M/WBE CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM CONSULTANT CONTRACT FOR WATERFRONT PATHWAYS PROGRAM AND RELATED CONSULTING SERVICES

NYCEDC seeks a qualified consultant to administer the M/W/DBE training program: Waterfront Pathways (the “Program”), including related marketing and vetting activities.

In July 2006, New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”) created a business development program, Opportunity M/W/DBE, dedicated to providing technical assistance and contracting opportunities to certified minority, women, and disadvantaged businesses (“M/W/DBEs”). Opportunity M/W/DBE aims to increase, facilitate, and encourage participation by certified M/W/DBEs on NYCEDC projects and increase their financial and technical capacity.

Opportunity M/W/DBE is launching a program designed to assist minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MBE, WBE, and DBE, respectively) with interest in NYC’s waterfront construction, including in the offshore wind industry, in navigating the current and upcoming opportunities in this space. This Program attempts to help remedy this documented disparity regarding discrimination in construction by specifically targeting the trades related to waterfront construction, which could include offshore wind.

The proposed program will target M/W/DBE based in and/or registered with New York City (“NYC”) or New York State (“NYS”) that are currently operating in or seek to pivot to service the growing waterfront sector. Through this program, the selected consultant will develop and operate an education, networking, and technical assistance program for participating M/W/DBE businesses. Business capacity building to be provided will focus on financial management, business infrastructure, waterfront-sector training, and workforce development. The technical assistance provided will assist businesses with project management and operation and provide networking opportunities with waterfront contractors, including offshore wind developers. This support will help M/W/DBE companies to establish their business in NYC as the waterfront, including offshore wind, construction sector continues to grow in the region.

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 in performing services similar to those encompassed in the RFP, approach and methodology, M/W/DBE participation, and business plan for financial sustainability.

It is the policy of NYCEDC to comply with all federal, state and city laws and regulations which prohibit unlawful discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status and other protected category and to take affirmative action in working with contracting parties to ensure certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) share in the economic opportunities generated by NYCEDC’s projects and initiatives. Please refer to the Equal Employment and Affirmative Compliance for Non-Construction Contracts Addendum in the RFP.

This project has Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (“M/WBE”) participation goals, and all respondents will be required to submit an M/WBE Participation Proposal with their response. To learn more about NYCEDC’s M/WBE program, visit http://edc.nyc/opportunity-mwdbe. For the list of companies who have been certified with the New York City Department of Small Business Services as M/WBE, please go to www.nyc.gov/buycertified.

NYCEDC established the Contract Financing Loan Fund programs for Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (M/W/DBE) interested in working on public construction projects. Contract Financing Loan Fund facilitates financing for short-term mobilization needs such as insurance, labor, supplies and equipment. Bidders/subcontractors are strongly encouraged to visit the NYCEDC website at http://edc.nyc/opportunity-mwdbe to learn more about the program.

An optional informational session will be held on Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 11:00 A.M. via an MS Teams Call. The info session meeting link can be found at https://edc.nyc/rfps.

Those who wish to attend should RSVP by email to WaterfrontMWDBE@edc.nyc on or before Tuesday, December 17th, 2024.

Respondents may submit questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP and/or request clarifications from NYCEDC by Monday, January 6th, 2025. Questions should be directed to WaterfrontMWDBE@edc.nyc. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP will not be accepted after 5pm on Monday, January 6th, 2025. Answers to all questions will be posted by Friday, January 10th, 2025, to https://edc.nyc/rfps. Technical questions pertaining to downloading and submitting proposals to this RFP may be directed to RFPRequest@edc.nyc on or before Tuesday, January 21st, 2025.

Detailed submission guidelines and requirements are outlined in the RFP, available as of Monday, December 9th, 2024. To download a copy of the solicitation documents please visit https://edc.nyc/rfps. RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN Tuesday, January 21st, 2025. Please click the link in the “Deadlines” section of this project’s web page (which can be found on https://edc.nyc/rfps) to electronically upload a proposal for this solicitation. Please upload your response as a .zip file with your company name and the title of this project.