Navigate the 2020 NYS MWBE Forum and better PREPARE FOR OPPORTUNITIES that New York State offers to MWBEs. Join sessions today that will provide your business with strategies and tools for Building Businesses Better.
NEW! Take away your MWBE Business Resource Toolkit with six important on-demand webinars to help you steer your business through changing economic conditions.
The Tenth Annual New York State MWBE Forum Opening Session will highlight State leadership and celebrate a decade of strengthening opportunities and providing economic empowerment prospects for minority- and women-owned businesses.
Article 15-A provides the legislative framework for the operations of New York State’s MWBE Program. Hear first-hand from State leadership about the reauthorized program and the new rules and regulations set forth by the State that expand opportunities for New York State’s certified MWBEs.
New York State continues to be at the forefront of small business support and recovery during COVID-19. This important session will highlight NYS’ access to capital programs and other funding resources designed to assist MWBEs operate and grow their firms during this critical time.
Insurance – the ability to secure coverages and bonding and obtain the correct coverages – are key to MWBEs success. With spiraling insurance costs, learn what you need to know to secure coverage, the ins and outs of OCIPS and CSIPS, the types of coverages that owners require, practical tips for improving your experience rating, and much more. If you are competing for construction projects – small or larger, add this insurance session to your tool kit.
From its award-winning Statewide Surety Bond Training Program to discretionary purchasing, DASNY recognizes the importance of thinking outside of the box. So, what is ahead on the frontier of procurement? This session will feature DASNY’s procurement team and provide important insights for certified firms.
This signature Forum session is designed to share New York State’s MWBE business success stories in 3 components: agency, prime and subcontractors. Learn more about MWBEs as primes on state contracts and ways that access to capital, innovative procurement approaches, strategic relationships and technical assistance programs demonstrate business best practices.
What skills, resources and strategies will MWBEs need to grow and thrive in challenging economic environments? Join six intensive on-demand webinars designed to provide you with business tools and resources that will change the way you operate and manage your firm today and into the future.
Your take-away: key resources and information you need to succeed.
How can you cover unexpected and general operating business costs in a challenging economy? This session will help you identify NYS and private sector capital resources to help you navigate your business in the coming months and into 2021. Learn about NYS and private sector financing resources, lines of credit, grants, loans and more. Discover how to prepare required documents, who can help you and how to navigate the capital access process.
The pandemic has created a new normal and the impact on your business is significant. This session will include an intensive primer on the following topics:
What worked before may not work now. This session will help you re-evaluate your business plan, strategy and market position. Assess what resources you need to improve your business position or embark in new directions.
Government contracting requires a deep understanding of how to respond to a business opportunity. This session will introduce you to several types of responses: Request for Qualifications {RFQs], Request for Information (RFIs}, Request for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests to Bid (RFBs). The session will help you evaluate a request, understand what needs to be completed and how to strategically organize your team and bid.
Cash is king, but pricing projects correctly is the road to business success. This session will analyze a project and how to arrive at the right price – one that will win you the job and ensure you have profit. This session is a fundamental one for every business owner who needs to understand competitive and effective bid pricing for government contracting.
Teaming is a multi-faceted strategy for building capacity as well as bidding on work that you might not otherwise consider. Teaming takes a variety of forms – joint ventures, partnerships, strategic alliances – and they all require specific steps and protocols to ensure that your teaming relationship will work. Teaming also provides you with added talent, capacity, competencies and availability in areas you may not have considered before. This session will provide the basics, suggested strategies and best practices for operating successfully in a teaming environment.
The day begins with several sessions designed to help you identify opportunities and understand how to evaluate them and determine if they are right for your business. Next, join targeted sessions that will introduce you to new contract opportunities with NYS. Navigate top projects and market sector opportunities. Match the right ones for your business!
To bid on a project, or not bid on a project? This is the important question certified small businesses ask themselves almost every day. This session is developed in partnership with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and will give you valuable insight into identifying opportunities that align with your vision, a strategy to use to determine which opportunities are right for you and the options to pivot to achieve success.
As capital budgets, as well as agency and authority priorities, continue to evolve, this key session will provide you with the opportunity to hear first-hand what New York State decision-makers are looking for from certified MWBEs and where you can find new opportunities.
Legislated by New York State, discretionary awards provide a special opportunity for MWBEs to bid on contracts up to $500,000 for all Article 15-A agencies and up-to $1 million for the MTA. This session will help you identify the opportunities and develop a strategy for bidding and winning these contracts.
Top Project sessions include key ventures that highlight New York State as a national economic development leader and one of the country’s strongest advocates for MWBEs. Sessions will showcase the areas for significant state spending and substantial demand for qualified MWBEs.
There are new opportunities through New York State for service providers, consultants, suppliers and manufacturers. Navigate the markets you already do business in and explore some new ones to identify the best opportunities for your business.
More than ever, New York State is relying on technology and certified firms that can offer creative solutions to its needs. If you are an MWBE who works in information technology (IT), and/or commodities, this session is for you! Attendees will learn about doing business with the Office of General Services (OGS), which presently manages more than 1,500 centralized contracts, valued at over $22 billion. You will also gain a better understanding of the OGS’s procurement process, including preferred sources, centralized state contracts and agency or multi-agency contracts.
As schools, colleges and universities reimagine the way students learn, join this special session to hear from key decision-makers on the future of their capital programs and the new contract opportunities emerging at their agencies, authorities and institutions. MWBEs can explore statewide opportunities in non-construction commodity and professional service procurements in this sector, along with new campus construction, dormitory and incubator projects, renovations and facility maintenance. This session provides a roadmap for all types of government procurements, construction and non-construction services and commodities, in New York State’s educational sector.
The healthcare industry has found itself in a tremendous period of growth and change. This important session will assist MWBEs in navigating the procurement opportunities at the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and hospitals throughout the state. Plan on joining this session designed to provide an economic and contract outlook in this expanding and changing market. Both construction and non-construction goods and service procurements will be covered.
With $9.8 billion for new capital investments in transportation infrastructure and increased aid to localities downstate and upstate projected, the opportunity pipeline for MWBEs is strong at the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT). During this session attendees will learn about the statewide DOT projects, including the BRIDGE NY and $100 million for local highway improvements and reconstruction through the PAVE NY program.
As capital programs and priorities shift throughout 2020 and beyond, this important session will review the upcoming opportunities for certified architects and engineers. This session will focus on architecture and engineering opportunities and what certified firms need to know about doing business with New York State agencies and authorities.
Opportunities for asset managers, bond underwriters, accountants, auditors and attorneys are increasing throughout New York State as agencies and authorities continue to reposition themselves for new financial strategies to build and sustain the State. Join interactive sessions to learn about opportunities in this market sector, tips on teaming with primes and other certified firms and how to participate in the contracting process in these professional service markets. Hear from leading financial services professionals active in this market and assess the new opportunities available to your firms.
This session examines MWBE opportunities for accounting, auditing and related consulting services in New York State. Teaming, building new relationships and the pipeline of professional services consulting opportunities are the focus of this discussion.
Learn about the types of legal services needed by New York State, procurement cycles, non- bond work, immigration, tax and environmental law and how MWBE outreach is conducted along with best practices for building new business relationships. Join the conversation, meet some key decision makers and determine your action plan for new contract possibilities.
This special session reviews asset management opportunities in New York State as well as examining MWBE participation strategies.
From the perspectives of several different agencies and authorities, join a conversation to review bond underwriting opportunities in New York State. The working dynamic between the authorities and the investment banking community will be a focus of this discussion.
Looking for access to capital and technical assistance for loans, grants and other financial support? Stop by the NYS Business Financing Information Center and speak with Empire State Development representatives who can provide resources, tools and tips for funding resources.
Take the opportunity to virtually connect with certification analysts for a one-on-one, 10-minute session regarding the New York State MWBE certification process. Sign up in advance at Empire State Development’s Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development’s virtual booth!
This series of four on-demand sessions will provide you with what you need to know to be more strategic in NYS government procurements. Remember to download these sessions into your virtual briefcase to refer to after the Forum.
Jump-start the certification process with the guidance of Empire State Development’s Certification Team. During this “on-demand” session, you can learn about NYS MWBE certification eligibility criteria, the application process and how your online profile impacts your business potential.
The 2020 NYS MWBE Opportunities eBook is your digital resource for learning about the State’s 97 NYS agencies and authorities, how to connect with them and what opportunities are in the pipeline. This is a must-read to leverage your Forum experience.
This informative on-demand session will help you navigate the New York State Contract Reporter, New York State’s official source for contracting opportunities, to find advertised state procurement opportunities for commodities, services and construction projects.
Enrich your understanding of how to leverage your NYS MWBE certification. During this on-demand session you will learn best practices and helpful tips for working with New York State, including understanding the State’s procurement process, how to market your firm, navigate contracting opportunities, as well as how to work with Empire State Development’s (ESD) Business Development Team.
Take advantage of a one-of-a-kind, virtual opportunity to meet decision makers and procurement officers from New York State’s Agencies and Authorities. Forge mutually beneficial relationships with government professionals and learn about new projects in current and upcoming pipelines.
Dive into a unique virtual networking experience! Attendees will be able to visit dozens of booths – communicating via chat or video chat. Be sure to efficiently utilize your time by mapping out which virtual booths you will be visiting!
Join these on-demand workshops that will provide invaluable information and strategies for building your business better into 2021 and beyond. Be sure to download each one of them into your virtual briefcase to take away for future reference.
Join this informative session to learn how you can navigate the design build procurement process. Industry experts will break down the design build process and share important insights into the procurement timeline and the best way to build relationships with design build teams already working on projects and those that are building new MWBE talent banks.
Successful business owners will share their first-hand experience on building, maintaining and growing successful teams and companies. View this on-demand session if you are looking for practical, real-time advice from industry leaders and are ready to take your business to the next level!
Join New York State Workers Compensation Board (WCB) as they provide an important overview on what businesses need to know about workers compensation coverage. This on-demand session is a must- attend for small businesses that are new or have questions about workers compensation and compliance requirements.
New York State continues to provide funding to support the $20 billion five-year investment in affordable housing to ensure New Yorkers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have safe and secure housing. New York State’s goal is to create or preserve 100,000 new affordable housing and 6,000 supportive housing units. This session will review the opportunities in this market sector.
The opportunities are HERE! This session is packed with insightful information for MWBEs who are active in advertising and marketing, graphic design, food and beverage, medical, dental supplies, insurance and janitorial services. Learn about which NYS agencies and authorities have contract opportunities and how best to bid them.
Wary of signing onto a construction project with a Project Labor Agreement (PLA)? This session will introduce you to the art and science of navigating a PLA. Topics include: understanding the short and long-term value of a PLA, the role that PLAs play in creating new and sustainable relationships and how to protect and negotiate your position when a dispute or claim occurs.
Ready to CONNECT WITH OPPORTUNITIES and meet your next business relationship? Sign up for “In the Booth” Meetups with public and private sector organizations. You must pre-register, bring your capability statement and have your impactful introductory pitch ready to make the best connection. Remember, there are no waitlists today, so be on time and prepared for your appointment.
Make time to visit the special NYS MWBE Forum Chat Room and connect with other MWBEs and find new teaming partners.
After networking, close out the 2020 Forum with a special MWBE Champion Awards Reception, starting live at 2:30 p.m.
This is your unique opportunity to virtually meet New York State private sector corporations and New York State public sector authorities and agencies. These 10-minute sessions will provide you the opportunity to introduce your company and learn more about potential contract opportunities. Meeting opportunities are limited, and you need to sign up early for an “In the Booth” Meetup.
You must pre-register online on Day 1 to participate in this opportunity of the conference. Meetings are scheduled through the virtual platform at exhibitor booths. Meetings are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Meet with procurement decision makers in the following market sectors:
A signature session at the Forum, MWBE to MWBE is an opportunity for certified firms to meet with one another to explore potential partnerships. This virtual networking session is for MWBEs who are seeking to build their capacity through teaming and creating strategic alliances with other MWBEs. Check out the NYS MWBE Forum Chat Room to find out who is ready to take a meeting.
NEW! This intimate roundtable will include a thought-provoking conversation between MWBEs and New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. Key takeaways will include how certified firms are partnering with NYS agencies and authorities to build their businesses better, as well as how these firms are pivoting throughout 2020.
Every year, the NYS MWBE Forum celebrates the industry’s leading public service professionals, honoring them for their commitment to increasing opportunities for certified firms. End your Forum experience with this exciting, virtual awards reception!
Below are several areas of Frequently Asked Questions that will help you navigate the new virtual 2020 NYS MWBE Forum portal. If your question is not answered below, please email us at info@nysmwbeforum.orgor visit the Help Desk on the portal.
.jpg)
.png)