Our Supplier Diversity Programs encourages minority, women, veteran, and service disabled veteran businesses to participate in contracting opportunities with PWSA.

The 2021 procurement season was off to an energetic start in March with two of Pittsburgh’s most reliable contracting opportunity events. Emily Pontarelli, Senior Manager of Performance, represented PWSA at the 20th Annual MWDBE Business Opportunity Conference on March 4th. With an overarching theme of “Getting Back to Business,” the conference recognized the abundance of available work with public agencies in our region. URA Deputy Director Diamonte Walker set the tone with her passionate keynote speech, highlighting each black-owned business owner that had become a partner under her tenure, and emphasized the policies that should have been in existence long ago. Minority and women-owned businesses are ready to not only get back to normal but get back to a better normal. The most notable adjustment from previous events was virtual networking. Groups of 3-4 entities held a roundtable discussion in small breakout rooms to give attendees the chance to have more intimate one-on-one conversations with decision-makers.

Our second event on March 12th brought us to the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania (CAWP) to present our upcoming construction contracts. An abundance of work is forthcoming with 33 planned projects in 2021. This year’s CIP is focused on our Water Reliability Plan, with nearly $148 million budgeted. Major projects include Highland II Reservoir Liner and Cover Replacement, 2021 Small Diameter Water Main Replacement Program, Herron Hill Reservoir Chemical Feed, and 2021 Surface Restoration Program.

Thank you to both the MWDBE Governmental Committee and CAWP for giving PWSA the platform to share our upcoming opportunities. 

Make sure to register your business to receive notifications of new solicitations at pgh2o.com/developers-contractors-vendors/bids-opportunities/solicitations.