Vermont M/WBE Outreach and Resident Preference: Status and What to Do

What it is

Vermont does not run its own MBE or WBE certification program. Executive Order 3-20 (first issued in 1991 as No. 15-91) tells state agencies to make "a good faith effort" to encourage minority- and women-owned businesses to compete for state contracts. The Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) keeps an M/WBE directory built from a self-certification form. The state's procurement rules (Administrative Bulletin 3.5) also give resident bidders and Vermont-made products a preference, but only when every other factor is equal.

Who qualifies

• M/WBE directory: firms that complete the BGS M/WBE Self-Certification Form. The BGS page does not list criteria or describe a review.
• Resident preference: "resident bidders of the State" and products "raised or manufactured in the State." Bulletin 3.5 does not define a resident bidder.
• We found no state small business, veteran-owned or disability-owned certification or preference in Bulletin 3.5 or on the BGS pages.
• Out-of-state firms can bid. BGS says "Vermont does not have a reciprocal preference law," so Vermont does not add a penalty for firms from states that favor their own bidders.

What it means for your bids

• There is no MBE/WBE set-aside, subcontracting goal or price preference in the state rules we reviewed.
• Under the simplified bid process, Bulletin 3.5 tells agencies to "solicit price quotations from 1 to 2 qualified Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises." Being findable can get you asked to quote.
• On BGS contracts, bidders are encouraged to contact M/WBEs about subcontract work, and contractors may not discriminate when awarding subcontracts.
• The resident and Vermont-products preference works as a tie-breaker. Bulletin 3.5 says no statute or rule requires it. Next in line are bidders with clean energy practices (Executive Order 05-16).

How to get certified

Vermont has no state certification to apply for. To get on buyers' lists:

1. Register as a supplier in VTBuys: https://vtbuysprocurement.vermont.gov/suppliers-bidders. The page does not list a fee.
2. For the BGS M/WBE directory, download the M/WBE Self-Certification Form at https://bgs.vermont.gov/facilities/forms/minority-women. The page does not say where to send it, so confirm with the Office of Purchasing and Contracting at SOV.OPC@vermont.gov or 802-828-2211.
3. Get free help from the Vermont APEX Accelerator: ACCD.APEXinfo@vermont.gov or (802) 828-5237. It serves businesses located in Vermont.

Because the directory is self-certified, there is no state fee, term or renewal schedule on the official pages.

Watch out for

• Federal DBE certification through VTrans is separate and applies to transportation work.
• BGS warns that firms in the M/WBE directory got phishing emails claiming to be from the state. Verify any request through a trusted state contact.
• The BGS page does not describe any review of self-certifications, so a directory listing is not the same as a reviewed certificate.
• Bulletin 3.5 was last updated December 7, 2023 (posted March 22, 2024). We found no 2025 or 2026 change to these rules.
• City, town and school district purchasing rules are separate. Check each one.

Programs in other states →

Put Vermont's certification programs on your website

Free for chambers, associations, APEX Accelerators, SBDCs and anyone else. Paste one line where you want it. It updates itself every day and works on phones.

<script src="https://findmybids.com/embed.js" data-kind="programs" data-state="VT" async></script>

Copy codePreview

Your site doesn't allow scripts? Use this instead

<iframe src="https://findmybids.com/embed/programs?state=VT" title="FindMyBids" loading="lazy" style="width:100%;max-width:720px;height:520px;border:0"></iframe>

Copy code

Add data-theme="dark" for a dark page. A small "from FindMyBids" line stays at the bottom.

Sources

• bgs.vermont.gov/facilities/forms/minority-women
• bgs.vermont.gov/node/163
• aoa.vermont.gov/node/146
• aoa.vermont.gov/sites/aoa/files/documents/03-22-24_Revised_2023-12-07_Bulletin_3.5_Ve
• law.justia.com/codes/vermont/title-3-appendix/chapter-3/section-3-20/
• vtbuysprocurement.vermont.gov/suppliers-bidders
• accd.vermont.gov/node/91
• www.naspo.org/research-and-innovation/state-preference-repository/browse-by-state/v

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with any certifying agency, and this isn't legal advice. Status can change quickly with court orders and new laws, so confirm with the program office before you rely on it.