In order to register for MASSbuys, which is administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Operational Services Division (OSD), you must first read this Registration Policy and click "I Agree" at the end of this page. Vendors on a Statewide Contract or Multi-Department contract as of March 31, 2012 are eligible to immediately register and exhibit at MASSbuys.  Registration space is limited and is available only on a first-come first-served basis. Registration of entities that are not currently under contract with OSD will be permitted only at the sole discretion of OSD and will be limited to those entities providing information that OSD deems to be consistent with the purpose and scope of the event.

MASSbuys Payment Transaction: Costs for participating in the annual event are outlined on the MASSbuys website at: www.mass.gov/osd/massbuys  Invoices will be sent on a weekly basis to an Accounts Payable person or Booth Marketing Manager as identified through the registration process or Statewide Contract and the company address on file.  Each standard table or booth receives two (2) name badges covered by the Booth Registration Fee.  Diamond sponsorships allow for eight (8) name badges and Gold sponsorships allow for four (4).  Additional name badges may also be purchased for a fee of $25.00 each.  Payment for booth and sponsorship fees can be made by check addressed to: Commonwealth of Massachusetts-MASSbuys and mailed to: MASSbuys, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Operational Services Division, One Ashburton Place, Room 1017, Boston MA 02108.  Payments may also be made via credit card by contacting the MASSbuys Administrator at: 617-720-3387. 

Confirmation of Completed Credit Card Transactions: Upon approval of your credit card, you will receive an online payment receipt as confirmation of your registration.

MASSbuys Refund & Payment Policy: Most payments are nonrefundable and must be paid within 30 days of reserving the exhibit space.  Exhibit space at MASSbuys is limited to specific vendors:  (1) currently under contract with OSD or vendors executing contracts with OSD by March 31^st and (2) vendors under contract with other Executive Branch Departments of the Commonwealth whose goods and/or services are available for use by other eligible entities.  Any vendor that no longer has an active contract with OSD as of March 31, 2012, may withdraw from the event and request a partial refund of booth rental expense payments previously remitted to MASSbuys.  All refund requests must be submitted in writing either electronically to MASSbuysadmin@state.ma.us or via US Mail addressed to MASSbuys Administrator, Operational Services Division, One Ashburton Place, Room 1017, Boston, MA 02108-1552 and are subject to a 25% maximum fee based on booth fees in effect at the time of cancellation, or $350.00 after the program book closes, whichever is greater. The cancellation fee reflects the vendor’s inclusion in event marketing materials. All fees for general exhibit booths and sponsorships must be paid prior to show day in order to exhibit at MASSbuys.  If advance payment is not received in full, OSD reserves the right to deny entry and/or re-sell reserved booth space. 

Privacy:  Please review our Privacy Policy to learn how the Commonwealth treats information collected by this site, what such information is used for, and how it may be shared.

Gifts and Donation Policy:

Exhibitor & Attendee Ethics Guidelines for Gifts, Raffles & Door Prizes -

The Operational Services Division (OSD) welcomes all who participate in the MASSbuys EXPO for a day of meeting Statewide Contract Vendors, education, career development, networking and sharing.  We have prepared some guidelines to be reviewed by exhibitors and public employees regarding the distribution and acceptance promotional items and other items at the MASSbuys EXPO.  Attendees at MASSbuys will consist primarily of Commonwealth, county and municipal employees who are subject to specific State Ethic Commission guidelines (MGL C. 268A) regarding gifts and donations which raffles, door prizes and promotional items come under. 

Following a verbal decision from the State Ethics Commission regarding MGL C. 268A with regards to the MASSbuys (formerly STAR) EXPO and the distribution and acceptance of gifts at the MASSbuys EXPO, the following are guidelines for exhibitors and attendees. The complete text of this law and related educational materials are available from the State Ethics Commission at www.mass.gov/ethics.

In so far as Random Drawings are concerned, as with the MASSbuys EXPO, public employees may accept any gift that is entirely unrelated to official action by the public employee, and to the public employee's official position, and to the public employee's performance of official duties, from persons other than lobbyists, because these gifts are not prohibited by M.G.L. c. 268A, §§ 3, 23(b)(2), and 23(b)(3) as stated under 930 CMR 5.06 Exemptions from MGL c.268A and MGL c. 268B Related to Gifts: No Violation and No Exemption Needed: Gifts Unrelated to Official Action, Position, or Performance of Duties. (See the end of this document for a more detailed extract from the above referenced section of 930 CMR 5.06.)

The guidelines as they apply to the MASSbuys EXPO are listed below:

Exhibitors:

• Exhibitors may distribute promotional items of nominal value to attendees (pencils, pens, coffee mugs, key chains, tote bags, etc.).  However, the cumulative value of all items given to any public official must have a value of less than $50.
• Exhibitors may not offer special items (even if the value is less than $50) to any attendee as a reward for an order.
• Exhibitors may conduct raffles.  The value of the prize may exceed $50 if the drawing is  random.
• Given that OSD is the host of the MASSbuys EXPO and given the nature of business conducted between the MASSbuys Exhibitors and OSD employees, Exhibitors are asked to refrain from offering to any OSD employee any raffle prizes or anything other than the aforementioned promotional items that are available to all attendees.

Attendees:

Any state employees covered by the conflict of interest law may request legal advice from the State Ethics Legal Division about how the law applies to them in a particular situation.  The advice is confidential in most circumstances.  Advice may be requested by calling the “Attorney-of-The-Day,” or online, or in writing by U.S. Mail.

1.     Call the “Attorney-of-The-Day” at (617) 371-9500 or (888) 485-4766 and your call will be returned within one business day.

2.     Make a Request Online for either a telephone response or written advice. Generally telephone advice will be returned within one business day. A request for written advice is usually made within 30 days.

3.     Sending a Letter Requesting an Informal Written Advisory Opinion must include all relevant facts and specific question. You will receive an informal written advisory opinion within 30 days.

Ownership of Trademarks and Trade Dress: Use of the Commonwealth’s trademarks and trade dress is prohibited without the prior written approval of the Commonwealth.  In no case shall such trademarks and trade dress be used in any manner that is likely to cause confusion, in any manner that disparages or discredits the Commonwealth and in connection with any service or product that is not sponsored, endorsed or produced by the Commonwealth. Trademarks not owned by the Commonwealth that appear on this site are the property of their respective owners.

Restriction on the Use of the Commonwealth Seal: Exhibitors are not allowed to display the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Seal in their marketing materials because use of the coat of arms and the Great Seal of the Commonwealth for advertising or commercial purposes is prohibited by law.

Restriction on the Use of the MASSbuys Logo: MASSbuys Sponsors may display the official MASSbuys EXPO logo on their Statewide Contract website and in their marketing materials upon approval by the Operational Services Division through the end of the current fiscal year (June 30th).  All logo use requests must be submitted electronically to MASSbuysAdmin@state.ma.us and must receive approval from OSD prior to publishing.  Furthermore, the logo may only be displayed for purposes of promoting the MASSbuys event, may not be altered in any way or used in a manner that suggests endorsement of a particular vendor and may only be used in the manner requested and authorized by OSD.  Failure to abide by these restrictions will result in immediate revocation of authorization to use as well as potential legal action.  While all other MASSbuys Exhibitors may use the terms “MASSbuys EXPO” during the same period on their Statewide Contract website and in their marketing materials for the purpose of promoting their participation in the event, the use of the official MASSbuys EXPO logo is restricted to MASSbuys Sponsors.

By clicking the “I AGREE” button below, you are electronically signing and thereby agreeing to the terms of the MASSbuys Registration Process. This document has been revised 12/20/2011. 

I Agree