Brief Description: Changing public works provisions for institutions of higher education.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Shin, Schoesler and Kilmer).

Senate Committee on Higher Education
House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Background: Currently, when the cost of any building, construction, renovation, remodeling, or demolition other than maintenance or repairs will equal or exceed $35,000 at The Evergreen State College, regional universities, or state universities, complete plans and specifications for the work must be prepared, the work must be put out for public bids and the contract must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. However, if the work involves one trade or craft area and the estimated cost exceeds $15,000 the public bid process must also be conducted. The public bid process does not apply when a contract is awarded by the small works roster procedure or under any other procedure authorized for an institution of higher education. The institutions may require a project to be put to public bid even when it is not required by statute.

Summary: Community college projects must also comply with the statutory public bid process. The threshold monetary values for determining whether building, construction, renovation, remodeling, or demolition must be put out for bid, are raised to $55,000 generally and $35,000 if the work involves one trade or craft area.

For The Evergreen State College and the regional and state universities, the dollar amounts for prevailing rate of wage and publication requirements are changed to conform to the new bid limits. Clarification is made that prevailing wage laws apply to any project that is publicly bid.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   1
House      80   18   (House amended)
Senate      45   4   (Senate concurred)

Effective:   July 22, 2007