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Threshold Certification Requirements Chart

What's different between the certification types?

This is a summary of prime Contractors, Small Prime Contractors and Filed Sub-Bidder Contractors requirements.

Requirements for All Contractors
LENGTH OF TIME IN BUSINESSAt least ONE YEAR in business in each of the Categories of Work for which Certification is sought 
LICENSURE REQUIREMENTSMust be licensed in each of the Categories of Work for which Certification is sought, where licensure is required by Massachusetts law
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS OF PRINCIPAL AND SUPERVISORY PERSONNELPrincipals, management and supervisory personnel must demonstrate experience in each of the Categories of Work for which Certification is sought 
General RequirementsPrime ContractorsSmall Prime ContractorsFiled Sub-Bidder Contractors
FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCPA-REVIEWED or CPA- AUDITEDCPA-COMPILED or CPA- REVIEWED or CPA-AUDITEDCPA-COMPILED or CPA- REVIEWED or CPA-AUDITED
BONDINGSingle Project Limit and Aggregate Work Capacity Limit are capped by Bonding Commitment LimitsSAME AS PRIME CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTNOT APPLICABLE
Contractor LimitsPrime ContractorsSmall Prime ContractorsFiled Sub-Bidder Contractors
SINGLE PROJECT LIMITMinimum:  $150,000
Maximum:  No Set Limit
Cannot exceed single project bonding capacity limit or aggregate work limit		Minimum: $150,000
Maximum: $2,000,000
Cannot exceed single project bonding capacity limit or aggregate work limit		NOT APPLICABLE
AGGREGATE WORK LIMITMinimum: $150,000
Maximum: No Set Limit
Cannot exceed aggregate work capacity bonding limit

Minimum: $150,000
Maximum: $4,000,000

Cannot exceed aggregate work capacity bonding limit

NOT APPLICABLE
 
Project Specific InformationPrime ContractorsSmall Prime ContractorsFiled Sub-Bidders Contractors
APPLICATION LOOKBACK PERIOD
FOR CALCULATION OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS AND DATA		FIVE YEARS
from date Application is received by DCAMM		FIVE YEARS
from date Application is received by DCAMM		THREE YEARS
from date Application is received by DCAMM
VALUE OF PROJECTSMinimum Value of $80,000 for each projectMinimum Value of $50,000 for each projectMinimum Value of $20,000 for each project
New Applicants Projects Needed
 Prime ContractorsSmall Prime ContractorsFiled Sub-Bidder Contractors
MINIMUM REQUIRED NUMBER OF PROJECTS*FIVE PROJECTS within past FIVE YEARS in each Prime Categories of Work for which Certification is soughtTHREE PROJECTS within past FIVE YEARS in each of the Prime Categories of Work for which Certification is soughtTHREE PROJECTS within past THREE YEARS in each of the Sub-Bidder Categories of Work for which Certification is sought
NOTE: Additional Special Requirements for Applicants in Historic Categories; Sewer and Water Treatment Plants; Pumping Stations
New Applicants Evaluations Needed
 Prime ContractorsSmall Prime ContractorsFiled Sub-Bidder Contractors
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PROJECT EVALUATIONS*FIVE EVALUATIONS with score of 80 OR ABOVE within the past FIVE YEARS in each of the Prime Categories of Work for which Certification is soughtTHREE EVALUATIONS with score of 80 OR ABOVE within the past FIVE YEARS in each of the Prime/ General Categories of Work for which Certification is soughtTHREE EVALUATIONS with score of 80 OR ABOVE within the past THREE YEARS in each of the Sub-Bidder Categories of Work for which Certification is sought
* See note above
Renewal Applicants Projects Needed
 Prime ContractorsSmall Prime ContractorsFiled Sub-Bidder Contractors
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PROJECTS*THREE PROJECTS within past FIVE YEARS in each of the Prime Categories of Work for which Certification is sought, except for General Building Contracting, which always requires FIVE PROJECTSTHREE PROJECTS within past FIVE YEARS in each of the Prime Categories of Work for which Certification is sought

THREE PROJECTS within past THREE YEARS in each

of the Sub-Bidder Categories of Work for which Certification is sought

* See note above
Renewal Applicants Evaluations Needed
 Prime ContractorsSmall Prime ContractorsFiled Sub-Bidder Contractors
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PROJECT EVALUATIONS*

THREE EVALUATIONS with score of 80 OR ABOVE within the past FIVE YEARS in each of the Prime Categories of Work for which Certification is sought, except for General Building Contracting, which always requires FIVE EVALUATIONS

THREE EVALUATIONS with score of 80 OR ABOVE within the past FIVE YEARS in each of the Prime Categories of Work for which Certification is sought

THREE EVALUATIONS with score of 80 OR ABOVE within the past THREE YEARS in each of th
Calculations for Work Limits
 Prime ContractorsSmall Prime ContractorsFiled Sub-Bidder Contractors
CALCULATION OF SINGLE PROJECT LIMITAverage of Applicant’s TWO HIGHEST PASSING EVALUATIONS of record multiplied by the appropriate MultiplierSAME AS PRIME CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTNOT APPLICABLE
CALCULATION OF AGGREGATE WORK LIMITApplicant’s highest consecutive TWELVE-MONTH value of work (CPA Verified) within the applicable lookback period  multiplied by the appropriate MultiplierSAME AS PRIME CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTNOT APPLICABLE
Multiplier for Determining Single Project Limit & Aggregate Work Limit
 Prime ContractorsSmall Prime ContractorsFiled Sub-Bidder Contractors 

 

If the Overall Numerical Rating is 80-84, then the Multiplier is 130%

If the Overall Numerical Rating is 85-100, then the Multiplier is 180%
 

SAME AS PRIME CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTNOT APPLICABLE 
Minimum Passing Score
 Prime ContractorsSmall Prime ContractorsFiled Sub-Bidder Contractors
CONTRACTOR EVALUATION SCOREScore of 80 OR ABOVE is required for each Project EvaluationSAME AS PRIME CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTSAME AS PRIME CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENT
AVERAGE PROJECT RATINGAverage of Applicant’s current Evaluations must be 80 OR ABOVESAME AS PRIME CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTSAME AS PRIME CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENT
CALCULATION OF OVERALL NUMERICAL RATING
Combines Average Project Rating plus other evaluation criteria.  Overall Rating of 80 OR ABOVE is required for CertificationSame for All Contractors

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