FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5520

C 352 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Authorizing the ferry system to use alternative public works contracting procedures.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Horn and Oke; by request of Department of Transportation).

Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background: Several state agencies and local governments have been authorized to use alternative public works contracting procedures to award contracts on public works. One alternative procedure is the "design-build" procedure. Another alternative procedure is the "general contractor/construction manager" (GCCM) procedure. The design-build procedure is a multi-step competitive process to award a contract for a single firm to design and construct a public facility or portion of a public facility that meets certain criteria. The GCCM procedure is a multi-step competitive process to award a contract for a single firm to provide services during the design phase, as well as acting as both the construction manager and general contractor during the construction phase, for a public facility that meets certain criteria. The contractor guarantees the project budget, or maximum allowable construction cost.

The Department of Transportation has the authority to enter into design-build contracts for highway construction and ferry construction. This authority was provided in SHB 1680, Chapter 226, Laws 2001, and expires April 30, 2008. Chapter 39.10 RCW provides alternative public works contracting for general public works. The Department of General Administration, University of Washington, Washington State University, every county with a population greater than 450,000, every city with a population greater than 70,000, any public authority, chartered by a city, that has received specific authorization on a project-by-project basis from the governing body of the city and any port district with total revenues greater than $15 million per year may use the alternative public works contracting procedures.

Additional entities that may use alternative public works contracting include any public utility district with revenues from energy sales of greater than $23 million per year and those school districts with projects approved by the school district project review board under RCW 39.10.115. Authority to use these alternative public works contracting procedures by these entities terminates on July 1, 2007.

Summary: The Department of Transportation State Ferry system is added to the definition of "public body" that enumerates the state and local entities that may engage in alternative public works contracting procedures under Chapter 39.10 RCW.

The State Ferry System is authorized to utilize design-build and GCCM contracting procedures on ferry terminal projects.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       47  0

House       93  0    (House amended)

Senate                   (Senate refused to concur)

House       96  1    (House receded)

Effective: July 27, 2003