Protecting Design Integrity in Massachusetts H.56

By Irene Butler

IIBEC has requested clarifying language in Massachusetts House Bill 56 (H.56), “An Act Empowering Municipalities and Local Governments,” which proposes to expand the authority of municipalities to engage in cooperative purchasing and other procurement activities.

IIBEC is concerned that section 17 of the bill broadens the definition of “cooperative purchasing” to include “services” without specifying which types of services are covered. This could potentially extend to construction design services, including architectural, engineering, and building enclosure projects.

IIBEC has asked that the bill explicitly exclude construction design services, ensuring that qualifications-based selection principles are preserved. These safeguards protect both the public interest and the quality of critical building projects.