SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 2813

      AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,

                       FEBRUARY 25, 1994

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to public works contracts with the state.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Romero, Veloria, Caver, Wolfe and Bray; by request of Department of General Administration)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, McCaslin, Oke, Owen and Winsley.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates:  February 25, 1994

BACKGROUND:

If a public entity determines that a public works project will be executed by a method other than by contract or by using the small works roster process and the contract amount will exceed $15,000, or $25,000 in the case of colleges, universities, and community and technical colleges, the entity must publish notice of the work at least 15 days before beginning work.

A small works rosters process may be used by the Department of General Administration, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Wildlife and the State Parks and Recreation Commission for projects of less than $50,000, or less than $100,000 if the project is managed for community and technical colleges.  These projects are exempt from the general requirements for advertisement and competitive bidding.  When using the small works roster, the agency must solicit at least five quotations from contractors randomly chosen from the small works roster.  If the agency is unable to solicit quotations from five qualified contractors on the roster, the project must be advertised and competitively bid.  The agency must invite at least one proposal from a certified minority contractor.

SUMMARY:

The dollar threshold is increased from $15,000 to $25,000 for a public works contract for which notice must be published if the work is executed by a method other than by contract or by using the small works roster process. 

Beginning July 1, 1994, several changes are made in the small works roster process.  The small works roster exemption from the public works competitive bidding requirements for the Department of General Administration, the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the State Parks and Recreation Commission is changed to apply to projects under $100,000 instead of projects under $50,000.  The Department of Natural Resources is added as an agency that may use the small works roster.  The requirement that the agency must invite a proposal from a minority-owned contractor is changed to add a requirement that an invitation must also be given to at least one certified women-owned contractor.

When using the small works roster process for a project, if the agency does not receive at least two responsive bids, the project must be advertised and competitively bid.  If work is to be executed by competitive bid, the awarding agency must invite at least one proposal each from a certified minority and a certified women-owned contractor.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 31, 1994

Effective Date:  Section 2, relating to small works roster requirements, takes effect July 1, 1994.

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill encourages minority and women-owned businesses to participate in the state building contracting process.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Rick Slunaker, Associated General Contractors (pro)