Why certify your business with Suffolk County?
Certifying your business as a Suffolk County Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) will place your information on the Suffolk County M/WBE Directory which has several advantages as listed below.
The Directory will contain a database of Minority & Women owned businesses by National Institute of Goverment Purchasing (NIGP) code stating the type of goods and services offered. This will facilitate companies seeking particular goods and services to find M/WBE's via code.
M/WBE's can also sign up for e-mail alerts from the Suffolk County Purchasing Department and Department of Public Works advising of the availability of contracts to M/WBE's. This system is unique in that it generates e-mail notices of Request For Proposals (RFP's) by NIGP code. This will allow greater access by M/WBE's wishing to obtain Suffolk County contracts for the particular goods and services specific to their business.
When RFP's and bid responses are submitted to Suffolk County, general and prime contractors must submit, along with their responses, a "utilization plan" detailing how they will incorporate the use of M/WBE's, if awarded the contract.
Ownership must be real, substantial and continuing. The applicant must have and exercise the authority to independently control the business decisions of the enterprise. The business enterprise must demonstrate that it is an independent, continuing entity which has been actively seeking contracts or orders and regularly and actively performing business activities. Generally, the business should have in operation for at least one year.
Our focus:
- To register firms doing business in Suffolk County as M/WBE's, when qualified.
- Encourage and promote the participation of M/WBE's in the county procurement process.
- Provide Businesses and Prime contractors with a list of M/WBE’s doing business in Suffolk County.
- Provide Prime contractors doing business with Suffolk County with list of M/WBE’s that they can use to meet their Suffolk County’s utilization goals.
Note:
Certification by NYS or Suffolk County will be verified by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Community Engagement and noted in the member’s profile.
Firms wishing to participate as an M/WBE are also encouraged to be cerified through the New York State M/WBE Office.