SAN DIEGO COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
1. Policy Statement
Supplier Diversity Policy Statement
San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital (SDCPH) is a facility within the County of San Diego's Behavioral Health Services. As an entity of the County, SDCPH fully adheres to the County’s procurement policies and guidelines as implemented by the County’s Department of Purchasing and Contracting (DPC). Accordingly, SDCPH’s supplier diversity practices are embedded within the County’s centralized procurement framework. In support of supplier diversity, SDCPH is submitting information based on the County’s overall procurement policies, practices and goals. In August 2026, the County’s Board of Supervisors adopted sweeping changes to procurement policies in order to reduce barriers to contracting for small an diverse businesses and nonprofits. These changes aimed to support the County’s goal of ensuring 25% of the Conty’s annual contract spend is with Small-Local Businesses. The updates to these policies included: • Prioritizing local businesses, • Expanding the definition of small businesses, • Introducing a new business category of Social Equity Enterprises (SEE) • Increasing the small-local business preferences, • Expanding the use of simple procurement methods, • Strengthening subcontracting requirements, • Adopting sustainable purchasing guidelines to prioritize environmentally responsible vendors. As part of the expanded definition of small businesses, the County recognizes an organization that holds the following certifications as a small business: • Certified by State of California as a Small Business • Certified by State of California as a Small Business for the Purpose of Public Works • Certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) • Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) • Certified Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) • Certified HubZone • City of San Diego Certified Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) • City of San Diego Certified Emerging Local Business Enterprise (ELBE) In addition, the County recognizes any business or nonprofit that does not have a certification but meets the employee and annual revenue requirements of the State of California Small Businesses. • While Proposition 209 (California Constitution, Article I, Section 31) does not allow for contracting preferences based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin, it has aligned its effort with Assembly Bill 2019 to better improve equity and inclusion in contracting. The County has formally recognized Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) in Board Policy B-53 Small Local Business Policy, as well as collects demographic data in alignment with DBE definition to inform outreach and engagement strategies ensure reach with DVBEs, women, minority-owned, and LGBT-owned business enterprises. To lead the County’s small businesses outreach and engagement strategies, the Small Business Development Unit (SBDU) was created within the Office of Economic Development and Government Affairs. The SBDU serves as the County’s liaison with the small, diverse business community, engaging in outreach activities as well as working directly with business support organizations at Federal, State and local level including the Small Business Administration, the California Office of the Small Business Advocate and local chambers. The SBDU also administers programs under the Business Engagement and Strategic Training (BEST) Initiative. These programs include: • STEP: Support, Training, and Education for Procurements: provides comprehensive technical assistance on County procurements. • BUILD: Bonding and Underwriting Insurance for Local Development: offers direct support and financial resources to small businesses who are ready to contract with the County but are unable to afford the bonding and/or insurance requirements • CORE: provides small businesses with expert-led administrative and bookkeeping assistance to prevent labor violations and promote fair business practices These policies articulate the County’s supplier diversity policy statement and demonstrate a commitment to maintaining an open, transparent, and equitable procurement process that fosters inclusive contracting opportunities for small, minority-owned, women-owned, disabled veteran-owned, LGBTQ-owned, and other diverse businesses.
2. Goals and Timetables
Please describe your hospital's short-term goals and timetables, but not quotas, for increasing procurement from women, minority, LGBT, and disabled veteran business enterprises
The hospital's short-term goals for increasing procurement from small-local, women, minority, LGBTQ, and disabled veteran business enterprises are implemented through the County’s centralized procurement system administered by the Department of Purchasing and Contracting (DPC). Short-term goals include promoting equity in contracting through solicitation design, using DPC’s Equity in Contracting tools, and leveraging the County’s small-local business outreach and engagement activities lead by the Office of Economic Development and Government Affairs’ Small Business Development Unit (SBDU). These efforts are ongoing and reviewed annually to support continuous improvement in supplier diversity.
Please describe your hospital's long-term goals and timetables, but not quotas, for increasing procurement from women, minority, LGBT, and disabled veteran business enterprises
As a department within County of San Diego's Behavioral Health Services, San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital (SDCPH), aligns with the long-term supplier diversity goals with the County's overall goal of ensuring 25% of contract annual contract spend with Small-Local Businesses. While the hospital does not directly establish independent supplier diversity goals, it participates in County-administered procurement processes that reflect these County-wide objectives.
3. Outreach and Communication
Please describe the methods in which the hospital encourages and seeks out both prime and subcontract suppliers from women, minority, LGBT, and disabled veteran business enterprises to become potential suppliers
One of the primary methods DPC uses is the County's BuyNet vendor portal, which publishes all County solicitations for goods and services and provides full access to procurement opportunities for potential contractors. BuyNet allows vendors to self-report certain business demographic information during registration, which enables DPC to monitor supplier diversity participation and tailor outreach efforts. The County’s ability to collect and use demographic data is limited by Proposition 209, which prohibits public agencies in California from granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public contracting. As a result, while the County actively encourages voluntary demographic reporting for informational and outreach purposes, suppliers are not required to disclose race, ethnicity, or gender as a condition of doing business with the County. This ensures full compliance with state constitutional requirements while still allowing the County to promote inclusive contracting opportunities through race- and gender-neutral outreach strategies. To further encourage diverse supplier participation, DPC actively promotes BuyNet registration and demographic survey completion among women-owned, minority-owned, LGBTQ-owned, and disabled veteran-owned businesses. According to recent vendor demographic reporting for the County, approximately 25% of suppliers (623 businesses) identified as minority-owned, 7% (181 businesses) as women-owned, and 7% (185 businesses) as veteran-owned. Through the County’s centralized procurement system and the use of BuyNet, the hospital benefits from these County-led methods that seek to expand participation from diverse suppliers in both prime and subcontractor roles.
Please describe the methods in which the hospital encourages its employees involved in procurement to seek out women, minority, LGBT, and disabled veteran business enterprises to become potential suppliers
DPC oversees all supplier outreach, vendor engagement, and procurement operations on behalf of the hospital. Hospital staff do not directly engage potential suppliers nor do they participate in supplier outreach activities. Instead, DPC conducts all supplier diversity outreach efforts and maintains responsibility for identifying and engaging women, minority, LGBTQ, and disabled veteran business enterprises (DVBEs). The hospital analysts involved in procurements support supplier diversity by collaborating with DPC throughout the procurement life cycle to ensure solicitations are structured in alignment with the County’s supplier diversity policies. These policies include the County’s Equity in Contracting program, which incorporates tools such as the Equity in Contracting Questions and Considerations Checklist that guides staff in considering diversity, equity, and inclusion factors during solicitation development, evaluation criteria design, and contract awards. DPC’s centralized outreach efforts include vendor fairs, technical assistance workshops, and “How to Do Business with the County” sessions. While hospital staff are not directly involved in these activities, they benefit from DPC’s extensive supplier engagement infrastructure that actively seeks to increase the pool of qualified diverse suppliers available for County contracting opportunities.
Please describe the methods in which the hospital conducts outreach and communication to women, minority, LGBT, and disabled veteran business enterprises
Although the hospital does not conduct direct outreach and communication, the County's SBDU in partnership with DPC, leads outreach and engagement with small and diverse business enterprises. Methods utilized include but are not limited to: • Publicly posting all solicitations on the County’s BuyNet vendor portal. • Conducting vendor outreach events, technical assistance workshops, and community forums to connect with small and diverse businesses. • Administering supportive programs to help small business navigate and be successful in County procurements. • Partnering with organizations such as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), APEX Accelerator, and Chambers of Commerce to expand vendor access. • Encouraging vendors to voluntarily submit business demographic information during BuyNet registration to help inform ongoing outreach and engagement strategies. • Conducting procurement specific outreach and technical assistance for procurements specifically designed for small-local businesses.
4. Support and Supplier Resolutions
Please describe the methods in which your hospital supports, partners with, or interacts with organizations and other entities in the procurement ecosystem that promote, certify, or contract with women, minority, LGBT, and disabled veteran business enterprises
DPC partners with several organizations that actively support and certify small and diverse businesses, including: • The Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which provides technical assistance, workshops, and one-on-one support to help local small businesses, non-profit organizations, and community providers participate successfully in County procurements. • The San Diego, Orange, Imperial APEX Accelerator (APEX), formerly known as PTAC, which helps businesses navigate government contracting requirements. APEX is operated by Southwestern Community College District, a certified Minority Institution with over 50 years of service in the San Diego region. • The County also participates in and hosts events such as Connecting with the County, the Small Business Expo, the Annual BELL Business & Government Contracting Summit, and Black Entrepreneurs Leaders & Learners (BELL) to promote diverse business participation. Through these partnerships, the County strengthens its procurement ecosystem to expand access for underrepresented businesses. The hospital, as part of the County’s procurement system, benefits from these efforts that promote supplier diversity across all contracting opportunities.
Please describe the methods in which your hospital resolves any issues that may limit or impede an enterprise from becoming a supplier
The County and DPC are committed to advancing equity and dismantling barriers that prevent participation by small and diverse businesses, including those owned by women, minorities, LGBTQ individuals, and disabled veterans. DPC's procurement processes are aligned with the County’s Strategic Plan and its inclusive contracting goals to expand opportunities for traditionally under served businesses and communities. To address potential issues during the procurement process, the County has established formal protest procedures under Board Policy A-97, which allows offerers to file protests related to proposed contract awards in formal procurements. For solicitations awarded based on best value criteria, unsuccessful offerers may also request a debriefing with the assigned buyer to review the evaluation process and understand areas for improvement for future procurements. In addition, the County’s STEP and BUILD programs provide small and diverse businesses with support navigating procurement requirements, helping them overcome common barriers such as insurance, bonding, and regulatory compliance challenges. Through these combined methods, the County actively works to identify and address barriers that may otherwise impede participation by diverse suppliers. The hospital benefits from these efforts through its participation in the County’s centralized procurement structure.
5. Diversity Commission Recommendations and Planned Implementations
Please describe the past implementation of relevant recommendations made by the Hospital Supplier Diversity Commission
The hospital does not have a separate Hospital Supplier Diversity Commission, since supplier diversity activities are managed centrally through the County procurement system.
Please describe the planned implementation of relevant recommendations made by the Hospital Supplier Diversity Commission
The hospital does not have a separate Hospital Supplier Diversity Commission, since supplier diversity activities are managed centrally through the County procurement system.
6. Procurement Process and Certification
Please describe your hospital's procurement process
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Website Link(s)
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Do you require suppliers to be certified?
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Do you accept self-certification
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7. Diverse Supplier Spending
Diverse Procurement Spending by Minority
For the reporting period, enter the dollar amounts procured by your hospital from those business enterprises that employ the majority of their workforce in California.
| Business Ownership | Tier 1 Procurement | Tier 2 Procurement | Total Procurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| African American | -- | -- | -- |
| Hispanic American | -- | -- | -- |
| Native American | -- | -- | -- |
| Asian Pacific | -- | -- | -- |
| Unknown Minority | -- | -- | -- |
| Total | -- | -- | -- |
Diverse Procurement Spending by Other
For the reporting period, enter the dollar amounts procured by your hospital from those business enterprises that employ the majority of their workforce in California.
| Business Ownership | Tier 1 Procurement | Tier 2 Procurement | Total Procurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minority* | -- | -- | -- |
| Women | $88,264 | -- | $88,264 |
| LGBT | -- | -- | -- |
| Disabled Veteran | $198,837 | -- | $198,837 |
| Less Duplicate Amount (-) | --- | --- | --- |
| Combined Total | $287,101 | -- | $287,101 |
*Total from the Diverse Procurement Spending by Minority table.
What is your hospital's total procurement (including diverse and non-diverse suppliers)?
$1,853,269
Procurement means the purchase or lease of supplies, services, equipment, and capital expenditures related to buildings and fixed equipment during the previous calendar year. Procurement does not include items such as employee salaries and wages, fixed asset depreciation, amortization, or taxes.
8. Supplier Point of Contact
Enter the contact information for the individual that business enterprises who are interested in contracting with your facility can reach out to.
Name: Department of Purchasing and Contracting (DPC)
Enter the contact information for the individual of the diverse business outreach liaison of your hospital.
Name: Kristin McHenry
Hospital Contacts for Diverse Business Enterprises are available upon request. Please send request via email to supplier.diversity@hcai.ca.gov
9. Third Party Procurement
Third Party Procurement
10. Other Relevant Information
San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital had a total procurement of $1,853,269.00 for 2025. As a California public agency, the County conducts procurement in accordance with Proposition 209 (Cal. Const., art. I, § 31), which prohibits granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public contracting. Accordingly, the County promotes supplier diversity through race- and gender-neutral procurement strategies that expand contracting opportunities for small, local, veteran-owned, and nonprofit businesses while ensuring open and competitive procurement practices. Although adopted after the close of the 2024 reporting period, the County's recent procurement policy enhancements demonstrate its ongoing commitment to expanding supplier participation. On June 24, 2025, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the Economic Prosperity for Small Businesses initiative, with final adoption completed on August 26, 2025. The initiative increases simplified procurement thresholds, expands the Local Small Business Preference Program from 5 percent to 15 percent, broadens eligibility to include qualifying nonprofit organizations and veteran-owned businesses, and recognizes certain external certifications and self-certification for small business status. Together with Board Policies B-53 (Procurement of Goods and Services), B-39a (Local Small Business Preference Program), A-87 (Competitive Procurement), and A-97 (Procurement of Professional Services), these enhancements strengthen transparent, accessible, and inclusive contracting practices while remaining fully compliant with Proposition 209.
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For assistance or to provide feedback, please contact us via email at supplier.diversity@hcai.ca.gov