DDC Makes First Three M/WBE Contract Awards to Native American Technology Firm

DDC: Ian Michaels, 646-939-6514, michaelia@ddc.nyc.gov

(Long Island City, NY – October 19, 2023) NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley today announced that DDC has made its first contract awards under its Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) program to a firm owned by Native Americans. The three contracts, totaling $142,716.74 in value, were made to Clutch Solutions LLC for application maintenance services and IT Operations management software.

“It’s very important that we support M/WBEs not just to correct historic inequities but also to increase the number of firms that are qualified to provide services to City taxpayers,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “And we want to make sure that all different types of M/WBE firms are receiving the same opportunities. These contracts help DDC address the disparity that often results when certain types of M/WBE firms are overlooked.”

“I applaud this historic contract award. MWBEs are central to the economic vitality of our City and this award honors the long but often forgotten legacy of indigenous people in New York City,” said DDC’s Executive Deputy Commissioner Magalie Austin. “We are proud of our efforts to diversify the vendors who do business with us.”

The contracts were awarded using the Non-Competitive Small Purchase (NCSP) discretionary method. In July 2021, the State’s “Recovery for All" initiative was applied to M/WBE NCSPs requiring City agencies to solicit the first rounds of all M/WBE NCSPs exclusively from certified minority groups who were deemed to have not received the same opportunities as their M/WBE counterparts, including Black-, Hispanic-, Asian Women- and Native American-owned firms.

DDC is a leading agency in contract awards and payments to M/WBEs, and the agency’s M/WBE participation through the first three quarters of Fiscal Year 2023 was 30.5 percent, with more than $261 million in contract awards. DDC’s Office of Diversity and Industry Relations implements policies and programs focused on creating accessibility to work, building business capacity and ensuring accountability within an equitable and competitive business environment. Since 2015, the office has engaged more than 8,600 M/WBEs through internal and external workshops and seminars that enhance technical and business capacity and help connect businesses to contracting opportunities.

DDC structures its procurements to take advantage of new tools authorized by New York State to create additional opportunities for M/WBEs and to ensure its business partners reflect the diversity of the City. Additionally, DDC works to address barriers to City contracting for M/WBEs and to increase entry-level job opportunities in the construction industry for women and minorities from underrepresented communities.

In November 2021, DDC launched its Mentoring Program to provide emerging M/WBE firms in the construction industry the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and experience they need to successfully compete for City contracts. This first cohort consists of 49 firms.

In July 2023, in conjunction with the Brooklyn Borough President, DDC hosted its first Construction Career and Training Resource Fair, attended by over 350 job seekers. DDC collected 35 resumes, 24 of whom possessed construction experience and were connected to the firm leading the community hiring effort for the East Side Coastal Resiliency project.

To learn more about how eligible firms can become certified as an M/WBE, please visit Certify With the City.

For more information about DDC’s M/WBE program, including contracting opportunities and the agency’s Mentoring Program, click here.

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 Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $24 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 nyc.gov/ddc.