

ONE: 

Policies: SD 216 and the 

Supplier Diversity 

Program Manual

TWO: 

Smithsonian Institution 

Forecast of 

Procurement 

Opportunities

THREE: 

Small Business SetAside and Sole Source 

Programs

FOUR: 

Small Business IDIQ List

FIVE: 

Mandatory Small 

Business Threshold

SIX: 

Subcontracting Goals
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION SMALL 

BUSINESS GOALS

Contract Awards

Smithsonian 

FY 2024

Prime Contract Goals

(000)

Prime Contracts

($ in Thousands) $325,000 

Prime Contracts goal for small businesses $74,750

23.0%

Prime Contracts goal for non-8(a) small disadvantaged 

businesses

$16,250

5.0%

Prime Contracts goal for 8(a) small disadvantaged 

businesses

$9,750

3.0%

Prime Contracts goal for women-owned small 

businesses

$16,250

5.0%

Prime Contracts goal for HUB-Zoned small businesses $9,750

3.0%

Prime Contracts goal for service-disabled veteranowned small businesses

$9,750

3.0%
SI SDP

Policy 

Statement

Supplier Diversity 

Program 

Procedures Manual 

(SDPPM)

SD-216, 

Supplier 

Diversity

Smithsonian National Zoo

SMITHSONIAN SUPPLIER DIVERSITY POLICIES
SDP POLICY STATEMENT SIGNED

BY SECRETARY LONNIE BUNCH

SDP POLICY DIRECTIVE 216

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM PROCEDURES MANUAL

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION SUPPLIER DIVERSITY POLICIES

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE, AND WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE INSTITUTION’S PROCUREMENT POLICIES 

AND CONTRACTING NEEDS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED SMALL BUSINESSES (HUSBS) SHALL 

BE PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPETE FOR AND, AS APPROPRIATE, BE AWARDED SMITHSONIAN PROCUREMENTS 

AND CONTRACTS FOR WHICH THEY QUALIFY AND ARE ABLE TO MEET PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS.
Smithsonian Institution’s Supplier Diversity Dollar Thresholds

Total Price Use Small and Historically Underutilized Small Businesses

$1 - $10,000 Encouraged The use of small businesses and historically 

underutilized small businesses is encouraged to the 

maximum extent practicable on purchase card 

purchases

$10,000 - $100,000 Required All SI purchases not subject to an Exclusion and 

greater than $10,000 but less than $150,000

should be set aside exclusively for small 

businesses. 

Other than Small Businesses can be used if unable 

to identify a qualified small business.

Over $100,000 Encouraged The use of small businesses and historically 

underutilized small businesses is encouraged to the 

maximum extent practicable 

These rules exist to ensure that all SI employees looking for vendors use small businesses to the fullest extent possible.
Supplier Diversity 

Program

In-Reach Initiatives

Maintain Supplier Diversity realtime metric dashboard

Conduct Supplier Diversity 

Training for SI Employees

Sponsor “Meet the Vendors” 

Small Business Showcases

Perform Small Business Vendor 

Searches for SI Employees

Supplier Diversity Small Business Conference at NMAAHC
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY 

PROGRAM

OUTREACH INITIATIVES

Maintain Vendor Management Small 

Business Database and outreach calendar 

Participate in Matchmaking events at Small 

Business Conferences

Vendor Engagement focused on contracting 

opportunities (Annual Forecast)

Host Smithsonian Vendor Information 

Sessions 
SMITHSONIAN 

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY 

LIAISONS

Assist

• Assist Unit 

Procurement 

Officers. 

Review and 

report

• Review and 

report on Unit 

small business 

utilization.

Introduce

• Introduce unit 

to qualified 

small 

businesses.

Volunteer

• Volunteer at 

SDP outreach 

and in-reach 

activities.
SMITHSONIAN FORECAST OF PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

SMITHSONIAN FORECAST SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM LIAISONS
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO

Register in the SDP Small 

Business Database

Review the Smithsonian 

Institution Forecast of 

Procurement Opportunities

Contact the Supplier Diversity 

Small Business Liaisons

Visit www.si.edu/oeema/supplierdiversity to learn more about the 

Smithsonian’s Mission and the Supplier Diversity Program. 
SUGGESTIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS 

WITH THE SMITHSONIAN

➢ Study the Smithsonian’s Mission and 

Goals

➢ Communicate what distinguishes your 

product or service from your competition 

in the marketplace 

➢ Establish Collaborative Strategic Alliances

➢ Quote your Best Price and Do your Best 

Work

➢ Allow Supplier Diversity Program to 

advocate with you for increased small 

business opportunities
Contact Information

Smithsonian Institution

Office of Equal Employment 

and Supplier Diversity 

 

Aretha Carr, Director

Jennifer Chen, Administrative Officer

Syvera O’Pharrow | Lead Program Analyst

 Greg C. Williams | Program Analyst

SDPHelp@si.edu

Phone: 202-633-6410

Fax: 202-633-6427 

sdphelp@si.edu

wsi.edu/oeema