Res 0527-2024

Whereas, Due to years of discrimination, women and members of minority groups have historically been shut out of contracting opportunities with government; and Whereas, Government agencies can use their substantial contracting needs to accomplish social and economic goals like encouraging female and minority entrepreneurship through special programs to offer work to certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs); and Whereas, Local Law 174 of 2019 established goals for awarding qualifying contracts to MWBEs every year; and Whereas, Despite longstanding programs to offer more public agency work to MWBEs, the Comptroller's Annual Report on MWBE Procurement from February 2024 found only ten percent of the contract value subject to Local Law 174 goals actually went to MWBEs; and Whereas, Certified MWBEs bidding on city contracts subject to Local Law 174 goals are frequently rejected without explanation; and Whereas, New York State Senate Bill S.1087A would require all public corporations and agencies to provide unsuccessful bidders that are certified MWBEs with an explanation for their rejection, allowing changes to future bids that could improve the rate at which MWBEs are actually awarded qualifying contracts; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, Senate Bill S.1087A, requiring agencies to provide unsuccessful bidders that are certified minority and women-owned business enterprises with a written statement articulating the reasons for rejection. AY LS #17110 7/8/2024