Sterling Vendor Diversity Plan 2021 - Vendor Qualification and Due-Diligence Actions

Sep 11, 2026

Upload by Mabel

Sterling’s Vendor Diversity Plan 2021 outlines a vendor-diversity mission focused on proactively identifying, building relationships with, and purchasing goods and services from certified diverse businesses. The plan defines eligibility criteria for diverse vendors and sets high supplier standards shaped by privacy, security, compliance, integrity, speed, and cost competitiveness. It describes the due-diligence process using the Aravo platform, evaluates data security and compliance across key factors, and lists 2021 actions to grow certified spend and capture certifying body information.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Overview

Vendor Qualifications

Growing Sterling’s Vendor Diversity Program

Current list of certified diverse businesses utilized by Sterling

Vendor Diversity Plan 2021 Confidential and Proprietary Statement This material constitutes confidential and proprietary information of Sterling and its reproduction, publication or disclosure to others without the express authorization of the General Counsel of Sterling is strictly prohibited. Overview Sterling provides the foundation of trust and safety our clients need to create great environments for the most essential resource: People. We believe everyone has the right to feel safe. As a global leader in background and identify services, we pride ourselves in not only finding the right people for our clients, but also the right vendors for our business. We recognize the importance of having a diverse vendor base that reflects our customers around the world. We embrace diversity through our employees, our suppliers & partners we work with, our customers, and the communities in which we work and live. Sterling’s vendor diversity mission is to proactively identify, build relationships with, and purchase goods and services from certified diverse businesses. Sterling defines a diverse vendors as a US privately held company that is at least 51% owned and operated by a minority, a woman, a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) community, a veteran or a small business that is independently owned and operated, and able to qualify under criteria defined in the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Table of Small Business Size Standards ([https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards](https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards)). A full overview of our vendor diversity program can be found on our website at [https://www.sterlingcheck.com/vendor-diversity/](https://www.sterlingcheck.com/vendor-diversity/) . Vendor Qualifications Given the extensive data privacy and information security regulations which apply to our industry and business, our standards for suppliers are very high; We only partner with suppliers who are committed to excellence in all aspects of their work, especially accuracy, compliance, security, integrity, speed, and cost competitiveness. Sterling performs extensive due diligence prior to adding vendors to our supply base. This is essential to ensure we keep our clients’ and their candidates’ data safe. All potential vendors are expected to complete and clear our vendor due diligence process. Sterling utilizes an electronic platform, Aravo, to systematically facilitate the due-diligence assessment process. We evaluate suppliers’ data security and compliance practices across three key factors: 1) Data privacy practices / general data protection regulations (GDPR), 2) Compliance / anti-bribery & anticorruption practices and 3) Information security practices and safeguards. Questionnaires are utilized to ascertain a potential supplier’s compliance and relevant supplier policies and procedures are requested and reviewed, such as: applicable ISO & SOC compliance certifications/reports, code of conduct, insurance certificates, etc. A complete list the standardized questions which comprise the due-diligence process is available upon request. Growing Sterling’s Vendor Diversity Program Sterling’s current vendor diversity program was recently launched in 2020, however we have already grown the program to over $1 .5M in annual spend directed to certified diverse businesses. In 2021, we have a goal to double our spend with diverse businesses and modify our program to include capturing certifying body information. To achieve this goal in 2021, we are taking the following actions: | Action Completion Date | | | --- | --- | | Modify Sterling vendor diversity website to include capturing relevant state-level diverse business enterprise certifications. | April 16, 2021 | | Issue formal communication to all current US suppliers to a) inform/remind suppliers about Sterling’s vendor diversity program; b) confirm if they are

FAQs

What is Sterling’s vendor diversity mission in 2021?

Sterling aims to proactively identify, build relationships with, and purchase goods and services from certified diverse businesses to support safer, more inclusive environments.

How does Sterling define a “diverse vendor”?

A diverse vendor is defined as a US privately held company that is at least 51% owned and operated by a minority, woman, LGBT community member, veteran, or a small business that is independently owned and operated, and that meets US SBA size criteria.

What due-diligence approach does Sterling use for adding vendors?

Sterling performs extensive due diligence and uses the Aravo electronic platform to assess data security and compliance across data privacy (GDPR), anti-bribery/anticorruption compliance, and information security practices.

Sep 11, 2026

Upload by Mabel