To promote equity and inclusion in our contracting, the City of Boston has launched a Sheltered Market Pilot Program (SMPP). This pilot program will help us determine if the City should adopt a permanent Sheltered Market Program, which would allow for any future contract to be consid- ered for participation. Under this pilot program, the City will make up to six contracts available only to certified minority- and women-owned (M/WBE) bidders. For this pilot, these contracts must be awarded no later than June 30, 2022. Only firms owned by groups with proven disparities will be eligible to bid. Here's how we calculate disparity: The City's 2021 Disparity Study measured the percentage of city contracts that went to M/WBE firms. It then counted the businesses available to perform each type of work, and what percentage of them were M/WBE. It then compared these two analyses. The difference between these two measurements is the disparity. The contracts will be for professional services, support services, or goods. Different groups will be eligible for different types of contracts. These specific eligibility criteria will be determined and announced for each contract. To ensure competition, there are two other major differences from normal procurements. At any given time, a business may not have more than one active contract awarded through a Sheltered Market Program. A business may also not have more than 3 contracts awarded through a Sheltered Market Program within a 12 month period. To learn more about the program and see the full procedures, visit boston.gov/sheltered-market. If you would like to be eligible, you should get your business certified now by using our online application at boston.gov/certified-business-application. If you have any questions, please contact our office at supplierdiversity@boston.gov To promote equity and inclusion in our contracting, the City of Boston has launched a Sheltered Market Pilot Program (SMPP). This pilot program will help us determine if the City should adopt a permanent Sheltered Market Program, which would allow for any future contract to be consid- ered for participation. Under this pilot program, the City will make up to six contracts available only to certified minority- and women-owned (M/WBE) bidders. For this pilot, these contracts must be awarded no later than June 30, 2022. Only firms owned by groups with proven disparities will be eligible to bid. Here's how we calculate disparity: The City's 2021 Disparity Study measured the percentage of city contracts that went to M/WBE firms. It then counted the businesses available to perform each type of work, and what percentage of them were M/WBE. It then compared these two analyses. The difference between these two measurements is the disparity. The contracts will be for professional services, support services, or goods. Different groups will be eligible for different types of contracts. These specific eligibility criteria will be determined and announced for each contract. To ensure competition, there are two other major differences from normal procurements. At any given time, a business may not have more than one active contract awarded through a Sheltered Market Program. A business may also not have more than 3 contracts awarded through a Sheltered Market Program within a 12 month period. To learn more about the program and see the full procedures, visit boston.gov/sheltered-market. If you would like to be eligible, you should get your business certified now by using our online application at boston.gov/certified-business-application. If you have any questions, please contact our office at supplierdiversity@boston.gov