The Bank defines the categories listed below as being “Diverse Vendors,” and encourages, but does not require, Diverse Vendors to earn a certification from a recognized third-party diversity certification agency. The Bank also accepts a formal written certification from a vendor that it meets the definition of a Diverse Vendor. Disabled-owned, minority-owned, service-disabled vet anowned, and women-owned vendors are as defined by the FHFA regulations. The Bank recognizes additional categories of vendor diversity, each of which is defined in a manner similar to those categories defined by the FHFA regulations.