Mentor Programs

GENERAL INFORMATION

The SCA seeks to increase, facilitate and encourage the participation of Minority, Women-Owned and Locally-Based Enterprises (M/W/LBEs) by providing a flexible framework for eligible firms to develop and grow within the construction industry and to establish stable, long-term business relationships with the SCA.

Through its Mentor and Graduate Mentor programs, the SCA seeks to increase M/W/LBE participation in school construction projects.

MENTOR PROGRAM

The Mentor Program partners emerging M/W/LBE firms with some of the industry’s largest Construction Management firms, providing the M/W/LBE firm with construction dollars and valuable experience.  The program provides:

• Experience working on SCA projects



• Technical assistance and training



• General business, organizational and personnel skills development



• Marketing and business development



• Fast track payment systems



• Access to working capital and bonding

A key component of the program is that it targets smaller construction contracts – typically ranging from $80,000 to $750,000 – for M/W/LBE bidding. The SCA hires Construction Managers not only to ensure that all projects are completed safely, on time and within budget, but also to mentor and provide technical assistance to participating firms. The projects are exempt from bonding and do not require union affiliation, but participating firms must pay prevailing wages.

GRADUATE MENTOR PROGRAM

Upon successful completion of a four-year mentoring relationship, a company is eligible to complete a two-year advanced program that provides eligibility to bid on projects valued at $750,001 to $1 million. The contracts are awarded directly without a Construction Manager’s participation in order to prepare the firm to transition to active and independent contract work with the SCA.  Firms must obtain surety bonding to participate.

MENTOR PROGRAM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

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

1. Be pre-qualified to do business with the SCA;



• Learn how to get pre-qualified and download the application form at: http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/SCA/DoingBusiness/Pre-qualification/default.htm



2. Be certified as a Minority-Owned Business (MBE) or  as a Woman-Owned Business (WBE) or as a Locally-Based Enterprise (LBE);



• To find the requirements for certifying as a M/W/LBE and download the M/WBE or LBE applications, click the following link: http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/SCA/DoingBusiness/MWLBECertification/default.htm.



3. Provide at least two references for commercial work – valued at no less than $25,000 each – in every trade for which it  wishes to be qualified; and



4. Have been in business for at least one year.

Because the program is targeted to the small contracting business community, a firm can not have:

• Average gross sales more than $2.1 million in the last three calendar years; and



• Bonding capacity greater than $1 million.

HOW DO FIRMS GET WORK?

Once you have received your certification and pre-qualification approval letters you are eligible for participation in the program. In order to best market your firm's skills:

• Contact all of the construction manager consultants listed below;



• Send them an introductory letter or brochure about your firm and follow up with a phone call.

THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS FOR THE MENTOR PROGRAM

INFORMATION AND CONTACT PERSONS

For Mentor Program criteria or information on how to apply, please call:

• The Mentor Program Unit (718) 472-8357 (Naisha Cuthbert) or



• Business Development Unit (718)472-8325 (Lloyd Mair)

For an application for certification as a Minority-Owned, Woman-Owned or Locally-Based Enterprise, please call Lloyd Mair at (718) 472-8325.

To contact the Program Director, please call Robin L. Wilcox at (718) 472-8036.