Minority

A citizen of the United States who is African American, Hispanic-American, Native American, Asian-Pacific American or Asian Indian. "Native Americans" include American Indians, American Eskimos, American Aleuts and Native Hawaiians. "Asian Pacific Americans" include citizens whose origins are from Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Territories of the Pacific, Northern Marinas, Laos, Cambodia, and Taiwan. "Asian Indian Americans" include United States citizens whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Minority-Owned Business (MBE)

A "minority-owned business" is defined as a business owned and controlled by minority individuals with at least (minimum) 51% interest held by said minority individuals, or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Furthermore, the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more such individuals.

Women-Owned Business (WBE)

Defined as a business that is at least 51% owned, controlled and operated by a non-minority woman or women group members.

Second-Tier Purchasing

Defined as the process through which a first-tier (or prime) supplier utlizes a minority supplier either directly or indirectly.