Investigations
State consultant spending jumped 23 percent amid procurement opacity
Massachusetts agencies paid $14.7 million for consulting contracts in 2025, many to firms led by ex-officials, with limited transparency or competitive bidding.
Massachusetts state agencies spent nearly $14.7 million on outside consultant contracts in fiscal year 2025, a 23 percent increase from 2024, according to procurement records obtained by the Pioneer Valley Gazette through public records requests. The bulk of spending went to information technology and management consulting firms, many headed by former state officials, raising questions about procurement transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
The Department of Transportation alone spent $3.2 million on consultant contracts, nearly double the prior year, as the agency struggled to meet federal deadlines on highway safety assessments. The Department of Health and Human Services allocated $2.8 million to outside consultants to redesign its benefits application portal, a project that sources say has stalled twice in two years. “We use consultants when we lack in-house expertise or bandwidth,” said Transportation Secretary Michael Reeves. “But we’re also mindful of costs and making sure taxpayers get value.”
Consultant Spending Patterns
Three firms captured 34 percent of all consulting contracts: TechVision Advisors ($1.8 million), Commonwealth Partners ($1.4 million), and Sterling & Associates ($1.2 million). TechVision Advisors is led by former MassIT director James Caldwell, who left state government in 2018. Sterling & Associates was founded by ex-Human Services deputy director Sarah Whitmore in 2020. Public records do not require disclosure of prior state employment relationships, a gap that ethics experts say obscures potential patronage patterns.
“There’s no inherent problem with hiring consultants who used to work in government—they have relevant expertise,” said Professor David Howell of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. “But the lack of transparency about those relationships and competitive bidding invites suspicion.” The state’s competitive bidding process requires solicitation of bids for contracts over $50,000, but nine of the largest consulting contracts were awarded without formal bidding under “sole-source” justifications. The state argues sole-source awards were necessary due to schedule urgency or specialized expertise.
Records Requests and Agency Response
The Gazette filed 14 records requests with six agencies over eight months to assemble this analysis. The Department of Revenue delayed compliance by 120 days beyond the legal 10-day deadline, ultimately providing incomplete data. The Transportation Department charged $340 in copying fees for records that exist in digital format, a practice the Secretary of the Commonwealth said may violate the Public Records Act. The Attorney General’s office has not yet responded to a request for guidance.
When contacted for comment, the Executive Office of Administration and Finance acknowledged “opportunities to improve consultant procurement practices” and committed to releasing a procurement transparency dashboard by September 2026. A new policy requiring disclosure of consultant prior government employment is under review. “Accountability and clarity are essential,” a spokeswoman said, “and we’re committed to ensuring taxpayer money is spent appropriately.”