NYCHA Now

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NYCHA Now
February 2025 

NYCHA Earns Excellence Award for Supporting Minority, Women Businesses

Vincent Echavaria

On February 13, Mayor Eric Adams’ administration celebrated elected officials, business and construction industry leaders, and City agencies for their efforts to support the City’s program for Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE). 

Among the agencies recognized with an M/WBE Excellence Award, NYCHA was honored for awarding over $1 billion in contracts to M/WBEs during the past fiscal year. The Mayor’s 2nd Annual M/WBE Celebration, held at Gracie Mansion in Manhattan, recognizes awardees’ “significant contributions to the success of the City’s M/WBE Program.” 

“NYCHA is thrilled to be recognized at the Mayor’s 2nd Annual M/WBE Celebration for awarding over $1 billion in contracts to City-certified minority- and women-owned businesses,” said Guy Oliveri, the Authority’s Vice President of Procurement Policy and Performance Management. “Day in and day out, our team works diligently to connect M/WBEs to contracting opportunities at NYCHA.”   

NYCHA’s M/WBE Program is managed by the Supply Management and Procurement Department. The department works to ensure the effective and efficient procurement of goods and services while supporting the Authority’s broader sustainability, supplier diversity, and social equity initiatives.    

NYCHA contracting opportunities for M/WBEs are fostered through the Authority’s subcontracting requirement on large procurements ($250,000 and above), as well as policies that preference M/WBEs and resident-owned businesses on micro (up to $10,000) and other discretionary purchases. In addition, NYCHA supports M/WBEs through the use of technology initiatives, along with many other support, outreach, and compliance activities. 

During the past fiscal year, the City reached a historic milestone with 31.4 percent M/WBE participation, totaling $6.4 billion in contract awards. A total of $17.7 billion has been awarded to City-certified M/WBEs throughout Mayor Adams’ administration. Last fiscal year at NYCHA, the Authority oversaw $1.2 billion in prime and sub-contract awards, with 36 percent M/WBE participation.   

“The success of NYCHA’s M/WBE program is due in no small part to an executive team which played a pivotal role in strengthening NYCHA’s M/WBE Program by setting formal goals and building a solid foundation for its continued success,” NYCHA Chief Procurement Officer Sergio Paneque said. “They support and prioritize the work and understand everyone benefits when all are given a fair chance to participate. We look forward to continuing our efforts to broaden our vendor pool and grow and strengthen our M/WBE Program.”