Natl. Grid Seeks Minority Suppliers; Guidelines Outlined at NMBC Procurement Opportunity Luncheon

April 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Carla Hunter Ramsey, director of supplier diversity for National Grid, told attendees at the National Minority Business Council’s (NMBC) Procurement Opportunity Luncheon, April 20th that her employer is looking “to establish itself as a global leader in developing strong, sustainable partnerships with diverse suppliers.”
         Ramsey also announced that within the next 30-60 days, current and ongoing lists of goods and services that National Grid needs to purchase will be readily accessible on NMBC’s Web site’s Contract Opportunities page at www.nmbc.org.
         “We want to work with a wide-range of suppliers, from small businesses to organizations that identify with a specific population group,” Ramsey told the packed audience at the headquarters of BNY Mellon, the luncheon host.  These include businesses certified as Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBE), veterans and service-disabled veterans, LGBT, businesses located in “HUBZones” (Historically Underutilized Business Zones), and SDBs (Small Disadvantaged Businesses), as well as historically black colleges and universities. “We are recognized as the forerunner and leader in benchmarking for supplier diversity.  Fifty percent of our procurement dollars are spent with diverse suppliers and another 20% with MWBEs.”
         The energy delivery company offers its services in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island and while it prefers to award contracts to companies in its service areas, Ramsey said qualified companies anywhere are invited to respond to National Grid’s various requests for proposals. The products and services it purchases are wide-ranging.  Listed under 25 primary categories, they range from building and facilities services which include everything from cafeteria assistance to snow removal and road sweeping, to maintenance repair and operations equipment such as compressors, pumps, motors and fans, as well as the uniforms worn by the people who operate this equipment.
          National Grid has three primary supplier diversity programs. Its agreement with the Federal government’s General Services Administration includes providing electric and gas services to upstate and downstate New York.  It also delivers electrical services through the Long Island Power Authority
          “If you can name it, we probably buy it,” Ramsey told her diverse audience.  She identified some specific opportunities that so far have been difficult to fulfill by contractors that fall into one of National Grid’s diversity classifications.  These include overhead line construction, vegetation management, underground lines, substation construction services, utility-based vegetation management, civil construction, specific line construction material and maintenance, repair and operating materials. Ramsey said National Grid is also in need of more second-tier, sub-contractor suppliers from minority and women owned businesses.
           The next NMBC Procurement Opportunity Luncheon will be held on May 24th featuring a presenter from Con Ed’s supplier diversity program.  For more information and reservations contact NMBC, 212-693-5050.

# # #

Rob Seitz Communications is a full-service public relations agency. We specialize in media and community relations, social media, event planning, and journalistic, freelance writing.