Massachusetts Designer Selection Board Seeks 2 Professional Engineers and 1 Public Member for the Board

Serving on a state board or commission is a volunteer opportunity; it’s a great way to contribute your professional expertise to improving how public projects are delivered and also a way to build your understanding about how public officials evaluate proposals and ideas from design professionals.

The Massachusetts Designer Selection Board (DSB) is seeking resumes from diverse candidates who are Professional Engineers licensed in and residing in Massachusetts for 2 openings on the DSB.

While their preferences are for an electrical, mechanical or structural PE, they also will welcome resumes from civil engineers.  If your firm does works for DCAMM, designs building projects for municipalities or charter schools and is part of proposals submitted to the DSB, even as subconsultant to a prime designer, you should not apply. 

The Massachusetts Designer Selection Board (DSB) is an autonomous 11 member board that selects designers for public building construction of state facilities throughout the Commonwealth, as well as charter schools.

The DSB reviews designer applications for DCAMM (Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance) work, selects and ranks three finalists. The board then forwards its recommendations in writing to the DCAMM Commissioner who has authority to appoint and contract with the selected firm.

Eight members are appointed by the Governor, three of whom are registered architects, three registered engineers, and two representatives of the public who are not architect designers, engineers, or construction contractors.  Three additional members are appointed by the following professional societies: The Boston Society of Architects (BSA), Design Professionals Government Affairs Council (The Engineering Center Education Trust) and the Associated General Contractors (AGC). Certain officers will have additional specific responsibilities.

This is an important Public Board.  We need PE candidates, licensed in and living in MA, who do not have conflicts of interest to apply for appointment by the Governor.   The candidate selected for recommendation to the Governor’s office will need to go through standard background security and financial checks before appointment. 

The DSB meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 8:30 AM- 11:30 AM via Zoom and in the future, probably at One Ashburton Place in Boston.  If you are interested in applying to serve, please see below for details. Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Description for the Massachusetts Design Selection Board:

Title: Member, Designer Selection Board
Reports to: DSB Chair
Purpose: To serve the Board Chairman as a voting member; to develop plans, policies, procedures and practices for the operation of the DSB programs and performance. The DSB reviews designer applications for DCAMM (Division of Capital Asset Maintenance and Management) and charter school work, selects and ranks three finalists. The board then forwards its recommendations in writing to the Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Maintenance and Management (DCAMM does not appoint for charter schools. The DSB sends selected teams directly to the charter schools' leadership) who has authority to appoint and contract with the selected firm.

Term: 2 years; opportunity for re-appointment for another 2 year term by (Governor, etc.); opportunity to serve as an officer.

Expected Meeting Attendance: 
Regularly attend DSB meetings as scheduled (about 24/year).  Meetings are usually on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 8:30 AM-11:30 PM.  The DSB provides a parking space to Board members for the duration of in person meetings. 

Obligations of the Board:

• Establish policy for DSB as a Board member
• Avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.  This means that if your firm does works for DCAMM or charter schools in Massachusetts and regularly submits proposals to the DSB, even as subconsultant to a prime designer, you should not apply.   You would need to consult the Designer Selection Board or the State Ethics Commission for more information, but Abbie Goodman can answer some questions about what this means.

Duties for Board members:

• Use best professional judgment to support DSB activities
• Promote DSB participation by encouraging firms to apply.
• Be responsive to requests for information, participation or assistance from DSB Board, DSB staff, DCAMM and/or municipal staff.
• Be an advocate and a spokesperson for DSB in coordination with DSB Executive Director.

Information about Conflict of Interest:

• No member of the Board may participate in the selection of a designer for a project if the member or any immediate family has a direct or indirect present or future financial interest in the selection of that designer or would benefit financially in any way from the project.
• Cannot be a member of the DSB if currently employed by a potential applicant.

If you are applying for the DSB opening, forward your resume, with full home and work contact information on it, to Abbie Goodman by August 1, 2023. Please reference Designer Selection Board
The following policy was implemented on January 1, 2012:  Be it resolved that in order to ensure the absence of conflict of interest or the appearance thereof, the Designer Selection Board shall not accept any Application which includes as a Member of the Team, an Owner, a Principal, or as an Employee, any person who is a Member of the Designer Selection Board during their term of service and for a period of twelve months after leaving the Board.

More information about the Designer Selection Board