FYI- SBPP and SDP information.docx

Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP)

Program Background. The Massachusetts Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) was established pursuant to Executive Order 523 to increase state contracting opportunities with small businesses having their principal place of business within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Pursuant to the SBPP, it is the intention of the issuing department to award this Small Procurement to one or more SBPP participating business(es) as described below.

SBPP Award Preference. While all businesses, no matter the size or principal place of business, may submit responses to this solicitation, should an SBPP participant respond and meet the best value criteria as described in this solicitation, the SBPP participant shall be awarded the contract. The Strategic Sourcing Services Team (SST) will not evaluate submissions from non-SBPP participants unless no SBPP Bidder meets the SSST’s best value evaluation criteria.

SBPP Participation Eligibility. To be eligible to participate in this procurement as an SBPP participant, an entity must meet the following criteria, and be marked as an SBPP registered business in COMMBUYS:

1. Have its principal place of business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

2. Been in business for at least one year;

3. Employ a combined total of 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees in all locations, or employees work less than a combined total of 26,000 hours per quarter; and

4. Have gross revenues, as reported on appropriate tax forms, of $15 million or less, based on a three-year average.

Non-profit firms also must be registered as a non-profit or charitable organization with the MA Attorney General’s Office and be up to date with all filings required by that office and be tax exempt under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.

SBPP Compliance Requirements. It is the responsibility of the Bidder to ensure that their SBPP status is current at the time of submitting a response and throughout the life of any resulting contract. Misrepresentation of SBPP status will result in disqualification from consideration, and may result in debarment, contract termination, and other actions. To learn more about the SBPP, including how to apply, visit the SBPP Webpage.

Program Resources and Assistance. Bidders and Contractors seeking assistance regarding SBPP may visit the SBPP webpage, http://www.mass.gov/sbpp, or contact the SBPP Help Desk at sbpp@mass.gov.

Supplier Diversity Plan (SDP) Plan Financial Commitment Requirements. All Bidders responding to this solicitation are required to make a significant financial commitment (“SDP Commitment”) to partner with one or more SDO-certified or recognized diverse business(es) or non-profit organization(s). This SDP Commitment represents a percentage of the vendor’s contract sales that will be spent with SDP Partner(s). The minimum acceptable SDP Commitment is 1%. Bidders will be awarded additional evaluation points for higher SDP Commitments.

If a contract is awarded, the Total SDP Commitment will become a contractual requirement. The vendor is expected to meet this commitment each Massachusetts fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) for the duration of the contract.

To be eligible for a contract award, a Bidder must submit an SDP Commitment that meets the requirements described above. This requirement applies to all Bidders, including those that are certified as diverse businesses.

Each Vendor is responsible for planning and managing its SDP partnerships and spending to ensure that it meets its annual SDP Commitment. While the SDO is available to provide program guidance and resources, the responsibility for meeting the SDP Commitment remains with the Vendor.

Eligible SDP Partner Certification Categories. SDP Partners must be businesses and/or non-profit organizations certified or recognized by the SDO in one or more of the following certification categories:

· Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)

· Minority Non-Profit Organization (M/NPO)

· Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

· Women Non-Profit Organization (W/NPO)

· Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VBE)

· Veteran Non-Profit Organization (V/NPO)

· Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (SDVOBE)

· Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE)

· Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) Ways to Partner with SDP Businesses. Vendors have flexibility in how they work with SDP Partners. Eligible business-to-business relationships include:

· Subcontracting: The SDP Partner provides products and/or services related to the contract. These relationships often, but not always, include a formal written agreement between the Vendor and the SDP Partner.

· Ancillary Products and Services: The Vendor purchases products or services from an SDP Partner to support its general business or operational needs. These purchases do not need to be related to the Commonwealth contract. Examples include office supplies, business cards, and promotional items. Both recurring and one-time purchases may qualify.

Only the types of business-to-business relationships described above are eligible under this contract. If a Vendor proposes subcontracting, the arrangement must also comply with any subcontracting requirements included in this RFR.

Program Flexibility. The SDP is designed to give Vendors flexibility in developing partnerships that work for their businesses. In particular:

· SDP Partners are not required to be subcontractors.

· SDP Partners do not have to be in Massachusetts.

· SDP Partners may be changed or added during the contract term, as long as they continue to meet their SDP Commitment.

SDP Plan Form Requirements. All Bidders must complete the SDP Plan Form included in this solicitation and submit it with their bid response. The form must include the Bidder’s proposed SDP Commitment (at least 1%) and identify one or more SDP Partners the Bidder plans to work with to meet that commitment.

An SDP Partner must be a separate business or organization. A Bidder may not identify itself, its affiliate, or its subsidiary as an SDP Partner. Similarly, a Vendor that is certified by the SDO or another recognized certification organization may not count spending within its own organization—or with its subsidiaries or affiliates—toward its SDP Commitment. Bidders may propose SDP Partners that are:

· Already Certified or recognized by the SDO. These partners appear in the SDO Directory of Certified Businesses or in the SBA Small Business Search directory. When using the SBA directory, please note that the SDO recognizes only the Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certifications.

· Not yet certified or recognized by the SDO. Bidders may identify a proposed SDP Partner that has not yet received SDO certification or recognition. However, the Bidder is responsible for ensuring that the proposed partner obtains the appropriate certification or recognition prior to the end of the fiscal year. There is no guarantee that a proposed SDP Partner will be certified. If proposed SDP Partners do not receive SDO supplier diversity certification or recognition, the Vendor must find alternative SDP Partners to meet their SDP Commitment.

Supplier Diversity Practices and Additional Initiatives. Bidders are encouraged to share information about their broader supplier diversity practices. For example, a Bidder may provide contact information for the individual or team responsible for developing and maintaining supplier diversity relationships and may include its written supplier diversity policy. Bidders are also encouraged to highlight additional ways they support, engage, or collaborate with diverse businesses. Examples include:

· Participating in mentor-protégé relationships in which employees provide training, guidance, or business support to diverse businesses;

· Providing technical or financial assistance to diverse businesses; and

· Offering voluntary assistance programs in which employees provide operational support to diverse businesses.

Please note that workforce diversity initiatives will not be considered as part of the SDP.

Evaluation of SDP Forms. The Commonwealth values meaningful supplier diversity commitments and encourages Bidders to develop strong SDP Plans.

SDP Spending Reports and Compliance. After contract award, Vendors report their SDP spend at least quarterly to demonstrate progress toward their SDP Commitment. Vendors must follow report submission instructions from the issuing department and the SDO.

To count toward a Vendor’s SDP Commitment, spending must be with an eligible SDP Partner listed in the SDO Directory of Certified Businesses or in SBA Small Business Search (VOSB or SDVOSB only). Spending with Partners outside of these directories will not count toward meeting a Vendor’s SDP Commitment.

SDP Spending Verification. To help confirm reported SDP spending, the SDO and the contracting department may contact SDP Partners and ask them to verify the amounts reported as paid to them by the Vendor.

Program Resources and Assistance. The SDO is available to help Bidders understand the SDP, develop their SDP Plans, and identify potential SDP Partners. For resources and additional information, please visit www.mass.gov/sdp, or contact the SDP Help Desk at sdp@mass.gov.

We strongly support a diverse vendor as well as subcontractors which is demonstrated in our scoring criteria.

Environmentally Preferable Products

Products and services purchased by state agencies must be in compliance with Executive Order 515, issued October 27, 2009. Under this Executive Order, Executive Departments are required to reduce their impact on the environment and enhance public health by procuring environmentally preferable products and services (EPPs) whenever such products and services perform to satisfactory standards and represent best value, consistent with 801 CMR 21.00. In line with this directive, all Contracts, whether departmental or statewide, must comply with the specifications and guidelines established by OSD and the EPP Program. EPPs are products and services that help to conserve natural resources, reduce waste, protect public health and the environment, and promote the use of clean technologies, recycled materials, and less toxic products. Bid responses must identify how a contractor meets these goals.

Published September 29, 2021