Office of Finance and Administration
The operations and fiscal activities of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) are managed by an internal Office of Finance and Administration, which oversees spending on all projects DCAMM manages as well as daily operational expenses, capital spending plans, human resources, access and opportunities to bid on projects, contractor compliance with diversity requirements, contractor certification, and construction and architecture contracts for publicly funded projects.
Office of the General Counsel
All DCAMM legal services related to constructing public buildings and real estate are provided by its Office of the General Counsel. The general counsel at DCAMM plays a critical role in real estate transactions, state facility construction, environmental issues, legislative analysis, and litigation. DCAMM’s Certification Unit, which is supported by the Office of the General Counsel, is responsible for contractor certification, emergency waiver requests (with respect to rush jobs, sole source selection, or other procurement issues that arise from special circumstances), and the maintenance of decertified contractor lists and comprehensive contractor certification files. The chief legal counsel is appointed by DCAMM’s commissioner to head the office and oversee its functions.
Office of Leasing and State Office Planning
The Office of Leasing and State Office Planning (OLSOP) is responsible for the Commonwealth’s leasing activity, manages office buildings, and provides planning and reconfiguration assistance to state agencies to meet changing office needs. On behalf of state agencies, DCAMM leases more than seven million square feet of space from private and public landlords. The Office of Real Estate Management is a department within OLSOP that acquires and sells real property for the Commonwealth as well as providing assistance with licensing, land use, and legal matters to entities that wish to use land owned by the state.
Designer Selection Board
The Designer Selection Board (DSB) is an independent segment of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (EOAF) that selects designers for public construction projects throughout Massachusetts. DSB was established autonomously to avoid the appearance of undue influence or bias by DCAMM staff members in the selection of design firms, although DCAMM does provide input as an interested party. DSB has 11 members, 8 of whom are selected by the Governor. Three of these are registered architects; 3 are registered engineers; and 2 are representatives of the public who are not architects, designers, engineers, or construction contractors. Three more members are appointed by the Boston Society of Architects, the Massachusetts Society of Professional Engineers, and the Massachusetts chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America Inc. (one member is appointed by each group). DCAMM personnel do not have any voting or other official capacity with DSB. EOAF procures an executive director, staff, and office space for DSB.
The Office of Planning and the Office of Design and Construction
The Office of Planning and the Office of Design and Construction are responsible for every phase of state building project management, including project initiation and development, planning and design, and construction. The offices oversee the work of architectural and engineering firms directly involved in public building projects as well as the general contractors and subcontractors that perform the construction work. In the early stages of a project, the offices provide programming services that include defining the scope of the project, identifying issues and technical requirements, establishing a framework for more detailed design decisions, and determining project feasibility (based on several factors, such as budget, environmental impact, and scheduling). When a building project is initiated, the offices manage design and construction services, such as studies for preventive maintenance, development of design and construction documents, and contractor oversight.
The offices procure goods and services and provide the oversight needed to complete high-quality and cost-efficient construction, renovation, and maintenance of public facilities. The offices use several different project delivery methods for different types of projects, because projects differ in everything from the method of procuring subcontractors to project scheduling. The different project delivery methods can also be used to alter the final pricing and compensation schedule for construction projects, shifting the risk of cost overruns between the project owner and the contractor.
| Date published: | February 23, 2022 |
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