Initiative will review minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses capacity and utilization with aim of boosting participation in county procurement on Long Island
MINEOLA – Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announced that Nassau and Suffolk Counties will pursue a joint request for proposals (RFP) for a Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOB) disparity study and consulting services.
The Request for Proposals issued last month by Nassau County will be amended to incorporate information relevant to Suffolk’s participation and to include a new schedule. Information will be posted by mid-November on both counties’ websites. Nassau and Suffolk expect to seek responses from consultants by mid-December.
“We want our MWBE/SDVOB businesses on Long Island to grow and thrive, and we know that there is more potential than is presently being tapped into,” said County Executive Laura Curran. “This collaborative and cost-saving study will support our shared mission to expand economic opportunity for all and help entrepreneurs take their business to the next level.”
“The opportunity for both counties to collaborate on an MWBE Disparity Study makes perfect sense for our region,” stated County Executive Steve Bellone. “By working together, we can capitalize on both county’s resources to ensure that MWBE businesses have increased access and opportunity to fully participate in government contracts.”
“The joint agreement between Nassau and Suffolk counties to study Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses is another opportunity for a bi-county collaboration that will assist the region economically,” stated Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory. “It is a common-sense approach to encouraging participation in the procurement process that will have significant benefits for the region.”
The goal of the disparity study is to gather data about the availability and utilization of Minority, Woman, and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (MWBEs/SDVOBs) in both respective Counties. The RFP will be open to proposals from consultants with expertise in the preparation of disparity studies and capacity building programs.
The collaborative effort by the two counties on this review of MWBE/SDVOB availability and utilization is a logical step given that there are no real borders when it comes to businesses that provide services in the Long Island region. The disparity study, under the auspice of both counties shared services initiative, will thus take a regional look at all potential MWBE/SDVOB vendors and the services they provide.
“The Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs is pleased to work alongside our partners in Suffolk to select a consultant to partner with for this important study and effort,” said Lionel Chitty, Executive Director of Office of Minority Affairs. “This is a vital step Nassau County is taking to identify where we are falling short and provide a roadmap for positioning our MWBE/SDVOB businesses for greater success in winning County contracts.”
“The Suffolk County Office of Minority Affairs is encouraged by the opportunity we have taken to collaborate with Nassau County to engage in a disparity study,” said Roderick A. Pearson, Executive Director of Community Services. “This effort highlights the willingness of both counties to ensure that all MWBE businesses within our region have the chance to experience economic growth which is beneficial to the financial prosperity of both counties.
The primary objectives of the draft Disparity Study and Consultant Services contract are to:
- determine the extent to which there exists a disparity between the availability of qualified MWBEs and SDVOBs and their utilization by Nassau and Suffolk County agencies.
- determine whether Nassau and Suffolk County contracts should be subject to race, gender and or service-disabled veteran status conscious remedial programs supported by State law.
- establish the basis by which Nassau and Suffolk County will determine overall Countywide goals for the participation of MWBEs and SDVOBs in County contracts.
- gather insight concerning where Nassau and Suffolk Counties are falling short in making maximum use of MWBE/SDVOBs; suggestions on ways to incubate these businesses; review of the current MWBE/SDVOB programs (including any applicable certification requirements) and strategies for better matching capacity with demand.
- better understand the ability of MWBE/SDVOBs to be successful within both Counties’ shared services initiatives where goods and/or services are provided through County or municipal subdivision procurements.