Title: An act relating to design-build construction for transportation projects.

Brief Description: Modifying transportation project design-build provisions.

Sponsors: Senators Benton, Oke, Berkey, Mulliken, Benson, Esser, Haugen and Sheldon; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/17/06. [DP]

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Benson, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Berkey, Eide, Esser, Finkbeiner, Kastama, Mulliken, Sheldon, Spanel, Swecker and Weinstein.

Staff: Hayley Gamble (786-7452)

Background: Design-build construction is a contracting technique that allows the owner of a project to contract with a single entity for the design and construction of a project. Some construction work can often begin before final design is complete, providing opportunity for cost savings and expedited project delivery. Traditional design-bid-build contracts require design to be completed before the construction portion of the project is awarded.

Current law allows the Department of Transportation (DOT) to use design-build construction if construction activities are highly specialized, efficiency opportunities through the use of a single entity for design and construction are greater, or significant savings in project delivery time would be realized. A design-build project must also be over ten million dollars. This law expires on April 30, 2008.

DOT is currently using design-build on three large projects and plans to use this process on other upcoming projects.

Summary of Bill: The design-build construction expiration date of April 30, 2008, is removed, allowing DOT to continue using this provision.

DOT may also use the design-build process on up to five pilot projects costing between two and ten million dollars. DOT must evaluate these projects to determine if benefits are gained from using design-build on projects of this size.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This measure can enhance the delivery of some of the new transportation projects. It encourages innovation and some states have seen benefits from using design-build on small projects. Absolute dollar savings are not always present, but there are clear time savings when using design build.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Rick Smith; WSDOT. CON: No one.