Public Contracting Overview - Online Class

This 3-day class will provide an overview of the legal requirements for public contracting by local governmental entities, districts and authorities.

Public Contracting Overview is a recommended prerequisite class for Supplies and Services Contracting and Design and Construction Contracting and certain electives. The class includes practical, hands-on exercises that allow participants to apply their contracting knowledge and skills to common issues faced by procurement officials. The class ends with a multiple-choice exam.

• Prerequisite: None
• Class Level: Basic
• Instructional Method: Online - MCPPO Online Class Technical Specifications
• Advanced Prep: None
• Credits: 20

• This class is one of the three classes required to earn the MCPPO Designation. Once you complete all three classes, please submit the MCPPO designation application.

Class dates: 

• Oct 3 - 5, 2023
• Oct 31- Nov 2, 2023
• Nov 14 - 16, 2023
• Dec 5 -7, 2023
• Jan 16 - 18, 2024
• Feb 13 - 15, 2024
• March 19 - 21, 2024
• April 9 - 11, 2024
• April 30 - May 2, 2024
• June  12 - 14, 2024

Class time: 8:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Registration closes two weeks before the self-paced portion of the class starts.
• Blackboard® or other virtual platform login details will be emailed to registrants.

Topics

• Legal requirements for public contracts
• Principal objectives of public purchasing
• Designer selection and construction bid laws
• Purchasing supplies and services under M.G.L. c. 30B
• Obtaining price quotes for smaller purchases
• Market research, value analysis and life-cycle cost analysis
• The purchasing cycle
• Drafting contract terms
• Blanket contracts and collective bargaining agreements
• Real property transactions (overview)
• Prevailing wage laws
• Centralized purchasing
• Public records law requirements
• Ethics laws and considerations