JCP Supplier Diversity FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a diverse supplier? A diverse supplier is defined as a proprietorship, partnership, corporation or joint-venture that is 51% owned and operated by a woman, minority, veteran, member of the LGBT community, or person with a disability. Businesses can be classified as one or more of these categories but must obtain certification(s) from one or more of the following before it will be recognized by JCPenney as diverse-owned: National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), Disability:In, the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA), the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC), the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), and Federal, Regional, and State certifying agencies.
How does a company become certified?
To obtain certifications through one of the agencies recognized by JCPenney, contact the following agencies:
o National Minority Supplier Development Council - www.NMSDC.org
o Women's Business Enterprise National Council - www.WBENC.org
o Disability:In - www.DISABILITYIN.org
o DVBE Center for Veteran Enterprise - www.VETBIZ.gov
o National Veteran-Owned Business Association - www.NAVOBA.org
o US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce - www.USPAACC.com
o National LGBT Chamber of Commerce - www.NGLCC.org
o Federal and/or State Government and Veterans DD Form 214 How much does it cost for a supplier to become diverse certified?
There is no cost for registering or participating with JCPenney's Supplier Diversity program. However, there are costs to obtain certifications from one of the certifying organizations. The cost ranges from $350-$1000 annually and varies depending on certifying organization, region and size of company. For additional details on pricing, visit the certifying agency's website.
How long does certification take? Certification can take several months to be approved by certifying agencies as the process may include an audit of the supplier's financial data, location, and business practices before certifying that a supplier is a proprietorship, partnership, corporation or joint-venture that is 51% owned and operated by a woman, minority, veteran, member of the LGBT community, or person with a disability.
How does a diverse supplier register to participate in the Supplier Diversity Program? All diverse suppliers (current and aspiring) need to self-register their companies through JCPenney's Supplier Diversity Portal.
Does JCPenney track/monitor if a supplier's certification expires (or is going to expire)? The Supplier Diversity Portal tracks and sends out an automatic email request to the diverse supplier if they are nearing the expiration of their diverse certification. Supplier Diversity pulls reports at regular intervals to flag any potential concerns.
Why should a vendor register through JCPenney's Supplier Diversity Portal?
Registration in the Supplier Diversity Portal is a means for current and prospective vendors to keep their business capabilities and diverse certifications updated. Registrants are also added to JCPenney's vendor database for consideration to meet business needs. Registrants who meet the criteria to be classified as a diverse owned company are also enrolled in JCPenney's Supplier Diversity Program and will receive communication from Supplier Diversity, merchants, and the procurement offices.
Where should businesses direct questions about the JCPenney Supplier Diversity Program or the Supplier Diversity Portal?
Please visit www.jcpenney.com/m/jcp-supplier-diversity or email supplierdiversity@jcp.com