At the appropriate time in the design process for a school facility approved by the superintendent of public instruction, the district shall prepare a value engineering study, complete a constructability review, and perform building commissioning for all projects greater than fifty thousand square feet. Value engineering studies and constructability reviews shall be optional for projects larger than fifteen thousand square feet but less than fifty thousand square feet. Any project which includes fifteen thousand square feet or less shall be exempt from this requirement. For projects subject to chapter 39.35D RCW, building commissioning must be performed for all projects over five thousand square feet. For the purpose of this section, a value engineering study is defined as a cost control technique which is based on the use of a systematic, creative analysis of the functions of the facility with the objective of identifying unnecessary high costs or functions and/or identifying cost savings that may result in high maintenance and operation costs. The study shall consist of a forty-hour workshop involving a minimum of a five-person team pursuant to WAC 392-344-065. A constructability review is defined as a cost control technique which is based on the review of project documents by mechanical, electrical, structural, construction, and design professionals prior to a request for bids. The purpose of a constructability review is to identify potential claim or problem areas and deficiencies that may occur as a result of errors, ambiguities, omissions, discrepancies, and conflicts in design documents. The study shall consist of a forty-hour workshop involving a minimum of a five-person team pursuant to WAC 392-344-066. Building commissioning is defined as the process of verifying that the installation and performance of selected building systems meet or exceed the specified design criteria and therefore satisfy the design intent. Building commissioning shall include a physical inspection, functional performance testing, listing of noted deficiencies, and a final commissioning report. Building commissioning shall be performed by a professional agent or authority not contractually or otherwise financially associated with the project design team or contractor. A district shall be eligible for state funding assistance for a value engineering study, a constructability review, and building commissioning for each qualifying project.

(1) The maximum amount of state funding assistance for value engineering studies and constructability reviews of the study package shall be the state funding assistance percentage multiplied by the greater of the following:

(a) Two-fifths of one percent of the construction cost allocation multiplied by the square foot area for the fiscal year funded; or

(b) Twenty thousand dollars.

(2) The maximum amount of state funding assistance for building commissioning shall be:

(a) Seven thousand five hundred dollars for projects larger than five thousand square feet but less than ten thousand square feet;

(b) Ten thousand dollars for projects ten thousand square feet but less than fifteen thousand square feet;

(c) The larger of the following for projects fifteen thousand square feet and above:

(i) Two-fifths of one percent of the construction cost allocation multiplied by the square foot area for the fiscal year funded; or

(ii) Twenty thousand dollars.