Understanding Project Labor Agreements
I remember how overwhelming it was to bid on a government project for the very first time. There was SO much to go through! It was super easy to feel overwhelmed by the entire process, especially when I ran into one of the densest and most confusing parts of the …
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Blueprint Reading/Specifications II
Are you ready to take the next step towards having a complete understanding of blueprints and specifications? Last month, the NYC Department of Small Business Services and Jean Kristensen Associates held a webinar specifically aimed at helping small construction firms (especially MWBEs) gain a baseline knowledge about blueprint reading in …
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Blueprint Reading/Specifications I
Do you find reading blueprints and specifications confusing? One of the roadblocks in the way of many civil and architectural firms looking to work with government agencies is the numerous technical documents, blueprints, and specifications included in bid packages. For those just starting out in the first few months of …
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Teaming, Subcontracting & Joint Ventures
How often do you find yourself working together with other MWBEs on larger projects? In our experience working with minority and women small business owners across the state, we’ve discovered that many don’t consider how working together with their competitors can yield excellent results, helping them grow their business and …
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Basics of Subcontracting for Construction Firms
Is your MWBE trying to break into the world of government contracts? Trying to land a contract with a government agency is a fantastic way to grow your small business’ revenue, but it isn’t the only one! Suppose you don’t yet have the experience to make a competitive bid for …
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Navigating Opportunities through the City of New York
Over the last year, you may have felt like there was a lack of opportunities available to everyone, but especially for small businesses. And that’s understandable because IT’S TRUE! 2020 was a wasteland of a year in many ways, but we cannot overstate the damage it inflicted on small businesses …
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What Are the Basics of Subcontracting
What Are the Basics of Subcontracting If you’re a minority or woman-owned small business and are looking to get into the world of government contracts, a great gateway can be to maneuver your way into subcontracting. Every year, the City of New York has a subcontracting goal of 30% for …
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Best Practices for Responding to and Winning RFPs
If you are looking to add government agencies to your client roster, you are going to have to develop expertise in responding to and winning RFPs. Here are my recommendations for some of the best practices you can follow: Read the Entire Solicitation: Avoid skipping right to the scope of …
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Should You Go After Small/Micro Purchases Contracts?
Are you thinking about making the city of NYC your next client? If you’re a small M/WBE in the City of New York, maybe you should be! Last year, New York City spent over a $1 billion on contracts with M/WBEs. That’s up over $32 million over the same period …
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Get the New Year Started Off Right by Learning How to Market to the Government
There are always milestones throughout the year where we check in with our small business’ finances. This is usually tax time and the beginning of fall (new school year!), but the most natural place to do some checking in is at the end of the year. Not only does the …
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