Governor's Office of Diversity Business
Gwendolyn Sims Davis, Commissioner

The Governor's Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE) is the central point of contact to attract and assist minority owned, women owned and small business enterprises. The goal of this office is to increase procurement opportunities for minority, and women owned businesses desiring to compete successfully in state procurement activity.

The Go-DBE office focuses on ensuring minority owned, women owned, and small businesses are afforded fair and equal opportunities to participate in State procurement activities and contract awards. Minority, women and small businesses enterprises that are interested in doing business with the state are required to register with the state of Tennessee. Firms desiring certification as minority owned, woman owned or small businesses will be assessed for a determination of their ability to meet with ownership and control guidelines as well as their procurement interests, and their capacity for doing business with the state. Certified businesses requiring technical assistance of procurement interest may be referred to the Diversity Business Liaison who will assist them to strengthen their expertise in understanding the bidding process, contract specifications, various terms and conditions and contract types.

The five major procuring authorities within state government; the department of Economic and Community Development, Finance & Administration, General Services, Transportation, and the State Building Commission have all partnered with Go-DBE to coordinate and implement initiatives to achieve the program objectives of the Governor's Office of Diversity Business Enterprise.