Donson Liu

Donson Liu serves as a procurement lead within the Pasadena Transportation Department, overseeing acquisitions critical to the city’s multimodal infrastructure modernization. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of contracts supporting transportation safety and accessibility initiatives, Liu specializes in procurements related to traffic control systems, pedestrian infrastructure, and public mobility enhancements. Their role aligns directly with the agency’s mission to modernize transportation networks through equitable, resilient, and data-informed solutions, ensuring compliance with state and federal procurement standards while prioritizing public safety and community access. Liu maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse pool of vendors specializing in transportation infrastructure, signage systems, and mobility consulting services. While no single contractor dominates their portfolio, engagements consistently involve firms with demonstrated expertise in highway construction, traffic signal engineering, and urban design consulting. Working relationships are characterized by a focus on technical competency, performance history, and adherence to public works standards, with an emphasis on transparent, competitive bidding processes to ensure value and accountability. Liu’s procurement strategy reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” This approach prioritizes merit-based selection over socioeconomic set-asides, though small business participation remains encouraged through general small business subcontracting requirements and vendor outreach initiatives. The absence of targeted set-asides indicates a focus on technical qualifications and project fit rather than socioeconomic classification as a primary award criterion. The department’s procurement portfolio is heavily concentrated in NAICS 339950 (Sign Manufacturing), reflecting extensive investment in ADA-compliant signage, wayfinding systems, and traffic control devices. Secondary focus areas include NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) for pavement rehabilitation and NAICS 541613 (Marketing Consulting Services) for public engagement campaigns supporting mobility projects. Liu’s expertise lies in integrating technical specifications for multimodal infrastructure with community-centered design principles, ensuring all procurements advance equitable access and operational efficiency.