PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Filed February 27, 2025, 1:49 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 468-310-020 and 468-310-050.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 47.60.680 through 47.60.760.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In WSR 24-22-089, dated October 31, 2024, the Washington state department of transportation (WSDOT) filed emergency WAC rule amendments to address prequalification by prospective bidders for Washington state ferries' vessel preservation and repair contracts, and the hybrid-electric 160-auto ferries construction contract(s), which is currently on-ad nationally with bids due in mid-2025. The existing emergency WAC rule amendments will expire before bids are due. The proposed permanent WAC rule amendments will implement, on a permanent basis, the same updates as provided in the emergency WAC rule amendments.

Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Mr. Tim McGuigan, Contracts and Legal Services Manager, WSDOT Ferries Division, 2901 Third Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121-3014, phone 206-915-4718, email tim.mcguigan@wsdot.wa.gov; or Ben Dietz, Contracts Manager, WSDOT Ferries Division, 2901 Third Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121-3014, phone 206-751-2986, email ben.dietz@wsdot.wa.gov.

Sam Wilson, Director

Business Support Services