Baltimore Gas and Electric Company Awards Utility Lines Construction Services, Inc. its Supplier Diversity Prime Contractor of the Year Award

Jan. 26, 2012
Company selected from among 20 candidates BALTIMORE – Jan. 25, 2012, Utility Lines Construction Services, Inc. (ULCS) is being recognized by Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) with a Supplier Diversity Prime Contractor of the Year award for its ...

Company selected from among 20 candidates

BALTIMORE – Jan. 25, 2012, Utility Lines Construction Services, Inc. (ULCS) is being recognized by Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) with a Supplier Diversity Prime Contractor of the Year award for its efforts to improve the overall participation of diverse suppliers within BGE's supply chain. The award is an acknowledgment that by increasing the number of diverse subcontractors, ULCS — a subsidiary of Asplundh — is helping BGE move closer toward a goal set by the Maryland Public Service Commission that the utility use its best effort to award 25 percent of a utility's outsourced spending to minority, women and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. The award was presented today in Catonsville.

“ULCS is committed to supplier diversity, and like BGE, wants to ensure its subcontractors reflect the many different cultures, backgrounds and lifestyles of its customers and the communities in which they do business,” said ULCS Vice President Gene Nichols. “This recognition is reserved for corporations that fully embrace the value that diverse suppliers bring to the supply chain. I am glad that BGE considers diverse suppliers an integral part of their standard business practice and I am proud to accept this award on behalf of ULCS.”

In early 2011, BGE's Supplier Diversity office met with 20 of its prime contractors to encourage them to increase their use of diverse suppliers. Despite economic fluctuations in the utility industry, ULCS developed a diverse supplier base and submitted a detailed subcontracting plan to BGE. This plan included the creation of a dedicated team to identify, monitor, and track contracts awarded to minority, women and serviced-disabled veteran-owned companies and to mentor the diverse business owners. This focused effort by ULCS has resulted in more than $2.5 million in business with diverse subcontractors in 2011 and earned ULCS the Supplier Diversity Prime Contractor of the Year award from BGE.

ULCS continues to actively seek diverse suppliers through attendance at local business fairs and events. ULCS is a supporting member of the Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association (MWMCA) and has worked with MWMCA to identify prospective diverse partners who can supply the services required to fulfill contractual obligations to BGE. During these events and other outreach efforts, ULCS takes every opportunity to help grow diverse businesses.

About ULCS:

Utility Lines Construction Services, Inc. (ULCS) specializes in overhead and underground construction and maintenance of electric transmission, substation and distribution infrastructure for utilities and municipalities. ULCS is part of Utilicon Solutions, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Asplundh Tree Expert Co., a major supplier of outsourced field services to utilities and municipalities. Asplundh is a privately-held company, founded in 1928, which currently employs over 30,000 people in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. More information is available at www.utiliconltd.com.

CONTACT:

Kristin Wild,

Corporate Communications

Phone: 1-800-248-8733, ext. 4427

E-mail: [email protected]

About the Author

Amy Fischbach | Field Editor

Amy Fischbach is the field editor for the Electric Utility Operations section of Transmission & Distribution World. She worked for Prism Business Media (now Penton) for eight years, most recently as the managing editor of Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro magazine. She is now working as a freelance writer and editor for B2B magazines. Amy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. She serves as the national vice president of the American Society of Business Publication Editors. She can be reached at [email protected].

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