Source: https://www.levelset.com/prompt-payment/massachusetts-prompt-payment-faqs/
Timestamp: 2019-06-26 03:36:50
Document Index: 620606344

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 29', '§ 39', '§ 29', '§ 39', '§ 39', '§ 39']

Massachusetts Prompt Payment in Construction - FAQs, Guide, Forms, & Resources
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Massachusetts Prompt Payment Overview
Massachusetts Prompt Payment Requirements
For Prime Contractors, progress payment must be made within 45 days after approval of invoice;; invoice must be approved or denied within 15 days. (Note, that there are requirements regarding when invoices must be given).
For Subcontractors, payment due within 45 days after approval of invoice;; invoice must be approved or denied within 22 days. (Note, that there are requirements regarding when invoices must be given).
For Suppliers, payment due within 45 days after approval of invoice;; invoice must be approved or denied within 22 days. (Note, that there are requirements regarding when invoices must be given).
Presumably general interest staute applies since this is a contract dispute. 12% year.
For Prime (General) Contractors, progress payment due within 15 days of invoice (time extnded to 30 days for payments from the commenwealth). Final payment due within 65 days of substantial completion of the proejct. Retainage payment due within 30 days from submission of invoice for retianage payment,
For Subcontractors, pregress payments due immediately after receipt of payment from above. Retainage payment due 37 days from submission of invoice for retainage payment. Final payment due within 65 days of subtantial completion of the particular subcontractor's work.
For Suppliers,, pregress payments due immediately after receipt of payment from above. Retainage payment due 37 days from submission of invoice for retainage payment. Final payment due within 65 days of subtantial completion of the particular subcontractor's work.
Interest at fed rate plus 3%.
Massachusetts’s prompt payment statutes set forth specific timeframes when general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and others involved with a construction project must be paid. This page provides an overview of these regulations, and addresses some frequently asked questions related to the Massachusetts prompt payment laws.
Massachusetts Prompt Payment Frequently Asked Questions
Massachusetts Prompt Payment Private Projects FAQs
Do I have to send a letter or file anything to qualify for Prompt Payment Penalties or Remedies in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts prompt payment requirements apply pursuant to the parties’ contract. However, pay requests must be accepted at least every 30 days, and must approve or reject the request within 15 days. Presumably, there may be some requirements contained within the contract.
Can I include Prompt Payment Fees in my Massachusetts Mechanics Liens Claim or Bond Claim?
No. Massachusetts doesn’t allow miscellaneous amounts to be included on the face of a mechanics lien.
What happens to my Prompt Payment Penalties and Fees if I get paid late? Can I still recover the Prompt Payment Penalty in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts does not statutorily specify interest applicability and/or requirements. Interest amount and the applicability thereof is likely governed by the contract.
Massachusetts does not specifically identify reasons for which payment may be withheld, so it is likely that the contract between the parties, and case law, will govern the particular reasons payment may be withheld.
Massachusetts Prompt Payment Public Projects FAQs
The Massachusetts prompt payment requirements are complex and scattered. However, the application of any of the prompt payment statutes contemplates the work being performed and/or completed, and the receipt by the paying party of a request for payment., there may be some requirements contained within the contract.
No. Massachusetts law does not allow for the recovery of miscellaneous amounts in a bond claim.
If the interest provisions of the Massachusetts prompt payment statutes apply, there is no further action required by the party requesting payment. However, it may be difficult, as a practical matter, to recover interest in the absence of an action to recover late payments.
Massachusetts allows parties to withhold payments based on court proceedings barring such payments, and as estimated costs of completing unfinished or unsatisfactory work.
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Massachusetts Prompt Payment
I have 3 ongoing roadway construction projects in the same city state of MA that have been late on may payments. What steps should I take in requesting interest for late payments?
I have (3) ongoing roadway construction projects 2017-present in the same city(ch.90 money) in the state of MA that have been late on many pay...
Massachusetts Prompt Payment Statute FAQs
Getting informed about prompt payment laws is important. An examination of Massachusetts’ prompt payment laws, the rules and regulations related to payment timing, is important to know your rights and responsibilities as a party on a construction project. Massachusetts’ specific laws can be found in: M.G.L.A. 149 § 29E, and 30 §§ 39F, 39G, 39K, and are reproduced below.
149 § 29E:
(a) As used in this section the following words shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
“Contract for construction”, a contract for which a lien may be established under sections 2 or 4 of chapter 254 on a project for which the person whose contract with the project owner has an original contract price of $3,000,000 or more; provided, however, this shall not include projects containing or designed to contain at least 1 but not more than 4 dwelling units.
“Insolvent”, insolvent as defined under federal bankruptcy law or being a debtor in a proceeding commenced under federal bankruptcy law or under the corresponding law of another country, or being a debtor in a receivership proceeding or having made an assignment for the benefit of creditors.
(b) A communication required in this section to be in writing may be submitted in electronic form and by electronic means.
(c) Every contract for construction shall provide reasonable time periods within which: (i) a person seeking payment under the contract shall submit written applications for periodic progress payments; (ii) the person receiving the application shall approve or reject the application, whether in whole or in part; and (iii) the person approving the application shall pay the amount approved. The time periods for each application for a periodic progress payment shall not exceed: (i) for submission, 30 days, beginning with the end of the first calendar month occurring at least 14 days after the person seeking payment has commenced performance; (ii) for approval or rejection, 15 days after submission; provided, however, that the time period, as applicable to approval or rejection by the person at each tier of contract below the owner of the project, may be extended by 7 days more than the time period applicable to the person at the tier of contract above the person; and (iii) for payment, 45 days after approval, unless the payment is subject to the condition of receipt of payment by a third person but only to the extent enforceable under subsection (e). An application for a periodic progress payment which is neither approved nor rejected within the time period shall be deemed to be approved unless it is rejected before the date payment is due. A rejection of an application for a periodic progress payment, whether in whole or in part, shall be made in writing and shall include an explanation of the factual and contractual basis for the rejection and shall be certified as made in good faith. A rejection of an application for a periodic progress payment shall be subject to the applicable dispute resolution procedure. A provision in the contract which requires a party to delay commencement of the procedure until a date later than 60 days after the rejection shall be void and unenforceable.
(d) Every contract for construction shall provide a reasonable time period within which a written request submitted by a person seeking an increase in the contract price shall be approved or rejected, whether in whole or in part. The time period shall not exceed 30 days after the later of commencement of the performance of the work on which the request is based or submission of the written request; provided, however, that the time period, as applicable to approval or rejection by the person at each tier of contract below the owner of the project, may be extended by 7 days more than the time period applicable to the person at the tier of contract above the person. A request which is neither approved nor rejected within such time period shall be deemed to be approved and may be submitted for payment within the next application for a periodic progress payment, unless it is rejected before the date payment is due. A rejection of a request, whether in whole or in part, shall be made in writing, shall include an explanation of the factual and contractual basis for the rejection and shall be certified as made in good faith. A rejection of a request shall be subject to the applicable dispute resolution procedure. A provision in the contract which requires a party to delay commencement of the procedure until a date later than 60 days after the rejection shall be void and unenforceable.
(e) A provision in a contract for construction which makes payment to a person performing the construction conditioned upon receipt of payment from a third person that is not a party to the contract shall be void and unenforceable, except:
(1) to the extent of amounts not received from the third person because the person performing the construction failed to perform under its contract and failed to cure the non-performance within the time required by the contract after receipt of written notice as provided in the contract or, in the case of contract lacking a cure and notice provision, failed to cure the non-performance within 14 days after receipt of written notice of the failure to perform; or
(2) to the extent of amounts not received from the third person because the third person is insolvent or becomes insolvent within 90 days after the date of submission of the requisition for which payment is sought; provided, however, that the person seeking to enforce the payment condition (i) filed a notice of contract under chapter 254 and in the case of a person having no direct contractual relationship with the original contractor, also sent a notice of identification within the time required under said chapter 254, prior to the person’s submission of the first application for payment after commencement of performance at the project site and did not dissolve the lien created by the filing of such notice of contract; and (ii) within the time periods allowed by said chapter 254 files a statement of amount due and commenced or commences a civil action to enforce the lien; and (iii) pursues all reasonable legal remedies to obtain payment from the person with whom the person had a direct contract unless and until there is a reasonable likelihood the action shall not result in obtaining payment.
The foregoing exceptions shall be expressly stated in any conditional payment provision and the person seeking to enforce the payment condition shall have the burden of proof as to each element. Nothing in this section or in a conditional payment provision shall be valid as a defense to enforcement of a lien claimed under said chapter 254 by the person furnishing the construction nor shall it excuse compliance with said chapter 254. A party aggrieved by the failure of the party seeking to enforce the payment condition to pursue all reasonable legal remedies to obtain payment may avail itself of the procedure set forth in section 15A of said chapter 254, for a summary determination of whether all reasonable legal remedies have been fulfilled with respect to the particular lien claim at issue; provided, however, that the aggrieved party has first made a request in writing that the party seeking to assert the payment provision identify the legal remedies the aggrieved party has pursued and either: (i) has not received a response in writing within 10 days after making the request; or (ii) having received a response, has requested the party to pursue specific additional legal remedies and the party has failed unreasonably to take such actions.
(f) A provision in a contract for construction, including without limitation a payment condition enforceable under subsection (e), purporting to require a person to continue performance of the construction if payment of an approved amount is due under the terms of the contract but is not received, and more than 30 days have elapsed since the date payment was due, shall be void and unenforceable, except for: (i) a dispute regarding the quality or quantity of the construction so furnished; or (ii) a default by the person under the contract for construction after approval of the payment; provided, however, that the person has received (i) a prior written notice of such dispute or default certified as made in good faith; and (ii) all sums due less any amounts attributable to the dispute or default.
(g) A provision in a contract for construction which purports to waive or limit any provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable.
30 § 39F:
(1) Every contract awarded pursuant to sections forty-four A to L, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and forty-nine shall contain the following subparagraphs (a) through (i) and every contract awarded pursuant to section thirty-nine M of chapter thirty shall contain the following subparagraphs (a) through (h) and in each case those subparagraphs shall be binding between the general contractor and each subcontractor.
(a) Forthwith after the general contractor receives payment on account of a periodic estimate, the general contractor shall pay to each subcontractor the amount paid for the labor performed and the materials furnished by that subcontractor, less any amount specified in any court proceedings barring such payment and also less any amount claimed due from the subcontractor by the general contractor.
(b) Not later than the sixty-fifth day after each subcontractor substantially completes his work in accordance with the plans and specifications, the entire balance due under the subcontract less amounts retained by the awarding authority as the estimated cost of completing the incomplete and unsatisfactory items of work, shall be due the subcontractor; and the awarding authority shall pay that amount to the general contractor. The general contractor shall forthwith pay to the subcontractor the full amount received from the awarding authority less any amount specified in any court proceedings barring such payment and also less any amount claimed due from the subcontractor by the general contractor.
(c) Each payment made by the awarding authority to the general contractor pursuant to subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph for the labor performed and the materials furnished by a subcontractor shall be made to the general contractor for the account of that subcontractor; and the awarding authority shall take reasonable steps to compel the general contractor to make each such payment to each such subcontractor. If the awarding authority has received a demand for direct payment from a subcontractor for any amount which has already been included in a payment to the general contractor or which is to be included in a payment to the general contractor for payment to the subcontractor as provided in subparagraphs (a) and (b), the awarding authority shall act upon the demand as provided in this section.
(d) If, within seventy days after the subcontractor has substantially completed the subcontract work, the subcontractor has not received from the general contractor the balance due under the subcontract including any amount due for extra labor and materials furnished to the general contractor, less any amount retained by the awarding authority as the estimated cost of completing the incomplete and unsatisfactory items of work, the subcontractor may demand direct payment of that balance from the awarding authority. The demand shall be by a sworn statement delivered to or sent by certified mail to the awarding authority, and a copy shall be delivered to or sent by certified mail to the general contractor at the same time. The demand shall contain a detailed breakdown of the balance due under the subcontract and also a statement of the status of completion of the subcontract work. Any demand made after substantial completion of the subcontract work shall be valid even if delivered or mailed prior to the seventieth day after the subcontractor has substantially completed the subcontract work. Within ten days after the subcontractor has delivered or so mailed the demand to the awarding authority and delivered or so mailed a copy to the general contractor, the general contractor may reply to the demand. The reply shall be by a sworn statement delivered to or sent by certified mail to the awarding authority and a copy shall be delivered to or sent by certified mail to the subcontractor at the same time. The reply shall contain a detailed breakdown of the balance due under the subcontract including any amount due for extra labor and materials furnished to the general contractor and of the amount due for each claim made by the general contractor against the subcontractor.
(e) Within fifteen days after receipt of the demand by the awarding authority, but in no event prior to the seventieth day after substantial completion of the subcontract work, the awarding authority shall make direct payment to the subcontractor of the balance due under the subcontract including any amount due for extra labor and materials furnished to the general contractor, less any amount (i) retained by the awarding authority as the estimated cost of completing the incomplete or unsatisfactory items of work, (ii) specified in any court proceedings barring such payment, or (iii) disputed by the general contractor in the sworn reply; provided, that the awarding authority shall not deduct from a direct payment any amount as provided in part (iii) if the reply is not sworn to, or for which the sworn reply does not contain the detailed breakdown required by subparagraph (d). The awarding authority shall make further direct payments to the subcontractor forthwith after the removal of the basis for deductions from direct payments made as provided in parts (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph.
(f) The awarding authority shall forthwith deposit the amount deducted from a direct payment as provided in part (iii) of subparagraph (e) in an interest-bearing joint account in the names of the general contractor and the subcontractor in a bank in Massachusetts selected by the awarding authority or agreed upon by the general contractor and the subcontractor and shall notify the general contractor and the subcontractor of the date of the deposit and the bank receiving the deposit. The bank shall pay the amount in the account, including accrued interest, as provided in an agreement between the general contractor and the subcontractor or as determined by decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(g) All direct payments and all deductions from demands for direct payments deposited in an interest-bearing account or accounts in a bank pursuant to subparagraph (f) shall be made out of amounts payable to the general contractor at the time of receipt of a demand for direct payment from a subcontractor and out of amounts which later become payable to the general contractor and in the order of receipt of such demands from subcontractors. All direct payments shall discharge the obligation of the awarding authority to the general contractor to the extent of such payment.
(h) The awarding authority shall deduct from payments to a general contractor amounts which, together with the deposits in interest-bearing accounts pursuant to subparagraph (f), are sufficient to satisfy all unpaid balances of demands for direct payment received from subcontractors. All such amounts shall be earmarked for such direct payments, and the subcontractors shall have a right in such deductions prior to any claims against such amounts by creditors of the general contractor.
(i) If the subcontractor does not receive payment as provided in subparagraph (a) or if the general contractor does not submit a periodic estimate for the value of the labor or materials performed or furnished by the subcontractor and the subcontractor does not receive payment for same when due less the deductions provided for in subparagraph (a), the subcontractor may demand direct payment by following the procedure in subparagraph (d) and the general contractor may file a sworn reply as provided in that same subparagraph. A demand made after the first day of the month following that for which the subcontractor performed or furnished the labor and materials for which the subcontractor seeks payment shall be valid even if delivered or mailed prior to the time payment was due on a periodic estimate from the general contractor. Thereafter the awarding authority shall proceed as provided in subparagraph (e), (f), (g) and (h).
(2) Any assignment by a subcontractor of the rights under this section to a surety company furnishing a bond under the provisions of section twenty-nine of chapter one hundred forty-nine shall be invalid. The assignment and subrogation rights of the surety to amounts included in a demand for direct payment which are in the possession of the awarding authority or which are on deposit pursuant to subparagraph (f) of paragraph (1) shall be subordinate to the rights of all subcontractors who are entitled to be paid under this section and who have not been paid in full.
(3) “Subcontractor” as used in this section (i) for contracts awarded as provided in sections forty-four A to forty-four H, inclusive, of chapter one hundred forty-nine shall mean a person who files a sub-bid and receives a subcontract as a result of that filed sub-bid or who is approved by the awarding authority in writing as a person performing labor or both performing labor and furnishing materials pursuant to a contract with the general contractor, (ii) for contracts awarded as provided in paragraph (a) of section thirty-nine M of chapter thirty shall mean a person approved by the awarding authority in writing as a person performing labor or both performing labor and furnishing materials pursuant to a contract with the general contractor, and (iii) for contracts with the commonwealth not awarded as provided in forty-four A to forty-four H, inclusive, of chapter one hundred forty-nine shall also mean a person contracting with the general contractor to supply materials used or employed in a public works project for a price in excess of five thousand dollars.
(4) A general contractor or a subcontractor shall enforce a claim to any portion of the amount of a demand for direct payment deposited as provided in subparagraph (f) of paragraph 1 by a petition in equity in the superior court against the other and the bank shall not be a necessary party. A subcontractor shall enforce a claim for direct payment or a right to require a deposit as provided in subparagraph (f) of paragraph 1 by a petition in equity in the superior court against the awarding authority and the general contractor shall not be a necessary party. Upon motion of any party the court shall advance for speedy trial any petition filed as provided in this paragraph. Sections fifty-nine and fifty-nine B of chapter two hundred thirty-one shall apply to such petitions. The court shall enter an interlocutory decree upon which execution shall issue for any part of a claim found due pursuant to sections fifty-nine and fifty-nine B and, upon motion of any party, shall advance for speedy trial the petition to collect the remainder of the claim. Any party aggrieved by such interlocutory decree shall have the right to appeal therefrom as from a final decree. The court shall not consolidate for trial the petition of any subcontractor with the petition of one or more subcontractors or the same general contract unless the court finds that a substantial portion of the evidence of the same events during the course of construction (other than the fact that the claims sought to be consolidated arise under the same general contract) is applicable to the petitions sought to be consolidated and that such consolidation will prevent unnecessary duplication of evidence. A decree in any such proceeding shall not include interest on the disputed amount deposited in excess of the interest earned for the period of any such deposit. No person except a subcontractor filing a demand for direct payment for which no funds due the general contractor are available for direct payment shall have a right to file a petition in court of equity against the awarding authority claiming a demand for direct payment is premature and such subcontractor must file the petition before the awarding authority has made a direct payment to the subcontractor and has made a deposit of the disputed portion as provided in part (iii) of subparagraph (e) and in subparagraph (f) of paragraph (1).
(5) In any petition to collect any claim for which a subcontractor has filed a demand for direct payment the court shall, upon motion of the general contractor, reduce by the amount of any deposit of a disputed amount by the awarding authority as provided in part (iii) of subparagraph (e) and in subparagraph (f) of paragraph (1) any amount held under a trustee writ or pursuant to a restraining order or injunction.
30 § 39G:
Section 39G. Upon substantial completion of the work required by a contract with the commonwealth, or any agency or political subdivision thereof, for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, repair or improvement of public ways, including bridges and other highway structures, sewers and, water mains, airports and other public works, the contractor shall present in writing to the awarding authority its certification that the work has been substantially completed. Within twenty-one days thereafter, the awarding authority shall present to the contractor either a written declaration that the work has been substantially completed or an itemized list of incomplete or unsatisfactory work items required by the contract sufficient to demonstrate that the work has not been substantially completed. The awarding authority may include with such list a notice setting forth a reasonable time, which shall not in any event be prior to the contract completion date, within which the contractor must achieve substantial completion of the work. In the event that the awarding authority fails to respond, by presentation of a written declaration or itemized list as aforesaid, to the contractor’s certification within the twenty-one day period, the contractor’s certification shall take effect as the awarding authority’s declaration that the work has been substantially completed.
[ Second paragraph effective until April 18, 2014. For text effective April 18, 2014, see below.]
Within sixty-five days after the effective date of a declaration of a substantial completion, the awarding authority shall prepare and forthwith send to the contractor for acceptance a substantial completion estimate for the quantity and price of the work done and all but one per cent retainage on that work, including the quantity, price and all but one per cent retainage for the undisputed part of each work item and extra work item in dispute but excluding the disputed part thereof, less the estimated cost of completing all incomplete and unsatisfactory work items and less the total periodic payments made to date for the work. The awarding authority also shall deduct from the substantial completion estimate an amount equal to the sum of all demands for direct payment filed by subcontractors and not yet paid to subcontractors or deposited in joint accounts pursuant to section thirty-nine F, but no contract subject to said section thirty-nine F shall contain any other provision authorizing the awarding authority to deduct any amount by virtue of claims asserted against the contract by subcontractors, material suppliers or others.
[ Second paragraph as amended by 2014, 79, Sec. 8 effective April 18, 2014. For text effective until April 18, 2014, see above.]
Within sixty-five days after the effective date of a declaration of a substantial completion, the awarding authority shall prepare and forthwith send to the contractor for acceptance a substantial completion estimate for the quantity and price of the work done and all but one per cent retainage, if held by the awarding authority, on that work, including the quantity, price and all but one per cent retainage, if held by the awarding authority, for the undisputed part of each work item and extra work item in dispute but excluding the disputed part thereof, less the estimated cost of completing all incomplete and unsatisfactory work items and less the total periodic payments made to date for the work. The awarding authority also shall deduct from the substantial completion estimate an amount equal to the sum of all demands for direct payment filed by subcontractors and not yet paid to subcontractors or deposited in joint accounts pursuant to section thirty-nine F, but no contract subject to said section thirty-nine F shall contain any other provision authorizing the awarding authority to deduct any amount by virtue of claims asserted against the contract by subcontractors, material suppliers or others.
If the awarding authority fails to prepare and send to the contractor any substantial completion estimate required by this section on or before the date herein above set forth, the awarding authority shall pay to the contractor interest on the amount which would have been due to the contractor pursuant to such substantial completion estimate at the rate of three percentage points above the rediscount rate then charged by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston from such date to the date on which the awarding authority sends that substantial completion estimate to the contractor for acceptance or to the date of payment therefor, whichever occurs first. The awarding authority shall include the amount of such interest in the substantial completion estimate.
Within fifteen days after the effective date of the declaration of substantial completion, the awarding authority shall send to the contractor by certified mail, return receipt requested, a complete list of all incomplete or unsatisfactory work items, and, unless delayed by causes beyond his control, the contractor shall complete all such work items within forty-five days after the receipt of such list or before the then contract completion date, whichever is later. If the contractor fails to complete such work within such time, the awarding authority may, subsequent to seven days’ written notice to the contractor by certified mail, return receipt requested, terminate the contract and complete the incomplete or unsatisfactory work items and charge the cost of same to the contractor.
[ Fifth paragraph effective until April 18, 2014. For text effective April 18, 2014, see below.]
Within thirty days after receipt by the awarding authority of a notice from the contractor stating that all of the work required by the contract has been completed, the awarding authority shall prepare and forthwith send to the contractor for acceptance a final estimate for the quantity and price of the work done and all retainage on that work less all payments made to date, unless the awarding authority’s inspection shows that work items required by the contract remain incomplete or unsatisfactory, or that documentation required by the contract has not been completed. If the awarding authority fails to prepare and send to the contractor the final estimate within thirty days after receipt of notice of completion, the awarding authority shall pay to the contractor interest on the amount which would have been due to the contractor pursuant to such final estimate at the rate hereinabove provided from the thirtieth day after such completion until the date on which the awarding authority sends the final estimate to the contractor for acceptance or the date of payment therefor, whichever occurs first, provided that the awarding authority’s inspection shows that no work items required by the contract remain incomplete or unsatisfactory. Interest shall not be paid hereunder on amounts for which interest is required to be paid in connection with the substantial completion estimate as hereinabove provided. The awarding authority shall include the amount of the interest required to be paid hereunder in the final estimate.
[ Fifth paragraph as amended by 2014, 79, Sec. 8 effective April 18, 2014. For text effective until April 18, 2014, see above.]
Within thirty days after receipt by the awarding authority of a notice from the contractor stating that all of the work required by the contract has been completed, the awarding authority shall prepare and forthwith send to the contractor for acceptance a final estimate for the quantity and price of the work done and all retainage, if held by the awarding authority, on that work less all payments made to date, unless the awarding authority’s inspection shows that work items required by the contract remain incomplete or unsatisfactory, or that documentation required by the contract has not been completed. If the awarding authority fails to prepare and send to the contractor the final estimate within thirty days after receipt of notice of completion, the awarding authority shall pay to the contractor interest on the amount which would have been due to the contractor pursuant to such final estimate at the rate hereinabove provided from the thirtieth day after such completion until the date on which the awarding authority sends the final estimate to the contractor for acceptance or the date of payment therefor, whichever occurs first, provided that the awarding authority’s inspection shows that no work items required by the contract remain incomplete or unsatisfactory. Interest shall not be paid hereunder on amounts for which interest is required to be paid in connection with the substantial completion estimate as hereinabove provided. The awarding authority shall include the amount of the interest required to be paid hereunder in the final estimate.
The awarding authority shall pay the amount due pursuant to any substantial completion or final estimate within thirty-five days after receipt of written acceptance for such estimate from the contractor and shall pay interest on the amount due pursuant to such estimate at the rate hereinabove provided from that thirty-fifth day to the date of payment. Within 15 days, 30 days in the case of the commonwealth, after receipt from the contractor, at the place designated by the awarding authority, if such place is so designated, of a periodic estimate requesting payment of the amount due for the preceding periodic estimate period, the awarding authority shall make a periodic payment to the contractor for the work performed during the preceding periodic estimate period and for the materials not incorporated in the work but delivered and suitably stored at the site, or at some location agreed upon in writing, to which the contractor has title or to which a subcontractor has title and has authorized the contractor to transfer title to the awarding authority, upon certification by the contractor that he is the lawful owner and that the materials are free from all encumbrances. The awarding authority shall include with each such payment interest on the amount due pursuant to such periodic estimate at the rate herein above provided from the due date. In the case of periodic payments, the contracting authority may deduct from its payment a retention based on its estimate of the fair value of its claims against the contractor, a retention for direct payments to subcontractors based on demands for same in accordance with the provisions of section thirty-nine F, and a retention to secure satisfactory performance of the contractual work not exceeding five per cent of the approved amount of any periodic payment, and the same right to retention shall apply to bonded subcontractors entitled to direct payment under section thirty-nine F of chapter thirty; provided, that a five per cent value of all items that are planted in the ground shall be deducted from the periodic payments until final acceptance.
No periodic, substantial completion or final estimate or acceptance or payment thereof shall bar a contractor from reserving all rights to dispute the quantity and amount of, or the failure of the awarding authority to approve a quantity and amount of, all or part of any work item or extra work item.
Substantial completion, for the purposes of this section, shall mean either that the work required by the contract has been completed except for work having a contract price of less than one per cent of the then adjusted total contract price, or substantially all of the work has been completed and opened to public use except for minor incomplete or unsatisfactory work items that do not materially impair the usefulness of the work required by the contract.
30 § 39K:
Every contract for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, repair or demolition of any public building by the commonwealth, or by any county, city, town, district, board, commission or other public body, when the amount is more than five thousand dollars in the case of the commonwealth and more than two thousand dollars in the case of any county, city, town, district, board, commission or other public body, shall contain the following paragraph:— Within fifteen days (30 days in the case of the commonwealth, including local housing authorities) after receipt from the contractor, at the place designated by the awarding authority if such a place is so designated, of a periodic estimate requesting payment of the amount due for the preceding month, the awarding authority will make a periodic payment to the contractor for the work performed during the preceding month and for the materials not incorporated in the work but delivered and suitably stored at the site (or at some location agreed upon in writing) to which the contractor has title or to which a subcontractor has title and has authorized the contractor to transfer title to the awarding authority, upon certification by the contractor that he is the lawful owner and that the materials are free from all encumbrances, but less (1) a retention based on its estimate of the fair value of its claims against the contractor and less (2) a retention for direct payments to subcontractors based on demands for same in accordance with the provisions of section thirty-nine F, and less (3) a retention not exceeding five per cent of the approved amount of the periodic payment. After the receipt of a periodic estimate requesting final payment and within sixty-five days after (a) the contractor fully completes the work or substantially completes the work so that the value of the work remaining to be done is, in the estimate of the awarding authority, less than one per cent of the original contract price, or (b) the contractor substantially completes the work and the awarding authority takes possession for occupancy, whichever occurs first, the awarding authority shall pay the contractor the entire balance due on the contract less (1) a retention based on its estimate of the fair value of its claims against the contractor and of the cost of completing the incomplete and unsatisfactory items of work and less (2) a retention for direct payments to subcontractors based on demands for same in accordance with the provisions of section thirty-nine F, or based on the record of payments by the contractor to the subcontractors under this contract if such record of payment indicates that the contractor has not paid subcontractors as provided in section thirty-nine F. If the awarding authority fails to make payment as herein provided, there shall be added to each such payment daily interest at the rate of three percentage points above the rediscount rate than charged by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston commencing on the first day after said payment is due and continuing until the payment is delivered or mailed to the contractor; provided, that no interest shall be due, in any event, on the amount due on a periodic estimate for final payment until fifteen days (twenty-four days in the case of the commonwealth) after receipt of such a periodic estimate from the contractor, at the place designated by the awarding authority if such a place is so designated. The contractor agrees to pay to each subcontractor a portion of any such interest paid in accordance with the amount due each subcontractor.
The awarding authority may make changes in any periodic estimate submitted by the contractor and the payment due on said periodic estimate shall be computed in accordance with the changes so made, but such changes or any requirement for a corrected periodic estimate shall not affect the due date for the periodic payment or the date for the commencement of interest charges on the amount of the periodic payment computed in accordance with the changes made, as provided herein; provided, that the awarding authority may, within seven days after receipt, return to the contractor for correction, any periodic estimate which is not in the required form or which contains computations not arithmetically correct and, in that event, the date of receipt of such periodic estimate shall be the date of receipt of the corrected periodic estimate in proper form and with arithmetically correct computations. The date of receipt of a periodic estimate received on a Saturday shall be the first working day thereafter. The provisions of section thirty-nine G shall not apply to any contract for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, repair or demolition of any public building to which this section applies.
All periodic estimates shall be submitted to the awarding authority, or to its designee as set forth in writing to the contractor, and the date of receipt by the awarding authority or its designee shall be marked on the estimate. All periodic estimates shall contain a separate item for each filed subtrade and each sub-subtrade listed in sub-bid form as required by specifications and a column listing the amount paid to each subcontractor and sub-subcontractor as of the date the periodic estimate is filed. The person making payment for the awarding authority shall add the daily interest provided for herein to each payment for each day beyond the due date based on the date of receipt marked on the estimate.
A certificate of the architect to the effect that the contractor has fully or substantially completed the work shall, subject to the provisions of section thirty-nine J, be conclusive for the purposes of this section.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, at any time after the value of the work remaining to be done is, in the estimation of the awarding authority, less than 1 per cent of the adjusted contract price, or the awarding authority has determined that the contractor has substantially completed the work and the awarding authority has taken possession for occupancy, the awarding authority may send to the general contractor by certified mail, return receipt requested, a complete and final list of all incomplete and unsatisfactory work items, including, for each item on the list, a good faith estimate of the fair and reasonable cost of completing such item. The general contractor shall then complete all such work items within 30 days of receipt of such list or before the contract completion date, whichever is later. If the general contractor fails to complete all incomplete and unsatisfactory work items within 45 days after receipt of such items furnished by the awarding authority or before the contract completion date, whichever is later, subsequent to an additional 14 days’ written notice to the general contractor by certified mail, return receipt requested, the awarding authority may terminate the contract and complete the incomplete and unsatisfactory work items and charge the cost of same to the general contractor and such termination shall be without prejudice to any other rights or remedies the awarding authority may have under the contract. The awarding authority shall note any such termination in the evaluation form to be filed by the awarding authority pursuant to the provisions of section 44D of chapter 149.
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