Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program

Every time a customer makes a connection via phone, DSL service or to satellite dish service, AT&T and its family of companies stakes our reputation for providing quality telecommunication solutions. Every component in our connections must be the best - from the fiber and the switch to the people who market, install and manage customer relationships.
Every time we contract with a supplier to provide one of those components, we rely on their reputation for quality, dependability and superior performance. AT&T is looking for strategic supplier relationships where all parties know the other's needs and capabilities - where all parties play to their strengths. The diversity of our supply chain is one of the strengths of our company. Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises brings valuable contributions to our mix of strategic suppliers.

What is a DVBE?

Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs) are companies, privately or publicly owned, where at least one or more disabled veterans hold 51 percent of the control or ownership. A DVBE may be:

• a sole proprietorship
• a publicly traded business or
• a joint venture

To qualify as a disabled veteran, one must be a veteran of a military service of the United States and have at least a 10 percent service-connected disability. Nationwide, the Association for Service Disabled Veterans certifies DVBEs. In California, DVBEs are certified by the State of California Office of Small Business and DVBE Certification (OSBDC).


"DVBEs want opportunity, not sympathy. SBC's program gives us a chance to show what we can do for ourselves and our customers."

John K. Lopez, Chairman
Association of Service Disabled Veterans

What is AT&T's DVBE Program?

As the telecommunications industry has grown more complex and competitive, so have the products and services we need to deliver on our commitments to our customers. Each year, AT&T and its family of companies contract for several billion dollars in goods and services that range from switching systems and fiber optic systems and support, to building remodeling and maintenance, warehousing and temporary help and fleet services.

We have a trained, dedicated team of strategic sourcing managers who make the connection between SBC and the right supplier for the job. Our DVBE Program, in place since 1993, helps ensure DVBEs are included in the mix of eligible suppliers considered for work. Our DVBE Program includes:

• DVBE Program Manager - a liaison between the DVBEs, the disabled veteran community, regulators and the company.
• On-line internal resources - including a reference list of DVBEs and their capabilities, as well as information from the OSBDC.
• Employee recognition and involvement - Annual Supplier Diversity Achievement Awards for employees who excel in promoting diversity in procurement; ongoing employee education on the value DVBEs add to our business.

We are proud of our record of achievement in fostering DVBEs as suppliers and in enhancing their ability to participate in the business community. Among our accomplishments:

• Patriot Partner Award by the Association for Service Disabled Veterans
• John K. Lopez Award by the Association for Service Disabled Veterans
• "Keeping the Promise" Award by the Association for Service Disabled Veterans
• Ranked Number One in the only national DVBE benchmark study, the National Patriot Index
• Member of the California DVBE Alliance Corporate Advisory Board

Making the Program Work

The success of our DVBE program, like our success in the marketplace, depends on the teamwork among dedicated, qualified individuals. Everyone has a role to play:

AT&T employees need to understand the company’s commitment to include DVBEs in our vast supply chain and understand how to work with our DVBE Program Manager and the Supplier Diversity team to achieve AT&T’s DVBE spending goals. In addition to considering qualified DVBEs for contracting opportunities, any employee can contribute by referring qualified DVBEs to the DVBE Program Manager.

Strategic sourcing managers are directly responsible for knowing the needs of the various departments they work with, and for working with our DVBE Program Manager to develop DVBE solutions for those needs. They are a resource for all parties to the contract - providing information, making referrals and brokering the best deals for everyone's benefit.

AT&T’s Prime Suppliers contribute to the success of our DVBE program by utilizing DVBEs among their value added resellers and subcontractors whenever possible. They also play a role in identifying and mentoring DVBEs.
DVBEs can help by identifying themselves and letting us know about their capabilities. There are DVBE associations in many major cities, and state small business offices may provide assistance. In California, registering with the OSBDC is a key first step.

The Rewards of Our DVBE Program

The relationship between AT&T and DVBEs is one of mutual benefit. Successful DVBEs contribute to:

• our ability to satisfy and exceed the expectations of our customers
• our network of strategic suppliers, ensuring a diverse, qualified, competitive pool of resources
• their own success by expanding their experience and customer base

AT&T and its family of companies is an active participant in the communities and economies of the states and cities where we do business. Those relationships and commitments stretch back over the years. We look forward to creating relationships with DVBEs that will reach into the future.