HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1423

BYRepresentatives Ferguson, Haugen and May

Revising provisions relating to contracts by port districts.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Butterfield, Dorn, Ferguson, Hine, Jones, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT FEBRUARY 4, 1988

BACKGROUND:

All work ordered by a port district can be done by contract or by port employees, i.e. port districts do not have day labor limits.

Whenever a port district contracts for work, the contract shall be let as follows: (1) by a public bidding, sealed bid, procedure if the estimated cost of the work exceeds $40,000; or (2) by using a small works roster procedure with invitation of bids from all appropriate contractors on the small works roster, but not less than five appropriate contractors, if the estimated cost of the work is $40,000 or less.  Whenever possible, at least one invitation to make a bid under the small works roster procedure shall be to a minority contractor.  Whenever it does not violate the public interest, contracts shall be distributed equally among contractors on the small works roster.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The existing statute concerning public works and purchases by port districts is repealed and a new section of law is substituted that contains the same provisions as the old law, except the maximum estimated cost of projects that can be awarded under the small works roster procedure is increased from $40,000 to $100,000.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Language was deleted that permitted ports to award contracts of less than $40,000 in value without using a formal competitive bidding process or a small works roster.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Darrell Russell, Washington Public Ports; Dick Ducharme, United Contractors Association; Duke Schaub, Association of General Contractors; and Bob Dilger, Washington Building Trades Council.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This will save money.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.