Supplier Diversity

Supplier Diversity Plan

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Alan Ritchey, Inc. Supplier Diversity Plan is to ensure a continued focus on, and improvements in, relationships with small, minority and woman-owned businesses. ARI is committed to being a leader in having a businesslike, effective supplier diversity process. The basic posture of ARI is to meet corporate objectives through normal bidding and procurement procedures conducted in a manner that provides, to the greatest extent possible, open and free competition that does not give one potential vendor a competitive advantage over other potential vendors.

GOALS

The overall ARI goal is to provide and maintain a strong supplier base that reflects the diversity of the American supplier community. This goal includes a commitment to ensure that all suppliers have the opportunity to compete for ARI business and that company purchasing policies support the local business community and encourage economic development.

GOALS & MEASUREMENT

ARI will strive for continuous improvement by establishing targets and monitoring progress through tracking the number of transactions, dollars awarded, opportunities offered, and other factors. ARI will benchmark against "best practices" and track performance over time.

Method of Goal Development

In developing its small, minority-owned and woman-owned business goals, ARI reviewed the policy of the United States government as it relates to affording small, minority-owned and woman-owned businesses the opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts administered by any federal agency. ARI also examined the policies, objectives and goals of other established and successful corporations performing under federal contracts in order to set goals, which are both realistic and aimed at accomplishing the stated objective.

VISION

The management team at ARI envisions the continuing pursuit of a supplier base that reflects the American business community and is marked by broad, inclusive, supplier participation in all company purchasing activities.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

General Philosophy

In order to maintain and improve ARI’s capability to provide service that meets the needs of customers at cost effective and competitive prices, it is essential to find and use both large and small suppliers who provide performance excellence. In promoting and developing a diverse supplier, ARI will continue to ensure that no supplier is excluded from opportunities or given preference to compete on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age or national origin.

Responsibility

Providing opportunities to those suppliers able to meet the needs of ARI is the responsibility of all ARI employees, whether defining requirements, identifying sources, or awarding subcontracts.

Source Identification

Alan Ritchey, Inc. will identify diverse sources during the purchase planning stage and include small, minority and woman-owned businesses in sourcing plans, wherever practical. ARI will cooperate with organizations that promote small, minority and woman-owned businesses and ensure that buyers are aware of these businesses, which have successfully performed its subcontracts. ARI will not sacrifice product quality or attainment of best price for vendor selection.

Development and Opportunities

Alan Ritchey, Inc. will continue to communicate openly and actively with its suppliers. ARI obligations will be discharged in a proper, timely and professional manner, addressing and resolving contractual and performance issues promptly. ARI will work with suppliers to help them develop and enhance their capabilities to do business with ARI.

Performance

The long-term goal of Alan Ritchey, Inc. is to identify and do business with those suppliers who can compete effectively, provide best value, perform reliably, improve quality, and work with ARI to reduce costs, risks and cycle time. ARI experience makes it clear that efforts to promote supplier diversity do not require any relaxation of company requirements for effective competition, quality performance and best value.

REPRESENTATIONS

Alan Ritchey, Inc., acting in good faith, will rely upon written representations by subcontractors and potential subcontractors regarding their status as certified small, minority-owned or woman-owned business concerns.

CORPORATE POLICY STATEMENT

It is the policy of Alan Ritchey, Inc. (ARI) to provide opportunities for minority enterprises to ensure their fair market share of total expenditures for goods and services. In establishing this policy, ARI is recognizing its responsibilities to the communities that it serves and the society in which it conducts its business. The use of minority business enterprises must be a function of normal purchasing procedures, just as equal employment opportunity must be an integral part of normal personnel policy and procedures. No potential supplier will be precluded from consideration on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age or national origin. ARI firmly believes that in the free enterprise system, every attempt must be made to fully utilize all resources, human as well as material.

The term "minority business enterprise" means a business, at least fifty-one percent of which is owned by minority group members or the stock of which is owned by minority group members. For the purposes of this definition, minority group members are small businesses (500 employees or less); woman-owned businesses; African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native American Indians, American Eskimos and Southeast Asians. It is therefore the policy of ARI that qualified minority-owned and woman-owned businesses shall have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in supplying products and services to ARI.

Every employee who is delegated the responsibility to either directly or indirectly commit the expenditure of funds for the purchase of goods and services is charged with the task of making the ARI corporate objective a reality. Joann Sessums is charged with the specific responsibility of administering the Supplier Diversity Plan for Alan Ritchey, Inc. She will monitor and report to Alan Ritchey, President and CEO, at established intervals, the developments and progress under this policy.