Equal Opportunity Review Commission approves multiple city contracts, tables HVAC bid for Brighton Heights

The City of Pittsburgh Equal Opportunity Review Commission on June 26 approved a series of contract plans and change orders for city projects and discussed contractor outreach to meet minority- and women-owned business participation goals. The commission voted to approve multiple prime contracts and change orders and tabled one HVAC bid for further outreach after the prime reported zero minority or women-owned business participation.

Commission Chair Connolly opened the agenda and commissioners moved through project presentations and roll-call votes. The body approved plans for Amman Parks improvements, the Downing Street steps project, Westinghouse Court Phase 2, and multiple prime contracts for the Brighton Heights project (general contractor, plumbing and electrical). The commission also reviewed a set of eight ITQ work orders and several DPW change orders as updates.

Why it matters: The Equal Opportunity Review Commission reviews contractor-submitted plans and good-faith outreach efforts for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) participation on city-funded work. Approvals let projects proceed; the commission also enforces follow-up when contractors do not demonstrate adequate outreach.

The meeting opened with a brief recognition of the commission's 25th anniversary; Mayor (name not specified) read a proclamation congratulating the commission and praised the city's procurement modernization efforts. Chuck Durham, business diversity manager for the city, then led staff presentations and introduced prime contractors for each agenda item.

Amman Parks improvement: Sarah Thompson of Pashic MTR and Caleb Tavon of Tavon Engineering described their team and outreach. Commissioners praised the higher-than-usual MBE/WBE numbers and the commission passed the plan by roll call.

Downing Street steps: Amy of AMORANTI contracting said the plan reached an 18% MBE goal and 7.04% WBE participation; the commission approved the plan on a roll-call vote.

Westinghouse Court Phase 2: Mindy Labelle said the contract is small and heavily focused on archaeology and required specialized professional services, which limited subcontracting opportunities; commissioners noted the constraints and recommended approval. The motion passed on roll call.

Brighton Heights (multi-prime): The commission reviewed four prime contracts for the Brighton Heights project. Massaro representatives (Joe Matzka and Randy Hertzok) described outreach that produced 5.17% MBE participation (about $158,000) and roughly 12% WBE participation (about $370,000) for the general contract. Massaro detailed outreach through the URA of Pittsburgh distribution list and BuildingConnected bid notifications. The general contractor, plumbing and electrical primes were approved by roll call.

HVAC subcontract for Brighton Heights: The HVAC prime (Guy's Mechanical Systems; Andrea Weider) reported zero MBE/WBE participation after outreach; Weider said she searched PAUCP and DGS supplier portals and contacted multiple minority contractors but received no bids, citing geographic limits and the need for sheet-metal and automated-temperature-control work. Chuck Durham said staff maintains an HVAC subcontractor list and will provide names and further assistance. Commissioners moved to table the HVAC award to allow additional outreach; the motion carried on roll call.

Electrical/plumbing and other primes: Allegheny City Electric (Donna Burrow, controller) and other primes described their subcontractor outreach and committed subcontractor material and services; those prime contracts passed by roll call.

Updates and ITQ work orders: Staff reported on eight ITQ contracts and DPW change orders, including bridge repairs (Michael Baker International), East Liberty Station change orders (with MBEs and veteran-owned subs on the payment distribution), PJ McArdle elevated cycle work (H.W. Lochner), Riverview Avenue landslide remediation (SAI Consulting Engineers), and traffic signal designs (Michael Baker International). These were presented as updates; no commission votes were required for the ITQ items.

Enforcement and follow-up: Commission staff said they will begin recommendations next month for sanctions or remedial steps where contractors fail to meet goals; a subcontractor will present public comment next month on a related compliance alert. Commissioners also scheduled a commission appreciation event for September.

Ending: With the HVAC item tabled for additional outreach and multiple plans approved to proceed, the commission adjourned after staff confirmed next meeting scheduling.