Services

Below, you will find a snapshot explanation of some of the successful tools where Metro Strategies has served as the architect, and methodologies that we have included in our “toolbox strategy” for clients to be able to take advantage of proven resources and best practices.

Business Initiative Business Development Initiative is designed to support your business efforts to increase your competitiveness, sustainability and bid opportunities. Additionally, the BDI is positioned to build a sustainable business development initiative, and look beyond just the business itself. We build trust between not just government entities, but also with influential business leaders, academic institutions, and local non-profit leaders.

Workforce Development Metro Strategies Policy Oriented Initiatives Early on, Metro Strategies has learned that in the contracting arena small businesses struggle to compete in an environment where the contracting opportunities are scarce. Our expertise has been in the development of policy-oriented initiatives which allow small businesses to compete in an otherwise unfriendly business environment. Bluesheet at Time of Bid Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Goal/Blue Sheets will be required to be submitted at the time of the bid.  This information may be used by the department to establish non-responsive bidders, if some bidders are able to achieve the stated goals and others are not demonstrating that ability.  This information may be used in its evaluation of the process and will assist the department in its assessment of contractor good faith efforts to meet the DBE goals.  If a bidder fails to submit the required documentation within the specified time, that bid will not be considered by the department Capacity Targeted Projects The goal of the program is to increase the capacity of the DBE construction industry in core MDOT work items, such as grading, drainage, and paving, by creating more opportunities for certified and pre-qualified DBE contractors to perform work on MDOT projects. The underlying premise of this program is that DBE firms will have greater success obtaining practical road building experience and increased bidding capacity on smaller projects. Smaller projects generally have fewer time constraints than the large high impact projects which receive most of the public attention.  Over time, as more DBE firms gain experience in core MDOT work items, the DBE industry will be better prepared to bid on and successfully perform larger amounts of work on the larger high impact projects. Best Value Contracting In this innovative approach to road construction contracting, the conventional low-bid process was amended to include a Best Value proposal.  In this technical proposal, 60% of the contract was based on the low-bid process whereas 40% was based how the proposed bidders expected to approach a number of line items including plans for:  Air Quality Monitoring and Mitigation Plan, Ambient and Construction Noise Monitoring, Construction Traffic and Mobility Monitoring and Mitigation Plan, Limiting Construction Damage Plan, Utility Assurance Plan, Local Contractor and Workforce Participation Plan.