Maximizing Your M/WBE Certification in NYC

The City of New York spends billions of dollars on goods and services each year. . In the first three years of the program, the City’s Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Program helped area businesses receive more than $1.2 billion in prime and subcontracts. Today more than 2,500 M/WBEs participate in the program. If your company is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or a member of an ethnic minority group, has been in business for at least one year and is headquartered or has a substantial business presence in the New York City metro area, you may be eligible. To attract more firms to the program, the City’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS) has made certification easier and faster by reducing the length of the application, placing it online and extending the certification period from two years to five.  In addition, the City ensures there are real benefits to certification. The following is a list of resources for maximizing M/WBE certification. 

Navigating Government Procurement and Finding Opportunities
SBS assists each firm that becomes a New York City–certified M/WBE. A team of vendor service representatives work with certified companies to get to know them and address their particular needs. They help firms understand the City's procurement processes and identify agencies that buy what the firms sell. They also make sure certified firms have current profiles of their products and services in the Online Directory of Certified Businesses. This includes past work experience, correct contact information and commodity codes, so that buyers can easily find them in the City’s purchasing systems.

Exclusive Workshops and Networking Events
Our networking events are attended by agency buyers and prime contractors looking to work with City-certified firms. Our quarterly workshop for newly certified firms, “I’m Certified, Now What?” brings together an experienced panel of senior City procurement staff from various agencies and is followed by sector-specific breakout sessions. The annual event, the Citywide Procurement Fair, brings together hundreds of M/WBEs with nearly fifty government agencies and prime contractors. These forums are a great way to learn more about specific agencies’ purchasing needs and processes while introducing them to what your firm sells. Information on these events can be found in the events calendar section of the online directory at www.nyc/gov/buycertified.

Responding to Bids and RFPs: Breaking New Ground
The ability to compete based on best quality and price is essential. “Breaking New Ground” is a service that provides M/WBEs with expert guidance on responding to specific contract opportunities. It includes bid/proposal analyses, securing the capital and bonding needed on larger contracts, and better day-to-day management of awarded projects. We don't prepare responses for you, but can answer questions, advise on response formats, and guide you through the process. More information on Breaking New Ground contact SBS at the Procurement Helpline at 212-513-6444 or to send an email to bizhelp@sbs.nyc.gov

Referrals to Other City services
M/WBEs can also take advantage of the full suite of services offered through SBS’ NYC Business Solutions, which helps businesses start, operate and expand in New York City. Services are offered at no cost and address the needs of businesses of any size and at stage.  These include accessing capital, recruiting and training employees, legal review of contracts and leases, accessing cost-saving incentives, and navigating government regulations. NYC Business Solutions Centers are located across the City and serve thousands of businesses each year. Eleven languages are spoken within the centers, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Hindi and Tamil. Visit www.nyc.gov/NYCbusiness