Doing Business with the City Workshop Series

As part of the City’s Supplier Diversity Program, the Community Development and Purchasing Departments are hosting a three-part workshop series for business owners who are interested in learning more about the City’s procurement process. Workshops are aimed at demystifying the procurement process for business owners in three sections – small contracts, invitations to bid and written quotes, and request for proposals. Businesses are encouraged to come to one or all the workshops. Workshops are free to all. 

Workshop One – How to Start Doing Business with the City of Cambridge

• When: Monday January 27, 2025
• Time: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Click here to register.
• Location: Hybrid. In-person at Cambridge City Hall Annex - 344 Broadway, 2nd floor, Cambridge, MA or Virtual Webinar Zoom option. The webinar link to join will be emailed upon registering for the workshop

This workshop will include information about:

• Brief overview of Cambridge’s purchasing process for supplies and services under $10,000
• How businesses should prepare to provide a quote to the city
• How to Sign Up as a Vendor in the City’s Vendor System and other next steps
• City small business resources

Workshop Two – Introductions to Bids and Written Proposals

• When: Monday February 3, 2025
• Time: 5:00  – 7:00 p.m.
• Click here to register.
• Location: Hybrid. In-person at Cambridge City Hall Annex - 344 Broadway, 2nd floor, Cambridge, MA or Virtual Webinar Zoom option. The webinar link to join will be emailed upon registering for the workshop

Are you a small business owner who has seen Bids from the City but has no idea where to start? This workshop will cover requirements around procurement of projects between $10-$50,000, which requires the City to get formal quotes.

This workshop will include information about:

• Overview of the regulations for Construction, Supplies, or Services Estimated to Cost between $10,000-$50,000
• Examples of written quotes and bids
• How can vendors ensure they meet "sound business practices" for small procurement

Workshop Three – How Do I Respond to an RFP?

• When: Monday February 10, 2025
• Time: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Click here to register.
• Location: Hybrid. In-person at Cambridge City Hall Annex - 344 Broadway, 2nd floor, Cambridge, MA or Virtual Webinar Zoom option. The webinar link to join will be emailed upon registering for the workshop. 

Are you a small business owner who is interested in finding out more information about what vendors should be aware of when considering responding to a Request for Proposal? If so, the City of Cambridge will be hosting a workshop on How do I respond to an RFP. This workshop will be facilitated by the Economic Opportunity and Development Division and Purchasing Department.

This workshop will include information about:

• What is a response to an RFP
• What is often included in an RFP response
• The challenges of responding to RFP
• Tips for writing a response

For More information

For more information on this workshop series, please contact Tyrone Fells at tfells@cambridgema.gov or 617/349-7223.