12/10/2010
Over 350 attendees representing more than 300 companies and organizations attended the Public Building Commission’s 5th Annual Contractor Open House this week at the South Shore Cultural Center located at 7059 South Shore Drive.
The annual event highlighted the current program statistics and the PBC’s upcoming construction bid opportunities in 2011. Also included were educational sessions on the City’s TIF Works Job Training Program as well as sessions for Professional Service Opportunities and Assist Agencies for General Contractors and Subcontractors.
In the general session, PBC Executive Director Erin Lavin Cabonargi reviewed new projects and reinforced to the PBC’s contractors and consultants its mission to promote two program initiatives — economic sustainability and environmental sustainability.
- The PBC implements the following contract provisions and bid incentives to promote economic sustainability:
- Bid incentives for the employment of apprentices;
- Bid incentives for the employment of minority and female workers;
- Contract provisions that require at least 50% of the labor force be residents of the City of Chicago;
- Contract provisions with regard for community hiring, helping to employ those closest to the work at hand;
- Contract provisions that require minority- and women-owned business participation; and
- Contract provisions for local business participation.
As of the third quarter 2010, The PBC reported that with a total value of contracts awarded of almost $300 million, a total of 39 percent went to minority- and women- owned businesses.
“The PBC routinely provides opportunities for networking and capacity building as a matter of course during project and program development,” said Lavin Cabonargi. “We create an ongoing dialogue with our contractors and professional service providers and as a result, we most often exceed the economic sustainability goals we set.”
A networking session was also provided with exhibit booths featuring 14 general contractors and 13 local government agencies.
Interested contractors and consultants can get the latest information about upcoming bid opportunities for PBC projects by signing up for PBC Alerts at www.pbcchicago.com.
Check out the new PBC video highlighting its environmental sustainability program initiatives at:
https://pbcchicago.com/content/projects/environmental_videos.asp
Download the Outreach Booklet for the 5th Annual Contractor Open House here.
Download the Presentation from the Open House here.
The Public Building Commission of Chicago manages construction and renovation projects for the City of Chicago and its sister agencies. Mayor Richard M. Daley serves as the PBC’s chairman. Erin Lavin Cabonargi serves as the Executive Director of the PBC. Additional information about the PBC and its projects can also be found at www.pbcchicago.com.