Massachusetts local bids worth a look: Nantucket renovation re-bid, paving, stormwater O&M, and more (award-watch)

Executive takeaway

This watchlist leans heavily toward public works and housing-related construction, with one town-wide stormwater maintenance contract and several professional services/technology procurements mixed in. The clearest construction scopes are the Beverly Housing Authority paving/site package and the Town of Nantucket’s 71 Surfside Road Renovation re-bid (with Filed Sub-Bid and General Bid timelines called out). If you’re a GC that can manage filed sub-bids under Massachusetts rules, or a site/civil contractor that self-performs paving and related items, these are worth immediate review in the official documents.

What the buyer is trying to do

Town of Nantucket: 71 Surfside Road Renovation (re-bid)

The Town of Nantucket, through its Affordable Housing Trust, is seeking qualified bidders to renovate a property at 71 Surfside Road. The notice signals a formal IFB process with specific access and bid timing milestones.

Beverly Housing Authority: Roger Conant paving/site work

Beverly Housing Authority is procuring a defined set of site improvements focused on removing and reconstructing a bituminous parking lot, associated sidewalks, curbing, drainage elements, and related appurtenances.

Town of Braintree: stormwater control measure annual maintenance

Braintree is soliciting bids for town-wide maintenance of stormwater control measures (SCMs) such as rain gardens, bioretention systems, drainage structures, and infiltration basins, with specifications hosted on the Town’s bid page.

Other notable items in this batch

• Dracut is seeking quotes for an internal controls and processes audit for schools.
• Nahant is seeking an Advanced Meter (AMI) and water meter project.
• Winchester issued an RFI to identify renovation partners for a single-family affordable housing renovation (160 Forest Street).
• Yarmouth is seeking proposals for a multi-year real property valuation update program (FY 2027–FY 2031) aligned with M.G.L. c.59 and DOR requirements.
• MassDOT pavement markings posting includes an explicit instruction: “Do Not Use COMMBUYS to Bid on this Project.”

What work is implied (bullets)

• Nantucket renovation IFB: renovation work at 71 Surfside Road (full scope verify in attachments); participation may require managing Filed Sub-Bids and a General Bid.
• Beverly Housing Authority paving project:
  • Remove and reconstruct bituminous parking lot, drive aisles, and sidewalks
  • Construct concrete dumpster pad
  • Install removable bollards
  • Wood fence dumpster enclosure
  • Railings
  • Pavement markings
  • Loam and hydroseed
  • Install new granite curb; remove and reset granite curb
  • Signage
  • Catch basin reconstruction
  • Other associated site items
• Braintree SCM maintenance: routine and/or corrective maintenance for rain gardens, bioretention systems, drainage structures, infiltration basins, and other SCMs (details verify in attachments).
• Dracut internal controls audit (schools): evaluate internal controls and processes (details verify in attachments).
• Nahant AMI/water meters: advanced metering infrastructure and water meter project (details verify in attachments).
• Winchester RFI: information gathering to select renovation partners for a single-family affordable housing home renovation.
• Yarmouth valuation program: interim updates and full revaluation services per M.G.L. c.59 and DOR requirements (scope specifics verify in attachments).

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid (good fit):
  • General contractors experienced with Massachusetts public IFBs and managing filed sub-bids (for the Nantucket renovation re-bid)
  • Site/civil contractors that self-perform paving, curbing (including granite), drainage structures/catch basin work, and site restoration (for the Beverly project)
  • Stormwater O&M contractors with demonstrated capability maintaining rain gardens, bioretention systems, infiltration basins, and drainage structures (for Braintree)
  • Firms specializing in municipal valuation/revaluation programs aligned with DOR requirements (for Yarmouth)
  • Firms that deliver AMI and water meter programs (for Nahant)
  • Audit/assurance providers focused on internal controls and process audits in a school/municipal context (for Dracut)
• Pass / be cautious:
  • Any bidder planning to submit the MassDOT pavement marking bid through COMMBUYS despite the posting’s instruction (routing/portal must be confirmed in the official documents)
  • Teams without capacity to meet filed sub-bid and general bid timing (Nantucket) or without the right self-perform mix for the Beverly site package

Response package checklist (bullets; if unknown say “verify in attachments”)

• Completed bid/proposal forms (verify in attachments)
• Acknowledgment of addenda (verify in attachments)
• Bid bond and/or other security requirements (verify in attachments)
• Insurance and licensing documentation (verify in attachments)
• Schedule and phasing approach (verify in attachments)
• List of subcontractors and filed sub-bid documentation where applicable (Nantucket) (verify in attachments)
• For Braintree SCM maintenance: maintenance plan and reporting approach (verify in attachments)
• For Yarmouth valuation program: compliance narrative for M.G.L. c.59 and DOR requirements (verify in attachments)
• Submission method confirmation (especially for MassDOT markings and portals listed in notices) (verify in attachments)

Pricing & strategy notes (how to research pricing; do not invent pricing numbers)

• Nantucket renovation re-bid: because this is a re-bid and includes filed sub-bid timing, treat subcontractor coverage as a pricing risk driver. Start by mapping the filed sub-bid categories (from the IFB documents) and validating competitive coverage early.
• Beverly paving/site package: build a quantity-driven estimate from the plans/specs (paving sections, curb lengths including granite, catch basin work, markings, loam/hydroseed). Confirm disposal and traffic/site access assumptions in the bid documents.
• Braintree SCM maintenance: price will typically hinge on the town-wide inventory, frequency, and reporting requirements—pull the detailed specifications from the Town’s bid page and confirm the number/type of SCMs and expected service cycles.
• Professional services (Dracut/Yarmouth): structure pricing around the deliverables and update cycles stated in the RFP/RFQ documents; confirm any required on-site time, data access, and format requirements.
• Portal strategy: where the posting points to a specific site for documents/submission, follow that path and confirm whether any secondary registration is required (e.g., Nantucket’s OpenGov portal; Braintree’s bid page; MassDOT’s instructions).

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• Nantucket renovation: line up sub-bidders early to meet the filed sub-bid application deadline; confirm which trades are filed sub-bid vs. standard subcontracting (verify in attachments).
• Beverly paving/site: consider teaming coverage for:
  • Catch basin reconstruction/drainage structures
  • Granite curb installation/reset
  • Striping/pavement markings and signage
  • Fencing/railings/bollards
  • Loam and hydroseed
• Braintree SCM maintenance: if you don’t self-perform all SCM types, team with a stormwater-focused field services firm that can cover bioretention/infiltration basin maintenance and documentation (verify in attachments).
• Nahant AMI/meters: potential prime/sub split between AMI system delivery and field meter change-out (details verify in attachments).

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Nantucket timing: IFB documents availability is specified as beginning Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 4PM on the Town’s procurement portal; filed sub-bid applications due 2PM March 17, 2026; general bid applications due 2PM April 7, 2026. Late starts compress subcontractor coverage.
• Submission channel risk (MassDOT markings): the posting explicitly says not to use COMMBUYS—confirm the correct bid submission method in the official solicitation.
• Braintree document control: the notice states the Town’s website is the only site to obtain digital copies of official bid documents/information—ensure your team is working from that source.
• Scope gaps: several postings provide only brief descriptions—do not assume scope, performance period, bonding, or site constraints until you review the attachments.

Related opportunities

• IFB - 71 Surfside Road Renovation Re-Bid (Town of Nantucket)
• Roger Conant (667-6) Paving Project #030128 (Beverly Housing Authority)
• Stormwater Control Measure Annual Maintenance (Town of Braintree)
• 614114 DISTRICT 3 Application of Reflectorized Pavement Markings at Various Locations (Department of Transportation)
• Request for Quote 2026-10 Internal Controls and processes audit - schools (Town of Dracut)
• Advanced Meter AMI and water meter project (Town of Nahant)
• Request for Information for Selection of Renovation Partners (Town of Winchester)
• Real Property Valuation Update Program (Town of Yarmouth)

How to act on this

1. Open each BidPulsar link above and download the official documents from the source site identified in the notice.
2. For Nantucket, calendar both the filed sub-bid deadline (March 17, 2026 at 2PM) and the general bid deadline (April 7, 2026 at 2PM) and start subcontractor outreach immediately after documents are posted.
3. For Beverly and Braintree, build a compliance matrix from the specifications and list every required form and attachment before you price.
4. For MassDOT markings, confirm the correct bid submission portal/method in the solicitation before you invest heavy estimating time.

If you want a second set of eyes on submission compliance, portal routing, and a clean response checklist, reach out to Federal Bid Partners LLC.