HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1075

                      As Passed House:

                        March 4, 1999

Title:  An act relating to increasing the monetary limit for use of the small works roster by port districts.

Brief Description:  Increasing the monetary limit for use of the small works roster by port districts.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on State Government (Originally sponsored by Representatives D. Schmidt and Romero; by request of Alternative Public Works Methods Oversight Committee).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

State Government: 1/26/99, 2/10/99 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/4/99, 95-0.

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$The small works roster bid limit for port districts is raised, and the competitive sealed bid process limit is also raised.

$A report is required by the 2003 session on the effectiveness of the bid limit change.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members: Representatives McMorris, Republican Co-Chair; Romero, Democratic Co-Chair; Campbell, Republican Vice Chair; Miloscia, Democratic Vice Chair; Dunshee; Haigh; Lambert and Schmidt, D.

Staff: Scott MacColl (786-7106).

Background:

Port districts are currently required to use the open competitive sealed bid process for any project estimated to cost $100,000 or more, and may use the small works roster process for contracts estimated to cost $100,000 or less.

The small works roster process is used in lieu of the sealed bid process for awarding public works contracts.  A small works roster consists of all responsible contractors who have requested to be on the list, and where by law are properly licensed or registered to perform work in the state of Washington.  When using the small works roster, port districts must invite at least five quotations from contractors whenever possible.  This process can only be used for contracts valued under a dollar limit set in statute by each individual district.  The current port district dollar limit for small works roster process contracts are projects estimated $100,000 or less.

Summary of Bill:

Port district contracting processes are changed as follows:

(1) The dollar limit for public works projects eligible for the small works roster process is increased from projects estimated to cost $100,000 or less up to $200,000 or less.

(2) The dollar amount for projects required to use the open competitive sealed bid process is increased from costs estimated to be over $100,000 to costs estimated to be over $200,000.

A report on the effectiveness of the change in bid limit is required to be submitted to the Alternative Public Works Construction Methods Committee prior to the 2003 legislative session.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The Port of Seattle is looking at numerous small works projects, many are above the current limit.  The Consumer Price Index for Seattle has risen 67 percent since 1988, the last time the small works roster bid limit was changed for port districts.  The Port has over 1,000 small companies, all bonded, on their small works roster, and all are used.  Raising the limit would be a substantial time and money saving device.

Testimony Against: None

Testified: Terry Finn and Tim Collins, Port of Seattle; and Scott Taylor, Washington Public Ports Association