Advertising Bids in the Central Register and Goods & Services Bulletin
The State Publications and Regulations office is aware that some governmental agencies have been advertising their procurement bids with COMMBUYS (an e-Procurement System), and not in the Central Register or the Goods & Services Bulletin as required by law.
The Governor's Operational Services Division, which oversees some state agencies' procurement, publishes certain state bid notices via the Internet through COMMBUYS (formerly called Comm-PASS).
In the past, several agencies we contacted believed that they only had to place their bid notices on COMMBUYS. That’s not true.
State law (Ch.9, section 20A) and state regulations (950 CMR 21.00) mandate that state, county, and local government agencies all place their bid notices for certain design, construction-related, and real estate projects in the Central Register.
In addition, the Uniform Procurement Law (Chapter 30B, section 5) requires that all municipalities and county agencies advertise most bids for procurements over $100,000 in the Goods & Services Bulletin.
Any bid which is supposed to be advertised in the Central Register or the Goods & Services Bulletin, but is placed only on COMMBUYS instead, is illegal and could be subject to a challenge.
Stiff penalties could be issued and, if necessary, enforced by the Inspector General's Office and the Attorney General. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the State Publications and Regulations office at 617-727-2831.