DCAMM Contractor Certification How do I Bid on Public Projects?

Why does DCAMM Certify Contractors for Public Bidding?

Before DCAMM Certification In the 1970’s, corruption in the awarding of public building contracts resulted in substandard and dangerously defective workmanship in several important public buildings. This prompted the Massachusetts legislature to appoint a special commission, known as the “Ward Commission,” to study the problems in public building construction.

After studying a host of defective public buildings and the bidding procedures followed by awarding authorities, the Ward Commission concluded that there was no effective system in place for screening out those contractors who were unqualified, overcommitted, underfinanced, or dishonest. To address this problem, the commission recommended certification of general bidders on all public building construction projects subject to the public bidding laws.

DCAMM Certification Prime/General Certification vs. Sub-bidder Certification What’s the difference? A Prime/General Certificate of Eligibility (“Certificate”) is used when a Prime/General Contractor or Construction Manager bids directly to an owner/awarding authority. The General/Prime Contractor manages all the sub-bidders on the contract. A Sub-bidder Certificate of Eligibility is used when a subcontractor bids as a Filed Sub-Bidder.

When is a DCAMM Prime/General Certificate* Required? A DCAMM Prime/General Certificate is required on projects bid under M.G.L. c. 149, §44A A contract is subject to M.G.L. c.149, §44A-J or c.149A if: It is put out by a Massachusetts Public Agency (i.e. state agencies, authorities, counties, cities, towns, etc.) It is for the construction, reconstruction, demolition, maintenance, or repair of a vertical building The estimated cost is over $100,000 DCAMM Certification is not required for: Highway, bridge, tunnel, sewer, site work or other horizontal work that do not involve buildings and building projects under $100,000.

Prime/General Information Prime/General threshold: Estimated Construction Cost $100,000 Prime/General required for the 28 Categories of Work listed in M.G.L. c. 149, §44F Prime/General must be DCAMM certified in Category of Work to bid project

Requirements for General/Prime Certification Application for General/Prime Certificate of Eligibility Fee payment in the form of Certified Check or Money Order made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Copy of Current Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) Certificate, if applicable Most recent Massachusetts Corporation Annual Report or Massachusetts Foreign Corporation Annual Report if an out of state company or LLC Annual Report if an LLC New applicants; include Articles of Organization or Massachusetts Foreign Corporation Certificate if an out of state company or Certificate of Organization if a Limited Liability Company (LLC) Resumes of all Principal and Supervisory Personnel Most Recent Year-Ending CPA Audited or Reviewed Financial Statement Workers Compensation Insurance Binder or Policy and verification of your company’s Experience Modification Rating (EMR) Bonding Letter with Single and Aggregate Limits listed along with Surety name

To be a Filed Sub-Bidder? What does it mean To be a Filed Sub-Bidder?

DCAMM Sub-Bidder Certification When is a DCAMM Sub-Bidder Certificate Required? A DCAMM Sub-bidder Certificate is required on projects bid under M.G.L. c. 149, § 44A & c. 149A A project subject to M.G.L. c.149 §44A or c.149A if: It is put out by a Massachusetts public agency (i.e. state agencies, authorities, counties, cities, towns, etc.); and It is for the construction, reconstruction, demolition, maintenance, or repair of a vertical building; and The entire project is estimated to cost over $100,000; and The sub-bid category of work in one of the 18 trades is estimated to cost over $20,000. DCAMM Certification is not required for: Highway, bridge, tunnel, sewer, site work, or other horizontal projects that do not involve buildings and building projects under $100,000 and/or the sub-bid category of work in one of the 18 trades is estimated to cost under $20,000.

Filed Sub-Bidders Information Filed sub-bid threshold: Estimated Construction Cost $20,000 Filed sub-bids required for the 18 trades listed in M.G.L. c. 149, §44F Filed sub-bidders must be DCAMM certified in trade.

Filed Sub-Bidder Requirements Application for Sub-Bidder Certificate of Eligibility Fee payment in the form of Certified Check or Money Order for $200 made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Copy of Current Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) Certificate, if applicable Most recent Massachusetts Corporation Annual Report or Massachusetts Foreign Corporation Annual Report if an out of state company or LLC Annual Report if an LLC New applicants; include Articles of Organization or Massachusetts Foreign Corporation Certificate if an out of state company or Certificate of Organization if a Limited Liability Company (LLC) Resumes of all Principal and Supervisory Personnel Most Recent Year-Ending CPA Compiled or Reviewed Financial Statement Workers Compensation Insurance Binder or Policy and verification of your company’s Experience Modification Rating (EMR)

Filed Sub-Bidders Categories of Work

DCAMM Certification Application

Cross Over Categories are Red Prime Certification Application Company Name:      Official Business Name   Street Address:      Street address City, State, and Zip:      City State and zip code Telephone:     Company Phone number Fax:       E-Mail Address:      Email address of contact person Submitted by:      Person we will contact Date:      Date you completed Check all categories of work from the list at the right for which you wish to receive certification. To be considered for certification in any category, contractors must perform work in those categories using their own workforce. Certification will not be granted in categories where the work was subcontracted. Current or most recent DCAMM certificate number:       DCAMM will assign your account a number Categories of Work General Building Construction Alarm Systems Asbestos Removal De-leading Demolition Doors & Windows Electrical Electronic Security Systems Elevators Energy Management Systems Exterior Siding Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems Floor Covering Historical Building Restoration Historical Masonry Historical Painting Historical Roofing HVAC Masonry Mechanical Systems Modular Construction/ Prefab Painting Plumbing Pumping Stations Roofing Sewage and Water Treatment Plants Telecommunications Systems Waterproofing Cross Over Categories are Red

Cross Over Categories What is a Cross Over Category? When you complete the Prime Application if you have selected one of these 9 categories of work and have received certification in that specialty you will automatically receive the Sub-Bidder Certificate of Eligibility* Electrical Elevators Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems HVAC Masonry Painting Plumbing Roofing Waterproofing * Sub-Bidder Application not required

Sub-Bidder Certification Application Company Name:      Official Business Name   Street Address:      Street address City, State, and Zip:      City State and zip code Telephone:     Company Phone number Fax:       E-Mail Address:      Email address of contact person Submitted by:      Person we will contact Date:      Date you signed Check all categories of work from the list at the right for which you wish to receive certification. To be considered for certification in any category, contractors must perform work in those categories using their own workforce. Certification will not be granted in categories where the work was subcontracted. Current or most recent DCAMM certificate number:       DCAMM will assign your account a number Categories of Work Acoustical Tile Electrical Work Elevators Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems Glass and Glazing HVAC Lathing and Plastering Marble Masonry Work Metal Windows Miscellaneous and Ornamental Iron Painting Plumbing Resilient Floors Roofing and Flashing Terrazzo Tile Waterproofing, Damp-proofing and Caulking

Certification Application Contents A. Historical Data/Organization—Biographical Info B. Resumes of Officers & Supervisory Personnel C. Organizational Experience D. Bonding/Financial Data E. Highest Value Projects F. Projects in Progress (Excel Spreadsheet) G. Completed Projects (Excel Spreadsheet) H. General Performance Questions --Terminations/failure to complete/direct payments/surety bonds invoked I. Legal/Administrative Proceedings --Lawsuits/workers comp issues/violations of law J. Affidavit --Signed and sworn under the penalties of perjury

Bonding, Financial Data, and Workers’ Compensation Bonding Only Required for Prime Certification: If your company is bonded, please attach an original letter from your bonding agent addressed to DCAMM, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, accompanying single and aggregate limits and providing name of surety company. Attach the most recent, complete year-ending statement of financial condition prepared by a certified public accountant (CPA), including balance sheet and income statement. For Prime Certification we will accept Audited or Reviewed Financial Statements For Sub-Bidder Certification we will accept Reviewed or Compiled Financial Statements Attach a copy of your company’s Workers Compensation Insurance Policy Information Page and please ensure that it indicates your company’s Experience Modification Rating (EMR).

Prime Projects – In Progress and Completed Using the Excel Spreadsheet (“E. Projects in Progress”), list all building construction projects your company has in process on this date that are at least $80,000. Do not list projects with contract values of less than $80,000. If your company has more than twenty (20) projects in process on this date, please restrict your list to the twenty (20) oldest contracts still in process. Information on randomly selected projects is not acceptable. With respect to single contracts involving multiple categories of work, provide a dollar breakdown attributable to each category listed Completed Projects Using the Excel Spreadsheet (“F. Completed Projects”), list all building construction projects of at least $80,000, which your company has completed within the past three years or the twenty (20) most recent projects completed within the past five years. It is acceptable to add a second Completed Projects worksheet if needed. Information on randomly selected projects is not acceptable. With respect to single contracts involving multiple categories of work, provide a dollar breakdown attributable to each category listed. Both Excel Spreadsheets are available on our website: www.mass.gov/DCAM/Certification

Sub Bidder Projects – In Progress and Completed Using the Excel Spreadsheet (“E. Projects in Progress”), list all building construction projects your company has in process on this date that are at least $20,000. Do not list projects with contract values of less than $20,000. If your company has more than ten (10) projects in process on this date, please restrict your list to the ten (10) oldest contracts still in process. Information on randomly selected projects is not acceptable. With respect to single contracts involving multiple categories of work, provide a dollar breakdown attributable to each category listed Completed Projects Using the Excel Spreadsheet (“F. Completed Projects”), list all building construction projects of at least $20,000, which your company has completed within the past three years or the ten (10) most recent projects completed within the past three years. It is acceptable to add a second Completed Projects worksheet if needed. Information on randomly selected projects is not acceptable. With respect to single contracts involving multiple categories of work, provide a dollar breakdown attributable to each category listed. Both Excel Spreadsheets are available on our website: www.mass.gov/DCAM/Certification

Additional Certification Standards Passing Rating for Certification is 80% for both prime and subs Factors incorporated into Overall Numerical Rating system including criteria such as: termination, amount of litigation, direct payment claims history, OSHA penalties over $1K, workers’ comp rating (EMR) & any other factor bearing on a contractor’s competency and responsibility within the Commissioner’s discretion Single Project Limit (highest amount you can bid per-project) based on average of largest 2 projects (for Prime Certification) Background checks: Joint Task Force (JTF) referrals; Dept. of Unemployment Assistance (DUA); Dept. of Industrial Accidents (DIA) Stop Work Order List; Workers’ Compensation Rating & Inspection Bureau (WCRIB) (EMR); OSHA; Attorney General (AG); State and Federal Debarment lists

Contractor Evaluation What is this? Client reference from your Completed Projects Areas they will evaluate are: Finished Product Quality This covers the general quality of workmanship Your Project Management 5 areas evaluated: Coordination and scheduling Ability of manage subcontractors Safety and housekeeping procedures Change orders Working relationships and paperwork Supervisory Personnel Rating They will rate the Supervisor knowledge, skills and experience of your onsite staff

Who Signs Evaluations for Contractors The form must be completed and signed by the following: Individual at Awarding Authority (AA) who is most knowledgeable about the construction phase of the project. For public projects under $1.5M only official at Awarding Authority must sign Contractor Evaluation. At Awarding Authority’s discretion, the AA’s Representative may sign the Evaluation too. No separate evaluation to be submitted. For public projects over $1.5M where an OPM (Owners Project Manager) is required, it is mandatory that the Owner (Awarding Authority) and OPM both sign the same Contractor Evaluation.

Prime General Evaluations We Request Project Evaluations within the past 5 years 5 Evaluated Projects minimum are needed in each category of work you are applying for in order to receive DCAMM Certification Projects should have a passing score established by DCAMM (over 80%) Evaluations can be returned to us by any of the following methods: Fax, Email, US Postal or hand delivered We no longer accept evaluations over the telephone

Sub-Bidder Evaluations We Request Project Evaluations within the past 3 years 3 Evaluated Projects minimum are needed in each category of work you are applying for in order to receive DCAMM Certification Projects should have a passing score established by DCAMM (over 80%) Evaluations can be returned to us by any of the following methods: Fax, Email, US Postal or hand delivered We no longer accept evaluations over the telephone

Contractor Certification Information On-line See DCAMM website (www.mass.gov/dcam/certification) for: Standard Contractor Evaluation Form (Public & Private Projects) List of DCAMM Certified Prime and Filed Sub-bidders Certification Application and Instructions for Prime and Filed Sub-bidders DCAMM Regulations 810 CMR §4.00 & §8.00 DCAMM Contractor Certification Guidelines & Procedures

IMPORTANT RESOURCES DCAM’S Website www.mass.gov/dcam Information on Contractor Certification Instructions for Emergency Waivers, Prequalification and more Inspector General’s Website www.mass.gov/ig Publication “Designing and Constructing Public Facilities Attorney General’s Website www.mass.gov/ag Go to “Workplace Rights” “Public Construction” Information on: Prevailing Wage Public Bidding OSHA 10 Act State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance http://www.somwba.state.ma.us/

State Agency Resources for Contractors Smart Bid Subscription www.comm-pass.com Prime Application and Sub Application, Guidelines and Procedures www.mass.gov/dcam/certification List of Decertified Contractors & List of Certified Contractors can also be found here Designing & Constructing Public Facilities www.mass.gov/ig Attorney General’s Office www.mass.gov/ago Information on: Prevailing Wage, Public Bidding, OSHA 10 ACT Secretary of State www.mass.gov/sec Corporations, Central Registry Division of Professional Licensure http://license.reg.state.ma.us/loca/locaprof.asp MA Office of Business Development www.mass.gov/mobd Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Online Tools for Businesses www.mass.gov/portal/business/online-tools-business.html Board of Public Accountancy http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards Directory to find a certified public accountant

Other Resources Available for Contractors Please remember to do your due diligence when researching a future partner Mass Development http://www.massdevelopment.com/ Mass Development works with businesses, nonprofits, and local, state, and federal officials and agencies to strengthen the Massachusetts economy. Small Business Administration www.sba.gov SBA offers a variety of programs and support services to help you navigate the issues you face with your initial applications, and resources to help after you open for business. SCORE http://www.score.org/ SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corp. http://www.mcdfc.com/ A quasi public corporation extending loans to small businesses with limited access to private capital. Investment goal is to create or preserve jobs and to promote economic development in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Next Street www.nextstreet.com/ Next Street is a for-profit business that aims to maximize the growth, profitability and success of our portfolio companies, thereby enhancing economic development, wealth and job creation in America’s cities.