Facilities Services at University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences

Why Diversity Matters

Commitment to utilization of minority and women-owned firms is the responsibility of every staff member of Facilities, Planning, Design and Construction.  It is an integral element of each individual’s responsibility to look to minority- and women-owned firms for contracting opportunities. Broadening the professional services, general contractor, construction management pool means better service and value for the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Business diversity…

• Enhances the vitality of small and growing businesses in Chicago and the community
• Provides a positive link to economic development and advocacy organizations focusing on minority and women-owned business issues
• Compliments the Medical Center’s overall commitment to business diversity

The University Of Chicago Medicine Office Of Construction Compliance supports the Medical Center’s legacy of inclusion by:

• Creating sustainable partnerships with minority- and women-owned businesses that will advance continual improvement in our performance and the performance of our partners.
• The Construction Compliance Initiative is fundamental to the Medical Center’s commitment to grow and develop a portfolio of critical and valued business partners. Generating open competition gives the Medical Center the ability to leverage the best resources in the market and increases access to the most creative and innovative talent.

The University of Chicago Medicine has enjoyed an international reputation of leadership, innovation, and excellence. The composition of institutional stakeholders is becoming increasingly diverse as demographics shifts. The development of sustainable alliances with diverse firms will advance our reputation with key internal and external stakeholders.

Classifying Minority-Owned Business Status

A minority-owned business is one in which a minimum of 51 percent of the voting stock is owned and controlled by one or more minority group members.  A minority individual or group must control the policy-making process and direct the daily operations of the firm.  If the business is publicly owned, minority group members must control a minimum of 51 percent of the voting stock and must direct the management and daily business operations.  The University recognizes the following groups as minority:

• African/Black American –United States citizens whose origins are in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
• Hispanic American – United States citizens of Hispanic heritage from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America or the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean basin only. 
• Native American –United States citizens who are American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, or Native Hawaiian and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part.  Native American must be documented members of a North American tribe, band, or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and must provide proof through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll registration number.)
• Asian-Pacific American-United States citizens whose origins are from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific, or the Northern Marianas.
• Asian-Indian American-United States citizens whose origins are in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sir Lanka, and other subcontinental Asian countries.

Classifying Women-Owned Business Status

A women-owned business is one in which a minimum of 51 percent of the voting stock is owned by one or more women.  A woman or women must control the policymaking process and direct the daily operations of the firm. If the business is publicly owned, a woman or women must control a minimum of 51 percent of the voting stock and must direct the management and daily business operations.

Certification as a Minority or Women-Owned Business

Certification validates that a business is owned, managed, operated and controlled by an ethnic minority or woman.  In order to do business with The University of Chicago Medical Center as an MBE or WBE, the business should be certified by one of the following certifying agencies:

• Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council (ChicagoMSDC) or its national affiliate NMSDC
• Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) or its national affiliate WBENC
• City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services
• Cook County Office of Contract Compliance
• State of Illinois Department of Central Management Services
• State of Illinois Department of Transportation

Non-M/WBE firms are welcome to seek contracting opportunities with the Medical Center.  However, to be identified as an M/WBE the firm must be certified.  All construction and construction related firms seeking  to enter into a business relationship with The University of Chicago Medical Center must first complete the pre-qualification process. 

About Us

The office of Construction Compliance works to create opportunities for minority-and-woman- owned firms to compete for business in the Facilities, Planning and Design Department stemming from our new construction, renovation, plant and maintenance projects. Utilizing diverse firms is a key component of the University of Chicago Medicine’s desire to be inclusive and to support economic development in the communities in which it resides.