Rebuild’s contractor participation goals are 30% to 35% MBE and 15% to 20% WBE.  To ensure that applicants meet Rebuild’s contractor participation goals, we strongly encourage applicants to utilize the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) Registry to solicit vendors and to encourage certified MBE and/or WBE vendors not currently included in the OEO Registry to join by applying through the website phila.mwdsbe.com.  If you have specific questions about joining the OEO Registry, please contact Jennifer Wise at (215) 683-2071.

Rebuild projects will likely need architects, landscape architects, general contractors, plumbers, electricians, and partners to carry out community engagement and more.

Some Rebuild projects are managed by experienced and qualified nonprofits called “project users.” These nonprofits will apply for grants to work on Rebuild projects.

Projects may also be managed directly by the City of Philadelphia or by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.

Rebuild’s historic investment of hundreds of millions of dollars presents an opportunity to support small, diverse businesses. Often, these businesses face barriers that make it difficult for them to work on public works projects.

Rebuild will help small businesses based in Philadelphia:

• Become certified and registered as a minority-owned business (MBE) or woman-owned business (WBE).
• Meet bonding requirements.
• Meet insurance requirements.
• Access capital and financing.
• Develop bids and manage cash flow.
• Get access to technical assistance and back-office supports (e.g. bookkeeping).
• Get access to networking events that connect diverse businesses with the nonprofits managing Rebuild projects.

Rebuild Ready is being offered in partnership with Surety Bond Associates.

The Rebuild Emerging Vendors Program helps design and construction businesses get certified as minority- or woman-owned. This valuable designation can be complicated and time-consuming for small businesses to pursue, especially if they lack full-time office staff and extra resources.

Participating businesses can be counted toward diversity goals for Rebuild contracts, and will get expert assistance to work toward permanent minority- or woman-owned certification for all City contracts.

Participants must have businesses based in Philadelphia, and provide services that are relevant to Rebuild projects. This includes design, construction, and community engagement firms. Businesses that provide other services will be processed if they have secured a Rebuild contracting opportunity.

Sign up for the Emerging Vendors Program through Surety Bond Associates.

If you are a business, organization, or professional interested in working on Rebuild projects, fill out Rebuild’s call-for-interest form to market your services to the nonprofits that manage Rebuild projects.

These nonprofits will hire partners for community engagement, design, and construction.