HB 1549, from Rep. Mary Fosse (D–Everett), updates the state’s criteria for determining a “responsible bidder” on public works project bids. Bidders must meet the criteria to qualify to be awarded a public works project.
Per the bill, in addition to the existing training requirements, bidders must:
- Have completed at least one public works project within the previous three years and must not have received a citation for violating responsible bidder criteria or prevailing wage law within that time period; or
- Have at least one employee or officer that has received the state’s required training with the previous three years.
Bidders that have completed three or more public works projects and have had a valid business license for three or more years are no longer exempt from the state’s training requirements.
The bill also expands the scope of data the Dept. of Labor and Industries (L&I) must track and publish on its website, to assist contracting agencies in verifying the status of bidders’ compliance with the criteria.
For projects subject to apprenticeship utilization requirements, the bill directs bidders to submit an apprenticeship utilization plan to the awarding agency within 60 days of being awarded the contract. L&I must develop a template for said plan for use by awarding agencies and bidders.
Please contact AWC staff if you have questions or concerns with the changes proposed in the bill.
Date to remember
HB 1549 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Labor & Workplace Standards on Tuesday, February 4 at 10:30 am.