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Baltimore Gas and Electric

Supplier Diversity

 Our Program
Calvin Butler headshot photo

​An important part of our strength here at BGE comes from diversity in all that we do - and our Supplier Diversity Program is a great example. For more than 16 years BGE has developed strategic partnerships with diverse suppliers to bring a variety of products and services to the utility. Our Supplier Diversity Program is designed to bring the added value of diversity to our procurement process by proactively seeking small, minority-, women- and service disabled veteran-owned enterprises.

BGE's policy is to continue to develop and strengthen business relationships. We participate in a number of outreach efforts and encourage diverse suppliers to participate in the procurement process. Tapping into the power of our region's diverse supplier base is an effective way to strengthen our company, as well as fuel our community's economy. In fact, BGE's diversity philosophy has proven to be overwhelmingly beneficial not only to our business, but also to our employees, customers and the communities we serve.

We're proud of the success we have had and are excited about future opportunities. Thank you for you interest and your support.

Sincerely,
Calvin G. Butler Jr.
Chief Executive Officer, BGE

2nd Tier Program

Due to the nature of the utility business, many procurement opportunities may limit participation by small businesses. BGE‘s 2nd Tier Spend Program increases the opportunities available to diversity certified suppliers in our business and ensures a diversity certified supplier pool across the supply chain. We believe these efforts will stimulate the local economy by creating jobs.

 2nd Tier spend consists of payments made from a prime supplier to a diversity certified supplier for the purchase of products or services used directly in support of a contract with BGE.

BLocal 

BGE has partnered with Johns Hopkins and BLocal through the sharing of best practices on how to develop minority, women and locally owned businesses and build capacity within a disadvantaged and underdeveloped segment of our community.

As part of our overall commitment to diversity and inclusion, BGE has:
  • Established a diverse business empowerment process dedicated to developing relationships with Maryland’s minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned business communities and ensuring BGE has access to a talented diverse supplier base that reflects our customer base.
  • Launched the Focus 25 supplier development program aimed to grow diversity-certified businesses by helping them to successfully compete for service scalable contracts that advance BGE’s mission. For BGE, helping the Maryland-Washington, DC, region’s diversity-certified suppliers grow and become more competitive is smart business; stronger businesses mean a stronger economy and stronger communities.

We will share the successes of our award-winning Focus 25 initiative and its mutual benefits to BGE and diverse suppliers, discuss ways to support each other, including reviewing the existing market of suppliers and leveraging shared procurement opportunities, and how we intend to meet our goal of 23% total procurable spend from diversity-certified suppliers in 2016. 

 How to Apply
Firms interested in doing business with BGE should register on the Exelon Web site and review BGE's Supplier Diversity Qualifications and What We Buy.

Overview of How it Works

BGE's Diverse Business Empowerment Program has always been focused on opportunities for minority suppliers who provide a wide array of utility products and services. In fact, there are more than 65 categories where vendors and specifically diversity certified suppliers may be used to provide the goods and services needed to run the company. In 2014, BGE spent more than $182 million doing business with diversity certified suppliers.
 
The business units within BGE are aware of the importance of supplier diversity when making their decisions.
 
The original Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the early 1990s. This established a voluntary procedure for BGE to develop plans and implement activities that provide Minority Business Enterprises with full opportunity to compete for the procurement contracts for products and services. BGE has continuously increased the percentage of supplier diversity spend.

Diverse Spend Goal

BGE's contract awards are based on the competitiveness of supplier proposals. However, we strive for the ultimate goal of 25% total spend to be achieved through both direct and 2nd tier diverse spend. This goal demonstrates BGE's commitment and focus on supplier diversity.

Bid/Award Process

Qualified firms invited to bid on specific contracts are sent a Request for Proposal (RFP). Some RFPs require the bidder to attend pre-bid meetings to review procedures and specifications. Bidders are strongly encouraged, and sometimes required, to attend these meetings and submit proposals by the due date in order to be considered for a contract. On occasion, purchase orders are used to test and evaluate the product and services of new and promising firms, and can often lead to larger bidding opportunities.
Bids and proposals that meet specified requirements are thoroughly evaluated, and awards are made to the firms offering the best value to BGE.
 

 Links & Resources

Memorandum of Understanding with the Maryland Public Service Committee

On February 6, 2009, BGE and nine other Maryland utilities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Maryland Public Service Commission stating their intention to strive for a 25% diversity spend. It states that the utilities will "voluntarily develop, implement and consistently report on their activities and accomplishments in promoting strategy designed to create viable and prosperous women, minority and service-disables-veteran-owned enterprises by providing them with the maximum opportunity to participate in and compete for contracts and subcontracts in the [utilities'] supply chain for goods and services and to encourage and assist, when reasonable, [their] Prime Contractors to develop plans to increase the utilization of diverse suppliers as subcontractors."
 

The original signatories are:

  • Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.
  • Delmarva Power & Light Company
  • The Potomac Edison Company dba Allegheny Power
  • Potomac Electric Power Co.
  • Washington Gas Light Company
  • Verizon Maryland Inc.
  • Qwest Communications Company, LLC
  • XO Communication Services Inc
  • First Transit's BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Shuttle Bus Contract
  • Association of Maryland Pilots

Helpful Links

  1. BGE Smart Energy Savers Program®
  2. Minority Supplier Development Council
  3. Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
  4. National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
  5. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
  6. National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
  7. Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association (MWMCA)
  8. Maryland Governor's Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA)
  9. Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
  10. Maryland Public Service Commission

How to Apply

Learn more about supplier diversity qualifications, what we buy and applying.

Links & Resources

Get more information on groups that help aid diverse suppliers in Central Maryland.

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For more information on our program, view the Focus 25 Brochure

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​Contact Us:

For more information about BGE's Supplier Diversity Program, please use the contact information below.

Phone: 1-800-243-0341
supplierdiversity@bge.com

© Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, 2017. All Rights Reserved.