SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1075

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            State & Local Government, April 1, 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:  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 & Local Government:  3/18/99, 4/1/99 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Gardner, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline and McCaslin.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  All work ordered by port districts may be done by day labor or contract.  If done by contract, port districts are 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:  Inflation has eaten into the small works roster limit.  Raising the limit would save substantial time and money for port districts.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Jim Boldt, Don Meyer, Port of Tacoma.