Request for Proposals, Consultant Services, Waterfront and Off-Shore Wind Infrastructure M/W/DBE Training Program

Description



NYCEDC seeks a qualified consultant to administer the Waterfront and Off-Shore Wind Infrastructure M/W/DBE Training Program (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.

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.The most recent NYC disparity study (and ones previously) found a documented disparity between the available M/W/DBEs in construction and professional services associated with construction (such as engineering) and the M/W/DBEs winning NYC contracts. 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.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 the 
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 Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. via an MS Teams Call. Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_Y2FhOTEyYTUtMDdjNy00NDkxLTk3ZjMtMjg2MTMzZGU1ODc2%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22f1d4198c-95e0-40fe-bf4a-3faa2bea4dbd%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%229b8af818-75af-498e-8b7d-53b5885c04df%22%7d. Via Conference call number: +1 347-378-3690, Passcode: 718803070#. Those who wish to attend should RSVP by email to WaterfrontMWDBE@edc.nyc on or before July 19, 2021.Respondents may submit questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP and/or request clarifications from NYCEDC by Thursday, July 22, 2021. Questions should be directed to WaterfrontMWDBE@edc.nyc. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP will not be accepted after 5pm on Thursday, July 22, 2021. Answers to all questions will be posted by Wednesday, July 28, 2021, to https://edc.nyc/rfps. Technical questions pertaining to downloading and submitting proposals to this RFP may be directed to WaterfrontMWDBE@edc.nyc on or before Thursday, August 5, 2021.Detailed submission guidelines and requirements are outlined in the RFP, available as of Tuesday, June 29, 2021. To download a copy of the solicitation documents please visit https://edc.nyc/rfps. RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN Thursday, August 5, 2021. 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.




Request Address Please submit all requests to the project email address listed in the advertisement.
Contact Information: Waterfront MWDBE RFP Team
phone: (347) 461-2927
email: WaterfrontMWDBE@edc.nyc
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