QUESTION
Council Member Won Inquires About MWBE Certification and Registration Delays
0:37:12
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175 sec
Council Member Julie Won seeks clarification on the process and delays in certifying and registering Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs). The discussion covers the average days for processing, the current backlog, and specific programs like MOCS aiming to assist in registration. Despite the city's historic speed compared to the state, precise data on processing times and the total number of certified MWBEs in MOCS remains unclear, indicating a need for further information from the Small Business Services (SBS).
Speaker 2
0:37:12
Thank you so much, Sherpa Towers.
0:37:15
Thank you so much for your testim I just had a few follow-up questions and some other questions that I wanted to ask.
0:37:23
For The state, Hope Knight was able to announce how they've been able to clear the backlog, especially for certifications, for MWDEs, whatever backlog.
0:37:34
I think their average was 499 days, and now they're down to under a 120 days.
0:37:38
So can you give me two data points that I'm looking or 1, what is the current backlog that is yet to be processed and registered for MWDEs?
0:37:45
And secondly, what is your average number of days for processing and making sure that they're registered and certified.
Speaker 6
0:37:51
Chair, are you referring to the certification process of becoming an MWD?
0:37:55
Yeah.
0:37:55
And so SBS is manages that process.
0:37:58
So I would say I I don't I I would doubt any of my partners would have it.
0:38:00
I certainly don't have the data on how long SBS takes to certify individual MWDEs.
0:38:06
Of course, I know that is of crucial importance.
0:38:08
I'd be happy to connect with SBS and have them get back to you.
Speaker 2
0:38:12
Okay.
0:38:13
Because I would I
Speaker 5
0:38:13
would mention I would mention that the city historically has been faster than the state.
0:38:18
And yes.
Speaker 2
0:38:19
But you all are unaware of the average number of days that it takes for you to register.
0:38:24
Because I know that Mox was doing Mox in your neighborhood, and they were helping people register in different parts of the borough in Queens to get registered for MWE's.
Speaker 6
0:38:34
Yeah.
0:38:35
So there are there are a couple of different aspects that vendors have to do.
0:38:37
Even after they're certified, they also have to get filed on passport.
0:38:41
They have to do their integrity questionnaires.
0:38:43
They have to do all of that.
0:38:44
So Moxie, right.
0:38:45
The mocks in your neighborhood program were going out there.
0:38:47
We're sitting with vendors, having them fill up that application.
0:38:49
I believe if we're talking about filings, it's definitely regarding passport.
0:38:53
In terms of sending them to SPS to get certified, we absolutely do that.
0:38:57
However, Max does not manage the process of certification.
Speaker 2
0:39:00
Okay.
0:39:00
So within passport, which you oversee in mocks, how many days does it take?
Speaker 7
0:39:04
What does it take?
0:39:05
0 for
Speaker 6
0:39:06
a so SBS and have a direct data link.
0:39:09
Actually, I think it's it's every 24 hours.
0:39:11
So one day.
0:39:11
So if someone's certified, that will be represented very quickly.
Speaker 2
0:39:15
So how many days is it taking for them from the day that they try to register with SPS to the end through the through passport and everything else.
0:39:24
What they have to do to file in the mocks pro within mocks' passport.
0:39:29
So you're saying that it takes So
Speaker 6
0:39:30
the average day for filing in terms of all vendors, I can still, like, back to you on that data.
0:39:35
But, again, I think in terms of SBS certification, that is not something that's managing passports.
0:39:39
It's not part of the procurement process that if you are an MWD or not, that process is entirely within SBS, and they determine that based off of their criteria, based off of state finance law.
0:39:49
So that's not a procurement act into itself.
0:39:51
To your question of, once it gets to that point, it is very automatic of someone would have that benefit of being a certified m WBE, but passport does not tell you or or not tell you whether you've qualified.
0:40:03
It will merely represent whether SBS certified you or not.
