REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: (M.G.L. Ch. 30B) Water Utilities Registered Apprenticeship Program

WORKER EMPOWERMENT CABINET

TRINH NGUYEN, CHIEF OF WORKER EMPOWERMENT

EV00017380

PROJECT SUMMARY:

The Office of Workforce Development (“OWD”) is seeking a qualified vendor to support the development of a comprehensive Registered Apprenticeship Program (“RAP”) for high-demand technical positions with heavy equipment and utility infrastructure to support municipal water and stormwater management utilities. Specific tasks will include, but are not limited to, fostering partnerships with key stakeholders and sponsors in the public and private sectors, assessing occupational skill needs/gaps, and aligning RAP curriculum and standards with employer needs and regulatory guidelines, and working with Madison Park Vocational High School and PowerCorps Boston to ensure students graduate with prerequisites to matriculate to the new RAP. The vendor will also develop infrastructure and manage required regulatory data collection and reporting infrastructure for the first two RAP cohorts.

IMPORTANT DATES:

EVENT DATE

RFP Issue Date Monday September 7, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

Pre-Proposal Q&A Conference Call Location | Zoom/Teams link

Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10:00 AM ET Zoom Link Registration

Proposal Due Date Friday September 25, 2026, 2:00PM ET

*See the full RFP schedule in Section 1.3.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Jodi Sugerman-Brozan | jodi.sugermanbrozan@boston.gov All questions should be emailed with the RFP number (EV00017380) in the subject line.

You can access this RFP and related documents on the City of Boston Supplier Portal via boston.gov/procurement.

https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/rJTL-GLURNKJG3T6MmYBtw https://www.boston.gov/departments/procurement

WHAT IS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) AND HOW

DOES IT WORK?

What: An RFP is a document that explains what services the City of Boston needs and is looking to purchase from vendors (you!).

Why: The RFP explains what a vendor needs to do to compete for this opportunity, how they will be evaluated, and how the contract will be managed.

How:

● Read through the RFP carefully and decide if you want to compete for the contract.

● Register as a vendor on the Supplier Portal (if you aren’t already); you can access the

Supplier Portal via boston.gov/procurement, and get assistance by emailing Vendor.Questions@boston.gov or joining their office hours

● Put together your technical proposal and price proposal and be sure to keep them separate. Failure to do so will disqualify your proposal.

● If you have questions, attend the information session on Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10:00 AM ET or email questions to jodi.sugermanbrozan@boston.gov by Friday, September 18, 2026.

● Submit your final technical and price proposals separately, as well as any other necessary forms. Do not include any price information in your technical proposal or presentation or the City will reject your entire proposal. Read the instructions carefully on how to submit each of these proposals. Be sure to leave plenty of time for submission.

RFP Structure:

Read sections I and II

Respond to sections III and IV

Follow the directions in section V http://boston.gov/procurement mailto:Vendor.Questions@boston.gov

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION AND PURCHASE DESCRIPTION 3

1.1 BACKGROUND 3

1.2 SCOPE OF SERVICES 4

1.3 PROPOSAL TIMELINE 11

1.4 WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS 11

1.5 CONTRACT TERM AND OTHER INFORMATION 12

II. HOW WE CHOOSE 13

2.1 MINIMUM EVALUATION CRITERIA 13

2.2 COMPARATIVE EVALUATION CRITERIA 14

2.3 INTERVIEWS/DEMONSTRATIONS 18

III. YOUR TECHNICAL PROPOSAL 20

3.1 COVER PAGE 21

3.2 RESPONSE TO SCOPE OF SERVICES 21

3.3 OWNERSHIP DETAILS (INFORMATIONAL ONLY) 25

3.4 REFERENCES 26

3.5 INSURANCE DOCUMENTATION 28

IV. YOUR PRICE PROPOSAL 28

4.1 PRICE PROPOSAL (REQUIRED) 29

4.2 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (OPTIONAL) 30

V. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 31

SUBMISSION DEADLINE 31

SUBMISSION METHODS 31

IMPORTANT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 31

LATE SUBMISSIONS 32

5.1 CHECKLIST FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSAL 32

5.2 SUBMITTING PROPOSAL VIA BOSTON’S SUPPLIER PORTAL 33

5.3 SUBMITTING VIA MAIL / PHYSICAL DELIVERY 34

VI. APPENDICES 36

APPENDIX 1: RFP TERMS AND CONDITIONS 36

APPENDIX 2: CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS 37

APPENDIX 3: INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS 38

I. INTRODUCTION AND PURCHASE DESCRIPTION

Read sections I and II

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

● By submitting a proposal, each proposer accepts the RFP specifications, Boston’s RFP terms, and Boston’s standard contract terms and conditions ( found in the Appendix below).

● Once awarded, the contract will be governed by the terms and conditions listed in forms CM-10 and CM-11, which shall be incorporated by reference into this RFP.

Please see Appendix 2 for a full list of the forms that the selected vendor will be required to sign and submit during the contracting process if awarded this contract. Please review these before submitting your proposal. Failure to agree to the City of Boston’s standard contract terms and conditions will result in your Proposal being deemed non-responsive to the solicitation and therefore rejected.

1.1 BACKGROUND

In April 2026, the City of Boston was selected to participate in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ national skilled trades initiative, a $90 million initiative designed to create new pathways for high school students to build high-wage, family-sustaining careers in the skilled trades. Based at the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, the Boston Skilled Trades Initiative will connect at least 100 graduating Boston Public Schools (“BPS”) students annually, over a three year period, with Registered Apprenticeship Programs (“RAP”) in the construction trades and water utility management sectors.

With this Request for Proposals (RFP), we are seeking a qualified consultant to coordinate the development of a RAP for the water utilities portion of the program, which will focus on high-demand technical positions with heavy equipment and utility infrastructure for municipal water and stormwater management, and account for 10 of the total 100 placed students per year. This work will be completed in close partnership with the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (“BWSC”) (the primary employer partner on this project), other employer partners identified by the consultant, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (“IAM Union”).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KPoQBuzMCIBqO6gKOOEdXzQq62zbTDox/view?usp=drive_link https://www.bloomberg.org/press/bloomberg-philanthropies-announces-first-of-its-kind-national-skilled-trades-initiative-to-accelerate-high-school-students-into-high-wage-in-demand-trade-careers/ https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-registered-apprenticeship

This RAP will create new entry points and articulate progression of long-term career pathways building climate-resilient city infrastructure, with a particular focus on opening access for historically underrepresented populations, residents ages 18-30, and non-traditional recruitment. Specific tasks will include, but are not limited to, fostering partnerships with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors, assessing occupational skill needs/gaps and aligning RAP curriculum and standards with employer needs and regulatory guidelines, and collaborating with Madison Vocational Park Technical High School to ensure programming is designed to provide students the necessary pre-requisites to matriculate to the new registered apprenticeship. In addition, the vendor will develop data collection infrastructure and manage data collection and regulatory reporting for the first 3 RAP cohorts.

We look forward to receiving your proposal.

1.2 SCOPE OF SERVICES

This section is very important. It outlines what we are asking for and gives an in-depth look at what we are expecting. In Massachusetts Procurement Law, this is part of the “Purchase Description.”

1.2.1 OVERVIEW

At the direction of OWD, the consultant will supervise and coordinate the development of a Water Utilities RAP that will place at least 10 graduating seniors from the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School into apprenticeships each year. The consultant will work with employer, union, and City of Boston partners to evaluate current programming at Madison Park and identify opportunities to improve student readiness for the RAP through new prerequisite courses and professional experiences; these recommendations will be implemented separately by the City of Boston.

Throughout the engagement, the consultant will serve primarily in a project planning, stakeholder management, project management, and reporting role, while the delivery of the RAP and pre-requisite programming will be managed by the IAM Union, employer partners, and other organizations contracted by OWD and BPS.

1.2.2 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

1.2.2.1 Market Research and Peer Benchmarking

After contract execution, the consultant will conduct research and review literature to fill knowledge gaps on comparable Pre-Apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) models associated with stormwater and wastewater management and heavy machinery operation and maintenance. The vendor will create a deliverable summarizing key findings and best practices that will be incorporated during the design and implementation phases of the Water Utilities RAP.

1.2.2.2 Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee

The consultant will convene a working group consisting of representatives from the BWSC, IAM Union, and other stakeholder groups with subject matter expertise to develop a RAP program. The consultant will work with the BWSC and IAM to register this group as a recognized Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (“JATC”) with the Massachusetts Division of Apprenticeship Standards; we anticipate this process being completed by the end of the first year of the contract (subject to change).

The BWSC and IAM Union have been fully onboarded onto the project and OWD will make introductions after contract execution. The consultant will identify additional employer partners to join the JATC during the lifetime of the contract (with a goal of 2-5) and facilitate their onboarding as needed (e.g. helping initiate MOU negotiations with the IAM Union).

1.2.2.3 Registered Apprenticeship Program Components

Under the consultant’s leadership, the JATC will define the following program elements. While the consultant should have the requisite knowledge to effectively lead this process, we anticipate that the JATC will provide the subject matter expertise needed to develop the RAP.

● Minimum entrance requirements and screening processes for program applicants, including a plan to fill gaps in skills through new programming delivered by Madison Park or PowerCorps Boston;

● Union, employer, and City of Boston roles and responsibilities throughout the program;

● Sponsorship and hiring arrangements;

● A delineated wage structure, mentor qualifications, and a plan to address any collective bargaining issues that arise;

● A mentorship structure, including mentor qualifications and a process for identifying and training mentors;

● Composition, timing, and sequencing of curriculum for at least 2000 hours of on-the-job training delivered by employer partners and 150 hours of related technical instruction delivered by the IAM Union;

○ The length of time the program is delivered over and precise timing (e.g. hours per day, days of the week, etc.) will be determined by the JATC;

○ Note: The IAM Union does not have a technical training facility. The consultant will work with the IAM Union and OWD to determine the exact time, place, and location of this training;

● Pathways to Journeyperson status for students who complete the RAP;

● Required credentials and licensing.

1.2.2.4 Apprenticeship Development Working Group

In addition to the JATC, the vendor will facilitate an Apprenticeship Development Working Group that includes relevant Madison Park and BPS staff and representatives from union and employer partners. The Working Group should plan to meet bi-weekly to start, and adjust meeting cadence and structure as needed. Drawing on their findings from other phases of work, the consultant will work with the Working Group to analyze Madison Park’s current offerings and identify new classes and professional opportunities to prepare students for successful participation in the Water Utilities RAP. If additional personnel are required to implement the consultant’s recommendations, they will be contracted separately by OWD.

Under the consultant’s leadership, the Working Group will create a plan to educate Madison Park students about the new RAP and promote their participation.

1.2.2.3 Registered Apprenticeship Program Registration

After acceptance of the proposed curriculum by OWD leadership, the consultant will oversee the process of registering the program with the Massachusetts Division of Apprenticeship Standards. Tasks will include working with OWD to plan the process, gathering relevant information, completing all required application paperwork, tracking the status of the application after submission, and keeping project stakeholders informed of important developments. We anticipate that this process will take several weeks. The selected consultant should have prior knowledge of and experience with this process and be capable of independently troubleshooting common issues as needed.

1.2.2.4 Data Collection Protocols

The consultant will work with the IAM Union and employer partners to develop data collection systems and processes to track participant enrollment, progression, and achievements to ensure alignment with agency efforts to standardize data collection and interpretation. Data will be used to measure the effectiveness of the RAP and drive continuous improvement, as well as meeting our reporting obligations to the Massachusetts Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

1.2.3 PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

The consultant will work with union and employer partners to oversee the first two RAP cohorts and ensure the successful implementation of the program. Specific tasks will include:

● Coordinating efforts to embed career exploration and program prerequisites into Madison Park Vocational Technical High School and the new after-hours program that exposes non-Madison Park students to the Trades.

○ Examples: support finding organizations/speakers for programming happening at Madison/After Hours, specifically field trips/the career fair.

● Developing a Data infrastructure to collect necessary data to report annually to DAS

(MA Department of Apprenticeship Standards) and submit data for the first two cohorts.

● Delivering an initial evaluation report and developing Key Performance Indicators, including job placement and retention rates as well as skill development after the first cohort.

● Working with stakeholders/partners to revise the program if needed, based on evaluation.

● Developing a plan to sustain and transition the RAP beyond the 3-year grant period

Regular progress updates will be scheduled bi-weekly or as required. Further reporting requirements are indicated in 1.2.4. “Milestones and Metrics”.

1.2.4 MILESTONES AND METRICS

Note: Several of the milestones listed have the same deadline. While we anticipate they will be completed around the same time, we have flexibility with the order of operations.

# Deliverables & Accomplishments Approximate Deadline

Milestone 1 ● Engage with key partners (IAM Union, BWSC and other employers) to develop an MOU establishing a Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) and create a regularly meeting cadence including at least monthly meetings. MOU generation will allow movement while official JATC formation begins.

● Review required grant outcomes and strategies, work plan and budget for the Boston Skilled Trades Initiative grant which provides resources for this program.

● Meet with the “Grow the Pipeline” subcommittee of the Boston Skilled Trades Initiative (which includes Boston Public Schools and Madison Park High School representation) and develop a plan to ensure close coordination between the JATC and the subcommittee (i.e. regular reports to the Subcommittee from the vendor or member of the

JATC).

End of Month 1 (by 11/30/26)

Milestone

● Work with the JATC and “Grow the Pipeline” subcommittee to develop a work plan and timeline to ensure RAP is ready for its first cohort of Madison Park High School graduates to matriculate into by June 2027.

End of Month 2 (by 12/31/26)

Milestone

● Identify and present RAP models and best practices from around the country to the JATC to inform planning.

● Identify Registered Apprenticeship Program sponsor (likely IAM Union) and initial list of employer co-sponsors.

● Identify specific employer job classifications and vacancies at BWSC and other employer partners that would align to the apprenticeship program.

● Use the identified job classifications to complete an occupational skills and credential analysis identifying required competencies, licenses, certifications that will be necessary to achieve by the end of the apprenticeship program.

End of Month 2 (by 12/31/26)

Milestone

● Using Boston Skilled Trades Initiative funding partner grant metrics as a guide, work with JATC to develop key performance indicators such skills development and job placement rates.

● Present outline of key skills and credentials to include in RAP in the 150 hours of Related Technical Training and 2,000 hours or On the Job Training.

End of Month (by 1/31/27)

Milestone

● Identify pre-requisite competencies that must be achieved prior to the apprenticeship program to allow time to embed these in Madison Park High School curriculum.

● Clarify role of required mentor in On the Job Training and identify any necessary collective bargaining issues (i.e. what is the wage progression for apprentices, will mentors receive additional pay for their role? Identify how mentors will be chosen etc.)

End of Month (by 1/31/27)

Milestone

● Present complete draft plan for the apprenticeship program training and mentorship and structure identifying the Registered Apprenticeship Program sponsor and employer partners in format needed to submit to the Massachusetts Department of Apprenticeship Standards (MA DAS).

End of Month 4 (by 2/28/27)

Milestone

● Provide the “Expand the Pipeline” subcommittee of the Boston Skilled Trades Initiative a list of needed pre-requisites Madison Park students will need to apply for the new RAP.

● Support where needed, collective bargaining to finalize outstanding issues that may include specific proposed wage progression, plan for providing wages/stipends that are included in the Boston Skilled Trades Initiative grant for the first two cohorts (i.e. BWSC, a third party or something else), and plan for mentorship at

BWSC.

● Identify training facilities for the first cohort (i.e Madison Park, BWSC or another partner)

End of Month 4 (by 2/28/27)

Milestone

● Work with the RAP sponsor (likely IAM Union) to submit RAP application to MA DAS

● Develop RAP application (i.e. application, media releases, student agreements, etc.) and recruitment materials (for instance flyers, PowerPoint, etc.) for participants

End of Month 5 (by 3/31/27)

Milestone

● Work with the “Expand the Pipeline” Committee and other Boston Skilled Trades Initiative to support outreach and recruitment for the first cohort of Madison Park students.

End of Month 5 (by 3/31/27)

Milestone

● Support Boston Skilled Trades Initiative Apprentice Navigator staff with application process for first cohort.

By end of Month 6 (by 4/30/27)

Milestone ● Develop participant tracking and data collection End of Month

11 infrastructure to allow for reporting to both MA DAS and the Boston Skilled Trades Initiative funding partner.

(by 6/15/27)

Milestone

● Ensure the formal establishment of a JATC. Year 1

Milestone

● Develop a sustainability plan to ensure the program exists beyond the timeline for funding from the Boston Skilled Trades Initiative funding partner.

End of Month

Milestone

● Support RAP implementation for first cohort, including all data collection and complete all necessary reporting to MA DAS

Year 2

Milestone

● Evaluate cohort against key performance indicators and submit report to JATC and the “Expand the Pipeline” Subcommittee with recommended revisions.

● Revise/update RAP curriculum and plan where needed.

Year 2

Milestone

● Support all aspects of RAP implementation for second cohort, including recruitment for the second cohort, all data collection and complete all necessary reporting to MA DAS

Year 2

RFP PROCESS

1.3 PROPOSAL TIMELINE

The table below shows the preliminary RFP schedule. Dates are subject to change. For the most updated information, please visit the Supplier Portal via boston.gov/procurement.

EVENT DATE*

RFP Released Monday September 7, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

Pre-Proposal Q&A Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10:00 AM ET Zoom Link Registration

Questions Due to the City Via email to jodi.sugermanbrozan@boston.gov

Friday, September 18, 2026

Consolidated Q&A Posted by the City1 Friday, September 18, 2026

Deadline for Proposals See Submission Instructions for details

Friday September 25, 2026, 2:00PM EDT

Vendor interviews/ demonstrations Week of October 5, 2026

Contractor Selected Friday, October 23, 2026

1.4 WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS

Vendors can ask questions live during the Pre-Proposal Q&A Conference Call (information in the table above).

1 The consolidated Q&A posting will include answers to all RFP questions posed to the City at the Q&A Conference Call and by the email by the due date above. The City will update the Q&A if it chooses to answer any additional questions after that time. *All times are in eastern time https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/rJTL-GLURNKJG3T6MmYBtw

Outside of the Q&A Conference Call and before the proposal deadline, all communications must be emailed to jodi.sugermanbrozan@boston.gov with the RFP number (EV00017380) in the subject line.2,3

1.5 CONTRACT TERM AND OTHER INFORMATION

CONTRACT TERM*

Contract Dates November 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029

Maximum Budget† $200,000.00

Payment Type Milestone-based

*Not to exceed 3 years except as articulated in 30B s. 12(b) †Quotes received must not exceed maximum budget. Contract will be awarded to the most advantageous proposal based on a holistic evaluation of the technical proposal and price proposal

Additional Details

● Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of each milestone, etc. as outlined in Section 1.2 Scope of Services.

● All invoices must clearly reference the deliverable(s) completed and be submitted via email to audit.invoices@boston.gov.

● 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.

3 After the proposal deadline, Vendors should not contact the RFP Coordinator or any other City official or employee about this RFP, except to respond to a request by the RFP Coordinator.

Vendors may continue to contact City officials and employees about issues unrelated to this RFP.

2 No other City employee, consultant, or contractor is empowered to speak for the City with respect to this RFP. Any oral communication is considered unofficial and non-binding to the City.

II. HOW WE CHOOSE

This section explains how we will evaluate candidates. It provides clear descriptions for what we consider a highly advantageous proposal.

We will evaluate your proposal based on two sets of criteria: minimum evaluation criteria and comparative evaluation criteria.

2.1 MINIMUM EVALUATION CRITERIA

First, we will review all proposals to see if they meet the minimum (or “quality”) evaluation criteria listed below. These are “yes-or-no” standards that will apply to every proposal.

These criteria reflect the standards that the City considers essential for this contract, as well as statutory thresholds for responsive and responsible proposers.

Any vendor that does not meet these minimum criteria below is “not responsive” and will be eliminated from further consideration.

# MINIMUM

EVALUATION

CRITERION

DETAILS / REQUIREMENTS

1 Bid Submission Was the bid submitted by the deadline, appropriately completed, and truthful?

2 Separation of Technical/Price Proposals

Did the vendor submit separate technical and price proposals (with no price information in the technical proposal)? Note: Any technical proposal or interview/demonstration that includes price information will be disqualified from consideration. (See below for further information and instructions about separately submitting your technical and price proposals).

3 Forms and Documentation

Did the vendor submit and complete all the necessary forms and documentation requested in this RFP?

2.2 COMPARATIVE EVALUATION CRITERIA

Proposals that have met all minimum evaluation criteria will move to the next stage of evaluation. In this stage, we will evaluate proposals according to the comparative evaluation criteria described below.

CRITERIA 1: PROPOSAL CLARITY

RATING CATEGORY DESCRIPTION

Highly Advantageous

The proposal is well-written in clear, concise language.

Materials are organized and easy to navigate. As a whole, the proposal provides a complete response to this RFP and provides multiple relevant examples of past successes implementing similar solutions.

Advantageous The proposal is clear and well-organized. It provides a complete response to this RFP and includes examples of past successes.

Not Advantageous

The proposal does not address all aspects of the RFP. It is poorly written and/or difficult to read. It does not provide adequate information to evaluate the vendor’s ability to successfully meet the City’s goals.

CRITERIA 2: VENDOR QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

RATING CATEGORY DESCRIPTION

Highly Advantageous

● Demonstrates significant and strong technical experience in workforce development and especially designing and implementing earn-and-learn and apprenticeship training programs.

● Demonstrates a track record of success in managing complex projects of similar size and scope, meeting deadlines and budget.

● Demonstrates extensive experience (5+ years) in working with public sector stakeholders.

● The proposal includes examples of past work that are highly relevant to this project and highlight competency in development and implementation of apprenticeship programs.

Advantageous

● Demonstrates technical experience in workforce development and especially earn-and-learn and apprenticeship strategies.

● Demonstrates a track record of successes in completing projects within their allotted timeframe and budget.

● Demonstrates general experience (2-5 years) working with key public sector stakeholders.

● The proposal includes examples of past work that are somewhat relevant to this project.

Not Advantageous

● Demonstrates limited experience in workforce development and earn-and-learn and apprenticeship strategies

● Demonstrates a limited track record of success in completing projects within their allotted timeframe and budget.

● Demonstrates limited experience (less than 2 years) working with public sector stakeholders.

CRITERIA 3: INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

Highly Advantageous

● Demonstrates extensive experience working with Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees.

● Demonstrates previous successful collaborations with two or more types of the potential project stakeholders or similar entities (Unions, JATCs, Water and Sewer Commissions).

Advantageous

● Demonstrates experience working with Joint

Apprenticeship Training Committees.

● Demonstrates relationships with one or more types of the potential project stakeholders (Unions, JATCs, Water and Sewer Commissions).

Not Advantageous

● Demonstrates limited relationships with Joint

Training Apprenticeship Committees.

● Demonstrates limited relationships with potential project stakeholders, i.e., inability to demonstrate any relationship with a Union, JATC, or Water and Sewer Commissions.

CRITERIA 4: RESPONSE TO SCOPE OF SERVICES

Highly Advantageous

The proposal includes comprehensive responses to each deliverable requested in the Scope of Services, along with a detailed staffing/schedule/project plan.

A thoughtful and feasible approach to collaboration among key stakeholders is included. The proposal is tailored to the specific goals and context of the City of Boston. Application includes examples of past successes.

Advantageous The proposal is clear and well-organized. It provides a complete response to this RFP and includes examples of past successes.

Not Advantageous The proposal does not address all aspects of the RFP. It is poorly written and/or difficult to read. It does not provide adequate information to evaluate the vendor’s ability to successfully meet the City’s goals.

CRITERIA 5: DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PLAN

Highly Advantageous

The proposal demonstrates that the proposer has taken concrete steps to identify, contact, and consider such companies as subcontractors and suppliers for the project.

The proposer has actually selected such a company to be a subcontractor, or has included a description of why sound business practices led to the selection of other subcontractors and suppliers despite meaningful engagement with Small Local Business enterprises, Minority Business Enterprises, Woman Business Enterprises, and Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprises. Where a proposer will not utilize subcontractors or suppliers on the contract, it has described specific practices over the past two years that actually made subcontractor and supplier opportunities available to such companies.

Advantageous

The proposal sets forth a detailed and actionable plan to identify, contact, and consider Small Local Business enterprises, Minority Business Enterprises, Woman Business Enterprises, and Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprises as subcontractors and suppliers for the project. Where a proposer will not utilize subcontractors or suppliers on the contract, it has described specific practices over the past two years to identify, contact, and consider subcontractor and supplier relationships with such companies.

Not Advantageous

The proposal does not set forth a detailed or actionable plan to identify, contact, and consider Small Local Business enterprises, Minority Business Enterprises, Woman Business Enterprises, and Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprises as subcontractors and suppliers for the project, and where a proposer will not utilize subcontractors or suppliers on the contract, it has not described specific practices over the past two years to identify, contact, and consider subcontractor and supplier relationships with such companies.

2.3 INTERVIEWS/DEMONSTRATIONS

An additional component of this evaluation process will include an interview. Respondents will give a 30 minute presentation, followed by 30 minutes of Q&A with City staff. We anticipate interviews occurring during the week of October 5, 2026 (subject to change). We will use the evaluation criteria listed below to evaluate the interview. NOTE: Pricing information may only be included in your sealed price proposal. Do not include any pricing information or your entire proposal will be rejected.

CRITERIA 6: INTERVIEW, DEMONSTRATION, OR SITE VISIT

Highly Advantageous

Presenters are well-organized and provide a clear, concise presentation. The presentation demonstrates strong insight into the City’s requirements, as described in the RFP. Key staff are included in the demonstration, and all questions posed by the City were specifically addressed.

Advantageous Presenters are organized. Presentation demonstrates understanding of the City’s requirements, as described in the

RFP.

Not Advantageous

Presenters are poorly organized. Presentation does not demonstrate an understanding of the City’s requirements, as described in the RFP. The vendor is not able to answer key questions posed by the City.

2.4 RULE FOR AWARD AND CONTRACT

The City will select the responsible and responsive proposer (who has met all submission requirements and minimum evaluation criteria) who has submitted the most advantageous proposal, based on both the proposed price and the comparative evaluation criteria.

Please Note: An award letter or award notification is not a communication of final acceptance of a Vendor's proposal. No final award has been made until the following three steps have occurred:

1. Final execution of a Contract by the Vendor and the City of Boston (by its Awarding Authority/Official and the City Auditor);

2. The approval of the final Contract by the Mayor of Boston; and

3. Contractor receipt of a City issued Purchase Order.

The forms in Appendix 1 of this RFP are incorporated into the Contract by reference.

***The City reserves the right to cancel this RFP at any time until proposals are opened, and further reserves its right to reject all proposals after they are opened if the City determines doing so is in its best interest.

III. YOUR TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

Your application will be submitted in two parts. The first part (this section) is the Technical (Non-Price) Proposal. The Technical Proposal will be evaluated to determine whether it meets all of the submission and quality requirements specified in the RFP.

Do NOT mention pricing in this section. If you include pricing information in your technical proposal your proposal will be rejected in its entirety.

Why can’t you include price in the technical proposal? The law requires that we look at the technical and pricing proposals separately. This allows us to first determine who would be the best at implementing the project, without considering price. Next, we consider price proposals. Once both technical and price proposals are evaluated, we choose the most advantageous proposal that provides the best value overall.

Your technical proposal should consist of the following sections (each detailed in the following pages). Your technical proposal should be submitted as one document that addresses all components listed below.

● (3.1) Cover Page

● (3.2) Response to Scope of Services

● (3.3) Ownership Details (Informational only)

● (3.4) References

● (3.5) Insurance Documentation

3.1 COVER PAGE

Please include a cover page as the first page of your technical proposal.

COVER PAGE

RFP Title and Number

Primary Organization Name

Contact Information Name

Title

Address

Email

Phone

A brief introduction highlighting why you would be a good partner for the City on this project (4–5 sentences).

3.2 RESPONSE TO SCOPE OF SERVICES

Q1: ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

QUESTION:

Please explain why your organization is best-suited to manage this RFP.

Suggested length: 1–2 paragraphs

An ideal answer will include:

• Services your organization provides

• How long you’ve provided these services

• Your organizational structure

• Your strategy

• Any relevant awards your team has received

RESPONSE:

Q2: PROJECT TEAM

QUESTION:

Who will work on this project, and why are they best qualified to achieve the goals of this RFP?

Suggested length: 1–3 paragraphs

An ideal answer will include:

• Description of the project team

• List of key team members

• Justification for why they’ll be great partners (bios/resumes)

• Description of team structure

Q3: DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PLAN

The City of Boston is committed to ensuring that vendors who work on the City’s behalf utilize procurement practices that are fully open to the inclusion of small and local businesses, including Small Local Business enterprises, Minority Business Enterprises, Woman Business Enterprises, and Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprises. Please describe the efforts that you have taken, or will take, to ensure that your selection of subcontractors and suppliers for this contract will be meaningfully open to such companies. If you will not utilize subcontractors and suppliers on this particular contract, please describe any efforts or practices of your company over the past two years that demonstrate a practice making subcontracting and supplier opportunities available to such companies. In describing your plan, please include specifics.

Q4: MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS / PRIME & SUBCONTRACTORS

If your team includes multiple organizations, please let us know how long you have worked together and which one organization will be designated as the prime contractor (all others will be designated as subcontractors). Skip if not applicable to your organization.

ORGANIZATION NAME PRIME OR SUB? HOW LONG WORKED TOGETHER

Prime Contractor

Subcontractor

Subcontractor

Subcontractor

Q5: IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

What is your implementation plan?

Include a project timeline and identify staff involved with critical tasks and milestones. Describe your approach to achieving these goals.

Q6: PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Describe a previous apprenticeship training program you were a part of designing and implementing.

Include details regarding what went well, challenges that arose, and how you will apply learnings and best practices from that experience to this engagement.

Q7: STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

Describe your plan to work effectively with stakeholders on this project

An ideal answer will include:

• Your approach to stakeholder engagement in general;

• How you will maximize the value and productivity of the JATC and other stakeholders you will coordinate during this engagement;

• Your experience working with organized labor.

Q8: DATA COLLECTION

Describe how you plan to use data to drive continuous improvement.

Include details about how you will collect and analyze data, and actionize your findings.

Q9: CONTRACT & PERFORMANCE HISTORY

QUESTION: RESPONSE

Have you had a contract terminated for default during the past five (5) years, or have you been involved in litigation regarding a contract?4

Yes No

4 Please note: If you have had a contract terminated for default during the past five (5) years, or have been involved in litigation regarding a contract, this fact must be disclosed along with your position on the matter(s).

If you have experienced no such terminations for default in the past five (5) years and have not been involved in contract litigation, then you must indicate as such. The City reserves the right to request a copy of your firm’s audited financial statements, including a detailed balance sheet and profit and loss statement for three years, or Dun & Bradstreet reports or similar financial reports, in order to evaluate the financial strength of your company.

If “Yes,” please describe your position on the matter(s)

3.3 OWNERSHIP DETAILS (INFORMATIONAL ONLY)

OWNERSHIP DETAILS (INFORMATIONAL ONLY)

QUESTION RESPONSE

Is your organization a small, local, minority-owned, women-owned, and/or veteran-owned business?5

Small Local Minority-Owned Women-Owned Veteran-Owned

Is your organization certified as a small, local, minority-owned, women-owned, and/or veteran-owned business with the City of Boston?

Yes No

Are any of your proposed subcontractors a small, local, minority-owned, women-owned, and/or veteran-owned business?6

Yes No

If you are not certified but would like to be, visit boston.gov/departments/supplier-diversity for information on how to apply.

Becoming a certified small, local, minority-owned, women-owned, and/or veteran-owned business with the City of Boston provides you with many opportunities:

● Targeted outreach for released procurements

● Support building your business and navigating the procurement process

6 Same as above.

5 These details are used to help us improve our outreach to all potential partners, and are for informational purposes only; this RFP is open to any vendor who would like to respond.

http://boston.gov/departments/supplier-diversity http://boston.gov/departments/supplier-diversity

● Access to the new Inclusive Written Quote Contract procurements, which provide a simpler way for businesses to get into government contracting.

3.4 REFERENCES

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)

REFERENCE 1

FIELD VENDOR RESPONSE

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)

REFERENCE 2

Organization

Project Manager (or equivalent)

Phone number

Email (if available)

Project Description

Project Start and End Dates

REFERENCE 3

Organization

Project Manager (or equivalent)

Phone number

Email (if available)

Project Description

Project Start and End Dates

3.5 INSURANCE DOCUMENTATION

Review the City’s required insurance coverage for this scope of work. This can be found in Appendix 3.

If you have a different level of coverage, you must explain below why that is sufficient to manage the risk of this project.

IV. YOUR PRICE PROPOSAL

The Pricing Proposal is where you will share your estimated project budget with us and where you will explain your costs/budget.

IMPORTANT: The Price Proposal (and all pricing information) MUST be submitted separately from the remainder of the proposal. No price information may be included in the Technical Proposal or your Interview. If you do not separate all pricing information from your Technical Proposal, your entire proposal will be rejected.

The pricing proposal (which lists all costs associated with your proposed deliverable) is required in addition to the technical proposal. There are two steps:

1. Please complete the price proposal template provided below.

2. Please enter the total price for the entire contract length in the price line if submitted electronically through the Supplier Portal. More detailed instructions are available in the following section, Section VI, Submission Instructions.

Instructions can also be found on the Procurement Information Page.

Please note:

● The total price will be used to compare price proposals.

http://boston.gov/departments/procurement/how-use-supplier-portal

● In the price proposal, the City asks that you provide detailed pricing for all deliverables in the scope of services with the understanding that the deliverables and quantities of goods and services the City notes in this RFP are estimates only and that the final scope of services may change during contract negotiations between the City and the selected vendor(s).

● No additional charges will be allowed unless they are included in your Price Proposal.

● The vendor will bear the onus of any errors made in pricing the services (e.g., omitting a component of the services).

4.1 PRICE PROPOSAL (REQUIRED)

MILESTONES as defined in section 1.2.4 FIXED PRICE

Milestone 1 $ _________

Milestone 2 $ _________

Milestone 3 $ _________

Milestone 4 $ _________

Milestone 5 $ _________

Milestone 6 $ _________

Milestone 6 $ _________

Milestone 7 $ _________

Milestone 8 $ _________

Milestone 9 $ _________

Milestone 10 $ _________

Milestone 11 $ _________

Milestone 12 $ _________

Milestone 13 $ _________

Milestone 14 $ _________

Milestone 15 $ _________

Milestone 16

TOTAL FIXED PRICE $ _________

Note: Any quantities 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

EV00017380.

4.2 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (OPTIONAL)

You have the option (but are not required) to attach additional information describing any costs that don’t fit into the above template, to describe the reasoning behind your pricing, or to state any assumptions you made while filling out the template.

V. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

This section shows you how to submit your application.

Submission Deadline

To be considered, each bidder must submit a complete bid before Friday September 25, 2026, 2:00PM EDT .

○ See Section 5.1 for the bid checklist and required documents.

Proposal edits and updates can only be submitted BEFORE the deadline.

Submission Methods

Bidders may submit their completed bids using one of the following methods:

1. Electronically via the City of Boston Supplier Portal (see Section 5.2 for instructions)

2. By mail or physical delivery (see Section 5.3 for mailing details and in-person drop-off locations)

Important Submission Guidelines

Technical Issues If submitting via the City of Boston Supplier Portal, bidders should submit early to allow time for troubleshooting any system errors.

Bid Confirmation The contact listed in your bid will receive periodic email updates regarding:

● Confirmation of bid receipt

● Notification of bid award or rejection

Requests for any follow-up information, if needed https://www.boston.gov/departments/procurement/how-use-supplier-portal

Late Submissions

Late bids will NOT be considered. The City is unable to accept bids that are submitted after the deadline or that fail to meet submission requirements.

5.1 CHECKLIST FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSAL

This checklist is for your use only; you do not need to submit this checklist along with your proposal.

CHECKLIST ITEM COMPLETE (✓)

IMPORTANT: Submit separate technical and price proposals. (Do NOT include any price information in your technical proposal; otherwise your proposal will be rejected.)

A. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

Included a cover page with all required information

Responded to all questions and prompts in the “Response to Scope of Services” section

Provided three (3) references using the template in Section 2.2

B. PRICE PROPOSAL

Provided a detailed budget and pricing form

Provided additional information about pricing proposal (optional)

Price proposal submitted separately from technical proposal

C. REVIEW CONTRACT TERMS & CONDITIONS

Reviewed all contract terms, conditions, and additional forms

If awarded the contract, acknowledged the requirement to sign and submit forms listed in Appendix 2

Completed and submitted the CM-16 Wage Theft Prevention Certification

5.2 SUBMITTING PROPOSAL VIA BOSTON’S SUPPLIER PORTAL

Vendors may submit proposals electronically through the Supplier Portal.

Access the portal via boston.gov/procurement → Supplier Portal link.

Bids via email or other electronic means are not accepted.

For Full Instructions (PDF), follow the steps in the official guide: Entering a Bid Online (PDF)

STEP ACTION DETAILS / LINKS

1. Register (if not registered)

Register as a “bidder” in the Supplier Portal.

Note: you will need to register as a vendor if awarded

How to Use the Supplier Portal provides step-by-step registration instructions.

2. Find Event Locate the RFP (Request for Proposals) you want to respond to.

1. Log in to your account.

2. Navigate: Main Menu → Manage Events and Place Bids → View Events and Place Bids.

3. Enter “EV00017380” in the search box and click Search.

4. Click “Water Utilities Registered Apprenticeship Program.”

5. Click View Event Package to download forms and documentation.

- Start with “Water Utilities Registered Apprenticeship Program.”

6. Click OK to return to the Event Details page.

3. Attach Your Bid Upload your bid documents.

1. Click Bid On Event.

2. Answer all questions and upload the required forms as directed, including the non-price technical proposal. Do NOT include any price information in your technical proposal, otherwise your proposal will be rejected

3. Click Step 2: Enter Line Bid Responses. Here is where you input your price information https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YmPYyKj9LzNGr6qGC71UjG7KXI2DFgVm/view?usp=drive_link https://www.boston.gov/procurement https://boston.gov/sites/default/files/embed/e/entering_a_bid_on-line_1.pdf https://www.boston.gov/departments/procurement/how-use-supplier-portal separately. If there are multiple lines, you may need to enter separate amounts for each line item you are bidding on

4. Click the icon on the far right of the screen labeled “View/Add Question Comments and Attachments.” Here is where you will attach your Price Proposal (in the template provided above in Section 4.1)

4. Submit Your Bid Validate and finalize submission.

1. Click Validate Entries to confirm readiness.

2. Click Submit Bid to complete submission.

More information on registering and submitting bids is available on the Procurement Information Page.

Recommended: Submit at least 24 hours prior to the deadline.

Important Note: Modifications may be made after submission but not after the proposal due date. Please ensure your proposal is complete and accurate prior to the deadline.

Ensure all information is complete and accurate before submitting.

5.3 SUBMITTING VIA MAIL / PHYSICAL DELIVERY

You may submit hard copies of the Technical and Price Proposals by mail, delivery service, or in person. If you choose to submit a hard copy, you must submit two separate envelopes: a complete Technical Proposal in one sealed envelope and a Price Proposal in a second sealed envelope.

The envelopes should be clearly marked as follows:

ENVELOPE 1: TECHNICAL PROPOSAL FORMAT (Technical proposal should have absolutely no reference to price)

Water Utilities Registered Apprenticeship Program

RFP Number: EV00017380

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

Submitted by: [Name of Vendor]

[Date Submitted]

Jodi Sugerman-Brozan

Worker Empowerment Cabinet

43 Hawkins St, Floor 2B

Boston, MA 02114

ENVELOPE 2: PRICE PROPOSAL FORMAT

Water Utilities Registered Apprenticeship Program

RFP Number: EV00017380

PRICE PROPOSAL

Submitted by: [Name of Vendor]

[Date Submitted]

Jodi Sugerman-Brozan

Worker Empowerment Cabinet

43 Hawkins St, Floor 2B

Boston, MA 02114

VI. APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1: RFP TERMS AND CONDITIONS

CANCELLATION, REJECTION, AND WAIVER

The City is under no obligation to proceed with this RFP and may cancel the RFP at any time with or without the substitution of another. The City reserves the right to reject in whole or in part any or all Proposals, when the City determines that rejection serves the best interests of the City. The City may waive minor informalities in the Proposal or allow the Vendor to correct them.

The submitted Proposal,…