Bid No. 19-116.pdf

RFQ/P 19-116

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

A. OVERVIEW

Through this Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals ("RFO/P"), the City of Springfield, Massachusetts ("City") seeks to obtain information and qualify Marijuana Establishment Applicants for the purpose of negotiating and executing a Host Community Agreement ("HCA") for the development, construction and operation of a Marijuana Establishment within the City in accordance with applicable laws and regulations (G.L. c. 94G, §3; 935 CMR 500.101). This RFQ/RFP is intended to provide a public selection process, but is not issued pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws, c. 30B.

For this initial RFQ/P, the City will select up to four (4) qualified enterprises seeking approval to operate as a Marijuana Establishment with whom the City will negotiate and execute a Host Community

Agreement. Marijuana Establishment includes Marijuana Cultivator, Craft Marijuana Cooperative, Marijuana Product Manufacturer, Marijuana Retailer, Microbusiness, Independent Testing Laboratory, Marijuana Research Facility, or Microbusiness.

Additional phases will follow this Phase I RFQ/P. Proposers who are not selected in this Phase I RFQ/P are encouraged to re-submit a response to the City during additional phases.

B. BACKGROUND

On November 8, 2016, Massachusetts voters approved an initiative petition known as "The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act", which was codified as Chapter 334 of the Acts of 2016 ("Chapter 334").

Chapter 334 reduced state criminal penalties and instituted civil penalties for the possession and recreational use of marijuana by persons over 21 years of age. It also created a way for the Commonwealth to control the production and distribution of marijuana through licensing, regulations, and taxation of Marijuana

Establishments. Chapter 55 of the Acts of 2017 ("Act") was enacted by the State Legislature as an amendment to Chapter 334. The Act encompassed significant amendments to Chapter 334 including a six-month delay in state licensing with a new start date of July 1, 2018.

The Act allows Marijuana Establishments to cultivate, manufacture, and process marijuana, and to sell marijuana to persons over 21 years of age. An applicant requesting certification as a Marijuana

Establishment must meet the requirements set forth in 935 CMR 500.00, the regulations promulgated by the Cannabis Control Commission ("Commission"), to be considered for a final license as a Marijuana

Establishment.

The Act also calls for local control by allowing municipalities to create licensing requirements and to make reasonable regulations that control the time, place and manner of Marijuana Establishments (G.L. c.