How to Participate for Indirect Business Opportunities
The number-one question we receive from suppliers is “How do we do business with Cisco?” Suppliers will learn two necessary steps on how to participate for indirect business opportunities.
The first step: Visit our Supplier Diversity Calendar. This will enable you to see which outreach events are available near you.
The second step: Make sure your business has a current third-party diverse-owned certificate.
Cisco implements a self-registration and reporting program for diverse-owned enterprises. Participation in this process is considered mandatory for all diverse-owned companies interested in becoming a Cisco supplier.
- The registration tool acts as a data management instrument, which supports our efforts in maintaining current data on prospective suppliers (for example, certifications status, products and services offered).
- The data management tool is open to all internal stakeholders with a business spend opportunity, such as sourcing managers, business function stakeholders, and procurement professionals through Cisco.
- The data will be retained for a two-year period and is made available to our sourcing managers.
By utilizing the self-reporting system, suppliers will be able to:
- Provide updates on your company's profile, product, and service offerings
- Provide appropriate designation regarding diverse-owned enterprises (for example, Minority Business Enterprise, Women Business Enterprise, Minority Women Business Enterprise, Historically Underutilized Business Zone)
- Give a status of certification expiration date and opportunity to upload new certificate
After you register, what happens next? The attached AfterRegistration.pdf provides information relating to what happens after you have registered your company.
Please note:
- All purchases are made in the competitive marketplace.
- Registering your company does not automatically place your company on a “bidder’s list,” nor does it constitute approval of your firm as a Cisco supplier or obligate Cisco to solicit requests for quotations.
- It is also important for suppliers to note that the updating of your profile within the Comprehensive Vendor Management (CVM) is your responsibility. Incomplete profiles, records, and data will not be visible to internal stakeholders or procurement for selection.