Trying to find the correct API to verify Supplier already exists via alternate name field

Summary:

I have an external (internal for our organization) which has the capabilities to create suppliers for our organization. This application requests minimum information to create a "one-time" supplier for quick check printing at our locations. During the process we take the information and create the required "fbdi" templates to create a supplier in Oracle. I would like to use an API to search to see if the supplier already exists in Oracle prior to creating a new supplier. I have the name of the supplier (which is mapped to Alternate name on the profile