Hispanic Heritage Month Newsletter for all M/WBEs

September 2025

In This Issue . . .

1: Important Announcements

2: Learn and Grow With Us

3: Opportunity Corner

4: Success Stories

5: Other News and Resources

6: A Message from the Mayor

Important Announcements

September 15 – October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month

SBS celebra el “Mes de la Herencia Hispana” con la communidad Latina!

This month we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and our Hispanic and Latinx-owned M/WBEs whose impact and contributions are a vital part of New York City’s economy and beyond.  

Recently the M/WBE Mentors program hosted its first-ever Spanish language webinar, targeting Spanish-speaking and bilingual entrepreneurs across NYC, and celebrating the resilience of Latino entrepreneurship. Rafael Arboleda, a proud Latino immigrant and CEO of Compulink Technologies, shared his inspiring journey and a blueprint for his success: growing from humble beginnings in Brooklyn to leading a multimillion-dollar tech company through NYC government contracting. Stay tuned for similar events in the future. 

 

Help Us Plan Future M/WBE Engagement Opportunities

Please take this brief survey to let us know what would be most helpful for you and your business at upcoming M/WBE-related events.

Learn and Grow With Us

Bond Readiness Program 

Bonding Services

Increase your surety bond capacity for bigger NYC construction projects.

Deadline to apply: October 3, 2025

Start date: October 14, 2025

Virtual QuickBooks® for Construction Clinics

Webinar: Understanding Contract Surety Bonds

M/WBE Contract Legal Services

Legal Consultation Clinics

30-minute virtual appointment with an attorney

Pre-register by October 22

Pre-register by November 17

Webinar

Effectively Negotiating Contract Terms for Your Business

M/WBE Mentors

Virtual Events: From Certified to Contracted – Real Talk on Winning Government Work

Goods & Services M/WBEs

Construction M/WBEs

 

Selling to Government Webinar Series

Procurement Basics

Identifying Opportunity

Responding to Opportunity

Marketing to Government

Federal Webinar Series

Physna Overview: Government Contracting Resource for Manufacturers & Suppliers

Manufacturers and suppliers are invited to learn how to enhance the discoverability of services and products through Physna, an AI-powered 3D search engine, helping with efforts to do business with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Contract Management Webinar Series

Contract Management & Performance Evaluation
A Guide to the NYC Contract Award Process
Partner to Win: Prime & Subcontractor Relationships
Project Management for Professional Services
From Solo to Staffed: HR Strategies

Technical Assistance Webinar Series

Basics of Subcontracting for Professional Services
RFP Lab – Responding with Confidence

Opportunity Corner

Construction

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is seeking a vendor to install transformers, rooftop solar panels, a stormwater infiltration basin, property line manholes, and underground duct banks.

Solicitation Deadline: 10/29/25

Goods

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) is seeking bids for the procurement of a wheel loader.

Solicitation Deadline: 10/7/25

Professional Services

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Division of Energy Management is seeking a qualified firm to provide owners representative – program advisory and project management services for its Design-Build Program.

Solicitation Deadline: 10/21/25

Standard Services

The NYC Police Department (NYPD) is soliciting labs accredited by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to perform ballistic testing of personal body armor.

Solicitation Deadline: 10/2/25

For more opportunities, visit The City Record Online (CROL) Procurement section.

Success Story

Meet Carla Virola, owner of InVision Source LLC, a NYC-certified Hispanic and woman-owned IT consulting firm offering risk management, IT strategy, operational efficiency, and workforce solutions.

In 2020, Ms. Virola sought M/WBE certification with NYC, and later used SBS programs and services such as contract management, M/WBE Mentors, borough forums, financing, legal services, and recruitment services.

Ms. Virola advises other M/WBEs to never underestimate the smaller opportunities.

“We started out working directly with agencies on small engagements. For example, our first city opportunity came through the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Those small IT goods purchases were a great way to learn the process — from closing purchase requests to creating our Payee Information Portal (PIP) and Vendor Invoice Processing System (VIPs) profiles. Those early experiences were invaluable, because they gave me the foundation and confidence to handle larger opportunities when they came.”

Through contracting with the city, InVision Source has grown their capacity, most recently winning a $800,000+ contract with the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI).

For more information on this vendor and other certified M/WBEs, visit our NYC Online Directory of Certified Businesses.

Other News and Resources

Find the Right Candidates for Your Business

No matter what your diverse staffing needs are, the NYC Department of Small Business Services can help you hire the right employees — for free!

Our services, offered through 18 Workforce1 Career Centers across the city include:

  • Sourcing candidates through a network of 100K+ pre-screened job seekers and paid job boards (Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and others) at no cost to you
  • Customized screening based on your job requirements
  • Invitations to Jobs NYC hiring halls and job fairs across all 5 boroughs to meet hundreds of jobseekers

If you are interested in participating as an employer at Jobs NYC Hiring Events, please fill out this form. Please note, submission of the interest form does not guarantee tabling participation; the Jobs NYC team will confirm your status.

Unlock Free Advertising Secrets with LinkNYC

Learn the fundamentals of using the free and low-cost advertising platform for small businesses.

WE Connect 1-on-1 Tech Mentorship with Mastercard

in partnership with Mastercard and NYC Service

This program connects women-led small businesses to 1-on-1 mentorship with Mastercard employees who bring expertise in a variety of tech fields.

PowerUp2030: Prepare Your Business to Tackle Clean Energy Opportunities

PowerUp2030 is a groundbreaking 10-week business development program offered by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and LaGuardia Community College that aims to empower small businesses, especially M/WBEs and service-disabled veterans, in the emerging clean energy sector.

The program provides technical training, networking, and information on clean/renewable energy opportunities.

Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum

NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and Together for Safer Roads are proud to partner again for this important road safety event on October 8 at the Queens Theatre.

Join hundreds of leading stakeholders from public and private sector fleets, government officials, innovative safety technology companies, policy experts, and road safety advocates for a day of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and breakout sessions.

NYC Department of Social Services Goods & Services Matchmaker Event

On October 30, the NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) Marketplace Program will host an exciting in-person one-on-one Matchmaker event connecting businesses with DSS/HRA/DHS staff, other Human Service agency representatives, and partner non-profit organizations.

DSS is interested in firms providing temporary staffing, nursing, janitorial, large-scale food, maintenance, security, general construction, extermination, and IT staffing, cybersecurity and/or consulting services, among others.

Email the DSS Marketplace team at marketplace@dss.nyc.gov to express your interest in qualifying for any one-on-one interviews with key decision makers.

SBS Hotline: (888) SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692)

Answers small business owners’ most pressing questions and connects you to other SBS services. Services are available in multiple languages.

The Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS) leads procurement for the City of New York, and ensures fair, responsible, and timely procurement. They are dedicated to making doing business with the city easier and accessible for all.

You can register for all of MOCS’ free events and trainings, including Getting Started webinars and MOCS In Your Neighborhood events on Eventbrite.

A Message From the Mayor

NYC Week in Review

September 13 – 19

The NYC Week In Review videos are available weekly on the Mayor’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!

Sign up to “Hear From Eric” and get direct messages from City Hall, tailored to your interests and neighborhood, sent directly to you – at nyc.gov/hearfromeric!

NYC Department of Small Business Services | 1 Liberty Plaza 11th Floor | New York, NY 10006 US

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