City of Cambridge Signs Agreement with City of Boston to Increase Contracting Opportunities and Support For Diverse and Local Small Businesses

Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons and City Manager Yi-An Huang joined Boston Mayor Michelle Wu this week and signed a memorandum of understanding to increase public contracting opportunities for minority-owned (MBEs), veteran-owned (VBEs), women-owned (WBEs), and other historically disadvantaged business enterprises. 

The Boston Cambridge Certification Compact will build local economic growth by strengthening the relationship between the City of Boston’s Department of Supplier Diversity and the City of Cambridge’s Community Development Department. This signed compact will ensure both departments work closely together, consistent with applicable laws and regulations, to increase contracting opportunities for and supporting the growth and development of MBEs, WBEs and VBEs in both cities.

“The City of Cambridge is excited to partner with the City of Boston and elevate opportunities for minority-owned, veteran-owned, women-owned, and other disadvantaged businesses,” said Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang. “We are deeply committed to creating a more equitable and welcoming procurement process, while more broadly supporting and uplifting many diverse businesses' in our area. This is the latest step of many that Cambridge has undertaken to improve its supplier diversity. I am especially grateful for the collaboration between our many City departments, Mayor Wu's Office and the City of Boston.”

Once a business is certified, they are included in any vendor outreach efforts for City contracting opportunities and are also connected to resources offered inside and outside of the Cities of Cambridge and Boston. To learn more about how to apply for certification, please visit https://www.boston.gov/departments/supplier-and-workforce-diversity/get-your-business-certified.

“Building local economic growth across the region is critical as we continue our work to connect residents and businesses in the area to opportunity,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m thankful to the City of Cambridge for their strong partnership on advancing an equitable, welcoming procurement process for both our cities. Through this compact, the City of Boston looks forward to working closely with the City of Cambridge to certify more businesses in the area, expand economic opportunities available for our residents and advance supplier diversity goals.”

Today’s signing of the “Compact to Build Local Economic Growth” is one of several Cambridge initiatives aimed at encouraging purchasing entities to use of a diverse range of suppliers for goods and services:

• Last week, the City of Cambridge held their second annual Supplier Diversity Fair, in partnership with MIT. The event was an opportunity for vendors to connect with large purchasing entities in the region. Over 100 vendors met with more than 20 buyers on October 22, including the Cities of Cambridge and Boston, MIT, Harvard, and Takeda, among others.
  
  The Economic Opportunity & Development Division continues to host a variety of workshops that support business development. Upcoming workshops will focus on access to capital, connecting new entrepreneurs with experienced mentors, and a recurring workshop that provides specific guidance on how to do business with the City. These workshops are free for all businesses.
  
  
• The newly launched Cambridge Supplier Diversity website contains useful information about doing business with the city, obtaining diverse business certification, and other resources. Among these resources is a Procurement Guide, intended to help businesses understand requirements for City contractors so they can be prepared to bid on City contracts.  
  
  
• The City has also launched a new e-procurement portal designed to increase transparency in the procurement process. Vendors can register themselves free of charge to learn about all large City bids and contracting opportunities. Business owners are encouraged to indicate diverse ownership through self-identification or, when possible, to upload diverse business certification. Registered vendors will also receive the quarterly Cambridge Supplier Newsletter, which provides information about new and upcoming opportunities to do business with the City of Cambridge.
  
  
• The Cambridge Business Diversity Directory is a tool that connects local businesses owned by historically excluded proprietors to customers. Relaunched in 2022, the Directory aims to elevate businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals of Portuguese descent. The Directory serves as a marketing and networking tool to connect these businesses with consumers, companies, and other institutions.
  
  Businesses and entities listed in this edition have elected to be listed as self-identifying members of a historically excluded group. Businesses may submit a request for inclusion in the directory and are reviewed and accepted by Cambridge city staff based on eligibility requirements. Click here to add your business to the Cambridge Business Diversity Directory.

In December 2023, the City of Cambridge announced the completion of its first ever Disparity Study focused on the procurement of goods and services. An in-depth introspection into Cambridge’s overall supplier diversity practices was conducted, which helped identify opportunities for improvement, and determined how Cambridge can deepen its commitment to increasing supplier diversity efforts, while engaging the community on this important work.

“The signing of the ’Compact to Build Local Economic Growth’ initiative, along with the newly launched Cambridge Supplier Diversity website, new e-procurement portal, Cambridge Business Diversity Directory, Supplier Diversity Fairs, and workshops support several key reforms recommended in the Study,” said Pardis Saffari, Cambridge Director of Economic Opportunity & Development “Ultimately, these, and future efforts, will enhance equity and accountability in the goods and services procurements process to align with the high standards Cambridge intends to uphold.”

To learn more about becoming a vendor with the City of Cambridge and to review the latest events and workshops, please visit https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/communitydevelopment/supplierdiversityprogram.