Design and Construction Contracting (MCPPO 2)
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT Answers
Question: 1. Stages of Public Construction
Answer:
The design and construction contracting process for public construction projects in
Massachusetts typically involves three stages: planning, design and construction
Question: 2. 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.
Question: 3. 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.
Question: 4. 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.
Question: 5. 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.
Question: 6. 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.
Question: 7. 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.
Question: 8. 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.
Question: 9. Contractor and Subcontractor Certification
Answer:
Under Massachusetts law, public building contracts and public works contracts may be
awarded only to responsible and eligible contractors.
Question: 10. 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
Question: 11. "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
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT Answers
Question: 1. Stages of Public Construction
Answer:
The design and construction contracting process for public construction projects in
Massachusetts typically involves three stages: planning, design and construction
Question: 2. 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.
Question: 3. 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.
Question: 4. 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.
Question: 5. 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.
Question: 6. 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.
Question: 7. 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.
Question: 8. 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.
Question: 9. Contractor and Subcontractor Certification
Answer:
Under Massachusetts law, public building contracts and public works contracts may be
awarded only to responsible and eligible contractors.
Question: 10. 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
Question: 11. "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
