The Inspector General for the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) has a dual report to both the SCA President and CEO as well as the Department of Investigation (DOI) Commissioner.
The goal of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is to protect the SCA from victimization by racketeering, fraudulent schemes, wasteful practices and all manner of crimes perpetrated by those doing business with, as well as those employed by the SCA. Our goal is to reduce corruption and fraud, improve SCA's systems and practices, and support civil suits for the recovery of monies that have been lost.
To make a complaint please email: inspector@scaoig.org or call the OIG main number at 718-901-6600.
The External Affairs Department serves as the intergovernmental arm of the SCA. External Affairs develops and maintains positive relationships between the SCA and elected officials, community boards, community education councils, other public agencies and utilities and the United Federation of Teachers. External Affairs represents the SCA at public hearings, maintains interagency communications, manages agency correspondence, responds to media inquiries and assists in emergency situations.
Public Art for Public Schools
Public Art for Public Schools (PAPS), a unit within the New York City School Construction Authority, is the only public art program dedicated to schools in the country. Established in 1989, the program commissions site-specific projects for new school buildings and oversees the maintenance and preservation of nearly 2000 existing artworks in the New York City Department of Education's collection throughout the five boroughs. Our goal is to provide schools with artworks that visually enhance the learning environment, serve as unique and exciting resources for teaching, and most of all, inspire students.
The Capital Plan Management Department (CPM) is responsible for developing and implementing a wide variety of mission critical initiatives that provide the basis for capital funding and resource allocation decisions made to implement the SCA’s Capital Plan. This includes both new school construction under the Capacity program, and building modernizations and renovations under the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) program. The current Capital Plan (FY2020-2024) has over $20.6 billion in funding and is broken out into three categories: Capacity, Capital Investment, and Mandated Programs. CPM also oversees the Resolution A (Reso A) projects which are school-specific capital improvement or enhancement projects funded by individual grants from Borough Presidents or members of the New York City Council. CPM also manages the implementation of Mayoral initiatives.
Through the execution of the Five-Year Capital Plan, the department plays a key role in shaping and defining the projects that will meet the complex and vital needs of our evolving school system and provide New York City's nearly one million schoolchildren with safe and modern learning environments.
The Construction Management Department administers all capital improvement program (CIP) projects performed in existing public school buildings and the construction of new schools. Construction Management does so in a safe and efficient manner, working with the school and community to work quickly and minimize the impact on the educational process while maintaining the highest standards of quality.
Operations and Risk Management supports and improves the design and construction of New York City public schools by identifying risks and recommending ways to mitigate or remedy those risks with opportunities for innovation or change; challenging other departments to think about new or alternative approaches to policies or processes, and supporting the administrative and organizational needs of departments and staff in a proactive way. This department oversees Administrative Services, Business Process and Policy, Contract Administration, Internal Audit, Lifecycle Cost Management, and Risk Management and Insurance.
The Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Department includes the following divisions:
These divisions provide technical support and oversight in their respective areas of expertise throughout the SCA.
Organization Chart
The Executive Office includes the office of the President and CEO, Chief of Staff and support staff. The Executive Office oversees the successful operation of the School Construction Authority providing the direction, vision and goals accompanying the design and construction of safe, attractive and environmentally sound public schools for New York City’s children.
Finance
Finance encompasses the following units: Capital Budgeting, Encumbrance, Accounts Payable, Accounting Operations, State Aid & Financial Reporting, Operating Budget, FEMA Reimbursements & Special Projects, Vendor Management and Operations Data Center.
Human Resources
Human Resources (HR) recruits, engages and manages a civil service compliant and representative workforce and provide a variety of services to that workforce in areas such as employment, benefits, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), payroll, timekeeping, performance management, labor/management relations and training. HR staff will deliver these services accurately and in a timely, professional and collegial manner. HR strives to support maximizing employee productivity and morale in the SCA through special programs and routine tasks.
The goal of the SCA's Business Development Department (BD) is to develop, expand, and manage a successful minority-owned, woman-owned, and local business enterprise (MWLBE) program that effectively promotes the growth, education, and prosperity of the largest possible group of diverse SCA certified and qualified firms; to facilitate the successful participation of these firms in the SCA's construction program; and to encourage the creation of other opportunities for these firms in the greater construction industry.
In fulfilling this, BD conducts outreach to encourage MWLBE firms to prequalify and certify to bid on SCA projects and certifies vendors as MWLBEs. BD and Construction Management jointly manage the Mentor and Graduate Mentor programs. BD has responsibility for the Mentor program training curriculum, loan program, and bonding program. BD also provides training and capacity building resources to MWLBEs not in the Mentor program. The department enforces compliance with the SCA's MWLBE and workforce participation goals on construction projects. BD also manages a Summer Internship Program for high school students, a year-round college internship program and a construction back-office workforce development program, Opportunity Academy. In performing these and related tasks, BD works very closely with the Prequalification Unit (which qualifies firms to do business with the SCA), Contract Administration, Construction Management, and other SCA departments.
The Office of the General Counsel is principally responsible for all of the legal services required to support the SCA's design and construction program. Specifically, the Office reviews and drafts contracts and other legal documents; manages litigation initiated by or against the SCA; acquires property for school construction through negotiation or eminent domain proceedings; reviews claims and proposed settlements arising under the SCA's Owner Controlled Insurance Program; responds to Freedom of Information Law requests; represents the SCA in inter-governmental investigations and inquiries; and manages the alternative dispute resolution and contract termination processes.
In addition, the Office provides legal advice to all departments in the SCA and, generally, and interprets laws and regulations that govern or impact the SCA's business operations. The Office also has responsibility for managing Real Estate and Labor Law Compliance.
The Information Technology Department delivers system solutions that support the work of the professionals at the SCA who build schools for the students of New York City. The IT Department includes:
The Design and Construction Innovation Management Department (DCIM) uses a 360 degree approach focused on quality control, innovation, value engineering and agency support aligned with the SCA’s mission to design and construct safe, attractive and environmentally sound accessible public schools for children throughout the communities of New York City.
Promoting interdepartmental collaboration and providing technical support to other SCA departments is at the core of DCIM’s mission to provide leadership to innovate and achieve continuous improvement in all that SCA does.
DCIM also identifies and implements pilot studies based on construction-related observations that warrant attention or offer opportunities for improvement through revisions to the A&E scope and design processes. DCIM collects data, documents information, develops and proposes solutions, and ensures that the findings and lessons learned are captured in updates to SCA standards and procedures.