FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 28, 2019

CONTACT: pressoffice@doc.nyc.gov, (718) 546-0631  

 

DOC 3^rd ANNUAL MINORITY & WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS VENDOR EVENT

Over 700 Local Minority & Women-owned Businesses invited to Attend

 

East Elmhurst, NY — The New York City Department of Correction’s (DOC) Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) unit hosted its third annual M/WBE vendor event to connect over 700 local minority and women-owned businesses and vendors with DOC, other New York City agencies, M/WBE program assistance providers, and elected officials that support M/WBE efforts. Attendees had the opportunity to network and learn more about the City’s M/WBE certification program.

 

 

Guest speakers included DOC Commissioner Cynthia Brann, Senior Advisor & Director with the Mayor’s Office of M/WBEs Jonnel Doris, Small Business Services Commissioner Gregg Bishop, Representatives from State Senator Leroy Comrie and NYC Council Member Donovan Richards offices, and Deputy Queens Borough President Sharon Lee.  At this year’s DOC M/WBE vendor event, twenty eight New York City agencies and businesses met with attendees to assist vendors with contracting opportunities. DOC’s Assistant Commissioner of Contracts and Procurement/Agency Chief Contracting Officer Ava B. Rice lead the event and hosted the speakers.

 

 

“DOC has long been a champion for diversity and inclusiveness and the M/WBE program is an extension of our commitment to remain one of the most diverse agencies in the city,” said DOC Commissioner Cynthia Brann.

 

 

“Our city agencies are improving accessibility for M/WBEs that want to do business with the City. Today’s DOC event is an example of a quintessential step that we have taken citywide to reach out, engage, and collaborate with prospective vendors. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved” said Jonnel Doris, Senior Advisor and Director of the Mayor’s Office of M/WBEs.

 

 

The City’s M/WBE Certification Program connects certified businesses with opportunities to sell their products and services to New York City agencies. The program promotes fairness and equity in City procurement processes and works to strengthen the ability of certified M/WBEs to grow and contribute to the City’s economy.

 

DOC is committed to meeting Mayor Bill de Blasio’s goal of awarding at least 30 percent of the value of City contracts to M/WBEs by 2021. Annually, DOC's Central Office of Procurement purchases approximately $140 million in goods, services, construction and construction related materials to operate and maintain the facilities under its management from M/WBE vendors.

 

 

The agency is proud to partner with 73 M/WBE certified vendors on department-wide projects in FY ‘19, marking a significant increase of 40 vendors compared to last year and has awarded approximately $1.93 million in contracts since March 2018 exclusively to M/WBEs using the M/WBE Non-competitive Small Purchase Method ($20,000 or less)

 

 

About the New York City Department of Correction

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) provides for the care, custody, and control of persons accused of crimes or convicted and sentenced to one year or less of jail time. The Department manages 11 inmate facilities, eight of which are located on Rikers Island. In addition, the Department operates two hospital Prison Wards (Bellevue and Elmhurst hospitals) and court holding facilities in each borough. During Fiscal Year 2018, the Department handled over 49,000 admissions and managed an average daily inmate population of approximately 8,900 individuals. Our dedicated workforce of both uniformed and non-uniformed staff members represent the city’s BOLDEST.

 

About the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises:

Mayor de Blasio created the Mayor’s Office for Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) to address the disparity between City contracts awarded to certain ethnic and gender groups and their overall representation in City contracting. The Office is responsible for oversight, policy, interagency coordination and accountability of the City’s M/WBE Program. It will serve as a One-Stop-Shop for M/WBEs interested in doing business with the city and its agencies.

 

 

At this year’s DOC 3^rd Annual M/WBE Vendor Event the following New York City agencies businesses were in attendance: New York City Agency Attendance

Department of Small Business Services (SBS), Department of Education (DOE), Department of Parks and Recreation, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), LaGuardia Redevelopment Corporation, Port Authority of NY/NJ, Delta Airlines, LaGuardia Gateway Partners, Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Fire Department New York (FDNY), New York Police Department (NYPD),            Department of Investigation (DOI), Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Department of Design and Construction (DDC), Department Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), Department of Transportation (DOT), Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), Department For The Aging (DFTA), Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT), New York City Human Resources Administration / Department of Social Services (HRA / DSS), NYC Law Department, Queens Chamber of Commerce, South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO).