1.0 General Information
2027 Prequalification Submission and Approval Periods
| Cycle | Date Range |
|---|---|
| 2027 Submission Cycle | November 1 to December 31, 2026 |
| 2027 Prequalification Cycle | Date of Prequalification to April 1, 2028 |
Department Contact Email Addresses
| Email Contact | Email Address |
|---|---|
| All inquiries related to the MassDOT concrete prequalification program | MassDOTConcrete@dot.state.ma.us |
| District Materials Engineers | 2027 Concrete Producer SharePoint Site |
Quick Links
2.0 Specifications, Special Provisions, and Engineering Directives
See Quick Links for the Department’s published specifications, special provisions, and engineering directives. Division II Construction Standard Specifications for Concrete Related Items are referenced in the following table.
Division II Construction Standard Specifications for Concrete Related Items
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| 160 | Controlled Low-Strength Materials |
| 201 | Basins, Manholes, and Inlets |
| 230 | Culverts, Storm Drains, and Sewer Pipes |
| 280 | Waterways |
| 301 | Water Systems |
| 430 | Cement Concrete Base Course |
| 476 | Cement Concrete Pavement |
| 485 | Granite Rubble Block Pavement |
| 501 | Curb, Curb Inlets, Curb Corners, and Edging |
| 628 | Impact Attenuators |
| 629 | Concrete Barrier |
| 644 | Chain Link Fences and Gates |
| 685 | Stone Masonry Wall |
| 690 | Walls Removed and Rebuilt |
| 701 | Cement Concrete Sidewalks, Pedestrian Curb Ramps, and Driveways |
| 901 | Cement Concrete |
| 902 | Ultra-High Performance Concrete |
| 940 | Driven Piles |
| 945 | Drilled Shafts |
| 970 | Damp-Proofing |
| 972 | Strip Steal Bridge Joint System |
| 983 | Revetment |
| 996 | Noise Barrier Structure |
Division III Materials, Section M4 Concrete and Related Materials are referenced in the following table. Please note that the section numbers and description are based on the future January 2027 edition of the MassDOT Standard Specifications.
Division III Materials Standard Specifications for Concrete and Related Items
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| M4.01.0 | Constituent Materials and Mix Design Formulations of Cement Concrete |
| M4.02.0 | Concrete Produced by Stationary and Truck Mixers |
| M4.03.0 | Concrete Produced by Volumetric Mixers |
| M4.04.0 | Prepackaged Concrete, Grout, and Mortar Products |
| M4.05.0 | Masonry, Surfacing, and Erosion Control Units |
| M4.06.0 | Cement Concrete |
| M4.07.0 | Elastomeric Concrete |
| M4.08.0 | Controlled Low-Strength Materials |
| M4.09.0 | Precast, Prestressed, and Prefabricated Concrete Products |
| M4.10.0 | Epoxy Resin Adhesive Products |
| M4.11.0 | Evaporation Reducing Materials |
| M4.12.0 | Curing Materials |
| M4.13.0 | Protective Sealing Compounds |
3.0 Preliminary Submittals
All prequalification documentation shall be submitted to the MassDOT Research and Materials Section (RMS) electronically through the "2027 MassDOT Cement Concrete Producer SharePoint Site:
Upon submission of preliminary submittals, the Producer shall notify the following email address to conduct a review:
Without email notification, we will be unable to receive your request for review, which may result in delays in the review process for your submission.
List of Preliminary Submittals
| Submittal | Required For | Obtained From |
|---|---|---|
| RMS 043 Concrete Mix Design Sheet (.xlsm) | All Concrete Producers | SharePoint Forms Library |
| Aggregate Source License (.pdf) | Ready Mix, Volumetric Mix, and Portable Mix Concrete Producers | |
| Petrographic Examination [1] | All Concrete Producers | Independent laboratory |
| Alkali Silica Reaction Test Results (.pdf) [2] | All Concrete Producers | Independent laboratory |
| Aggregate Properties Test Results (.pdf) | All Concrete Producers | Producer QC or independent laboratory |
| Mill Certifications for Cementitious Materials (.pdf) [3] | All Concrete Producers | Cementitious materials manufacturers |
| Environmental Product Declarations (.pdf) | All Concrete Producers | See EPD guidance below |
| Persons of Contact Form (Microsoft Web Form) | All Concrete Producers | SharePoint Forms Library |
| Quality System Manual (.pdf) | Volumetric Mix Concrete Producers [4] | Producer QC in accordance with M4 |
| Standard Shop Drawing Checklist (.xlsm) | Precast Concrete Producers | SharePoint Forms Library |
| Standard Shop Drawings (.pdf) | Precast Concrete Producers | Producer QC in accordance with M4 |
| Plant Certification | Precast and Prestressed Concrete Producers | Certifying body in accordance with M4 |
| Quality Control Personnel Certifications | Precast and Prestressed Concrete Producers | Certifying body in accordance with M4 |
- Required for aggregate with suspected deleterious materials or limited historical data.
- Not required for aggregate sources listed on the non-alkali silica reactive aggregate list.
- Submit mill certifications covering the last six months of manufacturing for Department review (subject to availability).
- May also be required for other types of concrete producers when specified in contracts.
RMS 043 Cement Concrete Mix Design Sheet
General
Mix designs shall be formulated and submitted in accordance with Section M4 Cement Concrete and Related Materials:
- Producers shall report proposed mix design formulations on a Department issued mix design sheet in its entirety and submit annually to the Department for review.
- The proportions reported on the mix design sheet shall yield 27.0 ft³ (1 yd3) of concrete.
- Proposed mix design formulations shall be prequalified by the Department prior to construction. Placement of mix design formulations prior to Department prequalification shall be prohibited.
- Prequalification signifies Department verification of a mix design formulation’s conformance to design targets and limits at the time of review or testing but does not signify Department authorization or endorsement for specific contract work items.
- Modifications to prequalified mix design formulations outside the scope of allowable adjustments shall be prohibited. Such modifications shall require a new mix design formulation submission to the Department for review.
- Mix design formulations not prequalified by the Department shall be prohibited from use.
Division III Materials, Section M4 Concrete and Related Materials specifies the types of concrete, which are referenced in the following table. Please note that the section numbers and description are based on the future January 2027 edition of the MassDOT Standard Specifications.
Types of Concrete
| Section | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| M4.04.0 | CP-E | Extended Concrete Products |
| M4.04.0 | RHCP-E | Extended Rapid Hardening Concrete Products |
| M4.06.1 | CC | Conventional Concrete |
| M4.06.2 | HPC | High Performance Concrete |
| M4.06.3 | HESC | High Early Strength Concrete |
| M4.06.4 | RHC | Rapid Hardening Concrete |
| M4.06.5 | LWC | Lightweight Concrete |
| M4.06.6 | SCC | Self-Consolidating Concrete |
| M4.06.7 | ESC | Exterior Slab Concrete |
| M4.06.8 | PC | Pavement Concrete |
| M4.06.9 | MPC | Mass Placement Concrete |
| M4.06.10 | FRC-I | Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete |
| M4.06.10 | FRC-II | Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete |
| M4.06.10 | FRC-III | Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Concrete |
| M4.06.10 | FRC-IV | Natural Fiber Reinforced Concrete |
| M4.06.11 | UHPC | Ultra-High Performance Concrete |
| M4.06.12 | SHOT-D | Dry Mix Shotcrete |
| M4.06.12 | SHOT-W | Wet Mix Shotcrete |
| M4.06.13 | UWC | Underwater Concrete |
| M4.06.14 | DC | Drycast Concrete |
| M4.06.15 | LMC | Latex Modified Concrete |
| M4.06.16 | ICC | Internally Cured Concrete |
New MassDOT Mix Design Identification System
A new MassDOT mix design identification (ID) system will be launched for the 2027 cycle:
Figure 1: New MassDOT Mix Design ID System
The MassDOT mix design ID must be provided for each load of concrete delivered through one or more of the following options:
- Reported directly on the batch ticket
- Batch ticket supplemented with MassDOT prequalification letter and mix design sheet with the mix design clearly identified.
Features of the RMS 043 Cement Concrete Mix Design Sheet
The RMS 043 Cement Concrete Mix Design Sheet is an excel macro-enabled workbook that includes many features to assist the Producer in mix design formulation development. For more information, please access the file on the Concrete Producer SharePoint Site Forms Library and navigate to the “Legend” tab.
Submission of Previously Prequalified RMS 043 Sheets
MassDOT RMS will conduct the following activities:
- Transfer the previously prequalified 2026 design quantities to the 2027 RMS 043 Mix Design Sheet using the new mix design ID system and upload the macro-enabled Excel (.xlsm) file to the producer’s 2027 Concrete Producer SharePoint library.
The Concrete Producer shall conduct the following activities:
- Enter in any remaining entry fields, data, and test results
- Adjust the aggregate design quantities (if necessary) to yield to 27.0 ft³ (1 yd3) of concrete
- Review the transferred design quantities for accuracy
- Notify MassDOTConcrete@dot.state.ma.us that the submission is ready for Department review
Submission of New Proposed Mix Design Formulations
Mix design formulations are considered “new” under the following conditions:
- Never prequalified by MassDOT RMS
- New design quantities (aside from minor adjustments in aggregate due to slight changes in specific gravity and gradation)
- New constituent materials sources (even if the design quantities are the same as a previously prequalified mix design)
The Concrete Producer shall conduct the following activities when submitting new proposed mix design formulations:
- Report new proposed mix design formulations on the RMS 043 Mix Design Sheet.
- Upload the completed RMS 043 Mix Design Sheet to their 2027 Cement Concrete Producer SharePoint site library in the Microsoft Excel Macro Enabled (.xlsm) file format
Editing Submissions Prior to Prequalification
Before prequalification, producers may complete saved RMS 043 sheets, correct errors, address Department review comments, and modify design targets based on trial batch results. Refer to the video demonstration on the 2027 Concrete Producer SharePoint Site for submission and editing procedures. Notify MassDOT RMS when the revised submission is ready for review in accordance with the procedures identified on this page.
Aggregate Source Licensing
Massachusetts legislation with regards to aggregate source licensing for the production of cement concrete (cast-in-place concrete only) was signed into law on October 17, 2023. All aggregate sources incorporated into cast-in-place concrete shall be licensed prior to Department approval of proposed mix design formulations. Submission of aggregate license applications shall be conducted through the Aggregate Source Licensing Program ePLACE Portal. Please refer to the table below for more information.
Aggregate Source Licensing Program Links and Contact Information
Petrographic Examination
Aggregate with suspected deleterious materials or limited historical data shall be examined through ASTM C295 and petrographic examination reports shall be submitted to the Department for review. Aggregate shall be sufficiently limited of deleterious materials that negatively affect cement concrete performance, including workability, setting, hardening, aggregate-cement bond, strength, color, long-term durability, and other properties (refer to Section M4)
Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) Testing
Non-Reactive Aggregate
The following aggregate sources are considered non-reactive and will not require annual ASR testing:
Mix designs that incorporate both a non-reactive coarse aggregate source and a non-reactive fine aggregate source identified on the Qualified Construction Materials List (QCML) shall still meet the minimum SCM content targets specified in Section M4.
Reactive Aggregate
All reactive aggregates (not listed on the QCML for cement concrete non-alkali silica reactive aggregate sources) shall be tested for ASR by an independent laboratory listed on the Qualified Alkali-Silica Reactivity (ASR) Testing Laboratories list, using the same supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and cementitious sources and proportions reported on the mix design sheet.
To become MassDOT qualified, independent ASR testing laboratories must participate in the CCRL ASR Proficiency Program, score greater than or equal to 3, and submit the CCRL final report directly to the following e-mail address for review:
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
General
Massachusetts General Law (MGL Part I, Title II, Chapter 7C, Section 73 Carbon Intergovernmental Coordinating Council; Carbon Reduction Plan was signed into law in 2025:
Please refer to the Massachusetts Embodied Carbon Reduction Plan for more information:
As a result of this legislation, Section M4 Cement Concrete and Related Materials was updated in 2025 to include mix design requirements for sustainability:
- When specified in contract documents and special provisions.
- The cradle-to-gate (ISO 21930 life cycle modules A1, A2, and A3) global warming potential (GWP) values shall be reported on EPDs in accordance with the following International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publications.
- GWP values for concrete are based off U.S. eastern regional benchmarks. The GWP values will be updated in the 2027 standard specifications based on new data and reports.
Requirements
Concrete producers must prepare and submit EPDs for each mix design formulation. Please refer to the following key dates provided below.
EPD Reporting Requirements and Implementation Timeline
| Date | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Voluntary collection of EPDs and materials quantities (cubic yards of concrete) |
| 2027 | Mandatory collection of EPDs and materials quantities (cubic yards of concrete) |
| Mid-2028 | Proposed mandatory EPD and quantity reporting for ready-mixed concrete used on covered projects |
| Mid-2028 | Proposed project-average Global Warming Potential (GWP) limits for concrete and other listed materials |
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Publications
| Standard | Title |
|---|---|
| ISO 14025 | Environmental labels and declarations – Type III environmental declarations – Principles and procedures |
| ISO 14040 | Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework |
| ISO 14044 | Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Requirements and guidelines |
| ISO 21930 | Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works – Core rules for environmental product declarations of construction products and services |
4.0 Prequalification and Qualified Construction Materials List (QCML) Program
Prequalification
The following prequalification procedures are provided below
Concrete Producer and Mix Design Prequalification
Prequalified concrete Producers will receive e-signed Department prequalification letters via email. Additionally, the prequalified company name, plant location, and mix design formulations will be published onto the QCML. Concrete Producers shall conduct the following for prequalification:
- New Precast or Prestressed Concrete Plants: Request plant inspections and prequalification (trial batch) testing via email to MassDOTConcrete@dot.state.ma.us
- New Ready Mix Concrete Plants and Portable Concrete Mixing Companies: Request plant inspections and prequalification (trial batch) testing via email to MassDOTConcrete@dot.state.ma.us and the District Materials Engineer (DME)
- Volumetric Mix Concrete: Request calibration for each mixer and prequalification (trial batch) testing for each mix design formulation via email to MassDOTConcrete@dot.state.ma.us and the District Materials Engineer (DME)
- Complete and upload all required preliminary submittals
Prequalification (trial batch) testing of cement concrete mix design formulations shall be required under the following conditions:
- Concrete is produced by volumetric mixers
- Producer or plant location is not currently prequalified
- Proposed mix design formulation incorporates new sources of constituent materials not currently prequalified
- Proposed mix design formulation incorporates new design quantities and design targets that have never been prequalified
- At the discretion of the Department
If required, concrete Producers shall conduct the following for prequalification (trial batch) testing:
- Complete and upload all required preliminary submittals
- Select a Department recognized laboratory to conduct the required field and laboratory prequalification sampling and testing
- Request prequalification sampling and testing via email to MassDOTConcrete@dot.state.ma.us and the District Materials Engineer (DME)
- Conduct prequalification sampling and testing in the presence of MassDOT RMS Inspectors. The Department will obtain sampled concrete cylinders to conduct its own laboratory testing. Specified test methods not available for testing by the Department shall be conducted by a Department recognized laboratory selected by the Producer.
Prequalified concrete Producers will receive e-signed Department prequalification letters via email for test results meeting standard specifications. Non-conformance reports (NCRs) will be generated by MassDOT RMS and sent to the Producer for test results not meeting standard specifications (covered under the Verification subsection).
Cementitious Materials Prequalification
Prequalified sources will be published onto the QCML. Sources that are not listed on the QCML, concrete Producers shall conduct the following for prequalification:
- Submit the previous six months of mill certifications (if obtainable)
- Submit new RMS 043 Mix Design Sheet with the new source reported (see preliminary submittals)
- Coordinate and conduct prequalification (trial batch) testing in the presence of MassDOT RMS Inspectors
- Provide 25 lbs. sample of the new source to MassDOT RMS for testing
Aggregate
Sources with suspected deleterious materials or limited historical field and test data, concrete Producers shall conduct the following for prequalification:
- Complete and upload all required preliminary submissions
- Submit new RMS 043 Mix Design Sheet with the new source reported
- Coordinate and conduct prequalification (trial batch) testing in the presence of MassDOT RMS Inspectors
- Provide sample of the new source to MassDOT RMS for testing
Prequalified sources will be published on the RMS 043 Mix Design Sheet (Currently, there is no QCML for Aggregate). Please note, the Aggregate Source Licensing Program (for cast-in-place concrete only) is a separate prequalification requirement. For more information, refer to 3.0: Preliminary Submissions.
Chemical Admixtures
MassDOT RMS publishes the prequalified product onto the QCML with expiration date (5-year prequalification cycles). Chemical admixture Manufacturers shall conduct the following for prequalification:
- Submit to and participate in the AASHTO Product Evaluation and Audit Solutions Program for Chemical Admixtures (formerly known as NTPEP)
- Submit to the following email address for review:
- MassDOTQCML@dot.state.ma.us
Verification
Prequalified mix designs and their corresponding constituent materials, including cementitious materials and aggregate will be sampled and tested by MassDOT RMS throughout the year, to verify conformance to Section M4: Cement Concrete and Related Materials. Concrete Producers will be notified of constituent materials not meeting standard specifications, via email, with the non-conformance report (NCR) attached. Concrete producers shall conduct the following when an NCR is issued:
- Complete the proposed disposition, which includes the root cause, proposed corrective action, and action to prevent recurrence
- Complete the proposed by, title, signature, and date entry fields
- Submit the completed NCR via the original email chain for disposition review and corrective action verification