Welcome to the Supplier Pathways Program – an initiative tailored specifically for Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned (SWaM) businesses like yours. Not a SWaM certified supplier? That’s okay! This page will serve as a wealth of knowledge and resources for your business as well.
This program is designed to provide you with a comprehensive guide to understanding the SWaM program, its nuances, and the myriad ways in which you can network your business with James Madison University and other Commonwealth state agencies. This dedicated web page is your go-to resource for navigating the diverse paths within the procurement landscape, whether you are taking your initial steps towards completing the SWaM certification process or seeking opportunities to work with JMU. Explore how we actively collaborate with SWaM businesses, and let the Supplier Pathways Program be your one-stop-shop tips, training, and resources available to you. We invite you to discover the pathways that align with your business and embark on a journey of collaboration and growth with JMU Procurement Services!
There are several pathways you can take to connect your business with JMU. The sections below will guide you through each step from SWaM certification to receiving purchase orders and payment information. Every section may not apply to you, and that is okay! Take a moment to review the information below, and if you have any questions or need direct assistance, please contact Phillip Ewell at ewellpw@jmu.edu
- Vendor Training Video
- The Vendor Training Video, roughly 27 minutes in duration, will guide you through the process of doing business with JMU.
- Vendor Training Video
- Manuals
- Mandatory Sources
- JMU has several mandatory contracts available to our campus. Please take a moment to review our mandatory sources as this will help you determine whether or not your business’s scope of work would compete with our pre-existing mandatory contracts.
- Mandatory Sources
- University SWaM Plan (FY)
- SBSD Certification Dashboard - SWaM Certification information and application.
Vendors that are wanting to do business with JMU or other state agencies should register in eVA. eVA is the State of Virginia's e-Procurement platform and is used by all agencies to post public solicitations, place orders and review purchasing data.
- Registration is a simple process and can be completed here.
- COVA W9: The Commonwealth of Virginia only accepts the substitute version of the IRS W-9 form. JMU does NOT accept the IRS version or any previously accepted versions of the JMU substitute W-9.
- Bidding Opportunities
- In the VBO screen, on the left hand side there will be advanced filter options. To find JMU solicitations:
- Select the "Open" filter
- Expand the "Buying Entity" and search for and select "James Madison University"
- In the VBO screen, on the left hand side there will be advanced filter options. To find JMU solicitations:
- Best Practices for Connecting with Customers
- Report: Who Buys What I Sell?
- JMU Contract Gateway - see what vendors have subcontracting opportunities.
- JMU Procurement Officers - see what Procurement Officers work with your commodities.
- JMU Procurement Facebook Events
Opportunities – Capital and Non-Capital Construction publicly posted opportunities are available through the eVA Virginia Business Opportunities Page.
Sub-contracting – JMU regularly awards to prime contractors that are then required to meet SWaM (small, women-owned, and minority-owned) sub-contracting goals.
SWaM Subcontractor Reporting:
- Capital Reporting Template
- Non-Capital Outlay Reporting Template
- Goods and Services Reporting Template
Capital Construction – Capital Construction projects are all individually solicited with a public posting to the eVA VBO. If you are interested in sub-contracting opportunities, you would be alerted to a potential upcoming project through that posting and could keep watch for the prime/construction manager award. JMU requests prime contractors/construction managers (awarded through Request for Proposals) to host SWaM outreach events prior to advertising their bid packages. JMU will post these events on our Procurement Facebook page. While not an exhaustive list, SWaM sub-contractors interested in working on JMU projects, should ensure they are pre-qualified to receive bid opportunities from our past prime contractors: Barton Malow, Kjellstrom & Lee, Lantz Construction, Neilsen Builders, SB Ballard, Skanska, WM Jordan. These procurements follow our JMU HECO Manual.
Non-Capital Construction – Non-Capital projects are either individually solicited with a public posting to the eVA VBO or are procured using our existing JMU On Demand Term Contracts in areas of General Trades, Electrical, or Plumbing/Mechanical. While the Request for Proposal to establish these contracts is publicly posted to eVA, the individual projects are procured directly from suppliers awarded the resulting contracts. Contact JMU Procurement Services for the most current listing of suppliers awarded these contracts to identify potential sub-contracting opportunities. Firms previously awarded include A-Able Plumbing, Blauch Brothers, Bridgestone Construction, Carr Masonry and Construction, Design Electric, Graves Electric, Harrisonburg Construction, Lantz Construction, Mid Valley Electric, Nielsen Builders, Riddleberger Brothers, Simmons Electrical, Southern Air, Stone Hill Construction, Sustainable Solutions of Virginia, Trumbo Electric, Valley Boiler & Mechanical, and Waco. Non-capital outlay projects follow either our JMU HECO Manual or our Goods and Services Manual for procurement, depending on the estimated value of the project.
- Vendor Payment Methods
- JMU Accounts Payable
- COVA W9 - Required by JMU Accounts Payable to make ACH payment
- Acknowleding Payment/Orders in eVA
- JMU SWaM Vendor Fair
- VASCUPP Events: VA Association of State College & University Purchasing Professionals
- SWaMfest: Virginia’s Premier Networking Event for SWaM-certified Businesses
- Valley SBDC: Small Business Development Center
- B-Cubed Program: Black & Brown Owned Business Growth Program
