The City's M/WBE Program

The City of New York is committed to encouraging a fair, competitive and diverse business environment, supporting the growth and success of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) and fostering a procurement process that is accessible to all businesses. The City's M/WBE Program currently comprises several different initiatives including the Local Law 1 program, the OneNYC initiative and the M/WBE Noncompetitive Small Purchase Method. These initiatives were specifically created to increase contracting opportunities and participation among City-certified M/WBEs. The Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS) partners with the Mayor's Office of M/WBEs (OM/WBE) and the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to administer the program.

The City's M/WBE Program has increased significantly since it began. In Fiscal 2023, the City awarded its highest total yet to M/WBEs of nearly $1.42 billion, representing 27.9% of contract value subject to Local Law 1. And since the start of the OneNYC M/WBE Program in Fiscal 2015, the City has awarded City-certified M/WBEs approximately $34.2 billion in City contracts.

MOCS Supports M/WBEs

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Reaching Program Goals and Promoting Accountability Through Reporting

MOCS publishes reports that detail the City’s contracting with City-certified M/WBEs and progress on Citywide participation goals. Key reports include: Local Law 1 Contracting, Annual OneNYC M/WBE Initiative and M/WBE Noncompetitive Small Purchases. Click the links below to access the reports.

Local Law 1
Local Law 1 captures eligible contracts in Goods, Construction, Professional and Standard Services. The Law establishes specific, data-backed M/WBE utilization goals based on industry and M/WBE categories. In FY 2023, the City realized 27.9% M/WBE utilization in contracting, including the highest ever total award value to M/WBEs of $1.42 billion. The City continues to diligently work and partner with our City-certified M/WBE firms to help alleviate market disparities and provide necessary goods and services across the City. View additional details on the MWBE Reports page.

OneNYC
The City achieved its goal of awarding M/WBEs $25B in contracts by FY 2025 three years ahead of schedule! This initiative includes M/WBE participation outside the eligible industries captured under Local Law 1. MOCS tracks Citywide progress annually in the OneNYC M/WBE Bulletin. Since FY 2015 through the close of FY 2022, the City has awarded City-certified M/WBEs approximately $27.9 Billion Dollars in City contracts.

M/WBE Noncompetitive Small Purchase Method

City agencies can award contracts of up to $1,500,000 for goods, professional services, standard services and construction directly to M/WBEs without formal competition using this method. This streamlined process makes it far easier for the City to do business with City-certified M/WBEs. Don't miss out! Be ready to receive and respond to these opportunities directed specifically to our City-certified M/WBE businesses by enrolling in PASSPort.

Increasing M/WBE Access to Business Opportunities

Technology Initiatives that Level the Playing Field
New technology platforms like PASSPort, the City’s digital Procurement and Sourcing Solutions Portal, provide visibility into City contracting opportunities and make it easier for small and community-based organizations to do business with the City of New York. If your business is not yet enrolled in PASSPort, do so now to ensure you are notified of future business opportunities and to participate in the procurement process. Learn more about PASSPort here.

Click here to watch this 15-minute PASSPort Account Creation Workshop video to create a PASSPort account now. The Account Creation One-Page Guide also provides simple step-by-step instructions.

Annual M/WBE Contracting Opportunities
MOCS publishes an annual list of anticipated competitive solicitations for each Mayoral agency that highlights potential opportunities for City-certified M/WBE participation. View the contracting opportunities here.

Advocating for M/WBEs through Legislative Engagement

MOCS collaborates with M/WBEs, community leaders, City agencies and legislators to advocate for legislative and administrative changes that will spur additional M/WBE opportunities.

Supporting City Agencies

MOCS delivers monthly Citywide M/WBE program trainings for City agencies, in partnership with SBS and OM/WBE, aimed at providing City staff guidance, resources, best practices and policy and program updates. These trainings enable City staff to better support M/WBEs during the contracting process.

Current M/WBE Opportunity: Prequalified CPAs

MOCS is launching a pre-qualified list of MWBE Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to consider for upcoming opportunities, with the goal of supporting NYC's M/WBE program and small businesses through economic and financial opportunity. Applicants must be MWBE certified and included on the NYC Comptroller's Prequalified CPA List. To apply, please confirm that you have been assigned a Procurement Level 2 role and submit the MWBE Prequalification Application in PASSPort under PQL ID 000146.

About M/WBE Opportunities

City agencies can award contracts of up to $1,500,000 for goods, professional services, standard services and construction directly to City-certified M/WBEs without formal competition using the M/WBE Noncompetitive Small Purchase Method. This streamlined process makes it easier for the City to do business with M/WBEs. Don't miss out!

To find contracting opportunities and to learn more about how to get M/WBE certified with the City, refer to Getting Started: An Introduction to Doing Business with the City of New York.

MOCS occasionally has opportunities available for City-certified M/WBE vendors under the following commodity codes:

Organizational Development (commodity code 91878)
Business Management Services (commodity code 95816)
Computer Software Consulting, Mainframe & Mid-range (commodity code 91830)
Project Management (commodity code 20868)
Course Development Services / Instructional Training (commodity code 92416)

If you are a City-certified M/WBE business that provides such goods and/or services and want to be considered for such contracting opportunities in the future, please reach out to Bids_MOCS@mocs.nyc.gov to notify MOCS of your interest.