CNO Financial Group (CNO) is committed to recognizing and supporting firms that exhibit a commitment to diversity, irrespective of company size, longevity, and ownership. Throughout our Vendor Diversity Program, we seek to stimulate and promote economic development in the communities where we work and to engage with certified and qualified diverse businesses. Our goal is to help break down barriers to growth for diverse business owners, especially ethnic minority, female, veteran, LGBTQ+, disabled, service-disabled veteran and small business enterprises.
Our program takes a holistic approach for evaluating supplier diversity by workforce composition, community engagement and procedural accessibility. We use a multi-dimensional lens that goes beyond assessing vendor diversity not only by the ownership of the organization, but also based on an organization’s leadership, employee diversity, community engagement, and its own vendor diversity program.
Sourcing Policy
CNO seeks to maximize competitive procurement opportunities by soliciting competitive bids and proposals before purchasing goods and services. Consistent with our Vendor Diversity Statement, CNO’s Sourcing and Vendor Management Office (SVMO) team makes good faith efforts to include at least one certified diverse vendor in all supplier sourcing and is building and refining a preferred list of diverse vendors. Depending on the goods or services to be procured, CNO’s SVMO team will determine the most appropriate method to obtain best value, including requests for proposals, previously negotiated rates, reverse auctions, quote requests, or discovery postings.
Business Classifications
CNO’s vendor diversity program includes minority business enterprises (MBE), veteran-owned business enterprise (VOBE), lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender business enterprises (LGBTBE), and women business enterprises (WBE).
- Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE): Minority business enterprise means a business enterprise, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, that is at least 51 percent owned by a minority group or groups, or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more minority groups, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of these individuals. “Minority” includes Black Americans, Hispanic / Latino Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, and/or Multi-Ethnic Americans who provide proof of United States citizenship or legal resident alien status.
- Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE): Women-owned business enterprise means a business enterprise physically located in the United States or its trust territories, that is at least 51 percent owned by a woman or women, or, in the case of any publicly owned business at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of these individuals, who provide proof of United States citizenship or legal resident alien status.
- Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VBE): Veteran-owned business enterprise means a business enterprise physically located in the United States or its trust territories, that is at least 51 percent owned by a current or former member of the United States’ military or armed forces, or, in the case of any publicly owned business at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more of these individuals, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of these individuals, who provide proof of United States citizenship or legal resident alien status.
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Business Enterprise (LGBTBE): A LGBTBE is a U.S.-based for-profit, independent business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more LGBT persons who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; in the case of any publicly-owned business, at least 51% of the equity is owned and controlled by one or more LGBT persons who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and whose management and daily operation is controlled by one or more of the LGBT owners.
How to Participate
All interested vendors are required to register their company information using the Vendor Registration Form. Upon completion and vetting, your company profile will be available to CNO’s SVMO team for possible inclusion in future procurement activities.
Although CNO may invite you to participate in a sourcing event, there is no guarantee that an award of business will be made solely on diverse certification status. All vendors—certified diverse vendors or not—must be additionally qualified by CNO as the best possible fit for the particular business need.
The Vendor Diversity Program is administered by CNO’s Sourcing & Vendor Management Office. For additional information about CNO’s Vendor Diversity Program, please contact: [email protected].