HB 1295 will be up for a vote during executive action in the House Capital Budget Committee. This is one of many bills under consideration this session that makes changes to the public works bidding process. Changes included in this bill:

• Work order amounts increased from $350,000 to $500,000;
• The number of job orders that that can be awarded is increased from 2 to 3;
• Job orders may be used by any public entity;
• Contracts of over $350,000 and 600 hours in a single trade are required to use apprentices;
• Design-build limits are removed;
• Evaluation criteria for design-build contracts must include minority women owned business certification and reporting requirements; and
• The signed contract must include the minority women owned business and veteran business reporting requirement.

SB 5656 sponsored by Sen. David Frockt (D–Seattle) makes changes to public works contracting procedures. The bill is similar to HB 1295 making the following changes:

• Work order amounts increased from $350,000 to $500,000;
• The number of job orders that that can be awarded is increased from 2 to 3;
• Job orders may be used by any public entity;
• Contracts of over $350,000 and 600 hours in a single trade are required to use apprentices;
• Design-build limits are removed;
• Evaluation criteria for design-build contracts must include minority women owned business certification and reporting requirements; and
• The signed contract must include the minority women owned business and veteran business reporting requirement.

SB 5656 differs from HB 1295 by requiring:

• The project committee to make determinations during public meetings; and
• Public entities utilizing design-build contracting shall provide contract documents requiring the design builder plans for the inclusion of underutilized subcontractors and suppliers from minority women owned businesses, veteran owned businesses and small businesses.

Dates to remember

HB 1295 is up for executive action on Tuesday, February 12 in the House Capital Budget Committee at 8 am.

SB 5656 is scheduled for a public hearing on Friday, February 15 in the Senate State Government, Tribal Elections & Tribal Committee at 1:30 pm.