NYCHA Participates in MWBE Expo 

On June 20, NYCHA’s Director of Vendor and Contract Management Dorcia McDuffie participated in a panel discussion on providing opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses in the construction sector.  

The panel, titled “Health, Commercial and Residential Construction,” was part of Empire State Development’s 2023 New York State Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Regional Opportunities Expo and was designed to create a supportive and informative environment for minority and women-owned businesses to seize opportunities in health, commercial, and residential construction projects.  

The MWBE expo series brings together various New York State agencies and authorities, as well as prime contractors, to provide minority-owned companies with information on contracting opportunities.  

During her presentation, Mrs. McDuffie noted that NYCHA actively seeks the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in its projects “through targeted procurement initiatives, subcontracting opportunities, and supplier diversity programs,” adding that NYCHA has an MWBE-first policy on awarding contracts of up to $250,000. 

She also discussed how MWBEs can increase their involvement with major projects.  

“To establish strong relationships with key stakeholders in the residential construction sector, MWBEs should prioritize networking and engagement,” she said. “They can attend industry events (like this expo), participate in trade associations, and join community organizations related to construction and housing.” 

In regard to doing business with NYCHA specifically, Mrs. McDuffie urged MWBEs to get familiarized with NYCHA’s mission and values, research the Authority’s current initiatives and priorities, and stay updated on contracting opportunities. Email your questions about new capital construction opportunities to capital.vendor@nycha.nyc.gov.