MCPPO CERTIFICATION EVALUATION EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◉ This project delivery method is often referred to as: Answer: the
design-bid-build delivery method. Two alternative project delivery
methods for public construction projects, construction management at
risk and design-build, are discussed elsewhere in these seminar
materials.
◉ Key Roles in a Design-Bid-Build Process. Answer: The design-bid-
build process in Massachusetts involves three key roles: the owner, the
designer and the contractor.
◉ Public Owner. Answer: The public owner, or awarding authority, is
responsible for defining the project scope, budget, and schedule;
procuring and managing the project design and construction services;
paying for the project; and operating and maintaining the completed
facility. No matter how many of these tasks are contracted out to private
firms, the owner is always responsible and accountable for the project.
◉ Owner's Project Manager. Answer: Before contracting for design
services in connection with a public building contract estimated to cost
$1.5 million or more, your jurisdiction is required to contract with or
,assign an OPM to serve as your jurisdiction's agent during the planning,
design and implementation of the construction work. Thus, the OPM
role included construction management. The OPM must be independent
of the project designer, general contractor, or any subcontractor.
◉ You may assign an employee to serve as the OPM: Answer: only if
that employee meets or exceeds these requirements and has building
construction and supervision experience relating to projects of similar
size and scope of complexity as the project to which the employee is
assigned. If you elect to contract for the services of the OPM, you are
required to use a qualifications-based selection process, which means
that the OPM must be competitively selected on the basis of
qualifications, without price competition.
◉ Contractor. Answer: The selected contractor's job is to provide the
means, methods, and materials to construct the facility in accordance
with the plans and specifications, a job that often entails subcontracting
out specialized portions of the construction work to subcontractors.
◉ Qualifications-Based Selection of Designers. Answer:
"Qualifications-based selection," or "QBS." refers to a process by which
designers compete for public contracts on the basis of their
qualifications, without fee competition. The awarding authority either
sets the fee or negotiates the fee with the highest-ranked applicant.
, ◉ Contractor and Subcontractor Certification. Answer: Under
Massachusetts law, public building contracts and public works contracts
may be awarded only to responsible and eligible contractors.
◉ Under M.G.L. c. 149, "responsible" means: Answer: Demonstrably
possessing the skill, ability and integrity necessary to faithfully perform
the work called for by a particular contract, based upon a determination
of competent workmanship and financial soundness in accordance with
the provisions of section forty-four D of this chapter
◉ "Eligible" means: Answer: Able to meet all requirements for bidders
or offerers set forth in sections forty-four A through forty-four H of this
chapter and not debarred from bidding under section forty-four C of this
chapter or any other applicable law, and who shall certify that he is able
to furnish labor that can work in harmony with all other elements of
labor employed or to be employed on the work. M.G.L. c. 149, §
44A(1).
◉ M.G.L. c. 149 requires contractors bidding on public building
construction contracts estimated to cost more than $150,000 and
subcontractors submitting filed sub-bids on public building construction
contracts estimated to cost more than $150,000 to be: Answer: Certified
by DCAMM, the state's professional asset management agency. The
certification system is intended to identify and disqualify those
contractors and subcontractors that pose an unacceptable risk to
Massachusetts awarding authorities, based on a review of their financial
soundness, bonding capacity, size of previous projects, and most
important of all, their performance on public and private contracts.
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◉ This project delivery method is often referred to as: Answer: the
design-bid-build delivery method. Two alternative project delivery
methods for public construction projects, construction management at
risk and design-build, are discussed elsewhere in these seminar
materials.
◉ Key Roles in a Design-Bid-Build Process. Answer: The design-bid-
build process in Massachusetts involves three key roles: the owner, the
designer and the contractor.
◉ Public Owner. Answer: The public owner, or awarding authority, is
responsible for defining the project scope, budget, and schedule;
procuring and managing the project design and construction services;
paying for the project; and operating and maintaining the completed
facility. No matter how many of these tasks are contracted out to private
firms, the owner is always responsible and accountable for the project.
◉ Owner's Project Manager. Answer: Before contracting for design
services in connection with a public building contract estimated to cost
$1.5 million or more, your jurisdiction is required to contract with or
,assign an OPM to serve as your jurisdiction's agent during the planning,
design and implementation of the construction work. Thus, the OPM
role included construction management. The OPM must be independent
of the project designer, general contractor, or any subcontractor.
◉ You may assign an employee to serve as the OPM: Answer: only if
that employee meets or exceeds these requirements and has building
construction and supervision experience relating to projects of similar
size and scope of complexity as the project to which the employee is
assigned. If you elect to contract for the services of the OPM, you are
required to use a qualifications-based selection process, which means
that the OPM must be competitively selected on the basis of
qualifications, without price competition.
◉ Contractor. Answer: The selected contractor's job is to provide the
means, methods, and materials to construct the facility in accordance
with the plans and specifications, a job that often entails subcontracting
out specialized portions of the construction work to subcontractors.
◉ Qualifications-Based Selection of Designers. Answer:
"Qualifications-based selection," or "QBS." refers to a process by which
designers compete for public contracts on the basis of their
qualifications, without fee competition. The awarding authority either
sets the fee or negotiates the fee with the highest-ranked applicant.
, ◉ Contractor and Subcontractor Certification. Answer: Under
Massachusetts law, public building contracts and public works contracts
may be awarded only to responsible and eligible contractors.
◉ Under M.G.L. c. 149, "responsible" means: Answer: Demonstrably
possessing the skill, ability and integrity necessary to faithfully perform
the work called for by a particular contract, based upon a determination
of competent workmanship and financial soundness in accordance with
the provisions of section forty-four D of this chapter
◉ "Eligible" means: Answer: Able to meet all requirements for bidders
or offerers set forth in sections forty-four A through forty-four H of this
chapter and not debarred from bidding under section forty-four C of this
chapter or any other applicable law, and who shall certify that he is able
to furnish labor that can work in harmony with all other elements of
labor employed or to be employed on the work. M.G.L. c. 149, §
44A(1).
◉ M.G.L. c. 149 requires contractors bidding on public building
construction contracts estimated to cost more than $150,000 and
subcontractors submitting filed sub-bids on public building construction
contracts estimated to cost more than $150,000 to be: Answer: Certified
by DCAMM, the state's professional asset management agency. The
certification system is intended to identify and disqualify those
contractors and subcontractors that pose an unacceptable risk to
Massachusetts awarding authorities, based on a review of their financial
soundness, bonding capacity, size of previous projects, and most
important of all, their performance on public and private contracts.
