We Can Do Better: Minorities & Women Locked Out of Business Contracts in NYC

Only get 5% of city contracts

Minority- and women-owned businesses are still being locked out of New York City's multibillion-dollar contracts, according to a new study. Conducted by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, the findings show that while the number of minority group- and female-owned firms certified to bid for city contracts has increased, relatively few are benefitting financially. Only 5 percent of the $10.5 billion the city spent on contracts — for everything from construction projects to paper clips — went to firms owned by minority-group members or women. More than half of the firms, 54.8 percent, said the city didn't offer support on applications, and a third said they'd never even completed a bid for a contract despite going through the certification process. “The city is not doing enough to help the businesses navigate the bid process, which remains too complicated and too time consuming,” Stringer said. He added the businesses complain about often-confusing applications, the lack of notice about contracting opportunities and fees charged by some agencies to view bidding documents. (NY Daily News)

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