Connecting with contractors virtually

Louisville Water’s Engineering Department kicked off 2021 with their annual Construction Contractor’s Breakfast. Held Jan. 14, it looked very different this year as Vice President and Chief Engineer Tim Kraus hosted more than 100 attendees virtually via Zoom. This third annual gathering is usually held at Louisville Water Tower Park, but because of COVID-19 restrictions, it was moved to a virtual format. Even without the usual sausage biscuits and donuts, contractors were eager to hear about upcoming projects for their companies.

Jeremy Raney, Director of Engineering, provided an overview of Louisville Water’s $112 million Capital Improvement Plan for 2021, including infrastructure renewal projects and growth-related improvements. He also gave an overview of Louisville Water facility projects including roofing and operational/maintenance contracts.

Contractors were reminded that customers don’t make the distinction between a Louisville Water contractor and a Louisville Water employee, so they must represent the company’s values when they work on Louisville Water projects in the community. Contractors were also given an overview of what to expect at job sites from inspectors, with a list of the top 10 inspection items from 2020.

Contractors are encouraged to register to prequalify as a contractorto get email updates about upcoming projects. Louisville Water’s Procurement website has a link to its bidding portal, which lists the current opportunities for contractors as well as a list of past opportunities.

Small businesses are also encouraged to become members of the newly launched Small Business Equity (SBE) Program to increase the number of small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses in Louisville Water’s purchasing network. On the SBE web page, contractors can take a look at the application and sign up for free information sessions that will walk them through the process of applying to be a member.

For more information on the program, contractor pre-qualification, and bid opportunities, visit LouisvilleWater.com/procurement.