Public Contracting Overview (MCPPO 1) Questions With
Complete Solutions
A "responsible" Contractor Correct Answers A "responsible"
contractor possesses the skill, ability, and integrity necessary to
faithfully perform the work; an "eligible" contractor has met the
statutory requirements for eligible bidders set forth in M.G.L. c.
30, § 39M. If the lowest bidder is responsible and eligible, you
will award the contract to that bidder
A cost reimbursement contract Correct Answers Because of the
need to monitor and verify the vendor's expenditures, a cost
reimbursement contract requires more contract oversight than a
fixed-price contract requires.
Advertising for more than $50K but less than $150,000 Correct
Answers If the building construction contract is estimated to
cost more than $50,000 but not more than $150,000, you must
solicit competitive sealed bids by advertising the invitation for
bids (IFB) in the Central Register, in a newspaper of general
circulation in the locality of the project, and on COMMBUYS at
least two weeks prior to the deadline for submitting bids. The
IFB notice must also be posted in your jurisdiction's office at
least one week prior to the deadline. Bidders must submit a five
percent bid deposit with their bids. The bid deposit may be in
the form of a certified, treasurer's or cashier's check from a
responsible bank or trust company payable to the awarding
authority; cash; or a bid bond from a surety company.
,Affirmative Market Program Correct Answers reserves
contracts or portions of contracts for groups of vendors that
historically have been disadvantaged through discrimination
At Least $10,000 But Not More Than $50,000: Written Price
Quotations Correct Answers If the contract value will be at least
$10,000 but not more than $50,000 for the supplies or services,
you must solicit at least three written quotes from vendors that
customarily provide the supplies or services you are procuring,
and award the contract to the responsible vendor who gives you
the lowest written quote (or, in the case of a contract under
which the vendor will make payments to your jurisdiction, the
highest written quote) that meets your purchase description.
Under M.G.L. c. 30B, a responsible vendor has the capability to
perform fully the contract requirements and the integrity and
reliability that assure good faith performance.
Best Value Correct Answers Means awarding contracts based
on several factors, including:
-A vendor's ability to successfully complete the contract on
time, at the quality level specified, at the offered price
-Technical quality of the supplies or services offered, and
-Vendor's past performance on similar contracts
Building construction contracts estimated to cost $10 million or
more: mandatory contractor and subcontractor prequalification
Correct Answers Most Massachusetts awarding authorities are
required to prequalify general contractors and subcontractors to
submit general bids or filed sub-bids on M.G.L. c. 149 contracts
estimated to cost at least $10 million; they may elect to do so for
, M.G.L. c. 149 contracts estimated to cost not less than $100,000
but not more than $10 million.
Building construction contracts estimated to cost at least
$10,000 but not more than $50,000 Correct Answers If the
estimated contract cost is at least $10,000 but not more than
$50,000, you prepare a solicitation that includes a scope-of-work
statement defining the work to be performed and providing
potential responders with sufficient information regarding your
jurisdiction's objectives and requirements as well as the time
period within which the work will be completed.
Building construction contracts estimated to cost less than
$10,000 Correct Answers If the estimated contract cost is less
than $10,000, you are required to use sound business practices in
selecting the contractor and to keep a record of the procurement.
Building construction contracts estimated to cost more than
$150,000 Correct Answers Two unique aspects of M.G.L. c.
149 requirements for contracts exceeding $150,000 are filed
sub-bidding and DCAMM certification of contractors and
subcontractors. These requirements are summarized below
Building construction contracts estimated to cost more than
$50,000 but not more than $150,000 Correct Answers M.G.L. c.
149, § 44A(2)(C), requires building construction contracts
estimated to cost more than $50,000 but not more than $150,000
to be bid in accordance with the competitive bidding procedures
set forth in M.G.L. c. 30, § 39M, the bid law that applies to
contracts for public works construction services and to contracts
for construction materials.
Complete Solutions
A "responsible" Contractor Correct Answers A "responsible"
contractor possesses the skill, ability, and integrity necessary to
faithfully perform the work; an "eligible" contractor has met the
statutory requirements for eligible bidders set forth in M.G.L. c.
30, § 39M. If the lowest bidder is responsible and eligible, you
will award the contract to that bidder
A cost reimbursement contract Correct Answers Because of the
need to monitor and verify the vendor's expenditures, a cost
reimbursement contract requires more contract oversight than a
fixed-price contract requires.
Advertising for more than $50K but less than $150,000 Correct
Answers If the building construction contract is estimated to
cost more than $50,000 but not more than $150,000, you must
solicit competitive sealed bids by advertising the invitation for
bids (IFB) in the Central Register, in a newspaper of general
circulation in the locality of the project, and on COMMBUYS at
least two weeks prior to the deadline for submitting bids. The
IFB notice must also be posted in your jurisdiction's office at
least one week prior to the deadline. Bidders must submit a five
percent bid deposit with their bids. The bid deposit may be in
the form of a certified, treasurer's or cashier's check from a
responsible bank or trust company payable to the awarding
authority; cash; or a bid bond from a surety company.
,Affirmative Market Program Correct Answers reserves
contracts or portions of contracts for groups of vendors that
historically have been disadvantaged through discrimination
At Least $10,000 But Not More Than $50,000: Written Price
Quotations Correct Answers If the contract value will be at least
$10,000 but not more than $50,000 for the supplies or services,
you must solicit at least three written quotes from vendors that
customarily provide the supplies or services you are procuring,
and award the contract to the responsible vendor who gives you
the lowest written quote (or, in the case of a contract under
which the vendor will make payments to your jurisdiction, the
highest written quote) that meets your purchase description.
Under M.G.L. c. 30B, a responsible vendor has the capability to
perform fully the contract requirements and the integrity and
reliability that assure good faith performance.
Best Value Correct Answers Means awarding contracts based
on several factors, including:
-A vendor's ability to successfully complete the contract on
time, at the quality level specified, at the offered price
-Technical quality of the supplies or services offered, and
-Vendor's past performance on similar contracts
Building construction contracts estimated to cost $10 million or
more: mandatory contractor and subcontractor prequalification
Correct Answers Most Massachusetts awarding authorities are
required to prequalify general contractors and subcontractors to
submit general bids or filed sub-bids on M.G.L. c. 149 contracts
estimated to cost at least $10 million; they may elect to do so for
, M.G.L. c. 149 contracts estimated to cost not less than $100,000
but not more than $10 million.
Building construction contracts estimated to cost at least
$10,000 but not more than $50,000 Correct Answers If the
estimated contract cost is at least $10,000 but not more than
$50,000, you prepare a solicitation that includes a scope-of-work
statement defining the work to be performed and providing
potential responders with sufficient information regarding your
jurisdiction's objectives and requirements as well as the time
period within which the work will be completed.
Building construction contracts estimated to cost less than
$10,000 Correct Answers If the estimated contract cost is less
than $10,000, you are required to use sound business practices in
selecting the contractor and to keep a record of the procurement.
Building construction contracts estimated to cost more than
$150,000 Correct Answers Two unique aspects of M.G.L. c.
149 requirements for contracts exceeding $150,000 are filed
sub-bidding and DCAMM certification of contractors and
subcontractors. These requirements are summarized below
Building construction contracts estimated to cost more than
$50,000 but not more than $150,000 Correct Answers M.G.L. c.
149, § 44A(2)(C), requires building construction contracts
estimated to cost more than $50,000 but not more than $150,000
to be bid in accordance with the competitive bidding procedures
set forth in M.G.L. c. 30, § 39M, the bid law that applies to
contracts for public works construction services and to contracts
for construction materials.
