By SHANNON O. WELLS
To better align with new federal guidance, the Pitt committee developing a new Department Purchasing Authority Policy has changed the language in its charter from encouraging sourcing from “underrepresented groups” to competitive bidding involving “small and local suppliers.”
Susan Graff, co-chair of the Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Advocacy Committee (EIADAC) and that group’s representative for the policy committee, detailed the language change at EIADAC’s Jan. 28 meeting.
The policy committee, she explained, was charged with reviewing and proposing changes to University Policy FN 07, “Department Purchasing Authority and Responsibilities,” as well as documents to support its implementation.
A working group looked into the existing departmental purchasing policy for anything that cost less than $10,000, which doesn’t require a competitive bidding process. The policy “strongly encouraged” sourcing products and services with suppliers from underrepresented groups and providing “good-faith effort documentation for that,” Graff said, noting the vendor tracking diversity dashboard “has since been removed.”
The group’s work took place between October 2023 and May 2024, before it was “sort of put on pause” and picked back up in November 2025.
The new language was introduced during a December working group meeting.
“They sort of took out the specific language about underrepresented groups and thinking about those as minoritized groups and are shifting it to underrepresented businesses as defined by small and local suppliers,” she explained, noting that the word “underrepresented” is still there, but refers to using local companies rather than national or larger companies.
Graff said Tony Graham, senior policy specialist in the Office of Policy Development and Management, gave permission to share some of what the working group is doing and seek EIADAC input.
“Because obviously, this is a huge shift in what the intention (and) spirit of this policy was originally supposed to be,” Graff noted.
Policy scope
Graff said she plans to meet with Jennifer Barnes, Pitt’s supplier diversity and sustainability manager, who she called the “point person to really understand how this policy is going to be implemented. I have some questions for her, but I wanted to gather additional questions from this group.”
The other purpose of the policy revision, beyond providing guidance on sourcing vendors for purchases less than $10,000, is the “dissolution or replacement” of other related policies, including those for more than $10,000, Graff noted. Based on the policy committee’s confidentiality clause, Graff told the University Times those specific policies cannot be shared at this point.
The policy speaks to the role the Office of Strategic Sourcing — under the Purchase Pay and Travel umbrella — will have in supporting departments with sourcing suppliers that align with the strategic-purchasing initiative.
“I think the scope of the policy has also changed, because originally that was not part of the plan,” she said to EIADAC. “Since that initial work, the charter has been updated to align with the federal guidance. We’re focusing on small and local business instead of underrepresented owners.”
Equity policy and committees
Responding to EIADAC Chair Bridget Keown’s question about overlap between “small businesses” and “businesses owned by marginalized populations” and whether this represents a fundamental initiative or just a language change, Graff said, “No, I think it’s a shift in policy.”
“I think for those folks who were going to do this sort of strategic sourcing — as the policy was originally intended, in good faith — they’re going to keep doing that. But I think that for many folks who don’t care as long as they find a couple small businesses, regardless of who is running them, then they’ll … be in compliance with the policy.”
Referencing those in the Pitt community who aren’t in meetings like EIADAC, Keown noted that, while this “isn’t necessarily an administrative issue,” it is something that pertains “to culture, to Pitt’s role in the community, things like that. And your insight, your input, your energy, can help with this.
“I realize this is like a step beyond what you’re thinking about right now,” she added, “but I’m also just wondering how we get people involved.”
Agreeing with Graff’s and Keown’s sentiments, Senate Council President Kris Kanthak noted that the policy change is “a perfect example of how there are certainly equity issues involved in something that’s going up through a different committee.”
She added that she could “do a better job” of sending these policies on to “at least the committee chairs” so EIADAC can give “all policies the once-over.” Also, there are “a lot of people that wouldn’t think there are equity issues in purchasing policies, but there are tremendous equity issues in purchasing policies, and that’s what we’re seeing.”
Kanthak praised Graff’s suggestion of a once-per-semester “check in” with the Office of Policy Development and Management.
“I like the idea of inviting someone from the policy office to come,” she said, suggesting Tom Hitter, assistant vice chancellor for policy development and management. “And just asking, you know, ‘What’s on your radar right now, and how could we be of assistance in terms of making sure these policies are thinking hard about equity and inclusion?’
“I’m happy to help facilitate that meeting.”
Shannon Wells is a University Times reporter. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.
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