S-0542.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5220

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Winsley, Kline and Hale; by request of Alternative Public Works Methods Oversight Committee

Read first time 01/18/1999.  Referred to Committee on State & Local Government.

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

    AN ACT Relating to increasing the monetary limit for use of the small works roster by port districts; and amending RCW 53.08.120.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 53.08.120 and 1998 c 278 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

    All material required by a port district may be procured in the open market or by contract and all work ordered may be done by contract or day labor.  All such contracts for work, the estimated cost of which exceeds ((one)) two hundred thousand dollars, shall be let at public bidding upon notice published in a newspaper of general circulation in the district at least thirteen days before the last date upon which bids will be received, calling for sealed bids upon the work, plans and specifications for which shall then be on file in the office of the commission for public inspection.  The same notice may call for bids on such work or material based upon plans and specifications submitted by the bidder.  The competitive bidding requirements for purchases or public works may be waived pursuant to RCW 39.04.280 if an exemption contained within that section applies to the purchase or public work.

    Each port district shall maintain a small works roster, as provided in RCW 39.04.155, and may use the small works roster process to award contracts in lieu of calling for sealed bids whenever work is done by contract, the estimated cost of which is ((one)) two hundred thousand dollars or less.  Whenever possible, the managing official shall invite at least one proposal from a minority contractor who shall otherwise qualify under this section.

    When awarding such a contract for work, when utilizing proposals from the small works roster, the managing official shall give weight to the contractor submitting the lowest and best proposal, and whenever it would not violate the public interest, such contracts shall be distributed equally among contractors, including minority contractors, on the small works roster.

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