The Equitable Procurement Plan (EPP) is a collection of measures and procedural changes designed to address the barriers that keep minority- and women-owned business enterprises from participating in contracting opportunities. Whereas past practices have favored incumbents and enforced historical barriers, the EPP initiatives represent strategic efforts to utilize modern, competitive procurement practices that ensure the full participation of all business enterprises, particularly M/WBEs.

Equitable Procurement Plan Initiatives

1. PROCESS AND DESIGN: Update procurement process and design to increase the number of opportunities for MWBEs to participate in our process
2. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Meaningfully expand our community outreach efforts, enhance communication about upcoming procurements, and offer technical assistance
3. DATA COLLECTION: Improve current procurement systems to better capture and analyze data related to equitable procurement goals
4. REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY: Expand the monitoring and reporting of the BPDA contract portfolio and imbed responsibilities into the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) role for long-term sustainability
5. RESOURCE ALLOCATION: Increase training and staffing to successfully act on the aforementioned initiatives

Buying Plan

The Buying Plan is a list of contract opportunities expected to be released in the next two years or 24 months. The forecast is intended to help businesses prepare for upcoming opportunities, raise awareness about opportunities, and help increase transparency in spending.

Resources

• BPDA Equitable Procurement Plan
• BPDA Disparity Study
• Technical Assistance Resources for Businesses

Getting Your Business Certified

M/WBEs and veteran-owned businesses are encouraged to certify their businesses with either the City of Boston or the State of Massachusetts.

Certification doesn’t guarantee a contract with the City or State, but getting certified makes it easier for businesses to be informed of upcoming contracting opportunities.

• Boston Certification
• State Certification

Partnerships

Staff have established partnerships with an array of organizations which reflects the diversity of the region. This includes the following organizations;

• Amplify Latinx
• Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA)
• Builders of Color Coalition
• Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE)
• Greater New England Minority Supplier Diversity Council (GNEMSDC)
• Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
• Mass Fallen Heroes (InnoVets)
• Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce
• National Association of Asian American Professionals
• Supplier Diversity Office (Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
• US Small Business Administration (SBA)
• Work Without Limits

Additional partnerships are being negotiated with other organizations.