2021 Virtual Government Procurement Conference

Optimize costs, Mitigate risks, Enable business growth
When all rules changed for procurement during the pandemic many wondered how New York’s business would return. Over the last year or so we have been slowly returning to the city and state and we want to talk about what it looks like. The Government Procurement Conference will foster business partnerships between the city and state level government, prime contractors, and small, minority, service-disabled veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses.

1:00 PM	Welcome and Introduction By Emcee Zach Williams, Senior Reporter, City & State NY
1:05 PM	Keynote Speaker Sean Carroll, Chief Procurement Officer, NYS Office of General Services
1:20 PM	The Challenge of Keeping Up With Technology for City and State Government Lloyd Levine, Sr. Strategic Executive Manager State Government Technology Solutions, T-Mobile Charles O'Shea, Eastern Regional Executive for State Government Strategy, T-Mobile
1:30 PM	What to Know about Doing Business in New York Citing the high costs of doing business in New York City and the devastating impact the COVID-19 impact aspects of procurement are distinct to New York in terms of laws, taxes and procurement. This panel will provide an inside look at the New York procurement process and prepare you to navigate the system in a post-COVID world including strategies effective at addressing potential challenges including the possibility of a second wave, tips to win the bidding process and explain the complexity of RFPs, plus hear what NY government entities want from potential contractors. Rebecca Lewis, Reporter, City & State NY (moderator) Mersida Ibric, Deputy Commissioner for Citywide Procurement, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services Jennifer Geiling, Deputy Director, Policy and Partnerships New York City Mayor's Office of Contract Services Claude M. Millman, Partner, Kostelanetz & Fink, LLP Michael Garner, MBA, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
2:25 PM	Best Practices for Procurement: MWBE’s and Small Businesses What are some of the best MWBE programs and procurement opportunities for small MWBE firms looking to work with government agencies? How can they navigate government and authorities? What are the various procurement methods used by public authorities, and what are the best types for small MWBE firms to gain access? Our panelists will also discuss the process for discretionary purchases for items or services from New York State certified small businesses, MWBEs, LGBTBEs, and SDVOBs. Kristin Malek, Director of Business Diversity, CDW (moderator) Jonnel Doris, Commissioner, NYC Small Business Services Senator James Sanders Jr., Chair, Task Force of MWBEs Council Member Robert Cornegy, Chair of the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Task Force Suzanne Veira, Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer, New York City School Construction Authority
3:20 PM	Innovative Procurement Ideas & Fundamentals We discuss innovative developments in procurement from technology, hiring practices, how to partner with Preferred Sources, cooperative procurement, opportunities through green certifications, ideas to cut through the red tape in your very own company, and how to jump through government hoops necessary to get through this process. Annie McDonough, Reporter, City & State NY (moderator) Carlos Bannister, Deputy Chief Contracting Officer/Director of VRAC, NYC Department of Transportation Nick Mendoza, Chief MWBE Officer, NYC Department of Education Christopher Burke,Executive Director, NYS Preferred Source Program for People who are Blind/NIB Wayne Lambert, Chief Diversity & Industry Relations Officer, Office of Diversity & Industry Relations, NYC Department of Design and Construction
4:10 PM	Session Concludes

Inclusion is one of the core values of City & State. Our goal is to create a company climate accessible to all, and proactively plan events free of physical, communication and/or other barriers so all individuals may meaningfully participate in our activities and events.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend City & State sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Alexis Arsenault at aarsenault@cityandstateny.com or Amanda Cortez at acortez@cityandstateny.com.

Please contact us for the full policy.