About
Our Suppliers and Partners
For more than 50 years, IWCO has conducted business ethically and responsibly, dealing with our clients, suppliers, and employees fairly and honorably.
We’re focused on creating relationships that are designed to strengthen our company, address environmental matters, and provide strategies and solutions that better serve our customers. The result is added economic and business value with unwavering quality.
We’re committed to treating all with dignity and respect, maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, doing business in an environmentally responsible way, and complying with applicable laws. We’re committed to ensuring our supply chain reflects our values and beliefs through our policies, procedures, and best practices. And we expect our suppliers and partners to do the same.
Becoming an IWCO Supplier
Review our products and services to determine whether you provide materials or services that might add value for IWCO.
If your products or services align with ours, continue to the next step.
Gather the following information:
- Company legal name as it appears on your W-9, and any DBA or alternative name
- The physical street address of your company
- The types of products or services your company produces
- Your equipment list, if applicable
- Your contact information (name, phone, email)
- Whether your company is a certified diverse supplier
Send the information from step 2 in an email to: [email protected].
Our Supply Chain and Procurement teams will review the information, and if it aligns with our operational needs, we’ll reach out to you for more information. The information you submit as a prospective IWCO supplier does not guarantee that you will receive an invitation to bid or be selected as an IWCO supplier.
Our Supplier Selection Process
At IWCO, we value suppliers that continually exceed our expectations. Prospective suppliers are assessed and may be selected based on multiple criteria, including the following:
Performance
- Ability to provide products/services that meet or exceed specifications
- Effective sub-contractor and supply chain management
- Ability to pivot and adjust personnel and resources rapidly
- Excellent delivery and customer service
- Established environmental stewardship policies and strategies
Quality
- Defined quality processes and systems, ensuring products/services consistently and fully align with our requirements
- Commitment to continuous improvement
- An effective corrective and preventive action system
Reputation
- Strong reputation for producing high-quality products and services and being an industry leader
- No history of ethical or compliance breaches or relevant litigation
- Leading practice policies and programs for protecting the health and safety of employees, assets, and information
- Demonstrated commitment to upholding labor and human rights practices
Risk Management
- Financial stability
- Functional and effective business continuity plans and processes
- Best-in-class information security protocols and practices
- Risk analysis and redundancy to address security and supply chain risks
- Compliance with IWCO’s Supplier Code of Conduct
Total Cost
- Lowest total cost competitive pricing, achieved through high-quality, low-cost processes, and continuous improvement
- Value-added products/services
Supplier Diversity
Certification as a small or diverse business, or utilization of small, diverse businesses in your supply chain is considered during IWCO’s sourcing decisions.
Selection as a supplier by IWCO does not guarantee continued opportunities or business with IWCO. We routinely monitor and assess each supplier on its ability to satisfy the above criteria and continually add value for us and our clients.
We encourage suppliers to proactively self-monitor their ability to meet these criteria and seek ways to improve to ensure they are considered for future opportunities with IWCO.
Supplier Quality
IWCO considers our suppliers to be key partners enabling us to produce and deliver high-quality products valued by our customers.
Regardless of the products or services provided, our suppliers are an extension of IWCO, and we value the contribution each brings.
To achieve our goals, we’ve embedded quality and continuous improvement into our processes, and we require our suppliers to have the same commitment.
- Be engaged and dedicated to helping us achieve our objectives
- Be flexible and open to feedback
- Challenge the status quo by seeking ways to improve performance
Production and Processes
IWCO has a reputation for producing and delivering high-quality products and services to our customers. Our ability to do so hinges on our suppliers developing and maintaining processes that adhere to those same principles. We expect our suppliers to have consistent manufacturing and service processes in place to ensure all goods, materials, equipment, and services conform to all agreed requirements and specifications.
Your role as a supplier:
- Partner with us to fully understand our requirements and specifications
- Measure and monitor your production and delivery processes to ensure consistent and repeatable outcomes
- Consider and integrate IWCO’s feedback into your processes
Risk Management
Our suppliers must have a risk management process in place to identify and manage risks that might impact their performance. Suppliers are expected to have a comprehensive business continuity plan to mitigate and minimize disruptions to IWCO.
Your role as a supplier:
- Develop, document, test, and maintain a risk mitigation strategy and continuity plan for all aspects of your business
- Share the results of your testing, strategy, and plan with IWCO when requested
- Consider and integrate IWCO’s feedback into your processes
Auditing
IWCO maintains ISO, SOC, PCI DSS, and HITRUST certifications and is routinely audited by these certifying organizations and by our customers. As an IWCO supplier, you and your subcontractors may also be subjected to audits to ensure compliance with quality, data security, financial, or other contractual requirements.
Your role as a supplier:
- Maintain all certifications and licenses necessary to operate your business
- Provide access to your facility and documentation as needed and provide dedicated support for the duration of the audit
- Respond to all audit questions and findings in a timely manner, and if necessary, implement corrective and preventive actions
- Inform subcontractors they may be required to provide access and documentation
Subcontracting
As an IWCO supplier, you are liable for the performance of each of your subcontractors and suppliers. In some cases, our customer’s contractual requirements will flow down to you and your subcontractors. You are expected to actively manage each of your suppliers to ensure the products and services produced for and delivered to IWCO meet all agreed upon requirements and service levels.
Your role as a supplier:
- Maintain contracts with each supplier in your supply chain that provides products or services utilized for IWCO work
- Communicate IWCO’s product or service quality and performance requirements to each supplier utilized for IWCO work
- Manage and audit the performance of your suppliers to mitigate risks that may impact your ability to meet IWCO's needs
- Notify IWCO of changes in your supplier base that have the potential to impact the products and services you provide to us
Supplier Code of Conduct
Our supplier relationships are governed by lawful, efficient, and fair practices. We expect our suppliers and contractors to comply with our Supplier Code of Conduct at all times, which requires the following:
- Adherence to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations
- Maintaining an ethical and responsible supply chain
- Maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for employees
- Ensuring the highest standards of business ethics
To review our Supplier Code of Conduct, click here.
Additional Supplier Resources
IWCO is committed to ensuring our suppliers are effective and consistently add value for us and for our customers.
We are dedicated to aligning our processes with the processes of our supplier partners and believe transparency and collaboration are critical to achieving alignment and mutual success. Explore the resources below to learn more about how we operate.
Purchase Orders
- Except for exempt categories, IWCO requires purchase orders (POs) for all purchases. Failure to request a valid PO number and supporting documentation from IWCO before starting any work is at supplier’s sole risk and expense. IWCO is not liable for suppliers starting work or performing services without a valid PO number.
- POs will display exactly what IWCO is ordering, the location where goods are to be shipped/services are to be performed, and where invoices must be sent for payment.
- All POs are governed by IWCO’s Standard Purchase Order Terms & Conditions.
- It is the supplier’s responsibility to verify all information appearing on the PO is correct and aligns with what they will be providing. Suppliers should alert IWCO of any PO errors before starting work.
- Invoices must reference a valid PO number, line item(s), and PO line item descriptions, or the invoice will NOT be paid until a corrected invoice is presented.
Payment Terms
IWCO’s standard payment terms are Net 60 for all goods and services. If other terms have been agreed upon, those terms will supersede the 60-Day payment term.
Invoice Requirements
- All packages, packing slips, and invoices must be plainly marked with the PO issued by IWCO
- Invoices must be sent to the address reflected on the applicable PO unless other written arrangements have been made with IWCO
- Invoices must be submitted for actual products purchased/services received or the invoice will be declined
- IWCO may dispute or reject any invoice submitted without a valid PO number or which does not contain other sufficient information to process the invoice. IWCO will not be liable for any late payment fees, penalties, or interest that may accrue on invoices that are incomplete or incorrect.
Packaging and Delivery
- All goods and materials must be packaged appropriately to prevent or minimize risk of loss or damage to the shipment. IWCO may reject any shipment that appears damaged. IWCO will not be responsible for any costs associated with rejected shipments.
- Unless otherwise stipulated on a PO, all goods and materials are to be shipped “FOB Destination, Freight Prepaid” via shipper designated mode and carrier.
Payment Processing and Inquiry
All payments are processed according to the invoice receipt date and payment terms in effect with each supplier. To inquire about the status of an invoice or payment, send an email to [email protected]
Insurance Requirements
IWCO requires all suppliers to carry certain types of insurance to address potential legal costs and other liabilities that may result from claims or legal action related to your products or services. As a supplier, you will be required to provide evidence of coverage and maintain compliance with our insurance requirements at all times.
Supplier Diversity
IWCO seeks diverse-owned businesses to help us meet our goals and the goals of our customers. We also encourage our partners to foster supplier diversity within their own supply chains.
Suppliers with certifications in the following classifications are encouraged to introduce themselves to us:
- Historically Underutilized Business Zone Small Business (HUBZone)
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Business Enterprise (LGBTBE)
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
- Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE)
- Small Business (SB)
- Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
- Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE)
- Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
- Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
To be recognized as a diverse supplier, your company must be registered in the appropriate certification database, and copies of related certification documents must be provided to IWCO annually.
Note: Certifications are not a guarantee of doing business with IWCO. Supplier selection is based on multiple criteria, including pricing, capabilities, and service.
Sustainability
Learn more about our commitment to sustainability practices here.