Property Acquisition and Management

1. Using ASBO Skill Assessment Tool
2. Professional Self-Assessments - Mapping Skills, Charting a Course for Growth
3. ASBO Professional Self Assessments
   

Summary of 30b Review Manual for full compliance requirements -Inspector General

• Authority to Contract:"A local governmental body that wishes to use the Chapter 30B request for proposals process to procure supplies or services must appoint a “Chief Procurement Officer” (CPO) to oversee the procurement of all supplies and services." (page 9 of 2006 30 b Manual) M.G.L. c. 30B Chief Procurement Officer Appointment Form and Delegation Form, 2006. [PDF]
  
  1. Procurement less than $5,000 - Use sound business practice
  2. Procurement $5,000 or more but less than $25,000 - Seek 3 or more oral or written quotes
  3. Procurement $25,000 or more
     • Invitations for bids (IFBs) = Award contract to responsive and responsible bidder offering the best price
     • Requests for Proposals (RFPs) = Award contract to responsive and responsible proposer offering the most advantageous price

• Municipal, County, District, and Local Authority Procurement of Supplies, Services, and Real Property, (5 th Edition), [In PDF format; file size=995KB; 170 pages] September 2006. (NEW)

Summary of Procuring Building Construction Contracts Under M.G.L. c. 149 and Pulic Works Under M.G.L. c. 30, §39M -Inspector General

• Designing and Constructing Public Facilities: Fall 2005 Manual
  • Authority to Contract:"Any contract signed by an individual who lacks the authority to bind your jurisdiction will be legally unenforceable. If you do not know who within your jurisdiction is authorized to enter into contracts, or what kinds of contracts are permissible, you should review your jurisdiction’s enabling legislation, charter, or local rules; you should also consult your local attorney." (page 7 of the Fall 2005 manual)

Guides, Advisories, and Other Publications

eProcurement: Chapter 30B and Online Auctions , June 2005.

Model Designer Selection Procedures for Municipalities and Other Local Public Agencies (html), June 2005, including the Designer Selection Board's Standard Designer Application Form for Municipalities and Public Agencies not within DSB Jurisdiction .

Advisory to Local Officials: Computer Usage Policies , May 2005.

Advisory to Local Officials: Telephone Usage Policies , May 2005.

Practical Guide to Drafting Effective Invitations for Bids and Requests for Proposals for Supplies and Services (html) OR [PDF] , April 2005.

Guide to Bonding Requirements Under Construction Reform , April 2005.

Guide to Developing and Implementing Fraud Prevention Programs , April 2005.

Guide to Writing Effective Travel Policies , December 2004.

Guide to Administering and Complying with Vehicle Management Policies , December 2004.

Banking Services Procurement Guide for Local Government Treasurers , December 2004.

Prevailing Wage Rate as Applied to School Bus Contracts , October 2004.

A Local Official's Guide to Procuring and Administering Audit Services , May 2004.

M.G.L. c. 30B Advisory: Insurance Consultants Must Be Licensed , June 2003.

Information on Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2002, A School Construction Pilot Program , February 2003.

Recommended Code of Conduct for Public Employees, (html): OR [PDF] August 1998.

Bid Protests Under M.G.L. c. 30B, the Uniform Procurement Act, 1996.

Operational Services Division (COMM-PASS) ( www.comm-pass.com )

Commonwealth Procurement Access System . Comm-PASS allows businesses easy access to all of the information necessary to bid on many state contracts.

Prevailing Wage Program

Massachusetts DOE Educational Technology Integration Services (ETIS) . ETIS is a new system to streamline the process by which public schools and libraries obtain educational technology goods and services. It is a statewide blanket contract for educational technology. ETIS fully complies with M.G.L. c. 30b.

Massachusetts Local Government Outreach . This site's mission is to provide assistance and information to local government entities on statewide blanket contracts. A list of current blanket contracts is available online. They also provide information on the use of Comm-PASS and any other issue where they can assist political subdivisions in dealing with OSD.

NIGP - National Institute of Governmental Purchasing . This is an excellent site for the latest developments in purchasing around the country. This site also contains information on bid specifications submitted from around the country by public purchasing officials. Some of this information can be accessed for free. The institute does have a fee involved and some information you can only gain access to through the use of a password.

BEST PRACTICE: (MASBO members only section)

Professional Development and Other Resources

PASBO Electronic Resource Center ( www.pasboerc.org/erc/default.asp )

Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official Program

Massachusetts Association of Public Purchasing Officials (under construction)

Procurement Bulletin Subscription Information: " The Procurement Bulletin is published on a quarterly basis by the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General. There is no charge to subscribe. To receive the Procurement Bulletin via e-mail, please send an e-mail containing your first and last name, along with your email address, to Eva Benoit at benoitev@maoig.net. To receive a paper copy via mail, please fax your mailing address to Eva Benoit at 617-723-2334.