CEP_WQC_Strategic_Marketing_Services.pdf

WRITTEN QUOTE CONTRACT: (M.G.L. Ch. 30B) Boston Cannabis Equity Program Strategic Marketing Technical Assistance

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY & INCLUSION

EMILY KNIGHT, CHIEF

PROJECT SUMMARY:

The Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion (OEOI) is seeking competitive quotes from vendors who can provide tailored strategic marketing services and overall marketing support to cannabis equity businesses. The selected vendor must be able to provide comprehensive marketing support that will lead to compliant marketing operations, increase brand awareness, drive customer engagement, and increase market share in the cannabis industry.

WQC SCHEDULE:

EVENT DATE

WQC Issue Date Monday, October 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Virtual Q&A Session Monday, November 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1657247639

Quote Due Date Tuesday, December 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Akilah Armstrong, Cannabis Equity Program Manager | CannabisEquity@Boston.gov All questions should be emailed with in the subject line.

You can access this WQC and submit your quote electronically through the City of Boston Supplier Portal, via boston.gov/procurement.

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https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1657247639

I. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE OF WORK

This section provides introductory information about the project and highlights important elements like the problem, goals, scope of work, project timeline, and contact information.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

● By submitting a quote, each respondent accepts the terms and conditions listed in forms CM-10 and CM-11 which are incorporated herein by reference. Please see Appendix 1 for a full list of the forms that the selected vendor will be required to sign and submit during the contracting process if awarded.

1.1 BACKGROUND

In November 2019, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, in partnership with Councilor Kim Janey and the Boston City Council, signed An Ordinance Establishing Equitable Regulation of the Cannabis Industry in the City of Boston. The purpose of this ordinance is to ensure equity in the City of Boston's cannabis industry and ensure resources are provided to those disproportionately impacted by the policies enacted under the “War on Drugs”

Under this ordinance, the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion (OEOI) was charged with establishing the Boston Cannabis Equity Program, through which we have developed technical assistance initiatives aimed at providing one-on-one business support to foster economic and entrepreneurial growth in Boston’s cannabis industry specifically for certified and pre-certified participants in the Boston Cannabis Equity Program.

At the conclusion of each project, the business owner will have received the support needed and feel empowered and emboldened to take the next steps toward advancing their business goals. They are expected to learn what action steps they need to take next and how to do so.

With this Written Quote Contract (WQC), we seek competitive quotes from vendors qualified to provide tailored strategic marketing advice and marketing support to certified and pre-certified cannabis business owners and prospective cannabis business owners.

This contract is for the FY27 - FY28 cycle and will conclude on February 28, 2028.

The selected vendor will work directly with business owners and their teams to advise business owner(s) and their teams and deliver a range of marketing services and advice on the following topics, including: brand development, comprehensive marketing strategy, digital campaign implementation, and social media management. Advice and services should be tailored to strengthen brand awareness, increase customer engagement, expand https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KPoQBuzMCIBqO6gKOOEdXzQq62zbTDox/view?usp=drive_link https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2022/02/Cannabis%20Ordinance%20and%20Amendments%208.2021_0.pdf https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2022/02/Cannabis%20Ordinance%20and%20Amendments%208.2021_0.pdf market presence within the cannabis industry, and support sustainable business growth and long-term marketing success.

We look forward to receiving your response.1

1.2 SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion (OEOI) will provide funds to the selected vendor to provide strategic marketing technical assistance to certified and pre-certified cannabis equity businesses throughout the City of Boston. These services will provide current and prospective business owners with the tools and the support needed to establish, sustain, and grow their businesses. The cannabis businesses and prospective businesses are identified as those certified or pre-certified within the Boston Cannabis Equity Program and selected by the Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion (OEOI), in collaboration with the Boston Cannabis Board and other appropriate city departments when applicable. Once selected, OEOI shall facilitate the initial engagement with the vendor. In each case, the vendor will be expected to work directly with the cannabis equity applicant.

1.2.1 Requirements

The selected vendor is expected to provide the following with the goal of enabling business owners to complete the following outcomes:

1. One-on-One Technical Assistance: Strategic marketing advice and services, including but not limited to:

● Brand Development: Creating and defining a unique brand identity that resonates with the target audience and reflects the business's values.

● Marketing Strategy: Develop comprehensive marketing strategies that outline goals, target demographics, messaging, channels, and tactics to effectively reach and engage customers.

● Digital Marketing: Craft and implement digital marketing campaigns across various channels, including social media, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, to increase brand awareness and drive traffic to online platforms.

1 This WQC follows all applicable requirements for open competition, and the City encourages participation from small, local, minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. To support equality of opportunity for these businesses, we also encourage respondents to solicit for the subcontracting of goods and services from certified businesses. The City’s directory of certified businesses is available at This Link.

https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiY2UwZDliYjUtZWJkNi00MzFmLWJlMTQtMDM2ZjFmYjgwMDY1IiwidCI6Ijg1NTI4ODdjLWNiYzMtNGVlNS05ZmQzLWVhMjE3ZTMwMjZmYyJ9

● Content Creation: Produce high-quality content such as blog posts, articles, videos, and graphics that educate, entertain, and engage the target audience while reinforcing the brand message.

● Website Development and Design: Designing and developing professional websites that are user-friendly, visually appealing, and optimized for search engines to enhance online visibility and credibility.

● Social Media Management: Managing social media accounts to build a strong online presence, interact with followers, and share valuable content that drives engagement and promotes brand loyalty.

● Public Relations: Developing strategic communication plans and cultivating relationships with media outlets, influencers, and industry stakeholders to generate positive publicity and enhance brand reputation.

● Event Marketing: Planning and executing events, such as anniversary parties, product launches, workshops, and community outreach programs, to connect with customers directly and build brand awareness.

● Analytics and Reporting: Monitoring marketing performance metrics, analyzing data insights, and providing regular reports to evaluate campaign effectiveness and inform future strategies.

● Brand Launch and Grand Opening Support: Assist in planning and executing the launch of a new cannabis brand, including assistance with marketing the event, event permitting, and vendor coordination.

2. Workshops and Group Sessions: Provide workshops or workshop series to a group of prospective business owners and/or potential business owners on topics of expertise as the needs and opportunities for such assistance are determined, including but not limited to those listed above.

3. Technical Assistance Events: Participate in events hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion, focusing on providing technical assistance, including the initial Speed Dating technical assistance match event and End of Contract Celebration event.

4. Presentations and Testimony: Participate in hearings and community meetings as necessary on behalf of certified equity businesses.

5. Guidance Materials: Collaborate with the Cannabis Equity Program Manager to develop a City-owned guide for Boston Cannabis Equity Program participants; the vendor will prepare and finalize all guidance materials. This guidance document will help business owners understand cannabis marketing restrictions and best practice tips for marketing their brand in the cannabis industry. Guidance Materials will be owned by the City of Boston for the exclusive use of the Boston Cannabis Equity Program, including all rights, title, and interest in the document.

1.2.2 Stakeholder Coordination

The Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion will oversee stakeholder coordination, which encompasses:

1. Connecting the selected vendor with the current or prospective business owner(s) for an introductory meeting to discuss the business needs.

2. Officially matching the selected vendor with the current or prospective business owner to complete the project.

3. Managing the coordination of other stakeholders (if needed).

Once matched, the selected vendor will then oversee the completion of the business needs and overall project, including:

1. Direct facilitation and collaboration with the current or prospective business owners to determine meeting methods and frequencies for project completion.

1.2.3 Reporting

The selected vendor will be responsible for submitting:

1. After the introductory meeting, submit tailored engagement and/or project proposals that identify the following:

a. Scope of Services

b. Project Length (# of hours required)

c. Fee Proposal

d. Final Deliverables

2. Upon completion of the engagement, submit invoices for the one-on-one project, workshop, technical assistance event, presentation, or testimony given.

3. Before the issuance of each engagement’s payment, share feedback on the project, workshop, event, presentation, or testimony and feedback about working with the program participant and the Cannabis Equity Program Manager.

4. Before the contract end date, give detailed feedback on your overall experience as a vendor for the Boston Cannabis Equity Program.

Additionally, the selected vendor will be responsible for working with the Cannabis Equity Program Manager to draft, edit, and finalize a City of Boston-owned guide for Boston Cannabis Equity Program participants. Once finalized, the guidance materials will be owned by the City of Boston, including all rights, title, and interest for the exclusive use of the Boston Cannabis Equity Program. The submitted guidance material should include:

1. Finalized guidance materials to help business owners navigate cannabis industry marketing requirements, including applicable advertising restrictions and best practices for developing compliant, effective marketing campaigns. The guidance materials should include:

a. Cannabis marketing best practices

b. Guidance on compliant cannabis marketing practices

c. Guidance on different ways to market the brand and overall marketing recommendations for cannabis businesses

2. Incorporate any feedback from the Cannabis Equity Program Manager.

3. Completing the guidance material within 4 months of the contract start date.

The Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion will provide selected vendors with mid-way and end-of-contract reports, detailing:

1. The number of projects completed, along with the associated business/es, pre-certified or certified owner, and/or workshop name.

2. The project start and completion dates.

3. The total project cost.

4. The invoice number and corresponding payment date.

1.3 CONTRACT DETAILS

CONTRACT TERM*

Contract Dates

December 21, 2026 - February 28, 2028

Maximum Budget

$ 49,000.00

Payment Type

Project-Based

*Not to exceed 3 years except as articulated in 30B s. 12(b). Contract will be awarded to the lowest quote deemed responsible and responsive

Additional Details

● Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of the initial project and deliverables as outlined in Section 1.2 Scope of Services.

● All invoices must clearly reference the deliverable(s) completed and be submitted via email to the Cannabis Equity Program Manager and uploaded to the technical assistance platform.

● Once reviewed and approved, the Cannabis Equity Program Manager will submit the invoice for payment.

● All quoted prices must be inclusive of potential travel, administrative time, and incidental expenses. No additional reimbursements will be made beyond the agreed deliverable-based pricing.

● Payment is project-based, but projects are not guaranteed. The City may request one, more, or even no services. Payment will be based on the number of projects completed.

II. HOW WE CHOOSE

This section explains how we will choose the supplier and what we consider a responsive and responsible vendor.

2.1 RULE FOR AWARD:

We will award the contract to the responsible and responsive vendor offering the needed quality of supply or service at the lowest price.

To be considered responsive: a quote must contain all the required information, and be submitted before the deadline, and demonstrate that their offering meets the minimum quality requirements or specifications.

To be considered responsible: a vendor must have the capability, integrity, and reliability to perform the work described in this document.

Specifically, to be considered responsible and responsive, the vendor for this project must demonstrate:

MINIMUM

EVALUATION

CRITERION

DETAILS/REQUIREMENTS

1 Relevant Experience ● Demonstrate experience completing at least three

(3) comparable projects showcasing strategic marketing assistance. Examples should include one-on-one support to help businesses achieve their marketing objectives, such as marketing campaign strategies, brand development, content strategies, website development, market analysis, event marketing, and development of guidance materials for business owners. For each example, provide a brief description of services, outcomes, and work samples.

● Provide at least two (2) examples demonstrating experience working with public-sector stakeholders or experience working on comparable government contracts.

● Have at least three (3) years of experience serving diverse businesses, including cannabis businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, and other disadvantaged business enterprises.

● Demonstrate knowledge of the cannabis industry, specifically state and local marketing regulations and restrictions.

2 Qualifications ● Provide examples of past work directly relevant to the cannabis industry, demonstrating expertise in strategic marketing consulting and overall marketing support.

● Demonstrate a clear commitment to supporting cannabis businesses and advancing their success.

3 Capacity to Complete Work

● Showcase a successful track record of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously of similar size and scope, meeting deadlines and budget.

● Provide at least two to three (2-3) references and examples of similar projects or stakeholders who would consistently rate service and results as “excellent.”

2.2 YOUR QUOTE

To show that you meet the requirements to be considered responsible and responsive, please answer the questions below. Feel free to include other information that may be relevant (i.e. graphics or links to your work).

Q1: PROJECT DELIVERY

QUESTION:

Please explain how you will deliver the services described in the Scope of Work and why your organization is best-suited to provide strategic marketing consulting services for the Boston Cannabis Equity Program. Suggested length: 1–2 pages.

To demonstrate that you meet the requirements of this Written Quote Contract, focus on:

● What services your organization provides and how long you’ve been doing this work

● Your plan to deliver one-on-one strategic marketing assistance, workshops, and group sessions

● How you would meet the required project timeline for guidance materials

RESPONSE:

Q2: PROJECT TEAM

Provide the qualifications of the staff who will work on this project. Suggested length:

1–2 pages.

An ideal answer will include:

● Identify the key team members who would work on this project & the team structure; if your team includes multiple organizations, please let us know how long you’ve worked together.

● Document your staff’s expertise in the different strategic marketing services outlined in the Scope of Services, 1.2.1 Requirements section.

● Describe similar projects they have successfully completed, including one-on-one technical assistance, such as brand development, brand launches, webpage design, marketing strategy development, digital marketing development, management and implementation.

● Highlight similar projects they have successfully completed within disproportionately impacted communities as defined by the state agency regulating cannabis in Massachusetts.

● Please disclose whether you or your company has an interest in any cannabis business currently seeking, intends to seek, or has approval from the City of Boston or any of its agencies.

Q3: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Share your experience working with cannabis businesses or other highly regulated products or industries. Suggested length: 1–2 pages.

An ideal answer would include:

● A detailed explanation of the industry and businesses you served.

● How your assistance, specifically how the services outlined in the Scope of

Services, 1.2.1 Requirements section, helped the business achieve their marketing goals.

● Evidence of experience navigating regulated industries.

2.3 REFERENCES

Provide 2-3 references using the template provided below, directly corresponding to the requirements for responsibility & responsiveness.

https://masscannabiscontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidance-for-Identifying-Areas-of-Disproportionate-Impact.pdf

EXAMPLE REFERENCE

FIELD EXAMPLE ENTRY

Organization Smith Events

Project Manager (or equivalent) Jennifer Smith

Phone Number 845-111-2222

Email (if available) jsmith@smithevents.com

Project Description Planned and implemented a family-friendly concert on the steps of City Hall. Worked with diverse community organizations to select performers and vendors. Hosted 150 residents.

Project Start and End Dates March 2020 – May 2020

Expertise Demonstrated by this Project (see section 2.1 for more details)

Stakeholder Engagement, Project Design, Accessibility

REFERENCE 1

Organization

Project Manager (or equivalent)

Phone Number

Email (if available)

Project Description

Project Start and End Dates

Expertise Demonstrated by this Project (see section 2.1 for more details; feel free to add corresponding documentation or examples of the project)

REFERENCE 2

Organization

Project Manager (or equivalent)

Phone Number

Email (if available)

Project Description

Project Start and End Dates

Expertise Demonstrated by this Project (see section 2.1 for more details; feel free to add

REFERENCE 3

Organization

Project Manager (or equivalent)

Phone Number

Email (if available)

Project Description

Project Start and End Dates

Expertise Demonstrated by this Project (see section 2.1 for more details; feel free to add

2.4 QUOTE PRICING TEMPLATE

DELIVERABLES AS DEFINED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK FIXED PRICE

One-on-One Technical Assistance $ __________

Workshops and Group Sessions $ __________

Technical Assistance Events $ __________

Presentations and Testimony $ __________

Guidance Materials $ __________

TOTAL FIXED PRICE

ADDITIONAL SERVICES AS

NEEDED - POSITION

HOURLY RATE ESTIMATED

QUANTITY

TOTAL PRICE

XXX $ __________

XXX $ __________

XXX $ __________

XXX $ __________

Note: These additional hours are estimates only. The City may request more, less, or no additional services. Payment will be based on the unit prices provided here and the actual amount of services requested, All materials should be submitted online in the City of Boston Supplier Portal, which can be accessed at boston.gov/procurement. Select the “Supplier Portal” button. You must log into your vendor account in order to access this bidding opportunity .

APPENDIX 1: CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Please be familiar with these terms and conditions at the time of quote submission to ensure that you are able to meet them if awarded the contract.

All vendors are required to review (but not sign or submit) the following documents at this stage. By submitting a quote, a respondent acknowledges that if they are selected as the winning vendor, they will be required to complete and provide each of the below forms to the City as part of the contract package:

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1. Form Wage-1 – Requirements Of The Boston Jobs, Living Wage, And Prevailing Wage Ordinance

2. Form Wage-2 – The Boston Jobs, Living Wage, And Prevailing Wage Ordinance Vendor Agreement

3. Heat Illness Protection Ordinance – Applies to contractors whose employees perform work in a setting at risk of causing heat illness. Covered work includes:

landscaping, tree services, grounds cleaning/mowing, outdoor property maintenance, outdoor security services (including flaggers), moving services, and trash/recycling collection and hauling

a. Form Heat-1 - Heat Illness Protection fact sheet for covered contractors

b. Form Heat-2 - Heat Illness Protection Affidavit (required for covered services described above) By submitting a quote, each respondent accepts the terms and conditions listed in forms CM-10 and CM-11, which are incorporated herein by reference.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15FZuK-XR1LrFOP8-GjrwgCPIgdmjo-Sq/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/17XPoR_weADlqqTYhp1hYAOsTNGyY3kKx/view?usp=sharing https://www.boston.gov/departments/labor-compliance-and-worker-protection/heat-illness-and-injury-prevention-ordinance https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-EXPBQ8dMkD0WNd0DJos9MUcFuCqcxIR/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SwjW8g0HMHJvG2LSClX4c_jDKsElD3tR/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KPoQBuzMCIBqO6gKOOEdXzQq62zbTDox/view?usp=drive_link

2.3 REFERENCES