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H 4157

Anderson Co. EMD 2024 EMA of the Year

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

Cambridge would give certified disadvantaged, diverse, and small/local businesses priority in small and mid-sized purchases, with required quotes and public notice for amounts over

Roll call Yeas-92 Nays-0
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Bill Summary · H 4157

Summary: H. 4157 An Act further regulating procurements by the City of Cambridge

Overview

H. 4157, introduced May 27, 2025 and currently in the Massachusetts General Court, seeks to modify how the City of Cambridge conducts procurements for supplies and services, particularly for small-dollar contracts. The bill aims to broaden preferential considerations for disadvantaged, diverse, and small/local businesses while maintaining general compliance with existing state procurement law (Chapter 30B). It was filed as a local act with Massachusetts’ approval and has progressed through committee review and floor action.

  • Bill: H 4157 (House Docket No. 4735)
  • Sponsored by: Rep. Marjorie C. Decker (with City of Cambridge approval)
  • Status: Read second and ordered to a third reading (as of the latest actions)
  • Introduced: May 27, 2025
  • Related: HD 4735 replaces this measure in some legislative formats

What the bill would change (Key Provisions)

1) Small-dollar procurements (≤ $20,000)
- Cambridge may use “sound business practices” (as defined in M.G.L. ch. 30B, § 2) to award contracts for supplies/services when the vendor is a disadvantaged, diverse, or small/local business certified by:
- Cambridge supplier diversity office, or
- City of Boston, or
- Cambridge by virtue of its compact with Boston (subject to future amendments), or
- Cambridge certification.
- For purchases of $10,000 or more, Cambridge must still meet the requirements of section 3 of Chapter 30B (i.e., standard 30B procedures apply for the larger threshold portion).

2) Medium-dollar procurements (above $20,000, up to the small-procurement threshold)
- For procurements > $20,000 but not exceeding the small-procurement threshold defined by the Massachusetts Operational Services Division (OSD), Cambridge procurement officers must seek written quotations from at least three qualified disadvantaged, diverse, or small/local businesses (certified similarly as above).
- The process must document:
- Names and addresses of all quoters,
- Procurement specifications,
- Names of submitters,
- Date and amount of each quotation.
- The contract must be awarded to the eligible and responsible bidder offering the required quality at the lowest quotation.
- After award, Cambridge must publish notice of the award on its website or another appropriate notification platform.

3) General provisions
- Severability: If any provision is unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions remain in effect.
- Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

Who would be affected

  • City of Cambridge: Procurement procedures for small and mid-sized contracts would be adjusted to incorporate certified disadvantaged, diverse, and small/local businesses.
  • Disadvantaged, diverse, and small/local businesses: Potentially greater access to Cambridge procurement opportunities, especially for contracts at or below $20,000 and in the $20,000–the small-procurement-threshold range.
  • Suppliers diversity certification bodies: The bill relies on certifications from the Cambridge supplier diversity office, the City of Boston (and Cambridge’s compact with Boston), or Cambridge certifications.

Implementation timeline and process

  • The bill codifies a two-tier approach based on dollar amount (≤$20,000 vs. >$20,000 up to the small-procurement threshold).
  • Requires documentation and public notice for awards above $20,000.
  • Takes effect upon passage.
  • Legislative progression includes hearings (scheduled June 24, 2025), committee reports, and floor actions with recent steps indicating movement toward final passage (as of August 2025).

Additional notes

  • The bill is categorized as a local/municipal procurement reform measure and carries local approval requirements.
  • Related measure HD 4735 is noted as a replacement in some legislative analyses.

This summary presents the bill’s substantive changes, potential impacts, and procedural context to help readers understand how Cambridge’s procurement practice could evolve under H. 4157.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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