The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) has launched a new procurement initiative to help expand vendor participation in the city fleet’s trucking and specialized equipment procurements. DCAS issued a Request for Information to provide opportunities for qualified, yet lesser known businesses, including minority and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs).

“NYC operates the largest municipal fleet in the country with over 30,000 units,” said DCAS Commissioner Lisette Camilo. “Through this RFI our aim is to open up fleet contracts to new bidders including reaching out to minority and women businesses as part of our growing M/WBE initiative.”

The RFI will also assist DCAS in gathering market insights and knowledge from the trucking industry on how to identify and expand the market within trucking and specialized equipment procurements. Moreover, the competition will provide the city with better potential pricing, access to different types of equipment expertise and capabilities, and a more diversified fleet, according to the city.

Through this RFI process, DCAS can also gain a better understanding of the universe of M/WBE vendors in this sector and how city fleet can effectively develop future procurements to reduce barriers to entry that M/WBE vendors may currently face.

“DCAS spends over $200 million annually in the procurement of trucks and specialized equipment for all City agencies” said NYC Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman. “We are excited about the potential of this RFI to expand the marketplace to include M/WBE vendors.”

The city fleet operates 4,847 medium-duty trucking units; 7,229 heavy-duty trucking units, and 4,812 off-road and specialized units. Over the last four fiscal years, DCAS invested a total of $1.2 billion to purchase various types of vehicles, trucks, machines, and equipment.

The city seeks responses from all vendors involved in the trucking and equipment sector; in addition, responses that can highlight the potential use of alternative fuels for these vehicles. All potential vendors in this sector are encouraged to participate in the RFI.

This RFI initiative is in addition to the agency’s commitment to increasing M/WBE participation in all industries in which New York City procures.