H-3600.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2184

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State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Goldsmith, Buck, Koster, Honeyford, Beeksma, L. Thomas, Sherstad and Reams

Read first time 01/08/96.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Establishing criteria to be used by agencies in the procurement of architectural and engineering services.

     AN ACT Relating to criteria for procurement of architectural and engineering services; and amending RCW 39.80.040.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     Sec. 1.  RCW 39.80.040 and 1981 c 61 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

     In the procurement of architectural and engineering services, the agency shall encourage firms engaged in the lawful practice of their profession to submit annually a statement of qualifications and performance data.  The agency shall evaluate current statements of qualifications and performance data on file with the agency, together with those that may be submitted by other firms regarding the proposed project, and shall conduct discussions with one or more firms regarding anticipated concepts and the relative utility of alternative methods of approach for furnishing the required services and then shall select therefrom, based upon criteria established by the agency, the firm deemed to be the most highly qualified to provide the services required for the proposed project.  Criteria established by the agency shall include, but not be limited to, professional competence for the type of services to be performed; technical merits of the offered services; financial capability of the applicant to perform the specified work; and the cost, price, and compensation, or consideration to be paid by the agency for such services.  Such agency procedures and guidelines shall include a plan to insure that minority and women-owned firms are afforded the maximum practicable opportunity to compete for and obtain public contracts for services.  The level of participation by minority and women-owned firms shall be consistent with their general availability within the professional communities involved.

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