BILL REQ. #:  H-3157.3 

READ FIRST TIME 04/03/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to construction of new vessels for Washington state ferries; adding a new section to chapter 47.60 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the Washington state ferry system has an excellent safety record and has commenced a long-term vessel procurement plan to ensure the replacement of older and outdated ferry vessels. The legislature further finds that the current vessel procurement process must move forward with all due speed, balancing the interests of both the taxpayers and shipyards. The commencement of construction of new vessels is important not only for safety reasons, but also to keep skilled marine construction jobs in the Puget Sound region and to sustain the capacity of the region to meet the ongoing preservation needs of the ferry system fleet of vessels.
     The legislature further finds that the balancing of interests described in this section may necessitate the department of transportation to consider in the department's current new 144--auto ferries request for proposals a single proposal submitted jointly by the current best-qualified proposers. The department may, therefore, consider and accept or reject in the department's discretion such a single proposal, and the current best-qualified proposers may meet and confer to discuss matters that are reasonably necessary to determine whether to submit such a single proposal and to implement a single final contract if the proposal is accepted by the department. Discussions may address the terms of any agreement that may be entered into between the best qualified proposers for purposes of submitting a single proposal, as well as any agreement that may be entered into with the department. Discussions may also address cost and price information and division of work under the request for proposals. The current best-qualified proposers shall each expressly declare in writing to the department, their intent, if any, to jointly submit a single proposal within thirty days of the effective date of this act, and shall further provide within the thirty-day period information that may be required by the department including, but not limited to, information regarding the proposed shipyard organizational structure and responsibilities of each participant. If at the end of the thirty-day period the proposers have not declared such an intent and provided the information required by the department, or if the department, in its discretion, determines that the joint venture, other legal entity, or organizational structure, or division of responsibilities intended by the joint proposers are unacceptable and not in the best interests of the state, the proposers will be deemed as proposing separately to the request for proposals, and further discussions related to the request for proposals shall not be allowed between the proposers.
     To further facilitate the balancing of interests described in this section, the department of transportation may, in its discretion, make revisions to the request for proposals that the department deems necessary or appropriate to balance such interests.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:
     If at any point there is only a single best-qualified proposer participating in the competitive design-build procurement process prior to the submission of bids in phase three, or if there is only a single responsive and responsible bid submitted in phase three, or if the current best-qualified proposers elect to jointly submit a single proposal, the department may negotiate a fair-value contract with the proposer or joint proposers. The negotiations may consider the scope of work as well as contract price. The contract price must be established between the department and the proposer through negotiation based on detailed cost and price information provided by the proposer, the department, and other relevant sources in a format as determined by the department. To achieve efficiencies, the department may negotiate incentives and economic cost sharing between the state and the proposer. In addition to the cost incentives, other incentives may be considered, as determined by the department, to be in the best interests of the state. Such incentives may include, but are not limited to, key schedule milestones, technological innovations, performance efficiencies, constructability, and operational value or life-cycle cost. The department may issue guidelines, requirements, and procedures for all negotiations.
     If the department conducts negotiations with a single remaining proposer or joint proposers prior to the submission of bids in phase three, all negotiations must be completed within forty-five days of the department's approval of the final technical proposal. If the department conducts negotiations with a single responsive and responsible phase three bidder, all negotiations must be completed within thirty days of submission of the phase three bids.
     If the department reaches an agreement with the proposer or joint proposers, the department shall submit a copy of the contract, the final negotiated price, and supporting information to the office of financial management at least ten days prior to execution of the contract. If the final negotiated price is greater than the legislature's adopted expenditure plan for vessel construction, the department may not execute the contract until the legislature reviews the final proposals and adjusts the expenditure plan accordingly.
     If the department is unable within the designated time period to reach an agreement with the proposer or joint proposers that is fair, reasonable, and in the department's budget, or if the proposers initially provide notice of their intent to jointly submit a single proposal but fail to do so, or if any one of the proposers withdraws from a jointly submitted single proposal before entering into a contract with the department, or if both of the current best-qualified proposers withdraw or otherwise fail to proceed with the request for proposals process, the department may issue a new request for proposals or cancel the request for proposals process, to serve the best interests of the state.
     The department may pay an honorarium in a specified amount determined by the department to a proposer or joint proposers who has submitted a final, approved technical proposal and with whom the department has engaged in unsuccessful negotiations. The proposer or joint proposers shall not receive any other compensation for attempting to negotiate a contract, except to the extent allowed by the department in a final contract awarded pursuant to the request for proposal.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.