The SCA seeks to increase, facilitate and encourage the participation of minority-owned, women-owned and locally based enterprise (MWLBE) firms by providing a flexible framework for eligible firms to develop and grow within the construction industry and to establish long-term business relationships with the SCA.

Through its Mentor and Graduate Mentor programs, the SCA seeks to increase MWLBE participation in School Construction projects.

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Mentor Program

This four-year program pairs MWLBE contractors with large, well-known Construction Managers who provide individualized on-the-job training and guidance. In exchange for a multi-year commitment, prequalified and certified firms have the opportunity to bid against other Mentor firms for projects with an estimated value of up to $750,000, allowing them to establish a long-term business relationship with the SCA. The program also offers the following additional support for Mentor firm growth:

Mentor Loan Program – The SCA provides access to capital for small contractors. Firms that participate in the Mentor Program are eligible to apply for loans of up to $150,000.
Construction and Information Technology Training – The SCA provides an innovative and effective classroom program that offers training in a variety of disciplines.
Surety Bond Program – Firms receive assistance applying for and obtaining surety bonding – a requirement for performing that offers training in a variety of disciplines.

Graduate Mentor Program

The two-year Graduate Mentor Program provides MWLBE firms that have successfully completed the Mentor Program with the experience and support necessary to transition from smaller projects to compete successfully in the SCA’s Capital Improvement Program. Graduate Mentor firms bid against each other for projects with an estimated value of between $750,000 and $1 million.

MWLBE Participation in Construction and Consultant Subcontracts

MWLBE participation is of the evaluation criteria used when reviewing RFPs submitted by consultants and professional services firms.
The SCA requires that general contractors meet the goals of 20% MWLBE subcontract participation for all Capital Improvement and Capacity Construction Projects valued at over $1 million.

In order to participate in the SCA's Mentor Program, a firm must meet all of the following criteria:

Be prequalified to do business with the SCA; Learn how to get prequalified: SCA Prequalification Page.
Be certified as a Minority-Owned Business (MBE), Woman-Owned Business (WBE) or Locally-Based Enterprise (LBE); Learn how to become certified as MWLBE: MWLBE Certification Page.
Provide at least two (2) references for commercial work – valued at no less than $25,000 each – in every trade for which it wishes to be qualified; and
Have been in business for at least one (1) year.

Because the program is targeted to the small contracting business community, a firm:

Cannot exceed average gross sales of more than $2.1 million in the last three (3) calendar years; and
Must have no bonding capacity or less than $1 million bonding capacity.

After a MWLBE firm receives its certification and prequalification approval letters and is qualified in one of the Mentor-eligible trades, it becomes eligible for an invitation to participate in the program. Firms that meet the minimum eligibility requirements are assessed by our Scope B CM firm for program participation and are invited to attend an orientation session at which time they are provided with a Mentor Participation Agreement. Once the firm returns a signed agreement and it is approved, it will be entered in the program. Once the firm is entered into the program and completes all required classes, they will then automatically included on bid lists based on the scope of work of the project and their approved trade codes.

Information

To obtain Mentor Program criteria or information on how to apply, please call the Business Development Division at (718) 472-8760.

For assistance with the online certification application, call the BDD Hotline at (718) 472-8899. Hours of operation are Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm.