QUESTION
Council Member Brooks Powers Probes Migrant Transport Contracts and MWBE Inclusion
1:34:15
·
6 min
Council Member Brooks Powers investigates the procedure for awarding migrant transport contracts, focusing on MWBE participation and the selection of contractors like the Garner Group. She queries Michael Garner on emergency contracts, government-to-government agreements, and the methods of identifying transportation service providers, including through prequalified lists and outreach. The chapter scrutinizes the exclusion of local MWBEs from directly secured contracts and the equity goals within these agreements, emphasizing the need for transparent selection processes and equal opportunities for MWBEs.
Speaker 1
1:34:15
And also while we're on this prequalify list, I know, Mister Garnon, your remarks early, lightly touched on the migrant contracts also.
1:34:26
And so The commuter vans are used to transport migrants.
1:34:36
And I like to understand how have the those who are doing that transportation work been identified if it was through the pre qualified list.
Speaker 5
1:34:51
It's a combination of outreach, prequalified list.
1:34:55
As recent as yesterday, we asked SBS to send over a list of transportation companies for an opportunity that exists here at city hall with transporting documents and other kind of mail at various sites.
1:35:11
And so there's been there's a outreach of those firms who are already certified in order to integrate them into the process.
Speaker 1
1:35:19
And so can you elaborate on what the process is?
1:35:22
Because, obviously, there's no RFP out on this, but there are contracts that have been awarded for transportation services by commuter vans.
1:35:34
And can you also shed light on what commuter van companies have been secured?
1:35:41
And if they are m and or WBE?
Speaker 5
1:35:45
Right.
1:35:45
So, yes, so we we have existing contracts.
1:35:50
For example, the Gartner Group, the Garner Group is operating some of the migrant facilities.
1:35:57
And under their scope, there are transportation services.
1:36:01
So the echo at that agency will reach out to either our office or SBS asked for a list of transportation providers and then integrate those firms into the opportunity under that outside consultant.
Speaker 1
1:36:17
And then their contract, I would imagine, is then updated to include this new service and new dollar amount?
Speaker 5
1:36:25
Yes.
1:36:25
Yes.
Speaker 1
1:36:26
And so and you said and it's the name Garner Group?
Speaker 5
1:36:29
Yes.
1:36:29
The the the Garner Group.
1:36:30
No no relation.
1:36:32
I would not be sitting here right now.
Speaker 1
1:36:36
And are they are m or w b?
Speaker 5
1:36:38
No.
1:36:38
No.
1:36:38
They they are they are they are not.
1:36:40
But but we're once again, we're are still holding their feet to the fire for MWD.
1:36:46
That's so comforting.
1:36:48
I'm not really sure I can find out for you.
Speaker 1
1:36:50
Please.
1:36:50
And are they the only one right now that's been identified for this?
Speaker 5
1:36:54
4 is Are
Speaker 1
1:36:55
they the only group that's been identified in terms of transportation services for the migrants?
Speaker 5
1:37:00
I'll I'll find that out also as well.
Speaker 1
1:37:02
Okay.
1:37:03
And do they have a goal that they're prior to have in terms of MWBE participation?
Speaker 5
1:37:11
Goals goals and those contracts are 30%.
Speaker 1
1:37:14
30%.
1:37:15
And is it, like, 20 m 10 w, or is it 30 foot m w either or?
Speaker 6
1:37:21
I would I I I'd highlight chair, I think, first, the specific example we're talking now.
1:37:24
For Garner, you mentioned, not an RFP.
1:37:26
If it's an emergency contract in the technical sense.
1:37:29
Now, the Garner contract is not.
1:37:31
It is an it is a government to government contract.
1:37:32
We're actually leveraging the federal government's purchasing power using that.
1:37:35
This was one of the first contracts leveraged.
1:37:38
Sure.
1:37:38
I'm sorry, chair.
1:37:40
But for an emergency contract, that is excluded from local law 1.
1:37:44
So this bill that the council passed, 6129, emergency contract is not part of local l 1, so it won't be able to utilize the power of local l 1, but it won't be constrained.
1:37:54
And I think what chief garner is a really important point.
1:37:57
We focus on local law 1 because that's what we're commanded to do.
1:37:59
It's what we're unable to do.
1:38:01
But even if it's not within that bucket, we're still maximizing equity.
1:38:04
So with the asylum response, we're not able to put it right into the same bucket as local law 1.
1:38:08
But we are able to do other things to encourage equity as chief Garner says, he's there meeting with these echoes saying, what can we do here?
1:38:15
How can I connect you with the right list?
1:38:17
How can I make sure they're doing and we're seeing those results?
1:38:20
So to make that thing is that it it will be different nearly because of the fact that it's an emergency, but it was all interwoven.
Speaker 1
1:38:27
And so the Ghana group right now is operating a an emergency contract.
Speaker 6
1:38:32
I believe that's actually a government to government contract through Decast.
1:38:36
I was gonna say, I can certainly get back to you.
1:38:37
But I know that's Well,
Speaker 1
1:38:38
this government to government, it does fall under local law requirement local law requirement.
Speaker 6
1:38:43
Actually, I I don't believe government government do.
1:38:45
Again, because the idea is that the vendor is not necessary going to be doing it.
Speaker 1
1:38:50
And why would it be a government to government contract with this entity?
Speaker 6
1:38:54
Excuse me.
1:38:54
Intergovernmental contract.
1:38:55
So we're piggybacking off of a federal GSA schedule.
1:38:58
So that was
Speaker 1
1:38:59
back in October.
Speaker 6
1:39:01
Federal GSA General Services Administration, I believe.
1:39:05
Contract.
1:39:05
So that is I know DCAS is testified to that, and NICE was testified to that in previous emergency hearings.
1:39:11
That that was one of the first contracts that was utilized to address the emergency response.
Speaker 1
1:39:16
And then how was the Garner group selected?
1:39:18
Are they the only ones well, I guess you confirm if they are the only But in the event that they are the only one like, the only one that has this contract in the space of these GSA contracts, are they the only one that exist that could have been selected and how were they selected?
Speaker 6
1:39:34
I can certainly get back on how Decast actually did their selection.
1:39:37
I know that they've testified to previously.
1:39:39
So I would defer to their previous testimony on that contract.
Speaker 1
1:39:43
Where's the Gartner Group face that are?
Speaker 6
1:39:45
I do not know.
Speaker 1
1:39:47
And we get that also, that info
Speaker 2
1:39:48
I'm pretty sure the when we had the last contract migrant asylum seeker hearing, it IS OUT OF STATE ANTTY.
Speaker 6
1:39:58
I BELIEVE SO IT IS A VERY LARGE ORGANIZATION OFF OF THE GOOD PROMISTS.
1:40:03
I BELIEVE YOU MAY thinking of SLS perhaps Tier 1.
1:40:06
But, again, I think we're all speculating.
1:40:07
So I think we can certainly get back to you with details.
Speaker 1
1:40:10
If we can get some of these answers while we're in the hair, hearing you guys under oath, that'd be great because I'm very curious about this because I know we have New York based commuter vans that are MBEs that have not been contracted, but they have been contacted to become subs potentially with, I guess, I'm assuming it's still gonna group.
1:40:34
But my question is, why is the city not directly contracting New York based minority businesses.
1:40:43
Why is that money even going to Texas?
1:40:46
Who's sending us migrants here in New York City, quite honestly, to be able to get these dollars.
1:40:52
So I really wanna understand that.
1:40:55
I have tons more questions.
1:40:57
I'm gonna pause because council member Rivera has some questions.
Speaker 16
1:41:03
Yes.
1:41:03
I had a question.