Pittsburgh Equal Opportunity Review Commission approves several procurement plans, tables some housing packages

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Equal Opportunity Review Commission on a Feb. 2025 teleconference approved a city planning package for the Manchester project and an enterprise resource planning (ERP) consultant contract, approved a plumbing subcontract package for a housing-authority mid-rise project, and tabled or failed several other housing-authority subcontract packages after commissioners pressed primes about local and women- or minority-owned subcontractor participation.

The meeting centered on procurement reviews for multiple city and housing-authority projects. Commissioners raised repeated questions about whether primes had made sufficient outreach to local women-owned (WBE) and minority-owned (MBE) subcontractors, and several votes turned on commissioners’ comfort with the primes’ vendor lists and the ability of local firms to handle large scopes.

Stephanie Joy Everett, identified on the call as a City Planning representative, introduced the Manchester plan and team. "Hi. Yes. I'm Stephanie Joy Everett from City Planning, and with me, is both Peter Quintanilla and Justin Miller from Michael Baker," she said. Commissioners had no substantive objections and the commission moved to approve that plan by roll call.

On the ERP consultant contract, a Plante Moran representative identified herself as Deepa and described outreach to minority- and women-owned firms. "This is Deepa with the electronic plan, Moran. We are the prime ministers," she said. Staff described a selection process that included a local finalist (the Government Finance Officers Association, GFOA) and Plante Moran; staff also said they had a committee that reviewed proposals. Commissioners asked that staff and the prime continue outreach to WBEs and veteran-owned firms for potential implementation-phase work. The commission approved the ERP contract; staff recorded one no vote.

Four consecutive agenda items involved the Housing Authority's Northview/MidRise project, split into multiple subcontract packages (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, etc.). Commissioners repeatedly pressed Rick (housing-authority staff) and primes about whether electrical and other subcontract work could be done by firms inside the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. For the electrical package (presented as part of the housing authority items), the commission voted and the plan did not pass: the clerk reported only four yes votes and the item was tabled until next month.

For the plumbing package (another housing-authority subpackage), the prime (identified on the call as Andrew Beck of Tomco) was present and commissioners approved that package by roll call. For the mechanical package the commission moved to table the item after noting little MBE/WBE participation listed; staff and commissioners said they would expect updates when the full project procurement progresses.

Several commissioners framed the discussion as a tension between county/city goals and the commission's formal charge. One commissioner summarized the commission’s legal remit by stating that their charge focuses on diversity goals rather than a requirement for local vendors; staff and other commissioners said clarity from primes would still help the commission assess plans. As one commissioner put it on the record: "it it's my understanding that our charge is not around local vendors. It's around the diversity goals." That exchange underscored why commissioners pressed primes to explain outreach and commitments before final votes.

During discussion of a later contractor package, Ranger Construction’s Ed Blank, identified himself as the general contractor, told the panel that MBE commitments historically are met when a contract is executed but that, at the time of the meeting, specific subcontractors had not yet been committed. "We just haven't committed people just yet," he said, adding that the firm expected to meet or exceed minority participation goals once the contract is issued.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of January meeting amendments — Approved (roll call; motion passed). - Manchester plan (City Planning / Michael Baker prime) — Approved (roll call). - Enterprise resource planning consultant (Plante Moran selected over GFOA) — Approved (roll call; one no recorded). - Housing Authority package: Electrical subcontract (BP Electrical and others) — Failed/No action (tabled; clerk recorded 4 yes votes; item to return next month). - Housing Authority package: Plumbing (Tomco prime / Andrew Beck) — Approved (roll call). - Housing Authority package: Mechanical — Tabled (motion to table carried by roll call).

Commissioners asked staff to require clearer updates from primes about outreach to WBEs, MBEs and veteran-owned firms and to report back with any newly secured local participation before the items return. Staff said they would continue outreach and provide updates at the next meeting.

The commission opened the public comment period and heard no public commenters on the record during the teleconference. The meeting proceeded to further procurement items not fully resolved in the available transcript.

The commission's next regular meeting was scheduled for the following month; multiple housing-authority items will return with requested clarifications about subcontractor commitments and local vendor outreach.