Brief Description: Increasing the number of demonstration projects that may be authorized by the school district project review board.

Sponsors: By House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability (originally sponsored by Representatives Haigh, Cox, Ericks, Miloscia, Armstrong, McCoy, McDermott, Green, Morrell, Wallace, Nixon, Clements, Chase and Linville).

House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability
Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

Alternative forms of public works contracting procedures were first used on a very limited basis and then adopted in statute in 1994 for certain pilot projects. These alternative procedures include a design-build process and a general contractor/construction manager (GC/CM) process and may be used on projects costing in excess of $10 million.

The design-build procedure is a multi-step competitive process to award a contract to a single firm that agrees to both design and build a public facility that meets specific criteria. The GC/CM method employs the services of a project management firm that bears significant responsibility and risk in the contracting process.

In 2000, the School District Project Review Board (Review Board) was established to review proposals and approve demonstration projects using the GC/CM procedure for four demonstration projects: two projects valued over $10 million and two projects valued between $5 and $10 million. That number has since increased to 16 projects valued over $10 million, and two projects valued between $5 and $10 million.

The authority to use alternative public works contracting procedures expires July 1, 2007. In 2005, the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (Advisory Board) was established to evaluate public capital projects construction processes and to advise the Legislature on policies related to alternative public works.

Summary:

The number of demonstration projects using alternative public works contracting procedures authorized by the Review Board and valued over $10 million is increased from 16 to 23. The Review Board must prepare and issue a report to the Advisory Board before January 8, 2007 regarding the use of alternative public works contracting procedures by school districts.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0
Senate   47   0

Effective: June 7, 2006