Construction Reform Program

Construction Reform Law, Chapter 193 the Acts of 2004 was signed into law on July 19, 2004. This legislation represented the most comprehensive reform in 25 years to the public construction laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The law states municipalities must incorporate Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) goals into both the design and construction phase of a vertical construction project if that phase exceeds $100,000. 

Design Participation:                  Combined MBE/WBE goal of (17.9%)

Construction Participation:         Combined MBE/WBE goal of (10.4%)

The combined goals require a reasonable representation of both MBE and WBE participation on every project.

This applies to the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, repair or demolition of any vertical public building project by any city or town.

Projects effected are those funded by the Commonwealth, in whole or in part (such as funding under the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), funding in any legislative appropriation, grant awards, reimbursements & municipal commitments to use state funds and the like).

A list of currently certified MBEs and WBEs in the design and construction fields is available on SDO’s website.

The SDO Construction Reform Program and its Director have been charged with the responsibility of monitoring, educating, and improving the implementation of Construction Reform Law throughout the Commonwealths 351 municipalities. This is accomplished through quarterly reporting by municipalities, educational workshops and continually developing new relationships within both the public and private sectors.