WHAT IS VALUING DIVERSITY BNSF SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AT BNSF? Diverse Business Enterprise Owners: This brochure has been made to acquaint you with the process for developing and utilizing womenand minority-owned firms and small business enterprises as suppliers. We hope that by informing you about our procurement process, we can establish a working relationship that will benefit both of our companies. Please take a few minutes to read this brochure, and contact us if you have questions. AND DIVERSE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES FOR MORE INFORMATION: Email [email protected] Call Billye Tolbert at (817) 352-3909 Fax (817) 352-2651 WHO IS BNSF? Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the largest railroad networks in North America, with 32,500 route miles and 36,000 employees in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF is a $9 billion company. Our vision is to realize the tremendous potential of BNSF by providing transportation services that consistently meet our customers’ expectations. We view diversity as a business necessity, a business opportunity and a moral imperative. To achieve diversity, BNSF must undertake strategies and actions that recognize, accept, value and utilize the differences and similarities among all applicants, employees, customers, suppliers, and the community. WHY DO BUSINESS WITH BNSF? “Diversity can no longer be just another program, it must become a way of life,” Matt Rose, BNSF chairman, president and CEO. What does BNSF Railway need? It needs supply partners in order remain competitive and cost efficient. BNSF is committed to diversity in the marketplace and workforce. In 1999, BNSF launched its Diverse Business Enterprise (DBE) process to identify, attract and do business with companies that are certified as a women-, minority-owned or small disadvantaged business enterprises. Supplier diversity is an integral part of BNSF’s overall commitment to diversity. BNSF’s DBE program proactively solicits certified women-, minority-owned, and small disadvantaged businesses to establish mutually beneficial, longterm partnerships. HOW IS BNSF REACHING DBE BUSINESSES? Although certified DBE suppliers are welcome to directly contact BNSF, we also use a threeprong approach to increasing the dollars spent with DBE certified businesses. At the national level, BNSF works through groups such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to identify potential DBE suppliers. At the regional level, BNSF is involved with various regional minority development and Women’s Business Councils, and on the local level, BNSF plays an active role in many minority Chambers of Commerce. WHO IS ELIGIBLE? To participate, your business must be certified as an MBE, WBE or Small Disadvantaged Business through a qualified certifying agency such as: • The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) • Women’s Business Enterprises National Council (WBENC) • Small Business Administration (SBA) (Disadvantaged, HubZone, and 8(a). HOW TO BEGIN? To begin the process of doing business with us, please access our web site www.bnsf.com, go to the “About Us” section and complete and submit the supplier verification form, along with an electronic or faxed copy of certification.
© Copyright 2024