One of the most important parts of the MBE-to-MBE Spend Award nomination is documentation. Evaluators need clear, verifiable data to assess your commitment. Here is what you should prepare.

Start with the big picture. You will need to provide your total gross revenue and your total MBE-to-MBE spend for the previous two calendar years. The award uses a percentage-based evaluation—your MBE-to-MBE spend divided by your total revenue, multiplied by 100. This levels the playing field, so businesses of all sizes compete fairly based on proportional commitment rather than total dollars.

Next, prepare a detailed breakdown. For each certified MBE you did business with, list the company name, the amount spent, and the date the partnership began. This information demonstrates not just how much you spent, but the depth and longevity of your MBE relationships.

Keep your supporting documents organized. This might include purchase orders, contracts, invoices, or financial reports that verify your spend figures. Completeness and accuracy matter—the scoring rubric specifically rewards well-documented submissions.

A helpful tip: if you are not already tracking your MBE-to-MBE spend, now is the time to start. Create a simple tracking system that captures each MBE transaction as it happens. This makes future nominations much easier and also helps you identify opportunities to increase your MBE engagement throughout the year.

Strong documentation is the backbone of a winning nomination. Take the time to get it right.

The MBE-to-MBE Spend Award is more than recognition. It is a call to action for every certified MBE to invest in our community’s collective success.

 For more information, please contact:

• Lisette Villavicencio, MBEIC Chair: lisette@va-contractor.com
• Eduardo Quijano, Performance & Administration Coordinator: equijano@prmsdc.org

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