Strategic Convening and Procurement Pilot Unveiling

Published on August 21, 2025

Mayor Ed Gainey and the City of Pittsburgh Advance Regional Workforce Equity Agreement with Strategic Convening and Procurement Pilot Unveiling

The long-awaited rebuild at Robert E. Williams Park will introduce vendors to the City’s new workforce equity and job quality requirements

PITTSBURGH, PA — In a continued effort to promote inclusive economic growth, Mayor Ed Gainey and the City of Pittsburgh hosted a two-part convening to support the next phase of implementing the Regional Workforce Equity Agreement (RWEA). During the convening, city leadership engaged in discussion with regional partners, including representatives from public agencies, workforce development, community-based organizations, philanthropy, elected officials, and unions around equitable hiring, apprenticeships, and workforce goals within public contracting. Earlier today, the City hosted a pre-bid, matching meeting, and site visit for a pilot project to introduce local vendors to new internal processes and solicitation requirements. Together, staff from the Mayor’s Office, Procurement Team, Office of Equal Protection, Department of Innovation and Performance, Department of Public Works Law Department, Partner4Work, and Partners for Public Good, worked to align on shared commitments to embed equity principles into the fabric of the pilot construction project.

“Here in Pittsburgh, we are proud to lead by example in transforming how we invest in our local communities,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “Through establishing workforce utilization and job quality requirements to increase the participation of disadvantaged workers and apprentices in publicly funded construction projects, we are ensuring that public dollars create meaningful pathways to opportunity for all.”

During the convening, the city held a pre-bid meeting to serve as a real-time demonstration of how RWEA principles are being operationalized in local government—providing vendors with a clear introduction to new workforce equity requirements.

“We’re proud to partner with the City of Pittsburgh on leveraging procurement to advance key policy goals,” said Neha Gupta, COO & General Counsel of Partners for Public Good. “By creating a streamlined process that is easy for vendors to navigate and underscores economic opportunities created by government contracting, Pittsburgh is showing how public dollars can efficiently deliver critical infrastructure and build a stronger community in the process."

Key commitments and requirements for bidders are detailed in the solicitation's Bid Terms and Conditions, as well as the Vendor Questionnaire:

Section 2.29 Economic Inclusion Commitment: This section outlines revamped citywide requirements for disadvantaged business participation (MBE, WBE, LGBTQ-BE, and VOSB) to align with city code, adopt best practices, and prioritize economic inclusion.

Section 2.30 Workforce Equity Goals and Evidence of Good Faith Efforts: This section details requirements around disadvantaged workforce utilization and job quality being piloted in this solicitation.

Section 6 Vendor Questionnaire: This section outlines standard job quality requirements, such as prevailing wage, anti-discrimination, equal employment opportunity for individuals with previous criminal convictions, paid sick days, and more. The pilot project at the center of this initiative is the revitalization of Robert E. Williams Memorial Park, located in the Upper Hill District neighborhood. The project will consist of the rebuilding of a new pavilion and critical investments in a new playground in the space. New amenities will include:

A new playground
A new full-court basketball surface
ADA Parking
Rooftop patio connected to the playground
Charcoal grills
Larger indoor assembly space

Pittsburgh’s efforts aim to position the City as a model for equitable public contracting, offering a blueprint for cities across the region to follow.

ABOUT THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE EQUITY AGREEMENT

This pilot project is the result of nearly two years of dedicated work, birthed from the Pittsburgh Workforce Hub, a designation we received from the Biden-Harris Administration in May 2023. The Regional Workforce Equity Agreement, announced on October 31, 2024, mandates that bidders on publicly funded construction projects and recipients of public dollars for real estate development projects ensure disadvantaged worker and apprenticeship utilization, as well as provide quality jobs. The City is leading the way by piloting this initiative on the construction of a new recreational facility in the Hill District. As part of this effort, the City has integrated these requirements into its procurement process to increase the participation of disadvantaged workers and apprentices in local construction jobs.

ABOUT PPG

Partners for Public Good (PPG) is a nonpartisan nonprofit helping governments across the country fix the systems that matter most—from procurement and staffing to budgeting and technology. PPG’s journey began in 2011 at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Government Performance Lab, where the team set out to develop and test new methods for improving public procurement. Since then, its experts have worked with more than 200 local and state governments across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America to reimagine procurement and contracting. Today, PPG works alongside public agencies to fulfill the promise of public service by transforming core operations. By unlocking the potential of public funds, restoring operational effectiveness, and fostering innovation in communities, PPG believes governments can produce meaningful outcomes for residents and rebuild public trust. To learn more, visit partnersforpublicgood.org.

Cydney Cooper

Interim Communications Director
cydney.cooper@pittsburghpa.gov
412-518-5047