MWBE, the Blog

More NC Military Work!

2012-01-10T19:23:00.002-05:00

Who said that military work is drying up? Barnhill Contracting is hosting a subcontractor newroking event on February 2nd at Coastal Carolina Community College. All DMWBE subcontractors are encouraged to attend. For more info go to: http://www.ncmbc.us/Feb2_BarnhillContractingCompany.php

$750 Million in New Military Work in NC - Looking for Subs

2012-01-10T18:59:00.000-05:00

Sundt and four other construction companies have recently been awarded a Multiple Award Construction Contract for up to five years and $750 million in future work at Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC. Sundt will aggressively pursue task orders for future construction under this contract, and looks forward to establishing relations with and utilizing North Carolina subcontractors, suppliers and small businesses on this work.

For information on how your firm can participate go the the NCMBC website at http://www.ncmbc.us/SUNDTConstructionSubcontractingOpportunities.php

Subcontracting Speed Networking Event - Raleigh, NC

2012-01-03T15:36:00.000-05:00

Hourigan Construction is hosting a subcontracting speed networking event in Raleigh, North Carolina. They are seeking subcontractors in all divisions of work with specialty and HUB/DBE/MBE/WBE/SBE contractors also being encouraged to attend. For more information go to this page at the NCMBC web site: http://www.ncmbc.us/HOURIGAN/HouriganConstruction.php also check out Hourgan's web site: www.houriganconstruction.com . An RSVP is requested and available via the announcement on the NCMBC web site. Go - attend - make yourself known AND get your elevator speach up to speed!

New Links OhMyGov! and NCMBC

2011-12-16T21:14:00.001-05:00

We've added two links to the favorite links list:

OhMyGov! is a well written blog that discusses many aspects of government both inside and those trying to get inside - a recent article/guest editorial on "How Regulations are Limiting Access to Contracts" by Raul Espinosa was particularly interesting, in a nutshell it describes how many agencies are ignoring statutory small business requirements. Check it out
The North Carolina Military Business Center (which also covers Fed business) is an excellent source of information with numerous conferences, programs and educational tools for small businesses interested in Fed &b MilCon work. They recently offered a certification course in DOD contracting procedures that was noted in the post before this one. Check em out, they are very professional and can help you plot your path to participate in major projects and programs.

If You Want DoD Work - Then Learn the Game

2011-12-08T20:11:00.001-05:00

NCMBC is the North Carolina Military Business Center (they also help with other government agencies). Whether you want to work directly for military or government clients, or work with or for a majority contractor - you should know the rules of the road. NMBC is sponsoring a DEFENSE CONTRACTOR ACADEMY which involves attending at least seven of nine classes to be held weekly from January 19, 2012 - March 15, 2012 for details go to http://www.ncmbc.us/Spring2012DefenseContractorAcademy.php . You know what they say...JUST DO IT!

Kentucky Program to help minority-, women-owned businesses resuming; deadline to apply is Dec. 9 | The Republic

2011-11-30T15:19:00.000-05:00

Program to help minority-, women-owned businesses resuming; deadline to apply is Dec. 9 | The Republic

Dallas Reviewing Minority Policies

2011-10-04T22:00:00.002-04:00

"The city of Dallas is reviewing its minority contracting policies with an eye toward preventing "pass-through" contracts of the sort revealed in a recent investigation by The Dallas Morning News." Another move to prevent fraudulent pass throughs is taking place in Dallas, for more read Rudolph Bush's entire story in the DallasNews.com City Hall Blog, click also on the investigative report by the Dallas Morning News. Here's the link:

http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/10/city-hall-looks-to-strengthen.html

Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial Winning Women

2011-05-04T16:12:00.003-04:00

Are you a woman entrepreneur with big plans and the passion and vision to grow your company?

Do you know a woman entrepreneur on her way to creating a market-leading company?

This looks like a great program, heard about it from the MBDA group on LinkedIn.

Here's a quote from Susan P. Rice, President of Cavanagh Services Group - a company that serves our business sector.

“Through Entrepreneurial Winning Women and the Strategic Growth Forum, my network has grown exponentially. I have learned that even the most established entrepreneurs have similar challenges to me, which gives me the strength to know I can achieve that same level of success. I have gained more confidence to think bigger, and I have real plans for change in growing my company and exploring new market segments.”

Here's a link to the application:http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/Entrepreneurial_Winning_Women_-_Calling_women_entrepreneurs_with_big_plans/$FILE/Ernst%20&%20Young%20Entrepreneurial%20Winning%20Women_2011%20application%20brochure.pdf

Airport Diversity Conference

2011-04-24T17:42:00.000-04:00

The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) invites all conference registrants to participate in 2011 AMAC Business Diversity Matchmaker being held June 5th at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The AMAC Business Diversity Matchmaker will afford major organizations (corporate, airport, concessionaires, franchisors) and small businesses (A/E/C, consulting, professional services, concessions, and franchisees) the opportunity to meet and establish meaningful relationships. Organizational representives will be scheduled to meet with small businesses that have been pre-screened to meet specific requirements.

During this Matchmaker, participants will have the opportunity to meet with organizational representatives and procurement decision makers from many airport, aviation-related and franchise organizations in private one on one meetings.

Skanska Agrees to $19.6M Payment To Avoid Possible DBE Fraud Charges | ENR: Engineering News Record | McGraw-Hill Construction

2011-04-04T11:48:00.000-04:00

Skanska Agrees to $19.6M Payment To Avoid Possible DBE Fraud Charges | ENR: Engineering News Record | McGraw-Hill Construction

USACE Seeks SBA, HUB Zone or SDV Firms for West Point Project

2011-03-28T18:45:00.000-04:00

Y--Constitution Island, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York
Solicitation Number: W912DS-11-S-0008
Agency: Department of the Army
Office: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Location: USACE District, New York
Notice Type:
Sources Sought
Posted Date:
March 24, 2011
Response Date:
April 7, 2011
Archiving Policy:
Automatic, on specified date
Archive Date:
June 6, 2011
Original Set Aside:
N/A
Set Aside:
N/A
Classification Code:
Y -- Construction of structures and facilities
NAICS Code:
236 -- Construction of Buildings/236118 -- Residential Remodelers
Synopsis:
Added: Mar 24, 2011 1:14 pm
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District is issuing this Sources Sought Notice to determine if there is an adequate number of interested and qualified SBA certified 8(a) firms serviced by SBA New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts district offices, HUB Zone or Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business firms having the capability and bonding capacity for the following effort:

The proposed project, Constitution Island is located at the USMA West Point NY. The project is to repair and rehabilitate the building envelope of the Warner House (built in the early 1800s), install interior environmental controls for the Warner House, restore the interior of the Warner House, reconstruction of the Caretakers Residence as a new Visitor's Center and Utility Rooms, restoration of the Carriage House, construction of additional storage garage for the Caretaker's Cabin, construction of a new pre-engineered storage building, construction of improved site access and new security gate, and construction of site drainage improvements.

Responses to this sources sought will be used by the Government to make an appropriate procurement decision. If qualified firms do not respond to this Sources Sought Notice the project may be acquired under full and open competition. This project is planned for advertisement in May 2011 with award scheduled in July 2011. Contract duration is estimated at approximately 540 calendar days.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 236118. Residential Remodelers have a size standard of $33.5 million in average annual receipts. Twenty percent (20%) of the work is to be self-performed. All interested businesses should notify this office in writing by mail or fax by 7 April 2011, 10:00am local time.

Responses should include the following:

(1) Identification and verification of the company as an SBA certified 8(a) firm by SBA New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, or Massachusetts district offices, HUB Zone or Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.

(2) A CAGE Code and DUNS Number.

(3) Indication of relevant past experience through the description of three (3) no more than five (5) projects within the last seven (7) years similar in scope, size, complexity & magnitude to the proposed project. The definition of relevant is provided below:

1. Similar scope is experience in construction of similar type projects which include restoration of historic structures. Restoration needs to include more than aesthetic restoration.

2. The size of the projects used for past experience is defined as a restoration of a historical structure of at least 2,000 SF.

3. Projects of similar complexity are required. Complexity is defined as the management and coordination of multi-disciplined renovation/construction teams to complete projects that include the majority of the following types of work: structural and interior renovation, site/civil, mechanical and electrical construction.

4. The magnitude of construction for this project is $5,000,000 - $10,000,000

(4) The interested contractor must indicate their capability of obtaining performance and payment bonds for a project in the dollar amount listed above.

(5) The interested contractor shall provide a statement verifying that 20% of the work will be self performed including a description of the work that may be self performed. Additionally, a complete list of all permanent employees, name, title, and a brief description of their function (roles and responsibilities) shall be provided.

Send responses to:
US Army Corps of Engineers
New York District
26 Federal Plaza, Room 1843,
ATTN: Ms. Loretta Parris
New York, NY, 10278-0090

Or by fax to (212) 264-3013.

This is NOT a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract as a result of this notice or to pay for any information received. This synopsis neither constitutes a Request for Proposal or Invitation for Bid, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. This Sources Sought Synopsis should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose. The Government does not intend to rank submittals or provide any reply to interested firms. Submittals will be used for market survey information only.
Contracting Office Address:
USACE District, New York, CENAN-CT, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278-0090
Place of Performance:
USACE District, New York CENAN-CT, 26 Federal Plaza, New York NY
10278-0090
US
Point of Contact(s):
Loretta E. Parris, 917-790-8182

USACE District, New York
Opportunity History
Original Synopsis
Mar 24, 2011
1:14 pm

DHS Opens New Veteran Opportunity Website

2011-03-02T14:54:00.004-05:00

DHS Opens New Veteran Opportunity Website
The Department of Homeland Security has been working hard to hire more veterans and open up additional contract opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). To date, DHS employs 48,130 veterans, a number that is well on track to meet Secretary Napolitano’s employment objective of 50,000 veterans by the end of 2012. Another target is to award $1 billion in contracts annually to veteran-owned small businesses. DHS actually awarded $1.1 billion last year, plus they exceeded the 3% contract set-aside goal for SDVOSB firms by awarding 3.2%. For more information about job or contracting opportunities, visit the new DHS website at www.dhs.gov/veterans

Kentucky Initiaties MWBE Program

2011-01-10T14:08:00.000-05:00

Lisa Seibert Chapter President of NAWBO, Louisville KY has graciously allowed MWBE to reprint this recent release regarding Kentucky's new program:

Louisville, KY, December 19, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Louisville chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is celebrating a milestone that is many years in the making and one that will have long-term benefits for women-owned and minority-owned businesses, as well as Kentucky's economy in general.

On December 15 during a press conference in Louisville, Governor Steve Beshear launched a certification program that will allow businesses qualifying as Women Business Enterprises (WBE) and Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) to compete locally, across state lines and nationally, bringing these economic benefits:

* More money flowing into the local and state economy

* More jobs for Kentuckians

* More opportunities for small companies to grow and compete

* New business development, green jobs, bridges jobs, across-state-borders access to projects

Kentucky was one of a few remaining states that lacked state WBE and MBE certifications. State certification for these businesses is necessary for small to medium-sized businesses to compete for many state contracts, city contracts, publicly held contracts and privately held contracts. Most of these organizations are required to hire female- and minority-categorized businesses, yet those looking to contract in Kentucky and bordering states could not fulfill their obligations because there was not a certification process in place in Kentucky.

The Kentucky legislature considered certification at times in the past, yet it always died at various points in the legislative process.

The National DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise), which was initiated during President Johnson's administration and administered in Kentucky through the Transportation Department, was the only state certification available for women- and minority-owned businesses. However, the net income levels are so low that most businesses cannot qualify for this certification.

Lesa Seibert, president of NAWBO Louisville and owner of Xstreme Media, said NAWBO's focused efforts to seek a certification process for the commonwealth started in 2007. Then-president Maggie Harlow asked Lisa Cates and Liz Welsh, founders of Executive Communications, to spearhead the chapter's efforts. Cates said NAWBO worked closely with the governor's office and with Eleanor Jordan, executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Women; former-Governor Martha Layne Collins; Greater Louisville Inc, the Metro Chamber of Commerce; the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), which recently opened a regional office in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area. She said several of the Kentucky WBENC members wrote letters explaining the issues they face when trying to compete for contracts within the commonwealth as well as in neighboring states.

Tricia Burke, president of Office Environment Company in Louisville, wrote, "-To be certified in Indiana, you must be certified by your home state. Our company, Office Environment Company, was certified as a DBE/WBE through the Dept. of Transportation- in 2001... but when we went for renewal a few years ago, we were denied, saying we had 'graduated' because our sales were too high."

Camilla Schroeder, president of Advance Ready Mix Concrete, Louisville, estimated that her company missed out on opportunities to bid on Kentucky Department of Transportation projects totaling about $2.7 million in April alone. "We are also affected on any projects in Indiana due to not having our home state's certification," she said.

Information about the certification program and a link to the application for certification are now available at http://mwbe.ky.gov. The Finance and Administration Cabinet oversees the program within the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Contract Compliance.

For information about NAWBO Louisville, go to www.nawbolouisville.org or call 502-625-0248.

###

Contact Information:

NAWBO Louisville

Polly Moter

(502) 562-1969

polly@promoterinc.com

www.nawbolouisville.org/
COPYRIGHT 2010 PR.com
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2010 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

ALERT: VA to Vet Vet Owned Businesses

2011-01-07T18:05:00.000-05:00

The Veterans Administration is going to require VBE's and DVBE's to verify their veteran status. Requests were sent out in December 2009 and the businesses must respond within 90 days. Click on the title of this article to read the VA release.

MWBE Fraud Not Really News to Real Providers

2010-11-24T20:30:00.001-05:00

We don't think that this is real news, it's just news that's finally being reported. See also http://tiny.cc/dgi2r for a NY Times article with a little more depth on the subject.

From the NY Observer:

Screw Job: Two Huge Contractors Fake Minority Biz Credentials on Major City Projects

By Matt Chaban
November 24, 2010 | 11:04 a.m.

Two of the city's biggest general contractors have lied about their hiring of women-and-minority-owned subcontractors for some of New York's biggest project, including the Fulton Stree Transit Center downtown and the Croton Water Treatment Plant in the Bronx, both multi-billion dollar undertakings.

According to The Times, prosecutors from Brooklyn are approaching a $20 million settlement with the Schiavone Construction Company of Seacacus, while Manhattan attorneys continue to investigate Skanska, one of the nation's 10 largest general contractors. The case could lead to an even larger settlement. And while other projects have not been directly implicated, the Daily News reports that both firms' work on the Second Avenue Subway, 7-Train Extension and Metro-North's Harmon Yards in Westchester are also under investigation.

Most government construction contracts require a portion of the work be done by minority-and-women-owned enterprises, also known as MWBEs. In this case, MWBE firms were hired and listed as doing the work, but served primarily as shell companies through which funds were funneled to pay Skanska and Schiavone's non-MWBE workers. The Times reports that in at least one case, Skanska may have been using a mob-connected carting company to haul away material from the Fulton Street Transit Center.

Surprising or not, the practice may be even more widespread than this. As The Times notes:

Taken together, the two cases underscore what some law enforcement officials and analysts say is the systemic abuse of similar city, state and federal programs put in place in an effort to level the playing field for companies owned by minorities and women and those certified as disadvantaged.

In New York State, billions of dollars have flowed through this patchwork of programs in recent years, although precise figures are hard to compile.

Looks like there's still a ways to go cleaning up the construction industry.

New York School Construction Authority Event

2010-11-05T05:39:00.000-04:00

The NYC School Construction Authority (SCA) continues to be a major buyer of design and construction servces. This major December 3rd networking event at McGraw-Hills NYC Conference Center offers a significant discount for MWLBE firms. Register early and attend for less than $100.

http://www.navigatingopportunities.com/sca4/index.html

Port seeking minority firms for expansion work - Business - SunHerald.com

2010-10-05T19:27:00.000-04:00

Port seeking minority firms for expansion work - Business - SunHerald.com

McGraw Hill sponsored NY Transportation Forum

2010-09-17T15:34:00.001-04:00

OK here's the ad:

New York is embarking on a revitalized transportation agenda to ensure its role as a global leader and to spur economic growth.

On September 24, 2010, the 2010 New York State Transportation Summit will gather leaders from public agencies and private industry to discuss upcoming major infrastructure and development initiatives and explore partnership models that will take New York into a new transportation era.

The full-day program at the McGraw-Hill Conference Center in Manhattan is designed to improve dialogue about how New York’s transportation agenda will create new business opportunities. Attendees can expect to hear from a number of Federal, State and City agency leaders about development approaches, procurement opportunities and how new projects will be funded.

Now here's the skinny:

If you are a NY or NY registered DMWBE firm - you'll not only get to meet the end buyers but probably many of the important decision makers in the majority firms. A little expensive but probably well worth the investment. MWBE registration is $149. Just sayin'.

Here's the link: http://www.navigatingopportunities.com/dot/

Go for it!

Major Food Laboratory Project Seeks DMWBE's

2010-09-05T10:08:00.001-04:00

MLK Memorial Progress

2010-08-25T09:20:00.001-04:00

The construction of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial is successfully progressing on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The MTTG design/build joint venture team comprised of McKissack & McKissack, Turner Construction Company and its subsidiary Tompkins Builders and the Gilford Corporation, have announced construction is progressing with significant participation of minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) firms on the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial located on the National Mall - read more about the project on its well designed website which has links to construction schedules, videos and numerous other informative items, here: http://www.mlkmemorial.org/. and when you click on this - make sure you see the video presentation - very nice!

Reforms Have Major Impact on DMWBE's!

2010-03-02T16:09:00.000-05:00

As reported at Empire State News.net: look for significant positive impact for DMWBE contractors and for many design firms as well as a result of the recently enacted Public Authorities Reform Act.

From Empire State News.net

Sweeping public authority reforms take effect

ALBANY – The Public Authorities Reform Act took effect Monday.
The legislation, authored by Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) chairman of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, will bring reform and change to what Brodsky called New York’s “Soviet-style bureaucracies,” improving the lives of all New Yorkers and the financial future of the state.
The Public Authorities Reform Act was signed into law in December 2009.
The legislation is a fundamental, top to bottom reform of New York State’s 700+ public authorities, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Thruway Authority, New York Power Authority, and the Empire State Development Corporation.
Members of public authority boards will now have an explicit fiduciary duty to the authority and their mission, no longer being beholden to those who appoint them. Board members’ primary responsibility will be to ensure that the authority runs in the best manner possible.
Building on the work done with the 2006 Public Authorities Accountability Act, this legislation also creates an independent Authorities Budget Office (ABO) with powers of investigation, referral, and oversight. The ABO will take the lead in ensuring that state authorities abide by all elements of the new law.
Among other reforms the Public Authorities Reform Act requires state authorities to submit to the comptroller all no-bid contracts costing over $1 million, to follow MWBE requirements, and to create a whistleblower program to protect those who report authority misconduct.

Jackson MS Municipal Airport Projects & DMWBE Certification Workshop

2010-02-24T13:15:00.003-05:00

As reported in the Clarion Ledger - The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority JMMA) is sponsoring a D/M/WBE certification workshop: 9 a.m. to noon, Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, To reserve a seat, call (601) 664-3518.

Information about upcoming projects can be found here: http://tiny.cc/jmmaprojects

New York's Aqueduct Raceway Video Lottery Terminal Project has Strong MWBE Component

2010-02-20T10:12:00.000-05:00

Greenville NC MWBE events - February 13th & 18th

2010-02-09T14:26:00.000-05:00

DAILY REFLECTOR - January 31, 2010 - The City of Greenville, Greenville Utilities Commission and East Carolina University will host the fifth annual M/WBE Business Opportunity Fair and Educational Symposium, better known as the “Mix-n-Meet-n-Learn,” on Feb. 13.
The networking event, which begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration and breakfast, will be held at the Health Sciences Building, 2100 W. Fifth St. The theme of “Diversity Works!” recognizes the competitive advantage businesses gain when leveraging the knowledge, skills and expertise of diverse firms. State Sen. Don Davis will discuss how diversity works for North Carolina.
Business owners will have the opportunity to learn how to do business with government, institutions of higher education, prime contracting firms, and other large companies, including University Health Systems, owner of Pitt County Memorial Hospital.
Educational workshops will focus on addressing the needs of the small, minority and women business community. Representatives from the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development will be presenting on financing and bonding for small business along with information on its menu of programs. The N.C. Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses will present a question-and-answer session on the new Statewide Uniform Certification program. Michael Washington of Action Coach Business Coaching, who kicked off the 2009 Mix-n-Meet, will present a business growth seminar.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Denisha Harris at 252.329.4862 or dharris@greenvillenc.gov or Donna Mayo at 252.328.6858 or lewisd@ecu.edu.

Upcoming Events

February 13 "Diversity Works!"
5th Annual Mix-n-Meet-n-Learn
ECU, Health Sciences Bldg.
8:30am-12:30pm

Come and join us for one of the largest business opportunity fairs and educational symposiums east of I-95. Keynote speaker: Senator Don Davis. See flyer for more details.

February 18 Minority Business Roundtable
Greenville City Hall
12:00pm-2:00pm

The Minority Business Roundtable is a professional networking association designed to leverage the resources of the minority business community for the betterment of the community. If you would like to become a member, please complete this brief application. All are welcomed to attend.

On Facebook? Linkedin? Plaxo? Of Course You are - It's Good for Business but One Slip...

2009-12-29T11:03:00.000-05:00

Obama wants stimulus projects to hire more minorities, women | McClatchy

2009-12-21T19:56:00.000-05:00

Read this article from McClatchy's Washington Bureau...

So, if that's the case what have you done to get ready for more work? Are you registered with the appropriate agencies? Do your "majority" associates have your latest information? Many states and various agencies are missing their DMWBE goals by as much, and somtimes more than 50%. But you can't blame the agencies and the prime firms if your material is not up to date and you haven't reminded them of such.

Not only does this impact the current American Reinvestment and Recovery Act programs, it's also a pretty common assumption that additional funds will be forthcoming for infrastructure, school facilities and so forth. So if you missed out on this round, don't say we didn't warn you. DMWBE's should all have the NO EXCUSES policy.

Obama wants stimulus projects to hire more minorities, women McClatchy

Wandover Consulting Engineers, LLC

2009-10-06T19:35:00.000-04:00

Newly listed in the DMWBE Directory is Wandover Consulting Engineers, LLC of Naples Florida. WCE provides HVAC, plumbing and electrical design and drawings for all types of projects - commercial, residential, institutional and governmental. Licensed in eleven states. Find them in the DMWBE Directory www.dmwbe.com.

NY Contractors Say Scarcity of MWBE's is Holding up Stimulus Projects

2009-08-26T18:26:00.008-04:00

An article by Rick Karlin (The Times-Union, Albany NY) is reprinted in forconstructionpros.com as "STIMULUS PROJECTS HIT A POTHOLE". In brief, this is an old complaint - we can't find any MWBE's and it's holding up the job. In truth, New York State has one of the most comprehensive and easy to use listings of DMWBE companies available. What this really comes down to is that the companies are lazy about finding partners and have done little in the way of seeking out and establishing relationships with DMWBE's prior to this sudden influx of work. They're also probably finding that the windfall of work is making bids fatter and the companies that made early efforts to establish relationships have locked up the best firms. You reap what you sow. The full article can be found at forconstructionpros.com

The Stats are In and the Stimulus is Working!

2009-08-10T15:06:00.007-04:00

IMO after reviewing views and click through's on the DMWBE.com website - the stimulus is working. Someone out there is looking for disadvantaged, minority and women owned AEC firms as primes, partners, associates or subs.

DMWBE.com, if you are not familiar with it is an online DMWBE Directory that exclusively serves the Architect-Engineer-Construction Industry (AEC). In our "last 30 days reports" we noticed an uptick starting around the end of February and the trend has continued upward though the Spring and Summer. This was an across the boards type increase in Views, Detail Clicks and ClickThrus to lister websites for the broad scope of the AEC community - not favoring design or construction. Overall views seem to be up around 40-60%, of particular interest are the Detail Clicks up around 125% and ClickThrus to lister websites up nearly 80%.

If you are a DMWBE firm and are not already listed with DMWBE.com. You should be - it's free for a basic listing and puts your website out in front of those seeking to find partners and primes. Even if you are not yet certified by local, state and federal entities you can still be in the DMWBE Directory - while you are applying for your certification.

Just do it! Folks.

Round Tuits

2009-05-31T11:24:00.003-04:00

We all get to busy, and sometimes don't get around to tasks we mean to. I've been remiss in staying up to date with this blog - perhaps because I didn't have a "round tuit". I have no excuse and plan (isn't that a loaded word!) to get back in the groove.

However, if you are affiliated with a DMWBE organization and haven't yet gotten around to updating old certifications or searching out new ones....there are no excuses. Make sure you are up to date and make sure you are registered with all agencies that may have work for you. Furthermore make sure you contact any former clients with whom you have done work and update the old contact list with the many majority companies that have suddenly found government work appealing. I present to you one "round tuit" ---- now go out and "just do it"!

Will there be an Obama Impact on DBE and MWBE Programs? Will Affirmative Action be reborn?

2008-11-06T19:13:00.003-05:00

In my opinion there will be an impact but it will be more subtle than the renewal of the affirmative action programs of the past. What I see is increasing real enforcement of DBE programs on the federal level and a more aggressive (and courageous) stance on DMWBE program compliance on a state and local level. Typically candidates run to the right or left but govern toward the middle; right now it’s likely that Obama’s administration will concentrate on social and fiscal issues that will appeal to a broader spectrum. What we should look forward to will be more committed people being appointed to various agencies and commissions and later – judicial appointments that will look more favorably on programs that boost DMWBE participation. One quick result, I predict, will be a reduction in suits to overturn current local government diversity programs – which for the most part are right now guideline or target programs as opposed to quota programs. What we can hope for downstream is better, broader and more standardized diversity programs that will boost the growth of DMWBE firms in the AEC industry.

One near certainty is that some form of economic recovery will be directed toward the rebuilding of infrastructure. These programs should be primary targets for the DMWBE community. Will you be ready? Have you registered everywhere you can work? Are your registrations up to date?

Now is the time to shake some trees and see what fruit will fall out. Over the next week or two we’ll be making several pertinent posts.

What do you think? What will the Obama impact be?

The G2 Cost Drivers Report

2008-10-06T20:22:00.006-04:00

I've had some correspondence with Christine G. the principal of G2 Project Planning and a fellow blogger with the blog "The G2 Cost Drivers Report". I've added the blog to our list of blogs (look over on the right, yep that's it) - it's really well written and thought out and provides a view of the economy from the construction side. Christine provides perspective and insight with regard to the economy and how it will effect our industry. Her take on copper prices and her post "The Construction Industry & Keynesian Economics, Part I" ( I eagerly await Part II)reminds us how connected our industry is to the economy as a whole. For certain we should be in a high state of awareness on how to benefit or protect from increased infrastructure spending, prospective lower commodity costs, materials shortages and possible labor gluts. Just sayin' - this is no time to be hiding your head under the blanket.

Check out "The G2 Cost Drivers Report" for an on the ground look, no satellite views here!

An Easy Button for MWBE's?

2008-09-29T10:50:00.002-04:00

I've continuously emphasized simple steps for MWBE's to get more business, but maybe a few words from an "expert" will add more credibility to these simple steps. Steven Strauss a lawyer, author and speaker who specializes in small business and entrepreneurships. In a recent USA Today column, Strauss quickly gets across some key points. Summarizing these key points for the AEC industry, they are:

- Identify the problem(s) and have solutions ready, find their pain and relate it to your service solution.
- Deal with the right person, find the decision maker. Strauss particularly emphasizes following up, as he says "follow up, and then follow up some more". He also emphasizes a good presentation. From my experience in hiring MWBE's I can tell you it is critical for the client to believe you can support their efforts.
- Strauss also discusses appreciating the budget. In the case of direct contracting knowing or understanding the budget is important and you need to ask the question - what is the budget? As a prospective sub you should make every attempt to identify that same budget info AND persuade the prime that your efforts will reduce their proposal costs.
- Have a great proposal and presentation. This should be obvious, especially when dealing with direct contract opportunities. When dealing with a prime it becomes especially important that you demonstrate you can work within their system, provide timely responses, contribute to their presentation, and provide the flash that shows the end client that the prime has choosen their MWBE component well.
- Strauss also stresses the need to check out supplier diversity programs, specifically mentioning AT&T's supplier diversity program. We often publish links to corporate programs, check with us frequently.

Read Strauss' article at http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/strauss/2008-09-28-selling-to-big-business_N.htm

You can also visit his (one of many) web site at www.MrAllBiz.com

Strauss (unlike me) says a lot with a few words, get his RSS feed, a few minutes a week may be the pick me up you need to stay focused!

NYC Energy Opportunity Could be Gateway to Emerging Market

2008-09-25T15:34:00.002-04:00

This MAJOR energy monitoring program is reminiscent of work that was performed though much of the manufacturing sector in the late 70's and early 80's. Although metering and monitoring does not directly reduce energy usage it does define accountability - tieing this program in with BMS will lead to energy savings and although many such systems are proprietrary - the grunt work of reviewing as-builts and surveying facilities will be extensive. This RFP has significant MWBE participation requirements (goals) and could not only provide lucrative hours at low risk - but can also act as a gateway for additional work in commercial, institutional, tech and industrial facilties. The complete RFP is available through NYCEDC. The RFP summary is below, obtain the RFP by going to:

http://www.nycedc.com/Web/AVAILABLEPROJECTS/RFPsRFQsRFEIs/Advanced+Energy+Metering+RFP.htm

Prep a good qualification document with short resumes and get in front of the key players so your firm can get an early leg up on what will be a good sized market in the near future.

ADVANCED METERING AND BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS RFP

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: October 27, 2008

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is seeking a consultant or consultant team to assist the City with implementation of its long-term plan to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of municipal buildings and operations. Specifically, the City seeks to increase its capabilities to meter, monitor, analyze and remotely control energy use in its facilities via an Energy Information System and/or an Energy Management and Control System. It is envisioned that the Systems could range from quite minimal to fairly complex and that no one System will be appropriate for all facilities given the diversity of the City’s inventory.
NYCEDC plans to select a consultant on the basis of factors stated in the RFP which include, but are not limited to: the quality of the proposal, experience of key staff identified in the proposal, experience and quality of any subcontractors proposed, demonstrated successful experience in performing services similar to those encompassed in the RFP, and the proposed fee.

SHPE Conference 2008 - Phoenix, AZ

2008-07-07T14:36:00.004-04:00

The SHPE Conference 2008 includes a "Business Development Track", from what I can see this figures to be an excellent way for current and future Hispanic business owners to bone up on their business skills, network with like minded individuals and maybe spot some up and comming talent for your company. Check it out on the conference website at http://oneshpe.shpe.org/wps/portal/shpe2008

New Link - Mike Purdy's Public Contracting Blog

2008-06-25T10:15:00.005-04:00

We've added a link to Mike Purdy's Contracting Blog, although Mike writes about public contracting in Washington State, many of his frequent posts have national relevance. We've set the link up to search for MWBE topics but make sure you look around the blog, his recent posts about JOC Job Order Contracting, QBS Quality Based Selection and many others are well written and quite succinct, and he provides good links in his posts.

PSEG Courting Diverse Suppliers

2008-06-20T09:49:00.001-04:00

It's not just government work folks! PSEG or Public Service Electric & Gas (Newark NJ) as some know it, is one of many corporate clients that have well defined supplier diversity programs AND is a heavy user of engineering, architectural, environmental and contruction services (check out the "What We Buy" section of the PSEG supplier site noted in the PSEG press release link below). MWBE, the Blog and the DMWBE Directory will provide links to these sites where they are well defined. Please send your suggestion to us, we'll check em out and get them on our link lists ASAP.

PSEG Courting Diverse Suppliers

Fort Worth Business Assistance Center Offers Monthly MWBE Certification Classes

2008-06-18T09:29:00.008-04:00

Certification Class

7/10/2008 at 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Cost: $10.00

Held the second Thursday of each month.
If your target market is to sell to federal, state or local government institutions, corporations or construction prime contractors, you should consider certification.

Certification is becoming increasingly important in obtaining government contracts. This workshop helps take the mystery out of the certification process:
•Learn about the different types of certification
•Which type of certification is right for your business
•Understanding the application process
Pre-registration is required. Fees are non-refundable unless cancellation notice is received one business day prior to the day of the workshop.

Held at the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center located at 1150 South Freeway (I-35W & Rosedale).

BAC 817-871-6025 registration@fwbac.com

June 18 Massachusetts: MWBE workshop on procurement process and how to maximize M/WBE certification

2008-06-04T13:12:00.013-04:00

Workshop: AMP State Procurement Process

June 18, 2008

12:00 – 1:450 p.m.
Registration begins at 11:45 a.m.

Sovereign Bank Training Room
One Sovereign Place, First Floor
New Bedford, MA

Sponsored By: The Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation

The New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, the Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation (CDFC), and the Affirmative Market Program (AMP) have teamed up to host a special training workshop for minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBES) on the state’s procurement process and how to maximize their M/WBE certification status.

This special training session is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, 2008 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in the Sovereign Bank Training Room in New Bedford. Registration begins at 11:45 a.m.

The workshop will include an introduction to the services and resources that AMP provides, what it means to be a certified vendor, how to market your M/WBE status, how to find opportunities, and how to market as an AMP participant to state agencies. All minority and women-owned businesses in all fields including commodities, services, construction and design are welcome to attend.

The cost to participate is just $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members and includes a light lunch and validated parking at the Zeiterion Parking Garage located across from One Sovereign Place. Pre-registration is required. To reserve your seat please call (508) 999-5231.

Boston continues efforts to increase MWBE participation

2008-05-03T05:26:00.006-04:00

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has continued efforts to increase DMWBE participation with particular emphasis in areas of proven disparity - most notably in AEC industry participation.
FROM THE BOSTON-BAY STATE BANNER, May 1, 2008

City (Boston) to boost biz deals for minorities, women

By: Jin-ah Kim

With little fanfare, Mayor Thomas M. Menino recently took a small step forward in his attempt to increase city business with minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs).

The mayor in late March proposed an ordinance that would require city departments to aggressively pursue bids from underrepresented businesses to perform certain city work. The measure seeks to address the “continuing negative impact” of conditions identified in a 2003 independent study, which concluded that MWBEs have not been able “to equitably participate in the receipt of city contracts under $25,000,” specifically within the areas of architectural and engineering professional services.

“Nondiscrimination alone … is not sufficient to maximize economic opportunity for all residents of Boston,” Menino wrote to city councilors in a March 31 letter. “The need exists for purposeful steps to be taken to ensure that both minority- and women-owned businesses are utilized by the city to a more substantial and equitable extent.”

Menino’s measure, however, stops far short of reinstituting the city’s minority set-aside program. The mayor, anxious about potential court challenges, ended that program five years ago.

At the time, Menino said the 25-year-old Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program was unlikely to withstand a court challenge because the city could not prove that minority- and women-owned businesses were at a disadvantage in the Boston business market and needed the aid such preferential treatment provided.

Until it was discontinued in 2003, the MWBE Program required city departments to make best-faith efforts to contract a minimum of 15 percent of their business with certified minority business enterprises (MBEs) and 5 percent with certified women’s business enterprises (WBEs). The program aimed to “promote economic opportunities for small minority- and women-owned businesses through outreach, certification and advocacy,” according to the city’s Web site.

The program’s name was changed to the Small and Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) Office, which assists small local businesses, including those owned by minorities and females. The office certifies MBEs and WBEs, along with other small businesses. Once certified, a company’s information is added to the city’s business directory, providing a higher public profile and increased access to potential clients.

“We partner with other organizations, make referrals and do technical assistance,” said Brooke Woodson, director of the SLBE Office, who has worked for the office in both incarnations for 14 years. He said that the city has not come up with a program that satisfactorily replaces the abolished one, which featured “set-asides” — meaning the government preserves a certain portion of government contracts for MBEs and WBES.

But even Woodson acknowledges that losing the set-aside program has created a void.

“It has been slower than we wanted to be,” Woodson said. “We have been pushing for it. [But] when you face a lawsuit, it’s really devastating on the program.”

P.J. Gear

That 1999 lawsuit involved William Gear, president of the Everett-based construction company P.J. Gear & Sons. The company had received a $1.3 million contract from the City of Boston to repair three firehouses. Gear refused to comply with the city’s ordinances to “make best faith efforts” to use minority sub-contractors, and filed for a waiver to only award 1 percent of the total contract, or $13,000, to a minority firm.

The city denied Gear’s waiver request, and he sued in 2001, arguing he “engaged in good faith efforts” but was unable to find enough minority companies to satisfy the city’s requirements.

“They claimed their constitutional rights [were] being violated because they are a white-owned company,” Woodson said.

By then, Gear’s argument had merit in the U.S. Supreme Court. Ten years earlier, in its decision in the 1989 case of City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co., the Court deemed minority set-aside programs unconstitutional.

The impact of the decision reverberated across the nation.

In 1989, at least 234 jurisdictions — including states, cities, countries and “special districts” such as Washington, D.C. — had a set-aside program, according to a report released that year by the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund. Today, the nonprofit advocacy group says, there are fewer than 50 such programs in the nation.

“The Croson decision really made it difficult for cities,” Woodson said.

Given how difficult it was, Woodson said he believes the city deserves some credit for maintaining the MWBE Program as long as it did.

“We kept our programs from ’89 to 2003,” he said. “No one appreciates that anymore.”

The City of Boston and the Boston Redevelopment Authority, which had an identical MWBE policy, had been sued four or five times by contractors since 1994, he said. All of those cases were settled.

“The biggest settlement was on the construction of the Boston Police Headquarters, which I believe was about $1.5 million,” said Woodson. “The other cases were smaller settlements.”

There was no settlement in the P.J. Gear case.

“The case went before [U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner], at which point the city asked the judge if it could hire an independent firm to conduct a disparity study to demonstrate the need for a race and gender based business program,” Woodson wrote in an e-mail. “The judge and plaintiff agreed and the city hired a minority-owned firm to conduct the study.”

The disparity study was conducted in January 2003 by Mason Tillman Associates Ltd., an Oakland, Calif.-based public policy research and public relations company. The resultant 136-page report detailed how many minority and women contractors were available and utilized at the time in the Boston market.

“When the study was completed in 2003, it showed a disparity did not exist and this did not give the city evidence to uphold its MWBE program,” Woodson wrote.

But the wording of the report’s conclusions is confusing. In its final section, it states that disparities, in fact, did exist in most cases considered.

“Although the City has been far-reaching in its efforts to ensure that all businesses have an equitable opportunity to participate in City contracts, the statistical evidence indicates that a disparity exists between the use of M/WBEs and their availability,” the report concluded.

The only case where no such disparity existed, according to the study, was in construction subcontracting, an area that Woodson quickly notes was “the only element of the program that ever had a set-aside type policy.”

Woodson said he understands why the set-aside program still gets attention five years after its demise.

“It was a good program, and that’s why people are upset, because it’s not there anymore,” he said.

After the lawsuit

There are no statistics available measuring how much the abolition of the city’s program impacted the business environment for minorities and women in Boston. But some in the business community say it has changed the entire landscape.

“In the absence of the program, there has been a dramatic reduction in the utilization of minority-owned or women-owned companies,” said Bruce Bolling, executive director of MassAlliance for Small Contractors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the number of state and city contracts with small businesses.

Woodson said he knows that the contractors who win city contracts would not use MBEs and WBEs without the mandates. According to the 2003 Mason Tillman disparity study, the city’s most recent such study, businesses owned by white males won 98 percent of the dollar amount of available contracts.

“I have no question that some amount of minority businesses suffered,” he said.

Bolling, who has worked with minority and women contractors for more than 10 years, emphasized the significance of programs requiring the government and primary contractors to make their best efforts to assign contracts to MBEs and WBEs.

“These programs are absolutely important and critical,” he said.

Bolling said few know why the city of Boston eliminated its program in 2003. And that’s a problem for Woodson.

“I don’t want give an impression that the program just ended on its own,” Woodson said. “We were sued, and the judge ruled, ‘Your program is not constitutional.’ So we had to end it.”

The city’s movements

Anthony A. Samuels, founder and CEO of Done Right Building Services Inc., a Boston maintenance and cleaning service company, has worked with Woodson for nine years.

Samuels said his company won its first contract to clean City Hall in 1999, before the MWBE Program was abolished. It was a three-year contract, worth $500,000.

That opportunity, he said, allowed Done Right to demonstrate that it did quality work. The company has won the same contract three times since.

Samuels, an African American, said it has become more difficult for minority-owned businesses to win contracts in both the public and private sectors.

The odds are “just like participation from minority [contractors] — zero,” he said in a telephone interview.

Since the program was abolished in 2003, he said, minority-owned companies have struggled to participate in the kinds of bids that would give them the chance to compete that Done Right found at City Hall.

“It’s not a matter of set-asides. It’s like, ‘Let me [in] on the bid, period, and not just give it to your buddies,’” he added.

Responding to concerns such as Samuels’, the city at first implemented a race-neutral plan that included small white-owned firms needing the same amount of help as minority firms.

“A lot of people weren’t warmed up to” that idea, Woodson said.

The city defines small businesses based on The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, which apply different gross income limitations to different industries.

This year, Woodson said, the city is starting to develop aggressive new programs to help MBEs and WBEs. In addition to Menino’s proposed ordinance, Woodson recently met with the director and business coordinator of the Affirmative Market Program (AMP), a state program that aims to promote state contract awards to develop and strengthen MBEs and WBEs.

“What we are trying to do is develop a program similar to Affirmative Market Program — what the state level does,” he said.

Like AMP, Woodson said his office plans to examine how many city contracts go to minority- and women-owned businesses in order to provide more direct assistance.

Woodson said the city will collect data for future disparity studies, “which may be an indication that we need to go back to [a] set-aside program,” as well as finding private sector opportunities for MBEs and WBEs.

“It’s great to help minority- and women-owned businesses, but it’s very challenging, the expectation is very high,” he said. “That’s why you hear a lot of frustrations out there, especially since our tool got eliminated by the lawsuit.”

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Turner Awards $1.3 Billion of Contracts to Minority and Women Owned Businesses in 2007

2008-03-07T18:33:00.005-05:00

This release from Turner mentions two of this blog's favorite things: a majority firm that puts its money where its mouth is, and the ACE Mentor organization. Kudos to Turner and thank you Turner for your strong and continuing support of the ACE Mentoring program.

New York, N.Y., March 6, 2008 — Turner Construction Company, the nation’s leading general builder, announced today that it has awarded 3,000 contracts totaling $1.3 billion to minority and women owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) during 2007. This is the third year in a row that the company has surpassed the milestone of awarding in excess of $1 billion of contracts to M/WBE firms.

“We are very proud to have achieved this milestone as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Turner’s formal community affairs program. Our long-standing record of achievement in expanding opportunities for minority and women-owned contractors across the country is critical to the success of Turner and of our industry,” says Hilton Smith, Turner senior vice president, community affairs.
Since 1979, Turner’s total number of contracts with M/WBEs has surpassed 47,000 at a value in excess of $16 billion.

Turner has received more than 100 awards for its community affairs program. Following are a selection of the awards Turner received for its efforts during 2007:
• Corporate Leadership Award, National Minority Supplier Development Council• Advocate of the Year, National Association of Minority Contractors• 2007 Grassroots Award, Contractor of the Year, Coalition for United Community Labor Force• Business of the Year “Diversity” Award, ABC Construction Industry• LIFEPACT Award, National Association of Women in Construction• Corporate Award of Excellence from the Kentucky Association of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Inc.• Best Practices Award from the New York/New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council
While building some of the most significant projects in the nation, Turner remains committed to the communities in which we build.

As an example, Turner is working with Clarian Health on the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis, Ind., which has a construction cost of $107 million. With 94% of the construction contracts awarded to date, $27,785,370 (or 27.6%) has been awarded to minority- and women-owned business enterprises.
“Over the last decade Clarian Health has taken steps to become one of the most diverse health care providers in the nation. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion extends beyond the healing environment and into the construction of the facilities themselves,” says Renee Smith, Project Architect for Clarian Health.

Renee Smith continues, “Turner has taken a leadership role in M/WBE utilization. Through strategic bid packaging and candid communications with the entire contracting community, Turner not only met our spending goals for the IU Simon Cancer Center, they exceeded them. We appreciate their shared commitment to the community and are proud to be a sponsor of their annual Turner School of Construction Management training and enjoy working with them in the ACE Mentor Program. Both of which are programs that seek to increase the number of minorities and women working in the construction industry.”

Thanks

2008-02-27T12:12:00.002-05:00

Although not overwhelming, we've had some good feedback on revising the experience categories and winnowing down the choices. About 25% of you wanted to retain the old format. What we are going to try to set up is enabling searches by the old system (using SF330 numbers and categories), this will mean that the free listing listing level (basic) as well as the Step 1 & 2 levels which don't have the key words for searching would not have that capability so we may do some adjusting to the capabilities by level OR reduce the (bloggers note, already low) cost of those levels. Additionally we have made permanent the free inclusion of weblinks and spam free hidden email links at all levels.

These changes will take place over the next 30 days or so, please hang with us while we make the DMWBE Directory better. Our views have been expanding rapidly and our unlimited level listings are getting over 1000 views per month and up to 60 click throughs to either their websites or our "more info" sections.

We need more listings, please let your MWBE associates know they belong in this website, heck it's free or just pennies for expanded listings, so why not? We are the one central national directory for DMWBE companies serving the "built environment"/ AEC industry.

DMWBE.com Needs Your Help!

2007-10-15T09:22:00.000-04:00

The DMWBE Directory - the only national online directory exclusively serving the MWBE AEC community needs your help. When we first started the directory we think we went a little overboard with detail - utilizing both the complete list of SF330 experience categories and the 2004 CSI Master Format. The feedback we've received is that it is way to complicated. As a result we stubbornly stuck with our guns and removed some of the SF330 categories and reduced the CSI Divisions to the old 16 Division list. See www.dmwbe.com

Apparently we weren't listening hard enough - so we are going to do a major revamp of the discipline and experience listings and use a lot more plain English so there will be no doubt as to what our lister skill sets are. Some example market experience categories might include: fit-up (or upfit), pre-construction services, demolition, CCTV, etc. We'll also ask you to help us decide which words to use. Again for example is it Fit-up, Fit-out or Upfit - all mean the same thing in different regions of the country.

For that reason we are asking listing firms and users to send us suggestions as to what disciplines should be carried and what experience (or market) categories should be included. You can do so by posting to this blog - or sending an email to kwa@dmwbe.com.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

MWBE Business in Lower Manhattan - Free Seminar

2007-08-29T05:13:00.000-04:00

Never underestimate the power of being there. Learn what you need to know to gain work in the burgeoning Downtown NYC market, meet the majority companies, learn who the officials are and get your business cards in the hands of the people you meet. If you are an MWBE company in the AEC industry you should be at this seminar. Don't be too busy to get busy!

Minority and Women Owned Businesses In The Construction Industry Doing Business In Lower Manhattan
New York State Lt. Governor David Paterson To Deliver New State Initiative

( EMAILWIRE.COM, August 27, 2007 ) FREE ONE-DAY SEMINAR, SEPTEMBER 5, Borough of Manhattan Community College

A free one-day seminar for minority and women owned business leaders who are interested in learning how to do business in Lower Manhattan will be held on Wednesday, September 5, at the Borough of Manhattan Community College / Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street, in Lower Manhattan.

Registration and Breakfast will convene at 8:00 a.m. The program and networking events will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

During the morning session, New York State Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson will announce a new state initiative that will be signed during the event. The new program is designed to create greater access for minority and women owned businesses to state government agencies and authorities in the rebuilding efforts now underway in Lower Manhattan.

In addition to the Lt. Governor's speech, a high level session with Surety Industry leaders on bonding requirements and surety underwriting criteria will take place. A highlight of the morning's festivities will be the signing of the ''Memorandum of Understanding'' between the Lt. Governor and leaders of the Bonding and Surety industry to establish a pilot bonding program for New York State Certified Minority and Women Owned Businesses.

Attendees will also be able to gain information on what resources are available under the LMCCC/MWBE program, which is funded by HUD. Senior executives from banking and financial service industries have been invited.

Many of the city's major construction management firms, as well as executives from key New York State government agencies and authorities who are actively involved in the rebuilding effort of Lower Manhattan, will also be available to meet with participants.

During the afternoon session, many of the prime contractors, stakeholders and agency executives involved in Lower Manhattan rebuilding efforts will participate in a networking forum. One-on-one sessions will also be available.

Advance registration for this free event one-day event, on September 5 is required, by August 31.

There are more than 60 construction projects now underway in Lower Manhattan.

To register, log onto http://www.lowermanhattan.info and/or call 212-442-3780.

The day's program is being conducted by Jamaica Business Resource Center, Bradford Companies, Chung Seto Group and Crescent Consulting.

###

This press release was issued through GroupWeb EmailWire.Com. For more information on press release distribution, go to http://www.emailwire.com.

2006 GroupWeb.com. All rights reserved.

What we're trying to do here...

2007-07-03T22:55:00.001-04:00

This blog is for and about disadvantaged, minority and women owned business enterprises and people that work in the built environment AND for the majority companies, government agencies and institutions that hire these companies. We want to help make it easier for DMWBE companies to get business and make it easier for companies, agencies and institutions to find these companies. Short and sweet, it's about being FOUND and it's about FINDING. Some areas we would like to discuss are listed below - but we hope that if you find this forum useful you will suggest topics as well. We also want to use this forum to publicize opportunities and venues for furthering DMWBE business. Now, some suggested topics:

You've been contacted by a prime organization and they want your qualifications and/or proposal. What should you do?

You're certified with multiple agencies and several corporations - but nobody calls... what are you doing wrong, or is there just no business out there??

Pre-bid and pre-proposal meetings, are they worth going to? Should you go? What should you do or bring or say?

You're a proposal manager for a company and you are trying to put together a qualification or proposal for a project and you need to find and qualify DMWBE companies, where do you look (and why didn't you look before this crisis happened you wonder) and how do you qualify firms

you are a DMWBE company, do you need a website, should you discuss your DMWBE status in the website - what can you do that makes you stand out and get noticed (hint, make it easy for the proposal manager above).

You are in purchasing for a large corporation and the company has initiated a policy of seeking out DMWBE companies to participate as primes and subs - how do you go about setting up a program that meets the company's goals and objectives.

What agencies, instituions and companies are serious about DMWBE goals, are there entities out there that you just shouldn't bother with?

DMWBE customers: what are your biggest problems in utilizing DMWBE companies? Responsiveness, current certification, software compatibility, timely response? What needs to be fixed?

DMWBE companies: what are your biggest problems in responding to customers? Communication, true participation, timely requests for info and data, no feedback?

O.K., we could go on forever ... give us some feedback and we'll strike out with the issues you deem most important first. No feedback and we'll start with some of our favorite issues.

Go find or be found!