Edison ’15, Senior Analyst
Rystad Energy
New discretionary procurement
AIRPORT VOICE, AUGUST 2021 15
policy from Port
Increases direct solicitation of certified MBEs Aim to reduce under-utilization of qualified groups
At the August PANYNJ
monthly commissioners meeting,
in furtherance of its commitment
to advancing opportunities
for minority- and
woman-owned businesses, the
Port Authority Board of Commissioners
amended its policy
to allow for the increase of
the threshold for the direct solicitation
of agency-certified
Minority-owned Business Enterprises
(MBEs) and Womanowned
Business Enterprises
(WBEs) on certain smaller contracts
to promote competition
and provide for more diverse
and inclusive contract opportunities.
The new discretionary
small contract procurement
program is designed to reduce
the disparity and under-utilization
of certain racial, ethnic
and gender groups that meet
the qualifications required to
deliver certain Port Authority
projects, to ensure that
they are able to compete for
agency contracts.
The Port Board vote authorizes
the Port Authority to directly
solicit PA-certified, underutilized
MWBE firms to
participate in competitive procurements
regarding construction
and goods and services,
including professional services.
The procurement program involves
contracts of up to $2.5
million for construction solicitations
and up to $1.5 million for
all other solicitations.
“The Port Authority’s commitment
to supporting programs
designed to promote
inclusiveness in contracts for
construction and services is
unwavering,” said Port Authority
Chairman Kevin O’Toole.
“Today’s action continues the
Board’s effort to enhance and
improve the process of selecting
certified minority- and
woman-owned enterprises for
Port Authority projects.”
“We recognize the critical
role that MWBEs play in local
communities and in the regional
economy and we are committed
to reducing the historic disparity
in the Port Authority’s contracts
with MWBE firms,” said
Port Authority Executive Director
Rick Cotton. “This program
will maintain a competitive procurement
process and boost direct
contracting opportunities
for MWBEs with the agency.”
“We are confident that the
program will address disparities
in utilization of MWBEs,” said
Port Authority Chief Diversity
& Inclusion Officer Michael G.
Massiah.
In 2017, the Port Authority
hired Mason Tillman Associates,
Ltd. (MT) to conduct a
Disparity Study, which included
research and review of MWBE
contract awards to determine
whether disparities existed between
the availability of MWBE
firms in the marketplace and the
utilization of MWBE firms by the
Port Authority.
MT’s findings in 2018 led
the Board of Commissioners
to establish a requirement that
Port Authority contracts include
good faith participation goals
of 20 percent by MBEs and 10
percent by WBEs on all prime
contracts, with an objective of
increasing subcontracting opportunities
for MBE and WBE
firms. In 2021, at the request
of the agency, MT refreshed its
study and concluded that disparities
continued to exist.
The new discretionary small
contracts procurement program
is intended to create additional
opportunities for MWBEs
to compete for direct contract
awards with the Port Authority
in a continuing effort to reduce
the disparities identified in the
latest MT study.
Once certified by the Port
Authority as an MWBE, a business
is eligible to participate in
the Port Authority’s supplier diversity
program. The Port Authority
provides information
on opportunities for local businesses
to become certified with
the agency and throughout the
year, and hosts various industry
information sessions, workshops,
apprenticeship programs
and job fairs.
To become a certified
MWBE with the Port Authority,
or to check on your certification
status, please click here. Click
here for vendor resources and
for information regarding the
certification process and here
for business opportunities.
Good Morning from LaGuardia PAPD Dispatch team.
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