New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced changes to procurement policy board rules to help increase city contract awards to minority- and women-owned business enterprise firms.
In a Feb. 2 statement, de Blasio said the initiative was a push toward his OneNYC plan pledge to award a minimum of $16 billion to city-certified MWBE firms over 10 years. The rule changes, backed by a City Council resolution, will take effect March 1.
Rule changes include a raise in the micro-purchase limit for construction service contracts, and preferences for MWBEs in best-value procurements.
The announcement follows the launch of several key programs aimed to increase City awards to MWBE firms, including a mayoral advisory council and project labor agreements that de Blasio said would "meaningfully increase" the share of such city-certified firms working on construction projects while saving the city more than $347 million.
De Blasio also established $10 million predevelopment loan fund to help emerging firms secure financing to purchase land and get projects underway; and plans to earmark a further $10 million to help those firms secure the necessary bonds to qualify for city business.
In fiscal 2015, de Blasio's administration awarded more than $1.6 billion in contracts to city-certified MWBE firms.
