Clarifying “piggybacking” requirements

SB 5958, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D–Anacortes), passed out of committee and will be sent to the Rules Committee for the next step. The bill sponsor noted that the reason for the bill is because the State Auditor is starting to disallow the use of “piggybacking” contracts.

The bill clarifies the requirements that need to be satisfied in order to successfully piggyback onto another local jurisdiction’s contract. The following items must be present:

• An interlocal agreement between agencies must be signed and filed with the county auditor or posted online;
• The original contracting agency has complied with all requirements and posts the solicitation online; and
• The vendor agrees to the arrangement through the initial solicitation.

Piggybacking contracts help smaller cities and towns purchase goods by tying the purchase to a larger jurisdiction’s contract. The result is a lower unit price. Without the bill, smaller cities and towns may have been prevented from purchasing with this method, increasing the costs of doing business.

AWC supports this bill clarifying the rights of cities to use piggybacking authorized in RCW 39.34.