Ethics & Compliance

Supplier Diversity

Consorta encourages the broadest possible participation of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) in its procurement efforts and those of Consorta participants and actively promotes HUB suppliers.

Consorta desires to assist its suppliers in this endeavor and strongly encourages each of them to increase the participation of cost-effective historically underutilized businesses as their contractors and subcontractors, ensuring that such sellers are given the opportunity to bid competitively.

Historically Underutilized Businesses Policy

Consorta promotes an environment of equal opportunity and access to all minority and female owned businesses desiring to provide high quality goods and services to Consorta and Consorta Participants. Consorta is committed to ensuring that its procurement efforts and those of its suppliers are effective, fair and competitive and include as many of these businesses as is practical. Implementing this policy is good business practice and consistent with our mission and that of our Shareholders. Furthermore, Consorta recognizes the importance that it’s Shareholders and Participants place upon the development of historically underutilized businesses in their local communities.

Historically underutilized businesses are determined by various criteria relating to the ownership, operations and the controlling personnel. Some of these criteria can vary state by state. With that in mind, Consorta encourages the broadest possible participation of these businesses in Consorta's procurement efforts and those of Consorta participants. It is Consorta's policy to support the use of qualified historically underutilized vendors. Specifically, it is Consorta's intent to increase the sales and participation of qualified historically underutilized businesses and to link them to our contracted suppliers whenever possible.

A Diverse Supplier is defined by the following designations:

Certified Minority Owned Business
African American Owned
Asian Owned (Asian-Indian and Asian-Pacific)
Hispanic Owned
Native American Owned
Certified Woman Owned Businesses
Certified Disabled Owned Businesses
Certified Veteran Owned Businesses
Certified Service Disabled Owned Businesses (a small business that is at least 51% unconditionally owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged)

It is our belief that Consorta’s suppliers should provide qualified historically underutilized businesses with the opportunity to participate in the mainstream of business activities. Consorta will encourage its suppliers to develop programs to provide historically underutilized businesses and those firms which have the greatest concentration of minority ownership, with equal access to their organizations, advocating that such firms be utilized to the fullest extent practical and consistent with good purchasing practices. Consorta desires to assist its suppliers in this endeavor and strongly encourage each of them to increase the participation of cost-effective historically underutilized businesses as their contractors and subcontractors, insuring that such Sellers are given the opportunity to bid competitively.

*In April of 2007 Consorta entered into a transaction with HealthTrust Purchasing Group, Nashville, TN.  As a result, the majority of the contracting activity previously conducted by Consorta has been outsourced to HealthTrust at their Nashville facility.  Minority suppliers may also contact HealthTrust Purchasing Group’s Supplier Diversity Program by phone at (800) 892-4187 or via e-mail at diversity@healthtrustpg.com. *

As part of the Supplier Diversity Program, Consorta will designate a Supplier Diversity Coordinator to serve as a contact for HUB suppliers interested in participating in the contracting process. The Supplier Diversity Coordinator will also perform the following functions; 

  • Actively seek HUB suppliers through minority and small business development organizations, and participation in local trade show activities.
  • Track HUB supplier agreement activity for Consorta agreements.
  • Maintain HUB supplier portfolio of agreements on Consorta’s member Web page WINGS.
  • Announce new HUB supplier agreements on WINGS.
  • Coordinate distribution of sales reports for members on HUB supplier purchases through Consorta distributors.
  • Work with Consorta staff to ensure RFPs sent include Hub suppliers.

Through the Supplier Diversity Program, an integral part of the Historically Underutilized Business Policy, Consorta is dedicated to the inclusion of these suppliers in its contracting decisions. Consorta recognizes its responsibility to its members, the community it serves, and the business community.

For more information on Consorta’s Supplier Diversity Program, call 800-342-5333 or send an email to phammell@consorta.com.