WSR 06-20-068

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


[ Filed September 29, 2006, 1:42 p.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-16-136.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 468-15 WAC, Small works roster and WAC 468-15-040 Contractors questionnaire form -- Information required.

     Hearing Location(s): Department of Transportation Building, Commission Board Room 1D2, 310 Maple Park Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7360, on November 20, 2006, at 8:30 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: November 20, 2006.

     Submit Written Comments to: Kenneth A. Walker, P.O. Box 47360, Olympia, WA 98504-7360, e-mail walkeke@wsdot.wa.gov, fax (360) 705-7017.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Ken Walker by November 6, 2006, TTY (360) 705-6980 or (360) 705-7017.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Minor revisions to the rule to clarify and enhance the bidder pool for small works roster projects. Eliminates the requirement for submittal of an audited or reviewed financial statement as a condition for placement on a small works roster for projects estimated to cost $200,000 or less.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: Discussion with potential contractors and agency staff concerning ways to obtain a larger pool of bidders for small works projects indicate a number of contractors competing for the small projects do not prepare an audited or reviewed financial statement due to the cost. The financial statement is a key element in the determination of a firm's maximum bidding capacity for larger projects, however small works roster projects are limited to $200,000 or less by statute. This limiting factor and the bonding requirements ensures the state has adequate protection for small works projects. The revision will bring WSDOT's requirements more in line with the requirements of other state agencies.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 39.04.155.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Washington state department of transportation, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Ken Walker, 1A23 Transportation Building, (360) 705-7017; Implementation and Enforcement: Don Nelson, Transportation Building, (360) 705-7101.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. No negative impact to small business. This will potentially save small business the cost of preparing audited or reviewed financial statements and enhance their ability to compete for small public works contracts.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. No negative impact to small business.

September 19, 2006

John F. Conrad, Assistant Secretary

Engineering and Regional Operations Division

OTS-9061.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-03-012, filed 1/7/03, effective 2/7/03)

WAC 468-15-040   Contractors questionnaire form -- Information required.   Contractors desiring to be included on a small works roster established by Washington state department of transportation pursuant to RCW 39.04.155, shall submit a completed ((standard)) small works roster questionnaire ((and financial form)) on a form prescribed by the secretary of transportation. Copies of the form may be obtained from the department's contract ad and award office. The completed questionnaire shall be prepared and transmitted to the secretary, attention: Contractor prequalification office. The questionnaire shall include the following information:

     (1) The contractor's name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address, and type of organization (corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.);

     (2) A statement of ownership of the firm and, if a corporation, the name of the parent corporation, if any, and the names of any affiliated or subsidiary companies;

     (3) State contractor's license number;

     (4) State of Washington unified business identifier number (UBI) and UBI expiration date;

     (5) Federal tax ID number;

     (6) List of classes of work as enumerated on the form that the firm desires to be considered for such work class;

     (7) Indication of those counties in which the contractor is interested in being considered for small works projects;

     (8) Indication whether the contractor is certified as a minority or women's business enterprise or a disadvantaged business enterprise by the office of minority women business enterprises;

     (9) List all contracts or subcontracts performed in whole or in part within the immediate three preceding years. Include the contract amount, date of completion, classes of work performed, owner or prime contractor's name, mailing address, phone number, fax number, and name of a contact person for the owner/prime for which the contractor performed the work. Only that work completed by the contractor's own organization under its own supervision will be considered for qualification. A minimum three completed projects must be listed.

     (a) Personnel requirements.

     (i) List principal officers and key employees indicating their years of experience in the classes of work for which qualification is sought.

     (ii) A firm must have, within its own organization, qualified permanent, full-time personnel having the skills and experience including, if applicable, technical or specialty licenses, for each work class for which qualification is sought. Those firms seeking qualification for electrical work (classes 9, 16, 41, and 42) must provide photocopies of current Washington state electrical licenses. The skills and experience must be substantiated by education and practical experience on completed construction projects.

     (iii) "Its own organization" shall be construed to include only the contractor's permanent, full-time employed office and site supervisory personnel. Workers of the organization shall be employed and paid directly by the prime contractor.

     (b) The applicant shall list the following occurrences within the previous three years:

     (i) Instances of having been denied qualification, or a license, or instances of having been deemed other than responsible by any public agency.

     (ii) Convictions for felonies listed in WAC 468-16-050.

     (iii) Failure to complete a contract.

     (c) ((Complete financial statement for the contracting firm's last fiscal year. The contractor firm must have a positive net worth.

     (d) A wholly owned subsidiary firm may file the latest consolidated financial statement of its parent corporation in lieu of a financial statement prepared solely for the subsidiary.

     (e))) The ((standard)) small works roster questionnaire shall be processed as follows:

     (i) A ((standard)) small works roster questionnaire will be reviewed and a written notice provided to the applicant, within thirty days of its receipt, stating whether or not the applicant has qualified for or been denied qualification for the small works roster. The applicant will be advised of lack of receipt of data corroborating project completion and error or omissions in the questionnaire and a request for additional information necessary to complete the evaluation of the applicant. If the information is not provided within twenty calendar days of the request, the application will be processed, if possible, with the information available or it will be returned to the applicant without further action.

     (ii) The department will enter the contractor's information on the appropriate small works roster. The department will notify the contractor by letter of placement on the appropriate small works roster. An applicant should not consider itself enrolled on the small works roster until receipt of such written notice.

     It is the responsibility of the contractor to notify the department of any incorrect information set forth in the notice, and to notify the department of any change in the information set forth in its application.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 47.01.101, 39.04.155. 03-03-012, § 468-15-040, filed 1/7/03, effective 2/7/03.]

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