Massachusetts public building bids, in plain English.
This is the first real issue. It covers every housing authority solicitation open on COMMBUYS as of Sat Sep 26: all 56 of them. I read each notice. For every job you get what it is, when it's due, and what could trip you up. Every item links to the official notice.
Two boilers at 330 Suffolk St and an indirect water heater at 65 Summer St.
Watch: The site visit was Sep 22. Bid documents are on lhma.org/bids, not COMMBUYS.
Tear out and replace two suspended bathroom ceilings, about 8 × 6 ft each. R-19 insulation, fill and tape, no paint, haul the debris.
Watch: The notice says studs and supports may need replacing. Price that unknown. The bid package, a detail drawing and a photo are attached to the notice.
Dig down, repair the damaged section of water main, backfill, compact and repave.
Watch: “Scope may increase after excavation,” and an addendum is already out. Get it before you price.
Replace kitchen countertops and electrical panels at the Harry Hogan development.
Watch: Documents are on biddocs.com, project #281122. The pre-bid was Sep 2. Questions go to John Healy at 413-221-1432.
New hard-wired, addressable fire alarm systems at three sites, with underground PVC conduit, related electrical and site work, and asbestos remediation.
Watch: General bidders need DCAMM certification in the Electrical category. The pre-bid was Sep 16.
The title names window air-source heat pumps. The notice lists a new electrical service, electric stoves and water heaters in place of gas, extra outlets, ductwork and grille changes, and some underground work. Gas service gets removed. Includes utility coordination and patch-and-paint.
Watch: A licensed plumber is required. The pre-bid was Sep 17.
Upgrade branch-circuit wiring, receptacles, lights, switches, load centers and breakers across nine low-rise, two-story buildings (state-aided development 200-2).
Watch: Bids go in electronically at biddocs.com. The site visit (Sep 22) and the RFI deadline (Sep 24) have passed.
Wiring for bathroom fans and lights at Mace (Clinton Ct) and Scrivano (Webster Ct).
Watch: Posted Sep 22, so the bid window is short. The advertisement is attached to the notice.
Fire alarm upgrade and smoke detector replacement at Prattville Apartments (Guam Rd / Exeter St / Burma Rd), designed by Rogue Engineering and Design.
Watch: The walkthrough was Sep 24. The listing doesn't say whether it was mandatory, so check the bid documents first.
Interior renovation of both apartments at 6 Cedar St.
Watch: Bid through Projectdoc.com (project 261758), not COMMBUYS. Sub-bids closed Sep 18. Questions go to Nault Architects ([email protected]).
Pre-bid walkthroughs still ahead. Some are the only chance to see the site before you price, so they fill up calendars fast.
| When | Job and meeting point | Bid due |
|---|---|---|
| Tue Sep 29 10 AM | Holliston HA: 8 kitchens 492 Washington St | Fri Oct 9 |
| Tue Sep 29 10 AM | New Bedford HA: Boilers + water heaters 895 Belleville Ave | Thu Oct 22 |
| Tue Sep 29 10 AM | Somerville HA: Balcony guardrails Bryant Manor, 75 Myrtle St | Fri Oct 23 |
| Tue Sep 29 11 AM | Adams HA: Roofing + siding 20 Sayles St | Wed Oct 14 |
| Tue Sep 29 11 AM | Arlington HA: Fire alarm + sprinklers Cusack Terrace, 8 Summer St | Thu Oct 22 |
| Wed Sep 30 9 AM | Northbridge HA: All roofs 99 Sutton St | Fri Oct 9 |
| Wed Sep 30 10 AM | Somerville HA: Parking lot design (A/E firms) 30 Memorial Rd | Wed Oct 7 |
| Thu Oct 1 9 AM | Chelmsford HA: Pest control (FAC117 vendors) 19 Sheila Ave, N. Chelmsford | Thu Oct 8 |
| Thu Oct 1 10 AM | Lynn HA: Fire alarms + sprinklers 170 South Common St, then 37 Green St and 35 Shepard St | Fri Oct 23 |
| Tue Oct 6 10 AM | Mashpee HA: Roof, siding, windows, doors 7 Job's Fishing Rd (HA office) | Tue Oct 27 |
| Tue Oct 6 11 AM | Randolph HA: Exterior doors Sunshine Ave, community building | Tue Oct 13 |
| Tue Oct 6 11 AM | East Bridgewater HA: Bath fans + kitchen hoods Riddell Rd, community building | Thu Oct 29 |
| Wed Oct 7 11 AM | Brockton HA: Windows Golden Circle, center of the parking lot | Wed Oct 14 |
By appointment: Provincetown deck rebid, Greg McGowan. The four on-call electrical contracts below, Greg Caswell.
Kitchen and bathroom renovations. The walkthrough met at 15 Davis Rd.
Watch: The walkthrough was Sep 10. Chelmsford Housing Authority staff run this bid (contact: Sharon Smith). They're running Concord's and Groton's too, and all three open Wed Oct 7 at noon.
Driveway reconstruction. Concord's capital plan lists this project number as roadway and driveway paving at Grove Street / Walden.
Watch: The walkthrough was Sep 23 at 267 Walden St. Also run by Chelmsford HA staff, and it opens the same hour as Acton's and Groton's.
Remove and replace windows and exterior siding, plus HVAC upgrades. The walkthrough met at 19 Lowell Rd.
Watch: The walkthrough was Sep 10. Also run by Chelmsford HA staff.
Air-seal and re-insulate the building attics; seal and partly insulate the basements.
Watch: DCAMM certification and MBE/WBE/VBE requirements apply. Documents are at projectdog.com, #261874 (978-499-9014). Don't quote on COMMBUYS. The pre-bid was Sep 23.
Proposals from registered engineering or architecture firms to design a parking lot improvement at Mystic View and handle construction administration.
Watch: This one is for design firms, not contractors. Walkthrough Wed Sep 30, 10 AM, at 30 Memorial Rd.
Replace the second-floor deck and stairs with new footings and a first-floor landing. Abate the roofing under the deck and put down a rubber roof.
Watch: Site visits by appointment with Greg McGowan ([email protected]); copy [email protected]. Bids go in at biddocs.com.
Replace all of the building's roofs, install new gutters and downspouts, and cut down and cap two chimneys.
Watch: Pre-bid Wed Sep 30, 9 AM, 99 Sutton St. Documents at BidDocsOnline.com; hard copies at Nashoba Blue in Hudson. Don't quote on COMMBUYS.
Flooring, cabinets, countertops, sink and faucet, appliances and backsplash, plus upgraded wiring and fixtures, in eight kitchens in Building 8.
Watch: Tenants will be living there during the work. Pre-bid Tue Sep 29, 10 AM, 492 Washington St (park in visitor spaces, meet in the Community Building).
Repair the exterior concrete decks: fix the cracks, seal the concrete finishes and replace the wood fascia boards.
Watch: The site visit was Sep 24. Bids go in at biddocs.com. Questions go to the designer, Eugenio Fernandez ([email protected]).
Pavement improvements to the parking areas and walkways at Rose Kennedy Lane.
Watch: The pre-bid was Fri Sep 25. Bids go in at biddocs.com.
New rear exterior doors on the apartment buildings, maintenance-room doors and the community room's main entry: frames, leaves, hardware and accessories.
Watch: Site visit Tue Oct 6, 11 AM, in front of the community building's main entrance. Bids go in at biddocs.com.
Tear out and replace kitchen cabinets, appliances and countertops. New kitchen flooring in unit 16. Duct the range hood to the outside.
Watch: The pre-bid was Sep 18. Bids go in at biddocs.com.
Remove the old windows, prep the masonry and wood-framed openings, and install new double-hung windows with interior and exterior trim.
Watch: Pre-bid Wed Oct 7, 11 AM, in the center of the Golden Circle parking lot.
Strip the asphalt roofing and vinyl siding; install a new asphalt roof and vinyl siding with PVC trim. Minor electrical fixture replacement too.
Watch: Pre-bid Tue Sep 29, 11 AM, 20 Sayles St. The 5% deposit applies to general bids and sub-bids, so trade subs should check the bid documents for a sub-bid deadline. Bids go in at biddocs.com, not COMMBUYS.
Replace the furnaces and hot water heaters with electric equipment: air-source heat pumps and electric water heaters, per Hopkinton's capital plan.
Watch: The walkthrough with BLW Engineers met at Brampton Circle on Sep 23, but the capital plan lists this project number under Bisson Rue, so confirm which buildings are in scope. Chelmsford HA staff run this one too.
The rest of a site-wide modernization: 38 units in five 8-unit buildings. New kitchens and baths, asbestos flooring removed and replaced with resilient and tile floors, and failing or out-of-code mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems replaced.
Watch: Filed sub-bids (tile, resilient flooring, painting, plumbing, HVAC, electrical) are due Wed Oct 7, 2 PM. RFIs close Tue Sep 29, 5 PM. 5% bid deposit. Participation goals: 8.6% MBE, 8.8% WBE, 3% VBE.
Fire alarm and sprinkler system upgrade at Cusack Terrace (development 667-5), designed by LIRO-Hill.
Watch: Site walk Tue Sep 29, 11 AM, outside the main entrance at 8 Summer St. Off-street parking.
Replace two heating boilers, swap two gas-fired water heaters for three new ones, and remove the old solar hot-water pre-heat system.
Watch: Pre-bid Tue Sep 29, 10 AM. Meet at the middle building; street parking only.
Fire alarm and sprinkler work at Caggiano Plaza (170 South Common St), McGee House (37 Green St) and Shepard & Warren (35 Shepard St), designed by MacRitchie Engineering.
Watch: Filed sub-bids are due Fri Oct 9, 1 PM, two weeks ahead of general bids. Pre-bid Thu Oct 1, 10 AM, starting at 170 South Common St.
Replace apartment and utility doors and hardware, repair the metal railings, and paint the courtyard walls, decking, and the undersides of the walkways.
Watch: Filed sub-bids (miscellaneous and ornamental metals, painting) are due Fri Oct 9, 4 PM. Participation goals: 15.3% MBE, 6.9% WBE, 3% VBE. The site visit was Sep 17.
Repair the concrete parapet walls and modify the aluminum guardrails on 51 concrete balconies, then paint. The building stays occupied.
Watch: HUD procurement rules apply, with both state and Davis-Bacon wage rates. Walkthrough Tue Sep 29, 10 AM, 75 Myrtle St.
Exterior renovation: new roof, siding, windows and exterior doors.
Watch: Roofing and flashing filed sub-bids are due Tue Oct 20, 11 AM. Pre-bid Tue Oct 6, 10 AM, at the housing authority office, 7 Job's Fishing Rd. Participation goals: 7.5% MBE, 6.9% WBE, 3% VBE.
New bath exhaust fans with humidity and motion controls, each vented to the outside, in 96 bathrooms, plus a new kitchen hood in every apartment. Two adjoining elderly developments, 96 one-bedroom units.
Watch: Filed sub-bids (roofing and flashing, HVAC, electrical) are due Thu Oct 15, 2 PM. Site visit Tue Oct 6, 11 AM, at the community building; no need to register. Participation goals: 6.3% MBE, 9.4% WBE, 3% VBE.
On bigger state-funded building jobs, certain trades bid straight to the housing authority, before the general contractors do. If you're one of those trade subs, this is your deadline, not the general bid date.
| Sub-bids due | Job and trades | General bids |
|---|---|---|
| Wed Oct 7 2 PM | Watertown HA: McSherry Gardens Phase 2 Tile, resilient flooring, painting, plumbing, HVAC, electrical | Wed Oct 21 |
| Fri Oct 9 1 PM | Lynn HA: Fire alarms + sprinklers, three buildings See bid documents | Fri Oct 23 |
| Fri Oct 9 4 PM | Mansfield HA: Courtyard renovation Misc. and ornamental metals, painting | Fri Oct 23 |
| Thu Oct 15 2 PM | East Bridgewater HA: Bath fans + kitchen hoods Roofing and flashing, HVAC, electrical | Thu Oct 29 |
| Tue Oct 20 11 AM | Mashpee HA: Roof, siding, windows, doors Roofing and flashing | Tue Oct 27 |
These are the actual titles on COMMBUYS. If you search by trade, you'll never find them.
| Listed as | What it actually is |
|---|---|
| “FISH 067142” Concord HA | Driveway reconstruction at Grove Street / Walden |
| “FISH 139064” Hopkinton HA | Furnaces and water heaters replaced with electric heat pumps and water heaters |
| “Acton 002115” Acton HA | Kitchen and bathroom renovations |
| “Groton Upgrades” Groton HA | New windows and siding, plus HVAC upgrades |
| “FireAlarmPratt” Chelsea HA | Fire alarm upgrade at Prattville Apartments |
| “Estimated Construction Cost $390,000” Brockton HA | Window replacement at Golden Circle |
What's a FISH number? FISH is the Financial Information System for Housing, the state housing office's tracker for capital projects. Per the state, every project, large and small, gets a FISH number. The first three digits identify the housing authority, and the rest is the project. Match it against the authority's capital plan and you get the job, the development and the budget. That's how the Concord and Hopkinton jobs above were decoded.
Every housing authority files a capital plan with the state. I went through all 230 on the state's portal. In the 131 plans in this year's new format, 93 authorities list 453 projects for fiscal 2027 (July 2026 through June 2027), about $95 million in total project costs. Here's that work by trade:
| Trade | Projects | Budgets |
|---|---|---|
| Paving, walkways & site | 62 | $15.8M |
| Heating, boilers & HVAC | 47 | $15.8M |
| Windows & doors | 56 | $13.2M |
| Elevators | 6 | $11.4M |
| Roofing & gutters | 28 | $6.6M |
| Kitchens & baths | 40 | $6.2M |
| Siding, masonry & exterior | 36 | $4.8M |
| Fire alarm & sprinklers | 14 | $3.8M |
| Electrical & generators | 22 | $2.8M |
| Water, sewer & plumbing | 19 | $2.5M |
| Unit turnovers & renovations | 36 | $1.7M |
| Accessibility (ADA) | 5 | $1.5M |
| Security & access | 13 | $1.3M |
| Interiors, flooring & painting | 21 | $1.2M |
| Everything else | 48 | $6.1M |
A rough split by the words in each project's title. Paving and site includes a $5 million flood-resilience project in Gloucester. Work the authorities do with their own staff is left out.
The ten biggest planned projects. Gloucester and Woburn alone list about $38 million between them.
| Authority | Planned job | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Woburn HA | Elevator major upgrade (listed as a funding request) | $7,653,603 |
| Gloucester HA | Storm resilience: trimming and site flood protection, Riverdale Park | $5,047,129 |
| Gloucester HA | Mechanical and electrical systems, Riverdale Park | $4,880,995 |
| Salem HA | Windows, balconies and building envelope, Charter St | $2,765,440 |
| Salem HA | Paving, Rainbow Terrace | $2,515,377 |
| Woburn HA | Roofs, Nichols Street Extension | $2,363,920 |
| Gloucester HA | New elevator, Curtis B. Clark | $2,250,000 |
| Woburn HA | Bathroom modernization | $1,910,846 |
| Gloucester HA | Meter upgrade, Lincoln Park | $1,623,740 |
| Wakefield HA | Fire alarm and Federal Pacific panel upgrade, Harts Hill | $1,364,004 |
Each budget links to the authority's plan. These are plans, not bids. The plans themselves warn that costs often rise before construction and that projects get delayed or split into phases. Budgets are total project costs, including design. Every authority's plan, one page each.
Building jobs from other public owners on COMMBUYS, due in the next few weeks. I cleaned up the titles but haven't read these notices yet, so check each one for scope and requirements.
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