Member Handbook
Council Member Handbook
Everything you need to know about membership in the BEBC Supplier Council — for both certified Black-owned suppliers and corporate members. Benefits, obligations, certification renewal, and how to get support.
About the BEBC Supplier Council
The BEBC Supplier Council is Canada's only procurement network focused exclusively on connecting verified Black-owned businesses with corporate and institutional buyers. It exists to make supplier diversity commitments actionable — not aspirational.
The Council is one part of the broader BEBC Society ecosystem, which also includes the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) loan program, financial literacy programming, the BEBC Incubator, and the annual BEBC Pitch competition. Certified Council suppliers gain access to and priority consideration across all of these programs.
Verified supplier directory
Corporate buyer network
Structured introduction events
Two Membership Tracks
Certified Suppliers
Black-owned businesses that have completed BEBC's certification process. Certification verifies Black majority ownership and active business operations in Canada.
Access includes:
- ✓Council supplier directory (visible to all corporate members)
- ✓Bid and RFI notifications matched to your category
- ✓Meet the Buyers events as a participating supplier
- ✓BEBC alumni and peer network
- ✓Export to Win & Share corporate showcase
Corporate Members
Organizations committed to diverse procurement. Corporate membership is open to private companies, Crown corporations, municipalities, and institutions across Canada.
Access includes:
- ✓Full certified supplier directory with profiles and direct contact
- ✓Ability to post bids and RFIs to certified suppliers
- ✓BEBC-verified supplier engagement documentation for ESG
- ✓Invitation to Meet the Buyers events as the buyer
- ✓Quarterly diverse supplier spend reporting support
Supplier Benefits at a Glance
Directory listing
Your verified business profile is visible to all active corporate Council members searching for certified suppliers.
Bid & RFI notifications
Receive alerts when corporate members post procurement opportunities matching your NAICS codes or service categories.
Meet the Buyers access
Priority registration for structured 1-on-1 and small-group introductions with active corporate procurement teams.
Peer network
Access the BEBC alumni and certified supplier community for referrals, subcontracting opportunities, and peer support.
Capability statement review
BEBC staff will review and provide feedback on your one-page capability statement upon request before events.
Export to Win & Share
Eligible certified suppliers may be featured in the BEBC corporate showcase sent to Council members quarterly.
Corporate Benefits at a Glance
Pre-verified diverse supplier pool
Access a growing directory of BEBC-certified Black-owned businesses. No independent certification verification required on your end.
Filtered directory search
Search by industry, city, company size, service category, or certification type to find suppliers that match active procurement needs.
ESG documentation support
Receive annual verification letters confirming supplier engagements, event participation, and membership — ready for ESG report appendices.
Bid & RFI posting
Post procurement opportunities directly to the BEBC platform. All certified suppliers in your relevant categories will be notified.
Meet the Buyers facilitation
Attend as the buyer in structured supplier introduction events managed by BEBC. Pre-screened suppliers, scheduled sessions, no cold outreach required.
Supplier diversity reporting
Quarterly spend data summary support and year-end supplier diversity report guidance from BEBC programs staff.
Your Obligations (Suppliers)
Keep your certification current
BEBC certification is valid for one year. Renew annually when BEBC contacts you 60 days before expiry.
Respond to relevant opportunities
When you receive a bid or RFI notification, respond or indicate your interest promptly. Non-responsive suppliers may be removed from active notifications.
Keep your profile updated
Update your BEBC supplier profile at my.bebcsociety.org whenever your services, contact information, or key personnel change.
Attend at least one event per program year
Meet the Buyers sessions, Council networking events, or any BEBC-hosted procurement event qualifies. Participation keeps your listing priority-ranked.
Your Obligations (Corporates)
Maintain active membership
An active corporate membership is required to access the certified supplier directory, post bids, and attend events as a buyer.
Post eligible opportunities
Where procurement opportunities allow for certified diverse supplier participation, post them on the BEBC platform rather than sourcing exclusively through closed channels.
Complete an annual spend report
Submit an annual diverse supplier spend summary to BEBC with staff support. This data is used in aggregate to measure Council-wide impact.
Attend at least one Council event per year
Participation as a buyer in Meet the Buyers or another Council event maintains active standing and fulfills your engagement commitment.
Certification Renewal
Supplier certifications are valid for one year from the date of issue. BEBC staff will contact you 60 days before your certification expiry with renewal instructions. The renewal process is straightforward:
No fee for certification
BEBC Society certification is free. There is no charge for initial certification or annual renewal. Certification is a program service — not a revenue model.
Contact & Support
Programs & Membership
General inquiries, certification support, event registration, capability statement review, and ESG documentation requests.
programs@bebcsociety.orgBEBC Platform
Council events, bid notifications, supplier directory, and certification management are all handled through the BEBC member platform.
my.bebcsociety.org →Questions about your membership?
Whether you're a certified supplier or a corporate member, our programs team is here to help.
Contact programs@bebcsociety.org