Supplier Diversity Program and Green Initiatives

Our Supplier Diversity Program plays a vital role in our ability to achieve excellence for all of our stakeholders and the communities that we serve. In honoring our commitment to supplier diversity, we developed initiatives that serve to expand and build upon relationships with diverse suppliers as well as increase their opportunities for growth and enhancement.

The supplier diversity team is actively involved with various supplier diversity advocacy groups and business forums dedicated to fostering minority business enterprise development. Through these efforts, Washington Gas is able to meet diverse vendors, promote our supplier diversity program and share best practices.

Advocacy Groups:

• National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.
• Maryland District of Columbia Minority Supplier Development Council
• Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council
• Women's Business Enterprise National Council
• Maryland Washington Minority Contractors' Association, Inc.
• The Elite Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business Network

Tier 2 Program - Subcontracting

Washington Gas maintains a subcontracting program to encourage our prime contractors to utilize certified minority, women and service-disabled veteran business enterprises. During the bid process, all requests for proposals include supplier diversity as part of the criteria for the evaluation and vendor selection.

Washington Gas works closely with our prime contractors to educate them about the reporting requirements and subcontracting opportunities as well as monitor their diversity initiatives.

Third-Party Certifying Agencies

The Supplier Diversity Team also works closely with a variety of third-party certifying agencies including:

• National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.
• Maryland District of Columbia Minority Supplier Development Council
• Maryland Department of Transportation
• Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council
• Virginia Department of Transportation
• Commonwealth of Virginia
• Veterans Administration
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
• Women Business Enterprise National Council

Click here for a complete list of Third-Party Certifying Agencies.

Green Procurement Initiatives

Washington Gas also has a Green Procurement policy which serves to encourage the use of recycled and environmentally preferable goods. During the vendor selection process, potential vendor's sustainability practices are evaluated.

The following is a list of Washington Gas' major categories of vendor spend:

• Advertising and Marketing services
• Automotive vehicles and accessories
• Building and cleaning services and supplies
• Construction equipment and supplies
• Electronic equipment
• Engineering services
• Hand tools
• Furniture
• Gas meters and regulators
• Human Resources' services
• Machinery and shop equipment
• Natural gas
• Office supplies and equipment
• Paving services
• Printing services
• Plastic pipe and fittings
• Power operated tools
• Security services
• Steel pipe, fittings and valves
• Underground pipeline contractors