FINAL BILL REPORT

                 2SHB 1457

                         C 212 L 94

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Raising the minimum dollar amount requiring competitive bidding by school districts.

By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Peery, Dorn, Brough, Brumsickle, Chappell, Leonard, Jones, Pruitt, Ogden, Basich, Rayburn, Karahalios, G. Cole, Springer, Locke, Eide, Mastin, Cothern, G. Fisher, Morris and H. Myers).

House Committee on Education

Senate Committee on Education

Background: A school district may make improvements or repairs to district property through the district's shop and repair department when the total cost does not exceed $7,500.  A school district must engage in a competitive bid process for purchases (excluding books), building improvements or repairs, or other projects costing or estimated to cost more than $7,500.

For every purchase (excluding books) costing or estimated to cost from $7,500 to $20,000, the school board must secure quotations for the purchases from at least three sources and must record the quotations for public perusal.

The school board may award a building, improvement, repair or other public works project costing or estimated to cost from $7,500 to $20,000 to a contractor on the small works roster following a limited competitive bidding process.  The small works roster consists of all responsible contractors who have asked to be on the list.

For any purchase (excluding books) or project estimated to cost at least $20,000, an enlarged competitive bidding process must be followed.  The process includes notice by newspaper publication, the preparation of complete plans and specifications, and provision of the opportunity to examine specifications and other information.

Summary:  The $7,500 ceiling on the cost of projects before a competitive bidding process must be used is raised to $15,000 for districts with 15,500 or more students.  For districts with less than 15,500 students, the limits are $15,000 if more than one craft or trade is involved, and $10,000 for single craft or trade projects.

The $7,500 ceiling on purchases before a competitive bidding process must be used is raised to $15,000.

The $20,000 ceiling on the use of a limited competitive bidding process is raised to $50,000.

Purchases (excluding books) or projects estimated to cost at least $50,000, require the enlarged competitive bidding process.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  86 4

Senate 33 15 (Senate amended)

House  66 21 (House concurred)

Effective:  June 9, 1994