Program Summary & Commodoties We Purchase

Affymetrix prides itself in having a diversified environment. We would like to continue on that path and work with a qualified list of Suppliers that are diversified as well. Our business is very specialized and Affymetrix is the forefront manufacturer and supplier of very complex gene chips, reagents and instrumentation systems. All of our Suppliers need to pass a rigid quality process to be added to our "Approved Supplier List" (ASL). Our key suppliers also need to be ISO and/or QSR compliant.

In some cases, due to the complexity of our business we cannot find suppliers that represent all of the government specified categories. In these areas, we actively solicit and outreach to potential suppliers and companies that may be a good fit for future goods and services.

Contact

Are you a diverse supplier who would like an opportunity to become a vendor to Affymetrix? To discover how your organization may potentially provide goods and services to Affymetrix, please contact us at:

Affymetrix Procurement
Attn: Supplier Diversity Program - Darlene Padilla
3420 Central Expressway
Santa Clara CA 95051

Commodities We Purchase

Affymetrix has a broad array of buying needs with requirements that can vary greatly depending on location, operation and/or business. Below are a sampling of goods and services currently procured from diverse suppliers:

Program Registration

Diverse companies that meet the criteria outlined above have an opportunity to apply to deliver goods and services to Affymetrix and our customers. To be considered for a contracting opportunity through our Supplier Diversity Program, you will need to complete these 3 steps:

1. Complete the attached Affymetrix Supplier Profile Information and Form W-9 (pdf, 74 KB).


2. Provide proof of your company's diverse status, by submitting a copy of your current certificate from one or more qualified agencies listed in the "Certification Requirements" section above.


3. Mail your completed Supplier Profile Form and copy of diverse status validation to:

Affymetrix Procurement
Attn: Supplier Diversity Program - Darlene Padilla
3420 Central Expressway
Santa Clara CA 95051

Affymetrix cannot guarantee that all diverse suppliers who submit applications will become suppliers to AFFYMETRIX. However we are committed to working with qualified suppliers who fully meet the criteria set in our Supplier Diversity program.

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Commercial Subcontracting Program Objectives

1. Biannual Thomas Registrar Sourcing
   Source for manufacturing suppliers and services that fit into our specialty product areas.
   
   
   1. Sort list of potentially qualified supplier per commodity area, sub-qualify them into the government categories, if applicable.
   
   
   2. Potential suppliers would fill out a Pre-Qualification Supplier Audit worksheet and return to Affymetrix Procurement office.
   
   
   3. If supplier(s) fit and meet financial and quality pre-qualification standards, a site visit is scheduled. A quality audit will be conducted with out quality team.
   
   
   4. If there is more than one supplier that meets our business and technical requirements and criteria, and one of those suppliers is a small, WO/MO/VO/D/VD business; the GSA compliant business meeting the SBA requirements will take precedence over the others.


2. Quarterly GSA Outreach
   
   1. Due to the complex nature of our business there are very few suppliers in the world that can supply Affymetrix with its materials to manufacture our products. If a qualified supplier cannot be found, or a qualified supplier that does not fit into any of the government categories cannot be found Affymetrix will:
      
      
      1. Contact the GSA office or source from their website to get a list of GSA certified suppliers that may be able to meet our qualifications.
      
      
      2. If no supplier can sourced in the government categories, Affymetrix will run a search quarterly to see if any new suppliers meet our criteria.
      
      
      3. If a qualified supplier is found, Affymetrix will send out an email or supplier profile letter requesting the company's information. We will proceed to determine if the supplier can meet our requirements for goods and services.
      
      
      4. If the supplier does meet our initial requirements, Affymetrix will begin the Quality Audit and qualification process. Affymetrix will conduct a site visit and determine if the supplier has sufficient process and methodologies to supply materials to our manufacturing environment. Resources from Affymetrix Procurement, Engineering and Quality departments are needed to finalize the Acceptance of Supplier.
3. Advertisement
   Affymetrix will be soliciting new suppliers' contracts through our Supplier Diversity Website. In addition, if we are falling short in our requirements, we may actively campaign through specialty publications that target WO/MO/VO/VD/D/HUB zone businesses. The goals for these publications are to reach the following categories that will include but not be limited to: women owned/minority owned/veteran owned/ veteran disabled/ disabled owned/ HUB zone.
4. Open Houses
   Annually Affymetrix will host an open House to specialty suppliers that are targeted to attract WO/MO/VO/VD/D/HUB zone businesses.
5. Annual Records Update
   Annually Affymetrix procurement will send out notices to our suppliers to update their supplier information. If the suppliers' status has changed, Affymetrix requests that they be notified immediately.
6. Commercial Plan % Goals
   Affymetrix has Procurement direct and indirect spend of approximately 100 million U.S. dollars per year. The Commercial plan goals are split into the following categories for diversified spend:

Method used to reach % Goals:  There percentages are based upon our current supplier base and our outreach programs.

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Diverse Supplier Qualifications & Certification Requirements

Affymetrix seeks the best quality, value and service, at the best cost, from all of our suppliers. It is our desire to select the supplier who delivers the best overall value; value that consist of competitive pricing, technological foresight, information management, and continuous and proactive support of products and services.

We are committed to actively seeking goods and services from minority, women, physically challenged and small businesses. We strive to enhance our supplier base to reflect the markets we service.

Affymetrix defines diverse businesses as minority, women-owned, veteran-owned, physically challenged or small businesses meeting the following criteria:

Minority Businesses
Minority business enterprises (MBE's) are defined as businesses that are at least 51% owned and operated by a minority individual or group. Under this definition, minority group members include African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans (i.e. American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians), and Polynesian Americans. Also included are multi-ethnic businesses, where no one specific group has a 51% ownership or control of the business but, in aggregate, the groups exceed the 51% rule.

Women Businesses
Women business enterprises (WBE's) are defined as businesses that are at least 51% owned and operated by one or more women.

Physically Challenged Businesses
To qualify as a physically challenged business (DBE) an enterprise must be either:  A) at least 51% owned by one or more physically challenged individuals, B) a subsidiary that is wholly owned by a parent corporation with at least 51% of the parent corporation voting stock owned by one or more physically challenged individuals, or C) a joint venture in which at least 51% of the management, control and earnings are held by one or more physically challenged individuals.

Small Businesses
Small businesses are defined as concerns that have a number of employees and/or average annual receipts not exceeding the size standards as defined under the Federal Acquisitions Regulations.

Certification Requirements

Validation of a supplier's diverse status is required for participation in the Affymetrix Supplier Diversity Program. Certification documents from the following qualified agencies are acceptable:

National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) or its affiliates
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
Women's Business Enterprise Council (WBENC)
United States Small Business Administration (SBA)
City, State, or Federal Certification Agencies

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Second Tier Relationships & Our Commitment to Supplier

Affymetrix has a strong commitment to diversity within the workplace, as well as in our customer and supplier base.

To further strengthen this commitment, Affymetrix Global Procurement manages the Supplier Diversity Program, which is tasked to provide opportunities for minority, women, physically challenged and small businesses. This initiative looks to these suppliers for the same high level of quality and services, competitive pricing, technological foresight, and continuous proactive support as we do with all our majority suppliers. We request that our Preferred Suppliers actively participate in our Supplier Diversity initiative by seeking tier two relationships with, and committing a percentage of expenditures to, minority, women, physically challenged and small businesses. This participation demonstrates added value on the part of our majority suppliers.

Our Commitment to Supplier Diversity

Affymetrix is committed to developing and promoting mutually beneficial business relationships with the highly diverse base of Customers. We recognize the importance of diversity in the global marketplace and are proud that a significant number of these suppliers are minority, women, disabled, veteran owned business and/or small businesses. Learn more about the certification status of Affymetrix suppliers in our Diversity Definitions Guidelines (pdf, 72 KB)

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