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Citigroup Supplier Diversity Program
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# Supplier Diversity Home
# Who We Are
# Program Initiatives
# Business Development Strategies
# Diverse Supplier Utilization
# Diverse Supplier Definition
# Frequently Asked Questions
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# Contact Us
# Events Calendar

 

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What Does Citi Look for in Suppliers?
What Can Suppliers Expect From Citi?
How Can Suppliers Work with Citi?
How Can Suppliers Get Started with Citi?
If a Supplier is not Certified as a Diverse Supplier, What is the Next Step?

 
What Does Citi Look for in Suppliers?
Quality - Citi sets high standards of performance for itself and the products and services we offer. We expect the same from our suppliers, and we appreciate you informing us of any examples of excellence in your business.
 
Customer Focus - We want to work with companies and people who possess high standards for customer service, as does Citi.
 
Cost Saving - We appreciate suppliers who continuously look for ways to help us lower our costs.
 
Innovative Business Solutions - We want companies to join our team who are willing to work toward continuous improvement and more efficient products or services.
 
Technology - We look favorably on companies who take advantage of the use of technology to maintain a competitive edge and add to their responsiveness.
 
Additional Positive Factors:
  • Competitive and value-added capabilities
  • Proven track record and trustworthy references
  • Good financial standing
  • Quality processes
  • Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or E-commerce for product purchases and payments
  • Core competency in supplier's line of business
  • Understanding of Citi's business
  • Ability to market the company aggressively
  • Ability to provide multiple services and serve multiple customers
  • Technological capabilities
  • Fulfillment of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) product and service safety standards
  • Third-party certification as diverse supplier

 
What Can Suppliers Expect from Citi?
Information - We will provide you with as much information as possible on how our purchasing process works, as well as the specific requirements of a given project.
 
Access - We will make every attempt to put you in contact with the appropriate purchasing professional for your product or service.
 
Fair Treatment - Our processes are set up to ensure equal and fair treatment to you and your company so that you can fully participate in the purchasing and contracting process.
 
Feedback - We will provide feedback regarding performance and other business issues.
 
Citi generally purchases required goods and services through a formal, competitive sourcing process. When practical, we use a formal written request for quotations or proposals that describes each intended purchase. This serves three main purposes:
  • It assures that all suppliers are submitting quotes or proposals for the same requirements.
     
  • It assists us in awarding the business to that supplier with the best combination of quality, delivery, service and total cost.
     
  • It provides the documentation needed to complete the transaction.
It should be noted that there are other Citi policies with regard to purchasing. They are routine and apply to all suppliers without respect to minority or gender classification.
 
Note: It is a basic Citi policy that no employee may directly or indirectly take, accept, or receive bonuses, commissions, gratuities or other considerations, in merchandise or otherwise, from any person, firm, corporation, or association which conducts business with Citi. We believe that this policy, which extends to all areas of corporate activity, serves the best interest of Citi, its employees and its customers impartially.
 
*Citi reserves the right to select suppliers who will participate in the procurement process. Citi cannot and does not promise to transact business with all suppliers.
 
How Can Suppliers Work with Citi?
Suppliers can work with Citi in a number of different ways, such as through:
  • Spin-offs - a corporate operating division is divested to a diverse businessperson and the corporation assists in managing the business for a short period of time before transferring ownership to the diverse business.
     
  • Acquisition for Transfer to Diverse Ownership - a corporation purchases a business, assists a diverse businessperson in managing the business for a limited period of time, and then transfers ownership to the diverse businessperson with favorable payment terms.
     
  • Joint Venture - a corporation and a diverse business work together. The corporation may use its financial support and the diverse business may provide the technical expertise or human resources to manage the new venture. The two parties continue working together until the venture can be transferred to the diverse businessperson.
     
  • Incubator - a corporation provides a business location, telephone, secretarial services, etc., at no or low monthly fee for a diverse business.
     
  • New Venture - a diverse business and corporate partners identify promising business opportunities and establish an in-depth business. The corporation assists the diverse business for a period of time before turning the venture over to the diverse business.
     
  • Non-Traditional Purchasing or Sourcing - seek areas within the company that may have low or no diverse participation (i.e. accounting, legal, professional consulting, financial management) and pursue proactive methods of inclusion.
     
  • Second Tier Purchasing/Contracting - strongly encourage or require our Prime Suppliers to develop a program to award a percentage of our subcontracting opportunities to diverse business enterprises.
     
  • Technical Assistance - provide assistance and/or training to a diverse business, helping it to accelerate in a particular areas(s) and increasing its competitiveness and its ability to bid more effectively for the corporation’s business.
     
  • Diverse Business Advisory Committee - a corporation identifies diverse businesses to serve on a committee within the corporation and/or externally. The sole purpose of this committee is to ensure that the corporation is sharing and awarding contracting opportunities to minority businesses.
     
  • Strategic Alliances - a corporation and a diverse business team up on one or more projects to enhance the capabilities of each to win a contract, service/manage a contract or develop a product/service. The strategic alliance produces a stronger, more effective temporary or part-time partnership that is mutually beneficial.
     
  • Outsourcing - a corporation identifies a function(s) not directly related to its core business and contracts the responsibility of that division or support service to a diverse business. The transaction may include a contract with the corporation to assist with the first year(s) of operation. Common outsourcing examples are human resources services, temporary services, cafeteria management, print shop services and mailroom operation.

 
How Can Suppliers Get Started with Citi?
Here are a few basics for initiating the process with our Supplier Diversity Program:
  • Complete the Supplier Diversity Program – Supplier Profile Form and return it to the Citi Supplier Diversity (CSD) unit. The Supplier Profile Form was developed to provide us contact information for your business and to provide our Supply Base Managers with basic information about your company.
     
  • Send CSD a copy of your third-party certification documentation.
     
  • If your product or service is needed at present, a Citi purchasing professional will contact you with information regarding the next steps and other pertinent details.
     
  • If there is no present need for your product or service, your information will remain in our files for future requests from our purchasing professionals.

 
If a Supplier is not Certified as a Diverse Enterprise, What is the Next Step?
The Citi Supplier Diversity unit prefers third-party certification from the diverse suppliers with which it works. In addition to recognized governmental agencies, we recommend that you contact one of the following groups for more information about certification:
    National Minority Supplier Development Council
    1040 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Floor
    New York, NY 10018
    Telephone: (212) 944-2430
     
    New York/New Jersey Minority Purchasing Council
    1270 Broadway, Suite 606
    New York, NY 10001
    Telephone: (212) 502-5663
     
    Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
    1710 H. Street, N.W., 7th Floor
    Washington, D.C. 20006
    Telephone: (202) 872-5515
     
    Women Presidents’ Educational Organization (WPEO)
    155 East 55th Street, Suite #303
    New York, NY 10022
    Telephone: (212) 688-4114
     
    Small Business Administration 8(a) Program
    26 Federal Plaza, Suite 3100
    New York, NY 10278
    Telephone: (212) 264-4354
     
    Native American Business Alliance
    30700 Telegraph Road, Suite 1675
    Bingham Farms, MI 48025
    Telephone: (248) 988-9344
     
    U.S. Pan-Asian American Chamber of Commerce – Asian American Supplier's Council
    1329 18th Street, NW
    Washington, DC 20036
    Telephone: (202) 296-5221 or (202) 296-5225
     
    Northern California Supplier Development Council
    1999 Harrison Street, Suite 655
    Oakland, CA 94612
    510.587.0636
     
    Southern California Minority Business Development Council
    515 Flower Street, Suite 1301
    Los Angeles, CA 90071
    213.689.6960
     
    Greater San Diego Business Development Council
    2870 4th Avenue
    San Diego, CA 92103
    619.293.0760
If you do not have third-party certification, please contact the Citi Supplier Diversity unit for more information as to how you can participate in Citi’s Supplier Diversity Program.