ACEC/Massachusetts is the voice of the engineering business community in Massachusetts. While there are other engineering organizations that serve as professional societies or which are focused on a particular discipline of engineering practice, only ACEC/Massachusetts is focused on representing the interests of the BUSINESS of professional engineering practice.
Advocacy is one of the main focuses and overall strategic goals of ACEC/MA. From supporting legislation that affects the engineering business community, partnering with state agencies to resolve problems quickly or improve efficiency or participating in state task forces and commissions, ACEC/MA continues to work on issues supporting the engineering industry and the quality of life for all citizens of the Commonwealth including: new sources of increased infrastructure funding, support of a highly skilled talent pool, development of efficient, cost effective, sustainable and environmentally sensitive infrastructure designs, and support of streamlined procurement measures for both vertical and horizontal projects.
ACEC/MA develops a legislative agenda each year to ensure that the immediate concerns of consulting engineers and land surveyors as well as the public’s well-being are represented before government leaders.
At the top of the current list is infrastructure investment, smart spending and enhanced business practices.
The ACEC/Massachusetts Government Affairs Committee (GAC) is open to any employee of any ACEC/MA member firm or affiliate member firm that has an interest in getting involved in public policy. ACEC/Massachusetts is also a partner with other engineering and land surveying associations through The Engineering Center Education Trust.
To get involved in the Government Affairs Committee or any of our advocacy efforts, contact Abbie Goodman, ACEC/MA Executive Director at 617-227-5551 or sign up on Join a Committee or Forum
ACEC/MA promotes the business interests of the engineering industry to the Massachusetts State Legislature, state agencies, regional and local public authorities, members of Congress, and business organizations by seeking the passage of legislation, regulations and policies that create a favorable business climate in which the engineering industry can help Massachusetts grow and improve the quality of life for its citizens.
ACEC/MA also provides the professional expertise of engineering firms as necessary to support the development of public policy that protects the health, welfare and safety of the Commonwealth’s citizens.
ACEC/MA’s government advocacy program is focused on four principal public policy objectives:
Several ACEC/MA teams participate in ongoing partnering discussions with major public state agencies responsible for infrastructure facilities. The goal of these partnering discussion is to improve project delivery and improve communication between the public agencies and the engineering and land surveying business community. Issues discussed include procurement methods, contract types and language, invoicing processes, overhead and salary rate caps, how agencies conduct overhead audits of engineering and land surveying firms, CAD standards, BIM standards and other procedures.
Over the years, these partnering discussions have indeed improved project delivery. New issues arise and these partnering efforts will continue.
ACEC/MA leaders, appointed by the ACEC/MA Client Sector Committees and Board Liaison, in consultation with the ACEC/MA Executive Committee, represent the industry in the public agency partnering meetings. ACEC/MA Executive Director Abbie Goodman participates in many of these discussions, along with members of the various committees and the Board, and can answer specific questions regarding each agency.
To participate in public agency partnering or to lead the work as a co-chair of one of the agency committees, review the volunteer position descriptions for:
Public Agencies that have been participating in these rewarding discussions include:
The National ACEC/PAC is critical for our successful government affairs advocacy program. And now, with key members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation back in leadership positions in Congress, we need to show our support-and show how the engineering community is able to step up, particularly the Massachusetts engineering community.
Please help. Login in on the ACEC/PAC site, then download the Prior Approval Form and complete, and fax/mail it back to ACEC/PAC in Washington, DC. These must be personal contributions-by personal check or credit card in order to comply with federal law. No corporate checks or credit cards are acceptable, and the contribution cannot be expensed to your company. Even a small contribution will help us meet our annual goals.
Money in state politics also plays a pivotal role in shaping public policy in individual states. To see how important your support of local PAC events is refer to the nonpartisan National Institute on Money in State Politics site which tracks contributions in all 50 states and makes this data easily searchable by state, candidate/ committee, contributor and special interest groups online at www.followthemoney.org.
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ACEC/MA provided comments on the Chapter 193 Construction Reform legislation passed in July 2004. Technical edits have also been proposed by ACEC/MA, Boston Society of Architects (BSA) and other reviewers with some minor corrections having been passed. The main revisions in this law required the use of an Owners Project Manager for vertical construction projects over $2.5 Million, allows the use of design-build for public works (horizontal) construction projects over $ 10 Million and allows for Construction Manager at Risk delivery to be used for vertical construction projects.
Engineers and Land Surveyors Day at the State House was held on May 28, 2026.
An important part of our Advocacy efforts is Engineers and Land Surveyors Day at the State House (formerly Design Professionals Day); the one day each year when we as a profession gather in force at the State House and present our industry’s viewpoints in person to our local legislators. It is a chance for each of us to meet with your State Representative or Senator to discuss issues pertinent to our industry, to you as an individual professional, and to you as a citizen.
Criteria Used to Select an Engineering or Land Surveying Firm
The cost of design services for an average facility represents less than two percent of the total lifetime cost of construction, operation and maintenance. Investing in quality design services at the outset of the project can result in long-term savings in terms of a more efficient layout, occupant safety, durability, occupant satisfaction, ease of future expansions, and others.
The initial impulse of some owners who have a need for design and construction administration services is to request prices from several engineers or architects and to select the one that submits the lowest price or bid for the services requested. At first thought, viewing these services as a commodity rather than a professional service may seem to make sense. But a closer look into issues that impact the successful completion of a construction or renovation project reveals that an initial low bid does not necessarily result in the lowest overall cost or a better value to the building’s owner, manager or users. In fact, there may be many other reasons not to use price as the primary factor in the decision process.
Cost-effective problem solving and high quality design services can only be achieved with competence and experience in the type of project being proposed. To help owners through the process of finding a qualified professional the Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) process was developed in the early 1970s for the federal government.
A seasoned facilitator, experienced in the construction industry, works with public agencies and private industry by offering guidance, forms and advice to help them through the selection process.
Following this simple method, a consultant is selected based on the firm’s qualifications for that project, creativity and past performance. Then, the scope of services is mutually developed which becomes the basis for negotiating a fair and reasonable price. This assures that the best firm to do the job is selected. Should the owner and selected firm not be able to agree on a reasonable price, the firm that scored next best is contacted for negotiations.
Qualifications-based selection is a tried and true concept, which has been required by law for all federal projects since 1972. In Massachusetts, State law requires that the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the MBTA use the QBS process. In addition, the QBS process is endorsed by the American Public Works Association and included in the American Bar Association’s Model Procurement Code for State and Local Governments.
Selecting a design professional is one of the key components of a successful project. The design team’s performance can influence the entire course of the project: financial, feasibility, public response, design, functional efficiency, construction costs, and maintenance costs during the life of the project. That’s why it is essential that you get the right design professionals for this critical job.
Following this simple method, a consultant is selected based on the firm’s qualifications for that project, creativity and past performance. Then, the scope of services is mutually developed which becomes the basis for negotiating a fair and reasonable price. This assures that the best firm to do the job is selected. Should the owner and selected firm not be able to agree on a reasonable price, the firm that scored next best is contacted for negotiations.
Qualifications-based selection is a tried and true concept, which has been required by law for all federal projects since 1972. In Connecticut, State law requires that the Department of Public Works and the Department of Transportation use the QBS process. In addition, the QBS process is endorsed by the American Public Works Association and included in the American Bar Association’s Model Procurement Code for State and Local Governments.
Selecting a design professional is one of the key components of a successful project. The design team’s performance can influence the entire course of the project: financial, feasibility, public response, design, functional efficiency, construction costs, and maintenance costs during the life of the project. That’s why it is essential that you get the right design professionals for this critical job. You need to establish an impartial, step-by-step process to select design professionals based on their qualifications related to your project.
The QBS process can be summarized in four steps: