Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises

What is a M/WBE?

Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) are for-profit businesses and at least 51% owned and operated by a minority and /or a woman.

Why is this important?

Given many of our service vendors interact with students and teachers, a diverse vendor base is imperative to obtain equity in student achievement by enriching the educational experience for our students.

How does Utilizing M/WBE's benefit our organization?

1. Promotes innovation through the entrance of new products, services, and solutions that meets the differing needs of our diverse student population.
2. Provides multiple channels from which to procure goods/services without relying on a single company.
3. Drives competition on price and service between our agency’s existing and potential vendors.
4. Confers preferred customer status upon NYC Public Schools as an initial investor in a small business’ success
5. Boosts the agency’s socially conscious reputation by demonstrating an interest to the economic growth of all communities.

How do I find M/WBE's for my procurement needs?

You can find M/WBE vendors using the M/WBE Directory Search Tool on FAMIS for your program and purchasing needs. To access the tool, log in to the FAMIS Portal, navigate to the left side of the main screen, under "Inquiry" and click the section titled, “M/WBE Directory.” For more information, review the Office of Supplier Diversity Employee Resource Sheet and the Office of Supplier Diversity site. 

You can find additional city-certified M/WBE's by company name, location or job keywords using the Small Business Services website. There are over 10,000 M/WBE firms available to search.

You can find additional New York State certified M/WBE's on the NYS Directory.

Office of Supplier Diversity Employee Resource Sheet

How can I Identify a certified M/WBE in the MTAC Selection Tool? 

There is now an M/WBE directory in the MTAC Selection Tool that shows an active list of current M/WBE vendors categorized by the services they provide. We're working to increase the number of M/WBE's on the MTAC Selection Tool and will identify any newly added M/WBE's using an icon titled as “New.” The New icon will be displayed for 60 days when the vendor is added to the portal. 

How can I Identify a city-certified M/WBE in FAMIS?

FAMIS currently displays the above logo for all vendors that are city-certified with NYC Small Business Services (NYC SBS).

Why a vendor may not have the M/WBE logo displayed:

1. Vendor is not city certified with NYC SBS.
2. Vendor's certification may have expired certification is valid for 5 years.
3. The vendor is a non-profit.
4. FAMIS currently only displays the logo when creating a non-contracted PO, SIPP or searching via Vendor Inquiry screen. The logo will appear when creating a contracted PO at a later date.

How can I Identify a state-certified M/WBE in FAMIS?

FAMIS currently displays the above logo for all vendors that are state-certified with Empire State Development 

Why a vendor may not have the M/WBE logo displayed:

1. Vendor is not state certified with Empire State Development.
2. Vendor's certification may have expired certification is valid for 5 years.
3. The vendor is a non-profit.
4. FAMIS currently only displays the logo when creating a non-contracted PO, SIPP or searching via Vendor Inquiry screen.

 

Once you’ve Identified a M/WBE

If you find a certified M/WBE who does not have a NYC Public School Vendor Number yet, one can be obtained in approximately 10 business days. Simply indicate the vendor is M/WBE certified on the latest vendor add form.

Contracts for M/WBE's

The DOE can utilize a new expedited contract method for City-Certified M/WBE's. For more details, please see the M/WBE Procurement and Contract Method.

How can a Vendor become M/WBE Certified?

If a business:

1. is legally authorized to transact business in New York State,
2. has been in operation (i.e., selling goods and/or services) for at least one year,
3. is owned and operated by 51% or more Minority and/or Women (Black, Hispanic, Asian-Pacific, Asian-Indian, Native American),
4. is a for profit organization and,
5. is either located in NYC or has a "substantial presence in the geographic market of NYC"

It may be eligible for certification.

Success Stories

Learn about and celebrate M/WBEs we work with.

Saint-Cyr Art Studio (Marie E. Saint-Cyr, CEO)

Saint-Cyr Art Studio’s core mission is to beautify spaces with meaningful murals while creating opportunities for communities to be engaged in the process. For facilities that wish to beautify their space, Saint-Cyr Art Studio provides custom murals from design to implementation while offering the option to involve the client’s community in the process. Saint-Cyr Art Studio provides professional results in both community and commercial murals that are culturally reflective of the spaces they are placed in.