Getting M/WBE Certified is an essential first step to working with DDC

The City of New York’s M/WBE program expands opportunities for minority and women entrepreneurs to access government contracts and grow their businesses. Eligible businesses are certified by the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and are listed on the SBS Online Directory of Certified Businesses. For more information about how to become a certified M/WBE, please visit the SBS website. DDC does not have its own M/WBE certifications. To qualify as an NYC-certified M/WBE, your company must be certified by the NYC Department of Small Business Services.

DDC projects have carefully developed M/WBE participation goals that indicate the percentage (in dollars) of a contract that must be performed by a New York City-certified M/WBE. These goals ensure that the companies working with DDC reflect the diversity of New York City. Generally, participation goals apply to contracts for standardized, professional, and construction services with a history of subcontracting in areas with M/WBE availability. Goals are not required for contracts that are not competitively awarded, contracts awarded to a non-profit entity, or contracts with preemptive State or Federal goals.

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Our contracts are awarded through an open and transparent process

DDC’s construction contracts are handled through an open competitive bid process, as well as pre- qualified lists (PQL). Listed here are currently advertised projects with bid opening dates within the next few weeks. The page also includes detailed instructions on how to download bid documents, preliminary bid results, and awarded construction contracts.

Design-Build is a new way to work with DDC. Design-Build allows DDC to award contracts to a single entity, which may include one or more firms, that will be responsible to the City for both design and construction.

Applying for a pre-qualified list may provide additional opportunities. Pre-qualified lists (PQLs) allow the agency to evaluate vendors for the provision of particular categories of goods, services, construction or construction-related services (including subcategories) before issuing a solicitation for a specific contract. You can apply to be on a PQL by responding to the Request for Qualifications (RFQs) found here.

DDC uses open Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for most of our design and construction management contracts. RFPs are open to all interested firms. Notices of these RFPs are published in The City Record and online. Specific notifications also are made available to firms on the City’s centralized vendor lists. We encourage all interested firms to become a centralized vendor by completing the NYC- FMS Vendor Enrollment Application.

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Connect directly with the prime vendors that hold DDC contracts

Work with prime contractors. Once a contract is awarded, you can reach out directly to the awarded contractor with a list of services you provide to see if the prime vendor would be interested in utilizing you as an M/WBE. All recently awarded construction contracts are listed here. If you would like to learn who won a specific contract no longer listed on our webpage, you will need to submit a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request. Before the contract is awarded, you can contact potential prime contractors and consultants for subcontracting opportunities. On DDC’s Bid/RFP pages, review the Plan Holders/RFP Holders list to see which firms have obtained a copy of the Bid/RFP (you can identify the large firms that have shown interest in the Bid/RFP).

For more information about subcontracting with New York City, visit the Small Business Services Subcontractors Resource Guide.

Visit our events page for additional ways to connect with prime contractors.

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There are opportunities for noncompetitive small purchases

DDC purchases goods, services, and construction from City-certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), up to $500,000. These opportunities are posted here. If you are interested in M/WBE discretionary opportunities, please email mwbediscretionaryinfo@ddc.nyc.gov.

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DDC places a high priority on making prompt payments to our business partners.

If you are looking for the status of a particular payment, you should either call the appropriate DDC Engineer in Charge or Project Manager, for most projects you can call DDC’s automated Payment Hotline at 718-391-1704. If you need additional information, you can download and email this Payment Inquiry Form to us. If you are an M/WBE, please email it to ddcodir@ddc.nyc.gov. 

PASSPort: To maximize business opportunities, all contractors should create a vendor account in the City’s online procurement tool: https://www.nyc.gov/site/mocs/passport/about-passport.page

For information about Public Labor Agreements and their applicability to DDC projects, please visit the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS) Project Labor Agreements webpage

Payee Information Portal (PIP): Registering in the City’s payee portal will allow agencies to solicit your firm for future projects: https://www.nyc.gov/site/mocs/opportunities/pip.page

Bonding and Loan Assistance: You may be able to access low interest loans and bond collateral assistance through NYC Small Business Services Contract Financing Loan Fund: nyc.gov/contractfinancing

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Resources

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