Requesting approval of a Home Rule Petition to raise the sound business practices and written quote contract thresholds under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30B for city contracts with certified disadvantaged businesses.

To the Honorable City Council: Please find enclosed for your consideration a proposed Home Rule Petition prepared by the Procurement and Law Department which would raise the sound business practices and written quote contract thresholds under M.G.L. c. 30B for City contracts with certified disadvantaged businesses. Specifically, the proposal would allow the City to use sound business practices for supplies and services purchased up to $20,000 (currently, the threshold under state law is $10,000) and request at least three (3) written quotes from certified disadvantaged businesses for contracts valued up to $250,000 (currently, the threshold under state law is $50,000). Raising these thresholds simplifies the bidding and quote seeking process, making it easier for certified disadvantaged businesses to apply for City contracts.   The legal text of the petition is attached.   Appropriate staff will be available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.   Respectfully, Katjana Ballantyne, Mayor