SCS/SBs 789 & 595 - This act creates new provisions of law relating to construction management which enable political subdivisions to use design-build or construction management at-risk methods.CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS AT-RISK
The act creates the construction manager-risk method which political subdivisions are permitted to use when engaging in certain construction projects in excess of $2 million. When entering into contracts for the services of a construction manager at-risk for such construction projects, political subdivisions are required to follow the procedures set forth in this act.
Political subdivisions are required to select both a construction manager at-risk and an engineer or architect who will prepare the construction documents for the project. The engineer is not permitted to serve as the construction manager at-risk.
Construction managers at-risk are required to publicly advertise and receive bids or proposals from trade contractors or subcontractors. In the event that the political subdivision has a preference for a subcontractor or trade contractor that differs from the construction manager at-risk, the political subdivision is required to compensate the construction manager at-risk by the change in price, time, or guaranteed maximum cost for any additional cost and risk incurred by the construction manager at-risk.
A political subdivision is required to publish a request for proposal or qualifications in a newspaper of general circulation for a period of two weeks prior to opening the submitted proposals or qualifications. Within 45 days, the political subdivision shall evaluate each proposal and interview at least two of the top offerors. The political subdivision is required to select the proposal that offers the best value, as determined by the political subdivision.
This provision does not apply to constitutionally-established metropolitan sewer districts, special charter cities, charter counties, or charter cities that have adopted the construction manager at-risk method via ordinance, rule, or regulation. Moreover, there is a sunset of September 1, 2026 on this provision.
This provision is similar to the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HCS/HB 2376 (2016) and HCS/SCS/SB 781 (2016).
DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTS
The act further creates new provisions of law relating to design-build contracts entered into between a political subdivision and a design-builder. A design-build contract is one that is entered into for the purpose of furnishing architectural, engineering, and related design services and the labor, materials, supplies, equipment, and other construction services required for a design-build project. Specifically, the act sets forth the process to be followed in requesting proposals for design-build contracts. The political subdivision shall solicit proposals in a three-stage process: Phase I shall be the solicitation of qualifications of the design-build team; Phase II shall be the solicitation of a technical proposal including conceptual design for the project; and Phase III shall be the proposal of the construction cost. Non-civil works projects must be in excess of $7 million. Civil works projects do not have a price threshold.
These provisions do not apply to constitutionally-established metropolitan sewer districts, special charter cities, charter counties, or charter cities which have adopted the design-build method via ordinance, rule, or regulation. The provision has a sunset of September 1, 2026.
These provisions are similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HCS/HB 2376 (2016), HCS/SCS/SB 781 (2016), SCS/HCS/HB 844 (2015), and SB 398 (2015).
MEGHAN LUECKE