Do different procurement and contracting rules apply to the use of ARRA funds?
All current rules apply. Unless a specific exception is made in general or special law or an oversight agency responsible for procurement has issued a directive relative to ARRA, all current procurement and contracting rules apply, including the use of standard contract boilerplates. Additional reporting and other requirements are embedded in the ARRA provisions, and must also be met. Given that Massachusetts is under heightened scrutiny by the GAO, the Legislature through the Joint Committee on Federal Stimulus Oversight, and other audit entities (such as the State Auditor’s Office and the Inspector General’s Office) we strongly urge Departments to coordinate all staff who will be handling ARRA obligations or expenditures at any point in the process (program, planning, procurement, contracts, payments, etc.) to ensure that all staff coordinate the process for managing and tracking ARRA documentation and to ensure ARRA compliance. See State Finance Law and General Requirements and Cont
