Cannabis Equity Program Legal Technical Assistance

The City of Boston's Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion is seeking competitive quotes from legal professionals to provide tailored legal advice to cannabis business owners in the Boston Cannabis Equity Program, with quotes due December 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM and a virtual Q&A session on November 9, 2026.

Vendors must demonstrate at least three years of experience serving diverse businesses including cannabis entities, provide three comparable project examples, supply two references from municipal or public-sector clients, maintain active Massachusetts Bar Association membership in good standing, and possess demonstrated knowledge of state and local cannabis regulations. Pricing must be submitted using a provided template with fixed prices for one-on-one technical assistance, workshops and group sessions, technical assistance events, presentations and testimony, and guidance materials, plus hourly rates for additional services as needed. All quoted prices must be inclusive of travel, administrative time, and incidental expenses with no additional reimbursements beyond agreed deliverable-based pricing.

The maximum contract budget is $49,000, with project-based payment upon satisfactory completion of deliverables. The contract term runs from December 21, 2026 through February 28, 2028 with no renewal options. The scope includes one-on-one legal technical assistance, workshops, group sessions, participation in technical assistance events, presentations, and grant application support to certified and pre-certified cannabis equity businesses throughout Boston. The City of Boston encourages participation from small, minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses but has not imposed a set-aside or preference program. Contractors must maintain professional liability insurance and comply with City of Boston Standard Contract General Conditions, debarment status certification, CORI policy, conflict of interest laws, non-discrimination provisions, and prevailing wage law applicability where relevant. Responses must be submitted through the City of Boston Supplier Portal or by paper submission to One City Hall Square, Room 808, Boston, MA 02201, with contact inquiries directed to Jolivia Barros at jolivia.barros@boston.gov.