EOLWD Collection and Analysis of Wage Transparency Data

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), is seeking a qualified research institute or firm to partner in the collection and analysis of wage transparency data under the Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act. The selected contractor will be responsible for ingesting, synthesizing, and analyzing confidential data from covered employers, including PDFs, handwritten forms, and EEOC submissions (EEO-1, EEO-3, and EEO-5 reports), with high accuracy levels and strict timing requirements. Deliverables include compiling individual employer data reports submitted by February 1, 2025, with EOLWD publishing aggregate wage and workforce data reports by June 1, 2025. The evaluation criteria prioritize technical and operational capabilities, with points allocated across several factors including expertise in securely handling sensitive data, experience with workforce data and pay equity policy, and the ability to leverage AI or emerging technologies for data analysis and visualization. The Request for Response (RFR) BD-25-1043-DAO01-32500-108881 was posted on October 24, 2024, with proposals due by November 13, 2024, and the contract expected to have an initial duration of 2 years with options to renew for up to an additional 10 years.

The Commonwealth has established a strong preference for small businesses headquartered in Massachusetts, as defined by the Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP). SBPP-registered participants must meet specific criteria, including having a principal place of business in the state, being in business for at least one year, employing 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, and having gross revenues of $15 million or less. On November 29, 2024, Boston University was announced as the apparent successful bidder for this contract opportunity. The procurement documents indicate that SBPP-registered participants who meet the best value criteria will be given priority in the evaluation process. While a specific budget range was not disclosed, the contract will be awarded to the bidder providing the best overall value to the Commonwealth, with pricing ranked in reverse order. The contract requires comprehensive confidentiality measures, with bidders expected to demonstrate robust data protection capabilities and compliance with state and federal confidentiality regulations.