National Institute of Standards and Technology | U.S. Department of Commerce 1

CHIPS for America

Creating Inclusive Opportunities for Businesses

August 22, 2023
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WELCOME

Visit CHIPS.gov

• Get the Inclusive Business Opportunities Guide

• Access additional resources for applicants and

stakeholders

• Sign up for email updates

• Register for future webinars
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Today’s Speakers

Fayrouz Saad

Director of Public 

Engagement

Kylie Patterson

Senior Advisor for 

Opportunity & Inclusion

Adam Schafer

Head of Supply Chain 

Strategy

May Song 

Summer Associate
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AGENDA & OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY

Agenda

• Overview of CHIPS for America and Priorities

• Discussion of the Vision for Inclusive Business

Strategies

• Best Practices for Developing a Supplier

Diversity Plan

• Application Submission

• Next Steps and Additional Resources

• Q&A

By the end, attendees should 

understand

• What inclusive business

opportunities entail

• Best practices for developing

a supplier diversity program

• What we are looking or in an

application submission

regarding inclusive business

opportunities
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Overview of CHIPS for America
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CHIPS for America Vision

Economic 

Security

The CHIPS Act will 

strengthen supply chain 

security and increase 

economic resilience in critical 

sectors.

National 

Security

The CHIPS Act will ensure 

that the U.S. can 

manufacture advanced 

technologies, including 

secure chips for the U.S. 

military.

Future 

Innovation

The CHIPS Act will spur 

innovation, increase 

competitiveness, and 

ensure long-term U.S. 

leadership in the sector
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Funding Opportunities

February 28, 2023

For commercial 

leading-edge, current, 

and mature node 

fabrication facilities

June 23, 2023

For large 

semiconductor 

materials and 

equipment facility 

projects $300M+

For smaller 

semiconductor 

materials and 

equipment facility 

projects under $300M

To support the 

construction of 

semiconductor R&D 

facilities

Statements of Interest currently being accepted for all funding opportunities
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Program Priorities

Economic 

and national 

security 

objectives

Commercial 

viability

Financial 

strength

Technical 

feasibility 

and 

readiness

Workforce 

development Broader

impacts
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CHIPS Program Priorities

Inclusive 

opportunities 

for small, 

minorityowned, 

veteran-owned, 

and womenowned 

businesses

Commitments to inclusive business opportunities are important to the success of the 

CHIPS program.
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Related DOC Priorities

Drive U.S. Innovation 

and Global 

Competitiveness

Revitalize U.S. 

manufacturing and 

strengthen domestic 

supply chains

Foster Inclusive 

Capitalism and 

Equitable Economic 

Growth

• Drive equitable, 

resilient, place-based 

economic 

development and job 

growth

• Advance high-growth 

small and minority 

enterprises

Expand Opportunity 

and Discovery 

Through Data

Employ data-driven 

supplier diversity 

practices
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Inclusive Business Opportunities Vision

The CHIPS & Science Act will:

Grow the economy of the United States and support job 

creation in the United States; 

Promote the inclusion of historically and economically 

disadvantaged communities and small businesses; and 

Contribute to community-based economic development and 

empowerment as well as innovation and supply chain 

resiliency within the semiconductor industry. 
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To achieve this vision, the Department

is prioritizing applications that...

Describe their supplier diversity plan, including the components of their strategy.

Work with partners to identify and engage with small, minority-owned, veteranowned, and women-owned businesses. 

Track and disclose data on supplier diversity and pursue other proactive 

engagement opportunities.
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This guide will help applicants think through the best models 

that work for them and submit strong supplier diversity plans

1. Value of Supplier

Diversity

2. Supplier Diversity

Plan

3. Submitting a

Successful Supplier 

Diversity Plan

4. Appendix &

Resources
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Why Supplier Diversity?

Address barriers to economic inclusion

Job creation

Economic empowerment

Community 

Vitality

Innovation Influx of new ideas and perspectives

Expand pool of suppliers in strained 

supply base

Supply 

Chain 

Resiliency
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Inclusive Business Opportunities

Creating business opportunities 

that are inclusive for all, 

including veteran-owned, minorityowned, women-owned, and small 

businesses

Businesses can also help provide:

Employee Services Factory Materials and 

Supplies

Sales and Marketing Accounting and Site 

Planning Support

Legal Services

Construction & 

Contracting Services 

and Materials
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Best Practices for Developing a 

Supplier Diversity Plan
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Overview of Supplier Diversity Plan 

Identify and Categorize 

Suppliers 

Company reviews 

existing supplier base 

and current state of 

supplier diversity. 

Establish Program 

Targets

Company establishes the 

program’s targets and 

how it will track and 

disclose supplier 

diversity data.

Facilitate Outreach 

with Businesses 

Company creates a 

robust outreach plan, 

engages outreach 

partners, and forecasts 

its needs.

Institute Supportive 

Corporate Practices

Company treats industrysupplier partnerships as 

active relationships, 

helping suppliers grow.
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Small

MinorityOwned

Veteran-Owned

WomenOwned

Identify and Categorize Suppliers 

Inclusive 

Opportunities

At least 51% owned or 

51% of stock is owned by 

minorities / veterans / 

women

While not required, 

applicants can 

also consider 

LGBTQ+-owned 

businesses, disabilityowned businesses, or 

businesses located in 

HUBZones or 

Opportunity Zones.

There are multiple 

pathways to certification 

for minority-owned, 

veteran-owned, and 

women-owned 

businesses.
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Establish Program Targets 

After assessing its current state of supplier diversity, applicants may consider issuing a 

policy statement with measurable targets. There are various ways applicants can set 

program targets: 

Spend Terms

• Increasing diverse spend from $X to $X

• Reach $X spending target within X number of years

Supplier Count 

Goals Reaching X suppliers by X amount of years 

Overarching 

Target

• X categories includes representation from small and

diverse businesses

• X formal RFPs include small and diverse businesses
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Track and Report Supplier Diversity Data 

Applicants should describe how they will track and disclose data on supplier diversity that 

is demographically disaggregated (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status), including 

statistics on what share of suppliers are majority-owned by different groups.

Diverse Spend

• Procurement

spent solely

with small and

diverse

businesses

• Consider

expansion to

tier 2

Supplier Count

• Number of

suppliers

registered in

systems

• Share of

suppliers that

are small,

minorityowned,

veteran-owned,

and womenowned

businesses

Financial ROI

• Revenue from

customers w/

diverse spend

requirements

• Economic

impact

• Dollars saved

• Grants

received

Broader 

Impacts

• Community

impact: Local

employment

and wages

• Workforce

metrics: Job

creation, hiring,

and promotion

Qualitative 

Metrics

• Quality of

company's

relationship

with their

suppliers

• Survey

suppliers +

commodity

managers
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Facilitate Outreach with Businesses 

Create a Robust Outreach Plan

• Ensure that small, minority-owned, veteran-owned, women-owned 

businesses are solicited for construction and production supply 

chain opportunities 

• Participate in regional and national supplier diversity events and 

coordinate regular benchmarking with other companies 

Forecast Future Needs

Forecast upcoming needs to suppliers for more effective

partnerships
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Engage with Outreach Partners 

Chambers of 

Commerce

• Local Chambers of Commerce have diverse supplier directories 

• Minority Chambers of Commerce serve as certifying bodies, have vast networks, 

and act as a conduit between applicants and suppliers 

Economic 

Development 

Agencies

• EDAs support existing businesses and entrepreneurs and recruit new businesses

• Assist with augmenting applicant's connections with community

Minority 

Depository 

Institutions

• MDIs are federally insured depository institutions for which either 1) 51% or more 

of the voting stock is owned by minority individuals or 2) a majority of the board is 

minority and community served is predominately minority

• Information networking with MDIs
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Institute Supportive Corporate Practices 

Integration of 

Supplier 

Diversity

• Assign dedicated staff to develop and manage the program

• Develop vendor lists with diversity in mind 

• Divide total supplier requirements into smaller tasks 

Mentor-Protégé

• Match executive mentors with "protégés" to help them grow 

• Webinars, resources, support network to help suppliers advance in 

industry

Payment Terms

• Small, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses 

have less capital 

• Reduced payment periods (e.g. net-15/30/45) + quick payment 

resolution mechanisms

Ombuds 

Processes

• Designated neutral, confidential, and independent party for dispute 

resolution processes

• Informal but "active" approach to addressing individual concerns while 

retaining company interests

Case Studies

• Accenture Global 

Supplier Inclusion & 

Sustainability 

Program

• Adient Supplier 

Diversity Program 

• Johnson & Johnson 

Global Supplier 

Diversity and 

Inclusion Program

• Merck Supplier 

Diversity Program
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Application Submission
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Final Submission Requirements

• Each applicant must provide overview of broader impacts of proposed project in the final 

application.

• Section should be no longer than 30 pages, excluding any attachments

• Assessment of criterion will consider the quality and comprehensiveness of applicant's 

strategy for engaging with small, minority-owned, veteran-owned or women-owned 

businesses as strategic partners, suppliers, contractors, or subcontractors and

commitment to tracking and disclosing disaggregated data on supplier diversity and 

contractor/subcontractor diversity
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New Resource: Teaming Partner List

The teaming partner list will enable entities to share information, 

foster collaboration, and advance shared goals

• Entities that may not be eligible to apply can share contact information 

and capabilities 

• Potential applicants can access and reach out to entities on the list to 

facilitate potential partnerships and collaboration

• This list does not directly connect entities to potential applicants, but is 

meant to enable potential strategic partnerships

Consider signing up for the teaming list if you:

• Are an entity that may not qualify as covered entities under the CHIPS funding opportunities

• Are an organization that provides relevant support services 

• This could include: educational and workforce training providers; labor unions; childcare providers; 

organizations that engage or support minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses; 

community-based organizations; and others

More details at: https://www.nist.gov/chips/chips-america-teaming-partner-list
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Next Steps

• Review the Creating Inclusive Business 

Opportunities Guide in detail

• Visit CHIPS.gov for resources, including:

• Applicant guides and templates

• FAQs and fact sheets

• Register for future webinars

• Join our mailing list

• Contact us

• askchips@chips.gov – General inquiries

• apply@chips.gov – Application-related inquiries
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Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to set up a supplier diversity 

program? 

It is difficult to predict, as the time to execution may be informed by data 

already available and pre-existing relationships. Applicants should begin work 

as soon as possible and consider reviewing internal systems to learn what 

they already have in place.

I already have contractors that are diverse, does that 

spend count? 

Yes. Already existing suppliers that are a small, minority-owned, veteranowned, or women-owned business will count towards diverse spend. 
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Thank you