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Doing business with us Working together starts here

How to do business with us and join our network of trusted suppliers

See open opportunities
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Let’s serve the community— together

At EPB we rely on strong, collaborative relationships with our suppliers to deliver safe, reliable, and innovative energy and communications services to the community we serve. This Supplier Hub is designed to help you learn more about how to do business with us and explore potential opportunities to partner with our organization.

WHO ARE OUR PARTNERS

Our service excellence starts with partners like you

We work with suppliers of all sizes who offer exceptional quality, competitive pricing, timely delivery, and outstanding customer service. We’re always looking to build new relationships and want to hear about your business—your capabilities, offerings, and experience—so we can assess how your organization aligns with our needs.

Register your business Questions? Email us!
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OUR COMMITMENT

We give all suppliers equal and fair opportunities

As a proud Chattanooga-based company, we are committed to giving all local suppliers equal and fair opportunities to participate in our procurement efforts. We value transparency, diversity, and partnerships that help us better serve the community we call home.

Take the First Step Toward Partnering with Us

The best way to get on our radar is to click “Register Your Business” using the link below. Registering adds your company to the supplier database our purchasing team references when identifying potential partners. While registration doesn’t guarantee you’ll be selected for a project—and it’s not required to respond to an open RFP—it helps ensure our team has your information on hand for future consideration.

Find your next opportunity to partner with EPB

How to get started

View open opportunities

Explore current competitive sealed bids and RFPs and and see where your products or services could fit.

Register your business

Add your company to our Supplier Portal for consideration in future opportunities. Registration is appreciated but not required for open RFPs.

Check back often

We regularly update our opportunities, so visit frequently to stay in the loop.

SMALL BUSINESS SUPPLIER CONNECTION

Great partners come in all sizes

At EPB we believe in fair and equal access for all qualified small businesses — especially those that reflect the diversity of the community we serve. That includes veteran-owned, women-owned, minority-owned, and local businesses.

Through our Small Business Supplier Connection program, we’re always looking to build strong relationships with suppliers who deliver exceptional quality, competitive pricing, reliable delivery, and excellent customer service.

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Do you qualify as a small business?

A small business is defined as one with:

  • No more than $10 million in total gross receipts (average over three years),
  • 99 or fewer full-time employees.

We’d love to hear from you. Share your story, your products and services, and your capabilities so we can explore opportunities to work together.

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We’re proud to invest nearly $10 million annually with small business suppliers who help us bring value to our customers and our community.

Small businesses, Big impact: Partner stories

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SAFETY COMMITMENT

Working safely is how we all succeed—together.

We’re committed to doing business with suppliers who share our dedication to safety. It’s more than just a policy—it’s part of who we are. To help protect our employees, contractors, customers, and communities, we’ve built a strong safety culture that’s active every day, on every job. From day one, our team members go through comprehensive safety training, and we expect the same commitment from the partners we work with.

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Buy surplus items and equipment from EPB

Looking for surplus materials or equipment? We occasionally make surplus items available for public purchase through GovDeals.com. To see what’s currently available, visit the site, enter a Chattanooga ZIP code in the location search, and look for EPB to view and bid on any available items.

Stay Connected: Join Our Supplier Newsletter


Want to hear about upcoming outreach events and opportunities? Email purchasing@epb.net to subscribe to our Business Connections Quarterly Newsletter.

Have Questions About ...

We’re happy to help. Explore answers to the most common questions we get below or get in touch with us!

EPB purchases a wide range of products and services — from construction materials, electrical equipment, and IT systems to professional services, office supplies, and facility maintenance. Check our extensive list here.

While the majority of EPB’s purchases are for new items, there are instances where refurbished products may be considered. This typically applies when the item is difficult to source, offers significant cost savings, or is no longer in production. All refurbished items must meet our quality and performance standards before approval.

Yes. EPB’s Small Business Supplier Connection is focused on creating opportunities for local, small, and underutilized businesses to participate in our procurement process. We are committed to building meaningful relationships with a broad range of suppliers and encouraging economic impact across our community.

To become a vendor, please register in our Supplier Portal. Be sure to upload your W-9 and any promotional materials when prompted. Once submitted, our Purchasing team will review your information and reach out with next steps if there’s a fit for upcoming opportunities. Due to the high volume of vendor introductions we receive, response times may vary. We appreciate your patience as we work to thoughtfully engage potential suppliers.

Introductory calls are typically 15–20-minute virtual meetings held via Microsoft Teams. These sessions provide an opportunity for you to introduce your company and highlight how your products or services align with EPB’s needs. While not required, we recommend preparing a brief presentation that includes an overview of your business offerings, capabilities, relevant licenses and certifications, team structure, safety protocols, training and development practices, and estimated pricing (if applicable).

EPB hosts an annual Business Connect Summit along with other outreach events throughout the year, often in collaboration with our business development partners. To stay informed about upcoming opportunities, please email our Purchasing Team at purchasing@epb.net and request to be added to our Business Connections Quarterly Newsletter.

Open bids and RFPs are posted on our Competitive Sealed Bids and Requests website. You may also find our opportunities in the Chattanooga Times Free Press and other media sources.

Each solicitation includes a designated buyer who will serve as your primary point of contact. To ensure a fair and transparent process, all communications related to that opportunity must be submitted in writing directly to the assigned buyer. Communication with other EPB staff regarding the solicitation may result in disqualification. For general inquiries, please contact our Purchasing Team at purchasing@epb.net.

Awards are based on a combination of factors, including price, quality, service capabilities, experience, and alignment with EPB’s operational goals.

You will receive confirmation of your submission from the designated buyer. Following the solicitation’s closing date, EPB will begin a thorough evaluation process. If your proposal is selected for further consideration, you will be contacted to discuss next steps and any additional requirements.

You can update your business contact details, address, or certifications by logging into your vendor profile or by contacting our Purchasing Department at purchasing@epb.net.

If you’ve lost or forgotten your supplier portal login credentials, please email our Purchasing Team at purchasing@epb.net. We’ll be happy to send you a secure link to reset your login and regain access.

Most surplus items are sold through public auction on govdeals.com. EPB does have a bid process for recycling CPE Electronic Equipment and Scrap metals.

Most surplus items are made available to the public through online auctions at GovDeals.com. Additionally, EPB utilizes a bid process for the recycling of CPE electronic equipment and scrap metals. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor the site or reach out for information on upcoming opportunities.

Substitutions must be pre-approved by EPB before delivery. Unapproved substitutions may be rejected. If a specified item is unavailable or discontinued, suppliers should notify EPB immediately with recommended alternatives and supporting documentation.

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