SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1386

BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Phillips, Ferguson, Horn and Haugen)

Amending the requirement for creating small works roster.

House Committe on Local Government

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 21, 1989; March 28, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Conner, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Barbara Howard (786-7410)

                  March 29, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, MARCH 28, 1989

BACKGROUND:

For public works contracts valued above a specified threshold, most local governments and state agencies are required to follow a formal competitive bidding process involving publishing notice, soliciting bids, opening the sealed bids at a public meeting, and awarding the bid to the lowest responsible bidder.

Cities and towns, water and sewer districts, state agencies and institutions of higher education are authorized to use a "small works roster" for less costly projects.  The small works roster is a list of qualified contractors who have registered with the contracting unit.  A contractor on the list may be selected for the project under a less formal process than full competitive bidding.  Cities and towns, for example, may use a small works roster for projects valued up to $100,000.

Counties have not been granted this power by the Legislature.

SUMMARY:

Counties are authorized to use a small works roster to award contracts for any project estimated to cost less than $100,000.

The county may maintain a small works roster of all state-licensed contractors requesting to be on the roster.  When a contract is estimated at $100,000 or less, and the county uses a small works roster, proposals are invited from not less than five appropriate contractors on the roster.  Whenever possible, at least one proposal from a qualified minority or woman contractor shall be invited.

The managing official must give weight to the contractor submitting the lowest responsible bid.  So long as it would not violate the public interest, the contracts shall be distributed equally among the contractors, including minority or women contractors, on the small works roster.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Several technical changes are made, including removing the provisos.  Counties which maintain a small works roster solicit participation by minority and women contractors.  The rotation among contractors is revised:  once a contractor is invited to submit a proposal, that contractor is not invited to participate in another proposal until all contractors on the roster have had an opportunity.  The county must award the contract on the basis of the lowest responsible proposal.

The maximum for small county purchasing contracts without going to bid is raised from $3,500 to $10,000, subject to a formal procedure for competitive written or telephone submittals.  The procedure must also include an annual array of contracts by type.  A roster must be developed for each category consisting of all bidders on that roster.  The county must invite proposals from all vendors for each purchase between $1,000 and $10,000.

Senate Committee - Testified: Ron Main, King County; Dick Ducharme, Utility Contractors Association of Washington; Duke Schaub, AGC; Michael Daniels, Association of County Engineers (all pro)