SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5529

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITETE ON LAW & JUSTICE, FEBRUARY 19, 1991

Brief Description:  Expediting new prison construction.

SPONSORS:Senators Thorsness, Rasmussen, McCaslin, Owen, Nelson, Niemi and A. Smith; by request of Department of Corrections.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Erwin, L. Kreidler, Madsen, and Newhouse. 

Staff:  Ben Barnes (786‑7465)

Hearing Dates:February 6, 1991; February 19, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Existing public works law requires that construction design plans and specifications be completed before advertising and bidding for projects can begin.

It is recommended that a more expedient method of designing and constructing prison facilities be adopted.

SUMMARY:

The Department of General Administration (GA) is authorized to select, through a competitive process, a general contractor/construction manager (GC/CM) firm to construct correctional facilities at a specified maximum cost.

This authorization is limited to: (1) capital projects funded for over $10 million appropriated and authorized by the Legislature for the Department of Corrections (DOC) in the 1989-1991 biennium; (2) additional correctional facilities that may be authorized by the Legislature during the biennium ending June 30, 1993; and (3) contracts signed before July 1, 1996.

GA is required to establish an independent oversight committee to review selection and contracting procedures.  The committee will include representatives of interested groups, DOC, and the private sector.  GA is also required to establish an evaluation committee to evaluate proposals to provide GC/CM services.  In selecting finalists to submit bids on a project, the committee must consider the following criteria:  (1) ability of professional personnel; (2) past performance in negotiated and complex projects; (3) ability to meet time and budget requirements; (4) location; (5) recent, current, and projected work loads of the firm; and (6) concept of the proposal.

The firm selected to provide GC/CM services is required to provide a performance and payment bond.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill provides a more expedient method of designing and constructing correctional facilities.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  John King, Department of Corrections (pro); Grant Fredricks, Department of General Administration (pro); Roland Dewhurst, Associated General Contractors of Washington (pro)