PRF76 Management Consultants, Program Coordinators and Planners Services: This is a Statewide Contract (SWC) to provide a wide-ranging list of independent, experienced, and pre-qualified vendors offering an array of management consulting services under multiple categories. There are nine (9) categories including education services, program development, organizational and strategic planning services, professional development services, general data analytics services and evaluation services, downtown/town center/commercial area revitalization consulting services, planning, zoning and development consulting services, DESE facilities technical assistance services and operations, health and human services, and specialized racial and health equity services. Services sought will be in support of Eligible Entities’ need for specialized consultants. Anticipated services will assist in a variety of areas that include but are not limited to training and curriculum design, project management, strategic research and development, data analytics, urban revitalization (including economic, cultural, and climate), planning and zoning, economic development, business recruitment and retention, second story development, transportation, architectural and engineering, public health, mental health, developmental, employment, financial, and emergency preparedness services. The compensation structure for PRF76 is according to individual projects as described and agreed to in the Statement of Work (SoW) provided by the purchasing entity.

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.

For the Master Contract Record, refer to the Master Blanket Purchase Order (MBPO) with RFR PRF76 Master Contract Record.

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
• Accessing a wide range of environmentally preferable products and services 
  

This contract includes 9 categories of service as listed below.

Category 1: Education Services

Category 2: Program Development, Organizational and Strategic Planning Services

Category 3: Professional Development Services

Category 4: General Data Analytics Services and Evaluation Services

Category 5: Downtown/Town Center/Commercial Area Revitalization Consulting Services

Category 6: Planning, Zoning and Development Consulting Services

Category 7: DESE Facilities Technical Assistance Services and Operations

Category 8: Health and Human Services

Category 9: Specialized Racial and Health Equity Services

Category 10: Grant Services

For a detailed breakdown of services offered under PRF76 categories, refer to Appendix

Please see the following list of services not available for purchase under this contract:

• Specialized public safety, law enforcement, fire, healthcare, mental health, highway, environmental, legal, food preparation, scientific, or any other areas not covered under the scope of the RFR
• Information Technology (IT) products and services
  

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
  

Buyers must solicit quotes when using this contract. 

For purchases of $10,000 and above, Buyers are required to solicit a minimum of three (3) responses. Buyers must utilize the PRF76’s Statement of Work (SOW), which is further discussed in the Statement of Work (SOW) Requirements section. This ensures a competitive bidding process and helps the Buyer find the best possible value for their purchase. A “no bid” response is considered an acceptable response. 

For purchases under $10,000, Buyers are required to solicit one quote or an accepted SOW with an estimated value. However, before making a purchase, Buyers should consult with their Chief Purchasing Officer or equivalent authority.

This is a fee-for-service contract.

Quote Solicitation: Buyers can solicit quotes from multiple vendors (see the Vendor MBPO Listing) 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.

See 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 six (6) months 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 PRF76 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.

Buyers must complete a detailed SOW when soliciting quotes. Buyers are encouraged to use the Time and Materials (T&M) SOW template in the Master Contract Record MBPO under the Agency Attachments section.

The following are examples of information to include in the SOW (your agency may require more details):  

• Scope of services
• Deliverables dates
• Location of service
• Detailed budget
• Estimated total costs 
• Number of staff
• Rate(s) per hour

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.

The awarded vendor’s use of subcontractors is subject to the provisions of the Commonwealth’s Terms and Conditions and Standard Contract Form, as well as other applicable terms of this Statewide Contract (SWC). 

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) (Hayley Lebert or Tina Sang) 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.
  

• Responsiveness to Request for Quote (RFQ) requests, defined as the percentage of acknowledged invitations to quote advertised by Eligible Entities.

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

• Buyers should inform vendors to reference Statewide Contract PRF76 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) (Hayley Lebert or Tina Sang) for guidance. 
• Vendors must notify buyers of product substitutions.

To add a product or service to the list of eligible products or services sold under this contract, buyers must contact their Category Manager(s) (Hayley Lebert or Tina Sang) for approval. The new product or service requested must comply with the established specifications and scope of the contract.

Learn More

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

When placing orders with a vendor, MOSAIC users must reference the contract ID number PRF76* 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).