Suffolk County, NY - May 11, 2015 - The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is stepping up efforts to recruit and train small business owners on Long Island, especially those certified as New York State Minority, Women-owned and MTA-certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (MWDBE) to bid for billions of dollars in contracts that will be awarded under the transportation agency’s 2015-19 Capital Program.
And so, in partnership with Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, the MTA and Long Island Rail Road will be holding a second Long Island conference and networking event on Wednesday, May 13 at 9:00 a.m. at the H. Lee Dennison Building, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, N.Y.
Understanding the bidding process for MTA contracts is critical for MWDBE companies to successfully submit bids – and is a tremendous business opportunity given New York’s goal to award an unprecedented 30 percent of state contracts to NYC certified MWBE companies. Participants should RSVP to gllanos@mtahq.org.
Over the next several years, the MTA will solicit bids for billions of dollars in contracts for system construction and procurement throughout the New York metropolitan region. More than 80 small companies were represented at a similar event in Nassau County on April 15.
The effort follows Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s recent directive that raises the bar for the MTA and other state agencies on recruiting small business participation in capital projects.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said: “Suffolk County is home to many MWBE companies that stand to gain from this important initiative undertaken by the MTA and we look forward to the economic development and growth opportunities that result from such an initiative.”
MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast said: “The MTA Capital Program is the single most important way to ensure we can keep the New York metropolitan region moving. The MTA network needs constant investment so it can serve everyone who relies on it now and can grow to serve more people in the future. Small firms on Long Island have every right to fight for a piece of that pie.”
In June 2010, New York State enacted legislation that authorized the MTA and its operating agencies to establish the Small Business Mentoring Program (SBMP) for small construction industry contractors. Since the inception of the program, $85 million in direct prime construction contracts have been awarded to program participants and 44 small business loans have been approved, totaling $5 million.
The MTA and its agencies provide NYS certified MWBE and MTA certified DBEs with equal access to procurement and contracting opportunities. The MTA Department of Diversity and Civil Rights administers a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program that encourages and assists such firms seeking a foothold in the region’s vibrant transportation economy.
MTA Chief Diversity Officer Michael J. Garner said: “We will be explaining how small businesses can get federal contracting opportunities as a DBE by participating in the MTA Small Business Federal Program and as an MWBE through the MTA Small Business Mentoring Program. They will be meeting with key LIRR managers to learn how to do business with the Railroad. Being a certified DBE or MWBE may also open the door to opportunities for growing your business by making it easier for you to market your firm to MTA agencies or other government entities.”
LIRR Railroad President Patrick A. Nowakowski said: “I urge the small business owners of Long Island to explore the possibilities of growing their companies by learning how to do business with MTA LIRR, the nation’s busiest commuter railroad. Looking ahead, the LIRR has plenty of ideas about the kinds of improvements that need to be made to ensure that the Railroad provides high-quality transportation for our customers and continue to fulfill its role as Long Island’s economic lifeline.” For more information, please click here and (646) 252-1363
• Suffolk County -- Wednesday, May 13 at 9:00 a.m. H. Lee Dennison Building 100 Veterans’ Memorial Highway Hauppauge, NY