Working with RTI

Supplier Diversity

Supplier diversity at RTI is our commitment to fair and open business practices and it forms the cornerstone of our strategic sourcing and purchasing activities.

RTI is committed to recruiting, developing, assisting, using, and retaining a diverse group of supply chain partners to deliver customer-focused solutions worldwide. We continually provide opportunities for diverse small businesses to compete for RTI contracts and purchase orders.

The Supplier Diversity Initiative

As a government contractor, RTI is not simply obliged to consider diversity as a good idea for business, but is obligated by law to establish small business subcontracting plans. To this end, the RTI Office of Purchasing oversees the Supplier Diversity Initiative, which is dedicated to developing and maintaining programs that will expand subcontracting opportunities with small and small-disadvantaged business concerns.

This initiative also gives special consideration to woman-owned small businesses; historically black colleges/universities and minority institutions; veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned suppliers; and historically underutilized business zone (HUBzone) suppliers.

Diverse Sourcing and the Supplier Diversity Manager

The Supplier Diversity Manager within the Office of Purchasing administers the Supplier Diversity Initiative. The role of the Supplier Diversity Manager is to

  • Promote the core competencies of your business to RTI decision makers
  • Provide a communication link between you and RTI decision makers
  • Measure and report your success with RTI.

Diverse Sourcing and the Buyers at RTI

Because RTI is not a manufacturing organization, it does not purchase raw materials in production quantities. However, our service, materials, and equipment requirements are very broad, ranging from small-scale buys to major procurements. To meet this need for flexible and wide-ranging supply arrangements, the professionals in the Office of Purchasing are authorized as the sole purchasing agents for the company. At the heart of this strategy is our commitment to diverse sourcing and strategic partnerships.

This commitment to diverse sourcing is crucial to every business transaction by our buyers. The buyers in the Office of Purchasing are responsible for ensuring that equitable and fair opportunities are provided to small businesses, small-disadvantaged businesses, and woman-owned businesses to compete for purchase order awards. It is the policy of RTI to award orders to these businesses if all things, including price and delivery, are equal or more favorable.

Additional Support for the Initiative

The Office of Research Contracts, in conjunction with the Office of Purchasing, must provide subcontracting plans for small and small disadvantaged firms where subcontracting possibilities have been identified during the submission of proposals. Administrative and reporting responsibilities for the respective plans are delegated and carried out by the Office of Purchasing.

Supplier Diversity Contact:
  Email:  hguerriero@RTI.org
  Phone:  919-316-3317
  Fax:  919-541-7469