The Heart of Our Mission
The OIG was created in response to a scandal in which billions of public funds were wasted on poorly constructed buildings and sent two elected officials to prison; therefore, public procurement will always lie at the heart of our mission.
When the public’s money is used to purchase, build or repair anything – a good, service, land, a building, road or bridge – the public has a tremendous interest in how that entity goes about procuring anything. Consequently, there are several laws that govern how various public entities go about purchasing goods and services. At their core, these laws seek to ensure that when the public’s money is spent, it is done fairly, openly, and competitively. The process must be fair – all vendors who could provide the good or service can bid; open – the public should be able to “see” the process; and competitive – the public should get the best value.
The Uniform Public Procurement Act (M.G.L. Chapter 30B) governs the procurement of supplies, services, and real property and disposal of surplus property by cities, towns, and other local jurisdictions in Massachusetts.
M.G.L. Chapter 149 governs public building (or horizontal) construction contracts over $100,000, including public bidding and prevailing wage.
M.G.L. Chapter 30, section 39M governs the procurement process for public works (or vertical) contracts and details requirements for bidding, contract awards, and emergency provisions.
The OIG Academy offers training and resources to support public employees comply with the laws governing the purchase of goods and services and the construction and maintenance of public assets.
