ITS81–Project Services and GIS: This is a Statewide Contract (SWC) for Enterprise Data Management, Software Operations and Support Services, User Centered Design and Development, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), as well as numerous other IT systems. ITS81 is the primary Statewide Contract used by Executive Agencies of the Commonwealth for the goods and services covered by the contract. The contract will also be available for use by other eligible entities.

For the Master Contract Record, refer to the ITS81 Master Contract Record.

Note: This contract may be used to procure the goods or services described in this user guide at any dollar amount. Any limitations, including for procurements involving construction, are outlined in this Contract User Guide.

Benefits and Cost Savings

Statewide Contracts are an easy way to obtain benefits for your organization by: 

• Leveraging the Commonwealth’s buying power
• Simplifying the solicitation process
• Providing contracting expertise
• Enhancing vendor relationships through proactive management and oversight
• Offering competitive pricing
• Offering Prompt Payment Discounts (PPD), which is a percentage discount given to the buyer if the invoice is paid within a specified time, in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Bill Paying Policy

• Partnering with a pool of qualified and experienced vendors
• Offering Prompt Payment Discount
• Accessing a wide range of environmentally preferable products and services 
  

This contract has four (4) categories that have been expanded to specify sought-after services and to define how Software as a Service (SaaS) is handled. For more details on SaaS, refer to the Request for Response (RFR) Section 4.1. The RFR can be found in the ITS81 Master Contract Record under Agency Attachments in COMMBUYS.

The four (4) categories of services are listed as follows:

• Category 1: EDM (Enterprise Data Management) Data Analytics
• Category 2: Software Operations and Support Services
• Category 3: User Centered Design and Development
• Category 4: GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

The contract provides for the temporary use of cloud services, including Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), for development activities, subject to specific conditions. For additional information, refer to SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS (Cloud Services) and Limited Use Specifications.

The ITS81 contract is not intended to offer cloud service or other third-party software as a standalone category. Cloud services and third-party software may only be used through the ITS81 contract on a temporary basis, as is needed for the creation or completion of a project that has been procured through the ITS81 contract.

Any cloud software or third-party software required beyond the project's scope must be procured through the ITS60 or ITS75 Statewide Contract or its successors.
In addition, the types of services listed below are not in scope for ITS81:

• Hourly rate or annual (or other time period) contract for hardware maintenance, network  support (including wireless network), or monitoring services
• Microcomputer, server, switch deployment, relocation, or configuration
• Transferring information from one microcomputer or server to another
• Rebuilding microcomputers or servers
• Printer support, installation, or repair
• Deployment or certification of cable installations
• Patch application
• Removing viruses from individual computers (addressing widespread infestation is allowable under this category).
  

The following is a complete list of the types of organizations generally allowed to use the Operational Service Division’s (OSD's) Statewide Contracts (SWCs). Some SWCs may be open to additional organizations, and some are more restricted in usage.

• Cities, towns, districts, counties, and other political subdivisions
• Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches, including all departments and elected offices therein
• Independent public authorities, commissions, and quasi-public agencies
• Local public libraries, public school districts, and charter schools
• Public hospitals owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Public institutions of higher education
• Public purchasing cooperatives
• Non-profit, UFR-certified organizations that are doing business with the Commonwealth
• Other states and territories and their cities, towns, districts, counties, other political subdivisions, and public institutions of higher education without prior approval from the State Purchasing Agent 
• Other entities when designated in writing by the State Purchasing Agent
  

Note: Eligible Entities are required to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prior to the use of this contract.

Note: The price files and vendor catalogs are accessible through public view in COMMBUYS; therefore, buyers may access the price files and vendor catalogs without signing into a COMMBUYS account.

Hourly rates are not applicable to this contract, except for web hosting quotes for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services offered by vendors awarded under a GIS contract. The pricing for these vendors can be found in the ITS81 Master Contract Record in COMMBUYS, under Agency Attachments, within the ITS81 Vendor Listing Spreadsheet.

Note: If applicable, to view product pricing, refer to the vendor information section and the provided links to the respective Master Blanket Purchase Orders (MBPOs). Links to all the vendors’ Master Blanket Purchase Orders (MBPOs), where product pricing may be found, are provided in the Vendor List and Information.

For all new projects, at least three (3) vendors must be contacted via COMMBUYS to request quotes. The project specifications must be included in the bid requests.

Entities not using COMMBUYS may request quotes via email, using the email addresses listed in the ITS81 Vendor Listing Spreadsheet in the ITS81 Master Contract Record under Agency Attachments. 

Links to all the vendors’ Master Blanket Purchase Orders (MBPOs), where product pricing may be found, are provided in the Vendor List and Information.

The purchase options identified below are the only acceptable options that may be used in this contract:

• This is a Fee-for-Service contract.
• Purchases made through this contract will be direct, outright purchases.

Note: All assets created using Commonwealth funds are owned by the Commonwealth, except for assets where prior ownership has been established. The relevant Commonwealth departments should be made aware of these exceptions.

To make a purchase, buyers may solicit quotes from multiple vendors (refer to the Vendor List and Information for a list of eligible vendors), award vendors, and place orders through COMMBUYS. A solicitation-enabled contract allows the buyer to solicit quotes from vendors who have Master Blanket Purchase Orders (MBPOs) or Statewide Contracts in COMMBUYS. The buyers can create a solicitation-enabled bid using a release requisition, converting the requisition to a bid, and then requesting quotes from eligible vendors.

Refer to the How to Request Quotes from Vendors on Statewide Contracts job aid for more details.

Performance and Payment That Goes Beyond Contract End Date

The extend beyond period is in place to allow performance and payment obligations under a contract to continue after the contract term has ended. This period is primarily used to aid the transition between an expiring contract and its replacement and to ensure the continuity in service delivery.

For extend beyond, the following stipulations are in place:

• Buyers may not enter into a written agreement that will go more than three (3) years beyond the maximum end date of the contract. Existing services may be completed and payments made during this period.
• No new agreements, including leases, rentals, or service contracts, may be made after the contract's expiration.
• Agreements established prior to the Master Agreement expiration may allow performance and payment obligations to continue until the maximum Extend Beyond date.
  

COMMBUYS is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' e-procurement platform, serving as a central marketplace for state agencies and other Eligible Entities to procure goods and services, connecting government buyers and businesses. It aims to streamline the purchasing process, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the procurement process.

For Executive Agencies, COMMBUYS is required. Per 801 CMR 21.00, Executive Agencies must use established Statewide Contracts (SWCs) for the purchase of products and services. To set up a COMMBUYS buyer account or to update an existing agency account, the buyers must contact the COMMBUYS Help Desk at: 888-627-8283 or OSDhelpdesk@mass.gov.

While COMMBUYS use is not mandated for Non-Executive Agencies and other Eligible Entities, it is highly recommended to streamline the procurement process and assist buyers in making informed purchasing choices. Eligible entities should follow their internal guidelines for COMMBUYS use.

Buyers can view contract documents on COMMBUYS without requiring a COMMBUYS account or logging in.  
To find contract documents in COMMBUYS, follow these steps:

1. On the COMMBUYS home page, enter ITS81 in the search tool and select Blankets from the drop-down list.
2. Select the Search icon. The related Master Blanket Purchase Orders (MBPOs) information opens in a table format. 
3. To view the associated contract documents, under the Blanket # column, select the applicable Purchase Order (PO) link. MBPO opens for the selected PO and the attachments can be found in the Agency Attachments or Vendor Attachments section. 

If applicable, to find vendor-specific documents, view the links to the individual vendor MBPOs on the Vendor Information page, and follow these steps:

1. On the Vendor Information page, select the applicable Purchase Order (PO) link. The Master Blanket Purchase Order (MBPO) opens for the selected PO.
2. If applicable, on the MBPO, scroll down to the Vendor Attachments section to find the vendor-specific documents.
3. To view, select the desired document link.

Please refer to the following guidelines:

• Executive Departments must use diverse and small businesses to the extent possible based on contract terms, Supplier Diversity Office (SDO), and departmental policies, laws, and regulations.
• The Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) applies to small procurements ($250,000 or below annually), while the Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) applies to large procurements (over $250,000 annually). Executive Departments must consider these requirements when soliciting quotes or issuing Statements of Work (SOWs).
• Operational Services Division (OSD) provides a list of SDO businesses through the Statewide Contract Index. Refer to the Programs (SDP and SBPP) tab on the index (scroll to view the tab).

• In cases where all other factors are equal, and particularly when adhering to a best value approach, the department will favor the vendor with stronger SDP commitment.
• For more information, refer to Best Value Evaluation of SDP Plan Forms: A Guide for Strategic Sourcing Teams.
• Vendor SDP commitment percentages may be found on the Vendor List table.

• If available, departments must notify at least two certified small businesses capable of providing the product or service. Bids received from SBPP-participating small businesses must be evaluated, and if one meets the department’s best value criteria, the contract must be awarded to that vendor.
• For more information, refer to Best Value Evaluation of Responses to Small Procurements: A Guide for Strategic Sourcing Teams.
• Vendor SBPP Certification status can be found on the Vendor List table.

For all categories, vendors must agree that:

• Vendors and their subcontractors will be sufficiently staffed and equipped to fulfill the vendors’ obligations under any Statement of Work (SOW) or engagement resulting from the Request for Response (RFR).
• Vendor’s services will be performed:
  • By appropriately qualified and trained personnel.
  • With due care and diligence and to a high standard of quality as is customary in the industry.
  • In compliance with the Milestone Schedule and the terms and conditions of the RFR agreement and any SOW.
  • In accordance with all applicable professional standards for the field of expertise.
• Deliverables will substantially conform with the deliverable descriptions set forth in any SOW or engagement resulting from the RFR.
• All media on which the vendor provides any software under ITS81 shall be free from defects.
• All software delivered by the contract under ITS81 shall be free of Trojan horses, back doors, and other malicious code.
• Vendors will secure all necessary rights, licenses, and permissions for third-party materials, including those supplied or specified by the vendors, to be incorporated into the deliverables under the contract.
• Documentation to be provided by the vendor under ITS81 shall be in sufficient detail to allow suitably skilled, trained, and educated Contracting Department personnel to understand the operation of the deliverables. The vendor agrees to promptly, at no additional cost to the Contracting Department, make corrections to any documentation that does not conform to this warranty.
  

In this contract, a Prompt Payment Discount (PPD) is offered, which can vary for each vendor, to encourage early payment. This is done by offering a percentage discount to the buyer if the invoice is paid within a specified time, in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Bill Paying Policy.

Note: Vendor discounts are detailed in the vendor list table and the price files within each vendor's Master Blanket Purchase Order (MBPO) or Master Contract Record MBPO.

Vendors on this contract may be required to provide products or services in cases of statewide emergencies. The 801 CMR 21.05(3) defines emergency for procurement purposes. Visit the Emergency Response Supplies, Services and Equipment Contact Information for Statewide Contracts list for emergency services related to this contract.

Vendors' performance is measured by several factors, including the following:

• Buyers provide actionable feedback on vendors for this contract to optimize performance through the Procurated platform. On the Procurated website, click "Search for a Massachusetts Vendor to Review", then search for the vendor by name and select them from the list. Once you enter your professional email address, you will be forwarded to the review screen.
• Buyers are encouraged to reach out to the Category Manager(s) (Joshua Flanagan-Lanier or Kerri Quinn) if vendors are not meeting their contractual obligations and buyers may be surveyed for vendor performance feedback.
• Vendors will be evaluated on their current performance and may be asked to work with the Commonwealth toward improvement.
• Vendors must meet all contractual requirements throughout the life of the contract, including requirements for timely and accurate report submission, to remain in good standing under the contract.
  

• Prior to requesting quotes or issuing orders, contract users should check COMMBUYS to find out whether the vendor is currently in “Active” status.
  • Vendors may be suspended for several reasons, including failure to comply with their contract obligations.
  • New orders may not be issued to vendors whose status is “Inactive", who have been suspended from a new business, or have been dropped from the contract.
    

For general procurement guidelines and best practices, follow these recommendations:

• Buyers should inform vendors to reference Statewide Contract ITS81 on all quotes and invoices.
• No prepayment should be made for products not yet delivered or services not yet rendered.
• No sales tax should be applied to invoices.
• No fees or surcharges (including travel, fuel, delivery) should be applied to invoices.
• Special order fees must be agreed upon by both parties upfront.
• Payments for products or services provided must be paid within 45 days per Massachusetts Bill Payment Policy, or sooner if applying Prompt Payment Discount.
• Buyers are not required to sign additional agreements with vendors that conflict with the Request for Response (RFR) Terms and Conditions. Contact the Category Manager(s) (Joshua Flanagan-Lanier or Kerri Quinn) for guidance. 
• Vendors must notify buyers of product substitutions.

Learn More

Explore the Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) Procurement Program and discover detailed guidance in the EPP Products and Services Guide.

SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS (Cloud Services) and Limited Use Specifications

Please refer to the following guidelines:

• Cloud services and third-party software procured under this contract may only be used temporarily, and solely for the purpose of creating or completing projects obtained through this contract.
• Vendors providing cloud services and third-party software are required to comply with all additional terms and conditions specified in Exhibits 1, 2, and 3 of the Response for Request (RFR), as they relate to the applicable services. These exhibits can be downloaded from the ITS81 Master Contract Record in the Agency Attachments section of COMMBUYS.
• When offering cloud services or third-party software, vendors must advise the software publisher or service provider that the eligible entity may require negotiated cloud service terms to be part of the agreement, if their quote is selected.
• Buyers must ensure all associated documents reference the Statewide Contract by its number (ITS81).

Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) Approval

Executive Departments and other Commonwealth network users must request approval from EOTSS to use ITS81 for specific purchases.

Please refer to the following guidelines:

• For on-premises software, no approval required.
• For Software as a Service (SaaS) and related services, no approval required, provided that all purchases comply with the following guidance:
  • Purchasing Entities must review to determine whether the product is available from existing enterprise agreement. EOTSS maintains several enterprise agreements (for example, Microsoft, Adobe, and so forth) and offers products to Commonwealth purchasers at a discounted rate.
  • The SaaS service is compliant with, and may exceed, the standards outlined in the Enterprise Information Security Policies and Accessibility Standards.
  • The SaaS provider has agreed to the EOTSS Cloud Terms, providing detailed responses to all items, and the purchaser confirms these responses are satisfactory.
• For Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and related services, EOTSS’ approval is required. Prior to issuing a Request for Quote (RFQ), submit a description of the intended purchase including REQUEST FOR RESPONSE ITS81 Project Services, and RFR ITS81 COMMBUYS BID NUMBER: BD-24-1080-OSD03-OSD03-94676.

When placing orders with a vendor, MOSAIC users must reference the contract ID number ITS81* in the Agreement ID field in MOSAIC for encumbrances related to purchases from Statewide Contracts. Please address all inquiries regarding MOSAIC technical support and job aids by emailing the Comptroller Help Desk or by calling 617-973-2468. 

*The asterisk is required when referencing the contract in the Massachusetts Management Accounting Reporting System (MOSAIC).