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CERTIFICATION

DFW MSDC only certifies for-profit businesses — Only for-profit minority-owned businesses with headquarters and principal place of operations in the Dallas Ft. Worth Metro or North Texas area can apply for certification with the Dallas Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council. DFW MSDC DOES NOT CERTIFY Joint Ventures or Holding Companies.

Oklahoma Headquartered Businesses — Your certifying Council is the Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council. You can reach them by phone at (512) 386-8766 or visit their website at www.smsdc.org.

Businesses Headquartered Outside North Texas — If your company is headquartered outside North Texas, please visitwww.nmsdc.org/our-network/  to view a map of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Regional Affiliates to determine the Affiliate Council that will handle your certification.

View video above. Still have questions?

Get Your Questions Answered
Every Thursday starting at 1 pm CST

REGISTER TO ATTEND Q&A

Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Online Certification

You will be required to create a username and password prior to being able to submit an application. Once you have logged in, follow the instructions to complete your certification application.

CERTIFICATION APPLICATION

​​​​​​​​Why Become a Certified Minority Supplier…

Certification with the DFW MSDC provides you with valuable resources to help your business grow and succeed. The DFW MSDC can offer your business an excellent opportunity to meet with corporate buyers who are interested in working with qualified MBEs. We offer many formal and informal venues to meet with corporate buyers, learn about state and local opportunities and expand your professional network. MBEs greatly benefit from being certified with the largest national organization, whose certification is recognized uniformly by corporate America. Becoming certified also opens up opportunities and speeds up the sales process in a very competitive global marketplace.

The DFW MSDC conducts an extensive business review of new and existing MBEs. This review, the Certification Process, is designed to ensure compliance with the NMSDC member standards for certified minority business status. Certification by the DFW MSDC is a nationally recognized NMSDC Certification and is honored nationwide.

Benefits of becoming a Certified Minority Supplier

•   A nationally recognized minority business certification

•   Local, regional and national referrals to Buying Entity members (corporations and public sector agency)

•   Inclusion in the DFW MSDC and National Minority Supplier Development Council MBE computer databases

•   Participation in educational programs and workshops to assist in personal, professional and business growth

•   Opportunities to network with Buying Entity Members at various DFW MSDC events and activities

•   Multi-tier and MBE-to-MBE business opportunities

•   Industry Group Specific opportunities and access

•   State of Texas Historically Underutilized and SBE Certification

•   Registration as a client with the MBDA Business Center – Dallas (ranked outstanding and one of the top 10 MBDA Centers in the country)

•   Registration on the online MBDA Opportunity Portal and the portal advertising Federal opportunities

•   Access to free business consulting, where specific contract and financing opportunities exist

•   Update assistance of your capability statement

•   Support with U.S. Department of Commerce and MBDA partners to assist your company to go global

Certification Criteria

To become a Certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), your business must meet the following NATIONAL MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL requirements.

  • Both current and historical facts are considered in determining ownership qualifications and participation in the management and operations of the company.
  • Your business is a for-profit enterprise.
  • Your business is physically located in the United States or its trust territories.
  • Your business is at least 51% ethnic minority owned. Ethnic minority owned is defined as any business having owner(s) belonging to the following minority groups:
    • African-American having origins in any black racial groups of Africa (not of Hispanic origin)
    • Hispanic whose origin is from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central and South America, or Hispanic cultures or descents
    • Asian and Pacific Islanders whose origin is from Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific, Northern Marianas, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
    • Native American having origins in any of the American/Alaskan Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians. All American/Alaska Indians must be documented members of a federally recognized tribal entity.
  • The minority/ethnic owner(s) of the business are U.S. citizens.
  • The minority/ethnic owner(s) of the business must be active in management and daily business operations.
  • The minority owner(s) shall possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the firm and shall possess the capability of making day-to-day as well as major decisions on matters of management, policy and operations of the firm. There shall be no restriction on the minority owner’s ability to control which would prevent the minority owner from making a business decision without the cooperation or vote of a non-minority person.  Such control shall be known or at least tacitly acknowledged in day-to-day operations by employees and business references of the business.  Where licenses are required to perform the functional mission of the company, such licenses shall be held in the name and/or independent control of minorities.
  • The minority ownership and control shall be real and continuing and not created solely to take advantage of special programs aimed at minority business development.
  • The minority owner(s) shall enjoy the customary incidents of ownership and shall share in the risks and profits and shall have contributed capital, equipment and/or expertise to the business commensurate with his/her percentage of ownership.
  • The Dallas Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council reserves the right to deny or revoke certification for cause at any time.
Required Certification Documentation

(documents will vary by business types – below is a sample for corporations)

  • The history of business
  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Articles of Incorporation
  • Stock Certificates and Stock Ledger
  • Minutes to Board of Director’s meetings, as well as Shareholder’s meetings
  • Bylaws (executed and attested) and Amendments (if applicable)
  • All agreement(s) pertaining to ownership, operation and control of the business
  • Business cards that list appropriate corporate titles, copies of resumes, copy of driver’s licenses and proof of US Citizenship (Birth certificates or U.S. Passports only) for all Principals
  • Corporate Bank Resolution Agreement(s) to include Bank Signature Card(s)
  • Business Lease Agreement(s) (and Security Deeds if home-based)
  • Proof of general liability insurance and in some cases bonding
  • Copies of the businesses’ cancelled checks
  • Most recent years’ federal taxes with associated schedules
How To Get Certified

Applying for MBE Certification at DFW MSDC, consists of the steps below:

  • Review certification criteria to ensure that your business qualifies.
  • Gather required documentation. Documentation requirements are listed directly below.
  • Complete the application in full. The link is found at the top of this page.
  • Pay certification fee by credit card online or send via check to the DFW MSDC Offices.
  • Application and documents are logged in and reviewed for completeness. Any missing or incomplete documentation will delay the certification process.
  • Committee Review — The Certification Committee meets on the second Thursday of each month to review applications for MBE Certification. Two members of the Certification Committee must review the application before a site visit can be recommended and the file is submitted to the Board for final approval.
  • Conducting Site Visit — The Certification Committee or Council Staff will perform a site visit to review your business premises and conduct a personal interview of the owner(s).
  • Board Review — The Board will review the Certification Committee’s recommendation and make the final decision. If the Board rejects the application, you may submit a letter of appeal. If approved, you will be notified by e-mail to attend the New Members Orientation.
  • Attend New Members Orientation to receive your certificate and learn more about the DFW MSDC and how it can help with your business.
Fees

Class 1 – $270.00 – Under $1,000,000 (Gross Sales)

Class 2 – $400.00 – $1,000,001 to $10,000,000 (Gross Sales)

Class 3 – $650.00 – $10,000,001 to $50,000,000 (Gross Sales)

Class 4 – $800.00 – $50,000,001 and Over (Gross Sales)​