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City of Somerville header
File #: 25-1407    Version: 1
Type: Mayor's Request Status: Referred for Recommendation
File created: 9/5/2025 In control: Legislative Matters Committee
On agenda: 9/11/2025 Final action:
Enactment date: Enactment #:
Title: Requesting approval of a Home Rule Petition to raise the sound business practices and written quote contract thresholds under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30B for city contracts with certified disadvantaged businesses.  
Code sections: Home Rule Petition -
Attachments: 1. HRP-Procurement

Agenda Summary

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Requesting approval of a Home Rule Petition to raise the sound business practices and written quote contract thresholds under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30B for city contracts with certified disadvantaged businesses.

 

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Official Text

To the Honorable City Council:

 

Please find enclosed for your consideration a proposed Home Rule Petition prepared by the Procurement and Law Department which would raise the sound business practices and written quote contract thresholds under M.G.L. c. 30B for City contracts with certified disadvantaged businesses.

 

Specifically, the proposal would allow the City to use sound business practices for supplies and services purchased up to $20,000 (currently, the threshold under state law is $10,000) and request at least three (3) written quotes from certified disadvantaged businesses for contracts valued up to $250,000 (currently, the threshold under state law is $50,000). Raising these thresholds simplifies the bidding and quote seeking process, making it easier for certified disadvantaged businesses to apply for City contracts.

 

The legal text of the petition is attached.

 

Appropriate staff will be available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

 

Respectfully,

Katjana Ballantyne, Mayor