May 4, 2021

The Local Government Enablement (LGE) team is excited to launch the first in a series of municipal webinars, the inaugural session focusing on Information Technology. We hope you will take this opportunity to learn about three high-use IT contracts. See more details below.

Also in this issue, we will provide an overview of the new COVID-19 Pooled Testing Statewide Contract, highlight some seasonal contracts, provide the newest Statewide Contract Reference Sheet, and offer a few additional resources.

Finally, Jackie Needham from the LGE Team and Sorraia Tavares from OSD's Sourcing Unit will offer sessions at the upcoming Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials' (MASBO) Annual Institute, being held virtually in mid-May. If you plan to attend, we encourage you to view our two sessions: Mystery Solved: OSD's School Resources and Where to Find them and OSD & DESE: Facilitating the Acquisition of PPE, Facility Consulting Services, and COVID Pooled Testing. The later session will be presented in collaboration with William Bell and Jonna Willis from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

In this Issue:
  • Municipal Webinar Spotlight Campaign - Information Technology Focus
  • Statewide Contract Reference Sheet for May/June
  • COVID-19 Pooled Testing Services Update
  • Seasonal Products and Services
  • FAC105 Buyer Survey
  • Webinar: Purchase and Use Challenges and Solutions for Cleaning and Disinfecting Products, Equipment, and Services
  • IT Directors: Get Your Vendors on Contract
  • Resetting the Fiscal Year in COMMBUYS
  • Links at Your Fingertips

Contact us if you have questions or need assistance.
Municipal Webinar Spotlight Campaign
Information Technology Focus
May 6, 2021 - 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
The Local Government Enablement team plans to offer a series of webinars targeted to municipal buyers - the first is planned for May 6 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
$1.075 billion.

That’s how much buyers spent on Information Technology Statewide Contracts in FY20. Our May 6 webinar will focus on three IT contracts – the new IT Hardware, IT Software, and Network Services contracts. Sourcing’s Contract Managers will discuss what’s new and different on these contracts, the benefits and competitive advantages, and how to purchase. Trish Burke and Jenn Forsey from our LGE Team will share some success stories from Massachusetts communities that have used our IT Statewide Contracts to solve their procurement needs.

We hope you will join us! 
Statewide Contract Reference Sheet for May/June

Review the latest Statewide Contract Reference Sheet to see the range of products and services offered on Statewide Contracts. This list is updated every two months.
COVID-19 Pooled Testing Services Update
The newly introduced HSP42 contract offers easy access to pooled testing kits and vendors to coordinate logistics required for successful testing.
HSP42 awarded vendors are able to provide all services and materials for pooled testing:
  • Shipping logistics for delivery of specimen collection materials
  • Specimen collection materials, instructions, and training
  • Physician ordering services
  • Laboratory processing
  • Results distribution
  • Follow-up testing performed at the individual level for all members of a positive pooled test
  • Onsite support with testing coordination and specimen collection, as needed

The HSP42 contract is open to all eligible buyers. Refer questions about HSP42 to Lauren Woo.

Note: Public school districts, education collaboratives, and charter schools may be eligible to have expenses for testing covered by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). Buyers should contact [email protected] to determine eligibility for this arrangement.
Seasonal Products and Services
Asphalt Paving Services
Historically, this is a favored time of the year for cities and towns, public schools, and institutions of higher learning, among others, to create or update parking spaces through repaving, seal coating, and remarking of parking lots and delivery spaces. Outdoor recreational areas, including sporting courts, also are popular projects in the spring.

TRD02 Asphalt Paving vendors are equipped to handle these projects. Find a local vendor using the Trades Index.
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Reimagine Your Outdoor Spaces
As the weather warms up, New Englanders head outside. Use the FAC104 Landscaping Products, Parks and Recreation Equipment contract to replace playground equipment, resurface playgrounds, and spruce up your outdoor spaces.

FAC104 provides nursery products, outdoor seating, trash receptacles, large planters, fitness equipment, perimeter fencing, and outdoor signage for your outdoor spaces.
Flooring Projects
The next several months also are a popular time to repair and replace carpet and hard surface flooring. The FAC98 contract offers distributors and wholesalers to provide a wide variety of solutions, spanning high-traffic carpets to sports flooring options. The contract's turn-key no-cost service includes room measurement, assistance with flooring selection, detailed price quote, and installation. The contract provides for extensive environmental specifications, detailed in the RFR. Environmental product details are attached to vendors' MBPOs in COMMBUYS.
FAC105: Share Feedback about OSD's Retail MRO Contract
Survey Feedback
FAC105 provides buyers the flexibility to walk into local awarded retail stores to purchase maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies.

We are gathering information about organization's FAC105 contract experience through our FAC105 survey. All feedback is welcome!
IT Directors: Get Your Vendors on Contract
The Operational Services Division has posted the ITS77 Staff Augmentation bid. The contract will provide short-term hourly rate IT staff solutions for special projects and provide IT expertise that organizations may not have in-house. Refer your vendors to this opportunity in COMMBUYS. The new ITS77 contract is expected to launch July 1, 2021.
Resetting the Fiscal Year in COMMBUYS
Each year, municipal organizations and other entities not linked to the Commonwealth's financial system are advised to reset their fiscal year in COMMBUYS. This action ensures that bids, requisitions, and purchase orders are cataloged in the appropriate fiscal year within the system.

In the next few weeks, your COMMBUYS Organization Administrator will receive instructions to update the organization's fiscal year - an action that takes approximately 4-5 minutes to complete.

Reach the OSD Help Desk
Monday - Friday,
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
888-MA-State or
Links at Your Fingertips
Local Government Enablement Team

Our team's mission is to ensure municipal organizations have familiarity and ease of access to the selection, pricing, and added benefits afforded through Statewide Contracts. Send us an email to set up a time to speak with your Local Government team member.