N.Y., N.J. jump-start contracts.Three agencies in the New York/New Jersey region have initiated policies to help minority- and women-owned businesses win more contracts. The initiatives, which feature increases in affirmative-action goals for suppliers and bonding assistance for contractors, will be worth millions of dollars for many struggling companies. * In New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of State, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. ) has reinstated mandatory state goals for hiring minority businesses and raised mandatory federal goals for awarding contracts. Under its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE DBE abbr. Dame Commander of the British Empire DBE Dame (Commander of the Order) of the British Empire ) program, minority subcontractors will receive 15% of state contracts and 10% of federal contracts. Women-owned firms will receive 5% of all contracts. "New York State recently completed a disparity study, and because they found [patterns of discrimination], they were able to reinstate the mandatory goal program," says Ellsworth Wiggims, MTA director of affirmative action affirmative action, in the United States, programs to overcome the effects of past societal discrimination by allocating jobs and resources to members of specific groups, such as minorities and women. . "New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. is the most diverse city in the world. It seems reasonable that equitable monies ought to go to minority communities." Over the next five years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time MTA will implement a $9.6 billion capital program. With the goals in place, DBE firms could garner as much as $200 million per year. Contact the MTA at 212-878-7129/7217. * The Regional Alliance for Small Contractors Inc. has formed an association with AMWEST, a leading underwriter, to offer surety bonding to minority contractors. The breakthrough agreement means that small contractors, who have historically been shut out of the market, can now compete. AMWEST will offer $25 million to $50 million in bonding to minority contractors for construction projects in New York and New Jersey. "Since AMWEST has expertise working with small contractors and looking at off-balance sheet factors, they will work harder to make bonding approval work--even if the contractor doesn't meet certain financial criteria," says Imani Bennett, program manager of financing and bonding for the alliance. For more information, call 212-435-6560 or AMWEST at 212-344-7720. * The New Jersey Department of Human Services' Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS DYFS Division of Youth and Family Services DYFS Do You Feel Safe? DYFS Do You Feel Stupid? ) is actively recruiting minority organizations to bid on social services social services Noun, pl welfare services provided by local authorities or a state agency for people with particular social needs social services npl → servicios mpl sociales and training contracts. Contracts for social services such as day care, counseling and training for DYFS staff will be made available through requests for proposals (RFPs). Extensive mailing lists of minority service providers, minority publications and mandatory bidders' conferences will all be used to reach minority suppliers. DYFS Director Nicholas R. Scalera is confident that the new contract policy will make for a more equitable distribution of contracts. "We want to encourage participation by the broadest possible array of community and minority providers," says Scalera. For further information, call 609-292-0859. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion