READ FIRST TIME 02/08/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to public utility district contracts; amending RCW 54.04.070 and 54.04.082; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that public utility districts provide customer-owned, nonprofit utility services throughout Washington state. The legislature further finds that statutory bid limits for public utility districts have not been increased to address inflation and dramatic cost increases in construction materials. The legislature further finds that existing bid limits and high construction material costs often preclude public utility districts from maintaining and repairing their utility infrastructure, providing training and experience to utility workers, and accommodating high contract administrative costs. The legislature further finds that existing bid limits result in increased costs to both public utility districts and utility customers. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to amend the bid limits for public utility districts to address inflation and increased material costs.

Sec. 2   RCW 54.04.070 and 2002 c 72 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any item, or items of the same kind of materials, equipment, or supplies purchased, the estimated cost of which is in excess of ((ten)) fifteen thousand dollars, exclusive of sales tax, shall be by contract((: PROVIDED, That)). However, a district may make purchases of the same kind of items of materials, equipment, and supplies not exceeding ((five)) seven thousand five hundred dollars in any calendar month without a contract, purchasing any excess thereof over ((five)) seven thousand five hundred dollars by contract.
     (2) Any work ordered by a district commission, the estimated cost of which is in excess of ((ten)) twenty-five thousand dollars, exclusive of sales tax, shall be by contract((, except that)). However, a district commission may have its own regularly employed personnel perform work which is an accepted industry practice under prudent utility management without a contract. For purposes of this section, "prudent utility management" means performing work with regularly employed personnel utilizing material of a worth not exceeding one hundred fifty thousand dollars in value without a contract((: PROVIDED, That such)). This limit on the value of material being utilized in work being performed by regularly employed personnel shall not include the value of individual items of equipment purchased or acquired and used as one unit of a project.
     (3) Before awarding ((such)) a contract required under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the commission shall publish a notice once or more in a newspaper of general circulation in the district at least thirteen days before the last date upon which bids will be received, inviting sealed proposals for the work or materials((;)). Plans and specifications ((of which)) for the work or materials shall at the time of ((the)) publication be on file at the office of the district and subject to public inspection. Any published notice ordering work to be performed for the district shall be mailed at the time of publication to any established trade association which files a written request with the district to receive such notices. The commission may, at the same time and as part of the same notice, invite tenders for the work or materials upon plans and specifications to be submitted by the bidders.
     ((All contract projects equal to or in excess of one hundred thousand dollars shall be let by)) (4) As an alternative to the competitive bidding ((unless the public utility)) requirements of this section and RCW 54.04.080, a district may let((s)) contracts using the small works roster process under RCW 39.04.155.
     (5) Whenever equipment or materials required by a district are held by a governmental agency and are available for sale but such agency is unwilling to submit a proposal, the commission may ascertain the price of such items and file a statement of such price supported by the sworn affidavit of one member of the commission, and may consider such price as a bid without a deposit or bond.
     (6) Pursuant to RCW 39.04.280, the commission may waive the competitive bidding requirements of this section ((pursuant to RCW 39.04.280)) and RCW 54.04.080 if an exemption contained within ((that section)) RCW 39.04.280 applies to the purchase or public work.

Sec. 3   RCW 54.04.082 and 2002 c 72 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     For the awarding of a contract to purchase any item, or items of the same kind of materials, equipment, or supplies in an amount exceeding ((ten)) fifteen thousand dollars per calendar month, but less than ((fifty)) sixty thousand dollars per calendar month, exclusive of sales tax, the commission may, in lieu of the procedure described in RCW 54.04.070 and 54.04.080 requiring public notice to invite sealed proposals for such materials, equipment, or supplies, pursuant to commission resolution use the process provided in RCW 39.04.190. Waiver of the deposit or bid bond required under RCW 54.04.080 may be authorized by the commission in securing such bid quotations.