Press Releases

December 7, 2015

The New York City Department of Design and Construction Increases Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises Opportunities

Contact:
Shavone Williams
Public Information Officer
718-391-1583

NEW YORK—The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced today the Office of Diversity and Industry Relations has increased the number and percentage of minority and women owned business enterprises opportunities within the last year. DDC has made significant advances in the last year towards the inclusion of City certified M/WBEs. Among procurements subject to the City’s M/WBE program, DDC awarded $164.7 million in prime contracts and $26.3 million in subcontracts to M/WBE firms. This is a 22% increase in total awards to M/WBE firms over the previous year. Further, these awards represent 42% of the City’s prime awards to M/WBEs and 35% of the City’s subcontract awards to M/WBEs.

“We plan to continue our efforts of creating an equitable and competitive business environment that facilitates procurement opportunities for the city’s MWBE community,” said Dr. Feniosky PeñaMora, Department of Design and Construction Commissioner.

DDC’s Office of Diversity and Industry Relations offers a range of programs to expand MWBE participation including Monthly Business Development Workshops, Open Houses and a Construction Mentorship Program. These programs introduce M/WBEs to the agency’s processes and ensure participants are aware of all available procurement opportunities. DDC has also implemented industryrelated programs which are designed to strengthen our relationship with our industry partners, including the establishment of an External Advisory Board and the Commissioner’s Industry Leaders’ Roundtable as well as “meet and greets” with industry representatives.

In the last year, more than 1,500 participants have attended DDC’s educational and networking events. In September and October, 2015, two networking events attracted collectively over 900 engaged primes and MWBEs for select procurement opportunities in traditional and new markets such as emergency preparedness, resiliency and recovery work.

Next year, DDC will continue to heighten the development of innovative best practices that foster diversity and advance procurement opportunities for MWBEs. For more information about the Office of Diversity and Industry Relations offerings for MWBEs visit nyc.gov/ddc.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $10 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit