FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5061

C 34 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Awarding contracts for building engineering systems.

Sponsors:  Senators Winsley and Patterson.

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

House Committee on State Government

Background:  Except for public bodies authorized to utilize the design-build procedure of public works contracting, it is not clear that state agencies or local governments may award contracts of any value for the design, fabrication, and installation of building engineering systems.

Summary:  A state agency or local government may award contracts of any value for the design, fabrication, and installation of building engineering systems by:  (a) using a competitive bidding process or a request for proposal process where bidders are required to provide final specifications and a bid price, with the final specification of the building engineering system approved by an appropriate design, engineering and/or public regulatory body; or (b) using a competitive building process where bidders are required to provide final specifications as part of a larger project, with the final specifications of the building engineering system portion of the project approved by an appropriate design, engineering and/or public regulatory body.  The provisions of law regarding contracts for architecture and engineering services do not apply.

"Building engineering systems" means those systems where contracts for the systems customarily have been awarded with a requirement that the contractor provide final approved specifications (e.g., fire alarm systems, building sprinkler systems).

"Local government" means any county, city, town, school district, or other special (purpose) district, municipal corporation, or quasi-municipal corporation.

"State agency" means the Department of General Administration, the State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Natural Resources, any institution of higher education, and any other state agency delegated authority by the Department of General Administration.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate470

House     92 0

Effective:  July 22, 2001