Over 300 businesses attended event promoting economic inclusion in public contracting
LOS ANGELES (March 1, 2024) – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) recently hosted the first Supplier Diversity Fair of the year at its Downtown headquarters, the John Ferraro Building. The event featured a panel of distinguished speakers, a networking event and a celebration of Black History Month. The goal of the event is to increase equity in contracting at LADWP and other Los Angeles public agencies, especially for businesses from underserved communities. Among the other agencies present were the Los Angeles World Airports, L.A. Metro, Board of Public Works – Bureau of Engineering, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
“Supplier Diversity Fairs help us connect with small businesses that can provide the goods and services we need to better serve our customers, and at the same time elevate our city’s economy,” said Martin L. Adams, LADWP General Manager and Chief Engineer. “It is the qualities of small, local businesses such as adaptability, efficiency and innovation that help create a strong and diverse supply chain necessary to meet the future demands of the City of L.A. as we transition to clean energy, sustainable water supplies and replace our aging infrastructure.”
More than 300 small, Black-, Women- and Minority-Owned businesses representing a wide spectrum of supply categories attended the event, which also included a panel discussion featuring Ingrid Merriwether, President & CEO of Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services, and Gene Hale, Chairman of the Greater L.A. African American Chamber of Commerce. The panel discussion highlighted opportunities, challenges and resources for achieving equitable participation on public agency contracts. The evening culminated in networking opportunities for the attendees through one-on-one conversations with city agency representatives and major prime contractors to discuss opportunities for subcontracting on major infrastructure projects.
“LADWP is committed to ensuring that its supply chain better reflects the customers and communities it serves,” said Gregory Reed, LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager, Diversity Equity and Inclusion. “This event provides an important forum for the discussion and exchange of information on technology, economic development and business opportunities vital to the communities we serve.”
LADWP administers programs and outreach, like the Supplier Diversity Fair, to encourage the participation of all businesses in its contracting opportunities, including, but not limited to:
- Small Business Enterprises (SBEs)
- Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (DVBEs)
- Emerging Business Enterprises (EBEs)
- Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBEs)
- Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBEs)
- LGBT-Owned Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs)
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs)
- Local Business Enterprises (LBEs)
Businesses interested in learning more about certification in the previously mentioned categories can get information through the City of L.A. Department of Public Works Bureau of Contract Administration: https://bca.lacity.org/certification
Businesses interested in contracting with the City of L.A. and its various city agencies, including LADWP, must register at the Regional Alliance Marketplace for Procurement (RAMPLA). The RAMPLA website features self-registration and profile management for vendors: www.rampla.org
Companies looking to do business with LADWP specifically can also register on eRSP.com, LADWP’s procurement system. Businesses may also search on the SupplyLine quarterly newsletter www.ladwp.com/supplyline for upcoming contracting opportunities. Contact the LADWP Supplier Diversity Office with any questions:
Email: supplierdiversityoffice@ladwp.com
Phone: (213) 367-3732
