DLC Suppliers |DLC Supplier Diversity | Duquesne Light Company

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POLICY STATEMENT

Duquesne Light endeavors to reflect in our suppliers and our workforce the diversity of the communities that we serve. We will ensure that diverse suppliers are informed of, and treated equitably during, the supplier qualification process. Duquesne Light strives to increase the diversity of the suppliers that provide us with products and services. In all cases, we will ensure that all suppliers are evaluated fairly and evenly, and that the most qualified suppliers are selected.

DLC seeks to achieve the following objectives:

Increase the number of diverse suppliers that provide Duquesne Light Company with products and/or services, while maintaining a commitment to safety, quality, competitive pricing, and customer service
Ensure that the evaluation and qualification process is equitable and includes consideration of Tier I and Tier II projected spend
Encourage and facilitate diverse supplier certification through legitimate third-parties and organizations
Inform diverse suppliers of Duquesne Light Company’s requirements and supplier-related policies and procedures
Actively partner with external organizations in the communities that Duquesne Light Company serves to identify and engage in outreach efforts to increase the diversity of suppliers that participate in the RFx process
Develop relationships with the diverse supplier community on a local and regional basis to promote economic growth and strengthen the Duquesne Light Company brand and trust within the communities that we serve

Diverse Business Classifications:

Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE)

A business enterprise that is at least 51% owned, operated, managed and controlled by one or more individual(s) with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Revision of 1997 who are legally authorized to work in the United States. Further this enterprise must exercise independence from any other business enterprise and must have its principle place of business in the United States and be formed as legal entity in the United States.

Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)

A business that is located in a historically underutilized business zone or HUBZone and must be owned by one or more United States citizens or non-United States citizens who are legally authorized to work in the United States. Additionally at least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUBZone.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Business Enterprise (LGBTBE)

A business that is at least 51% owned by one or more individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual or gender non-conforming.

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)

A business enterprise that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more minority individuals and whose management and day-to-day business operations are controlled by these individuals; or a publicly-owned business that has at least 51% of its stock owned by one or more minority individuals. Minority individuals include United States citizen(s) or non-United States citizen(s) who are legally authorized to work in the United States with origins in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, South America, Central America or the original peoples of North America or the Hawaiian Islands, as well as other groups found to be socially disadvantaged under section 8(a) of the Small Business Administration, including individuals who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their individual qualities (15 U.S.C.A. § 637(d)).

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprise (SDVBE)

A business that is at least 51% owned by one or more service disabled veteran(s) and has one or more service-disabled veterans manage day-to-day operations and also make long-term decisions. Eligible veterans must have a service-connected disability.

Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)

A small business concern that is at least 51% owned by one and controlled by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged as defined in section 8(a) of the United States Small Business Administration standards (15 U.S.C. § 637(a)).

Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE)

A business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more U.S. military veteran(s) who was discharged and released from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable.

Women Business Enterprise (WBE)

A business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women and have women manage day-to-day operations and also make long-term decisions.

Certification

Duquesne Light Company prefers and recommends that diverse suppliers obtain third-party diverse supplier certification from a legitimate third-party such as the National Minority Supplier Development Counsel or the Small Business Administration. However, Duquesne Light Company will allow suppliers to self-certify as diverse. In such situations, the supplier is solely responsible for the accuracy of their own self-certification, and DLC reserves the right to audit and/or follow up with additional documentation requests. The supplier diversity self-certification form can be found here.

All diverse suppliers, self-certified or otherwise, must reaffirm their status as a diverse supplier on an annual basis.

Email us your self-certification and/or questions at SupplierDiversity@duqlight.com.