Supplier Diversity
Essential Supplier Diversity Tier 2 Program
Essential is committed to promoting diversity in everything we do. This includes supporting the growth of business opportunities for minority, women, LGBT+ and veteran owned businesses. As a company, we’re always aiming to increase our overall involvement with these businesses as well as sustain a higher level of supplier diversity.
To reach our company supplier diversity goals, we need full participation from all supplier categories in Essential’s supplier diversity program. We highly encourage all of our suppliers to participate in supplier diversity. Whether it is being a certified diverse supplier participating in our Tier 1 program or a non-diverse supplier tracking their supplier diversity spend and participating in our Tier 2 program. In this document you will find the tools and programs that Essential uses to achieve our goals in supplier diversity.
Diverse Supplier definition:
Any business that is owned by a U.S. Citizen and 51% owned, managed and controlled by someone who is African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian American, a woman, veteran, or LGBT+.
Accepted Diversity Categories and Certificates.
| Diversity Status | Accepted Certificates |
|---|---|
| MBE | National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Supplier Clearinghouse |
| WBE | Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Supplier Clearinghouse |
| VBE | National Veteran Business Development Certification (NVBDC) National Veteran Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) Supplier Clearinghouse |
| LQBT+ | The National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) |
Federal, State, Local Government Agencies certificates are accepted pending review and approval from Essential Supply Chain member. If business holds one of these certificates please submit and a member will notify you if it is accepted. *IMPORTANT* Essential does not accept self-certifying certificates.
Tier 1 Supplier definition:
A supplier that holds accepted diversity certificate.
Tier 2 Supplier definition:
A Tier 2 supplier is defined has a supplier that does not sell directly to Essential Utilities, but supplies products or services to a prime supplier that does work directly with Essential Utilities. For Essential to get credit for the Tier 2 supplier diversity spend, the subcontracted supplier must be certified with a valid diverse certificate.
What do I need to do?
- You will receive an email from Supplier.IO/UniTier (Tier 2 Program website partner) with a link requesting your diversity spend to be reported.
- Please submit within the noted deadline provided by UniTier and Essential.
