The first is an update to the commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Program for the inaugural inclusion of spending benchmarks for LGBTQ-owned business enterprises (LGBTQBE) and disability-owned business enterprises (DOBE). The second is the launch of a new online interactive map to highlight these businesses.
“Our administration is proud to be taking this important and long overdue step to codify spending benchmarks for businesses owned by LGBTQIA+ individuals and individuals with disabilities, as well as launching a new online tool that we believe will be critical to helping us meet these goals,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll in an announcement.
In terms of the benchmarks, this means that as of July 1, state agencies will work toward purchasing $18 million from LGBTQE and $18 million from DOBE during Fiscal Year 2024. Prior to this announcement, the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) has worked to promote equity in procurements by state executive agencies for minority, women, veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
For states, localities, prime bidders and contractors trying to identify and locate certified diverse business partners, the newly launched Massachusetts Certified Business Map can help them do so more easily.
Users can search businesses based on location, certification type and business name. Some of the information displayed through this tool includes disadvantaged business enterprise business count, state business count and counts by certification type.
The website also includes instructions for use. Importantly, the tool’s information can also be interpreted using screen reader technology.
The tool is offered by SDO, building on the office’s previous work of creating a Supplier Diversity Hub in 2021.
