Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 1768

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Authorizing use of the job order contracting procedure by the department of transportation.

Sponsors: Representatives Moscoso, Liias, Ryu, Moeller, Johnson, Kochmar and McCoy; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Adds the Washington State Department of Transportation, for the administration of building improvement, replacement, and renovation projects, to the entities that can use job order contracting.

Hearing Date: 2/18/13

Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).

Background:

In 2003 job order contracting was authorized as an alternative public works contracting procedure. Under a job order contract, a contractor agrees to perform an indefinite quantity of public works jobs, defined by individual work orders, over a fixed period of time. A public entity may not have more than two job order contracts in effect at any one time, except for the Department of Enterprise Services which may have four contracts in effect at one time. The maximum total dollar amount awarded under a job order contract may not exceed $4 million per year for a maximum of three years. Individual work orders are limited to no more than $350,000.

Job order contracts may be executed for an initial contract term of two years, with an option to extend or renew the contract for an additional year provided that any extension or renewal is priced as provided in the original proposal and is mutually agreed upon by the public body and the job order contractor. A job order contractor is required to subcontract 90 percent of the work under the contract and may self-perform 10 percent. With some restrictions, the use of alternative public works contracting procedures are authorized to a limited number of public entities:

In 2005 the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (Board) was established to monitor and evaluate the use of traditional and alternative public works contracting procedures and to evaluate potential future use of other alternative contracting procedures. At the end of each contract year, public entities are required to provide the Board with: a list of work orders issued; the cost of each work order; a list of subcontractors hired under each work order; and a copy of the intent to pay prevailing wage and the affidavit of wages paid for each work order subcontract, if requested.

The alternative public works contracting procedures under Chapter 39.10 RCW are scheduled to be terminated June 30, 2013.

Summary of Bill:

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is included in the list of entities that can use job order contracting. The WSDOT's ability to use this procedure is limited to the administration of building improvement, replacement, and renovation projects.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.