Effective Date for Bid Preference Requirements

In 2011, the Washington State Legislature adopted RCW 39.04.380 that provides for a reciprocal bid preference program for public works projects. 

Reciprocal Preference:  Under the new law, 

"in any bidding process for public works in which a bid is received from a nonresident contractor from a state that provides a percentage bidding preference, a comparable percentage disadvantage must be applied to the bid of that nonresident contractor."

Survey, Report, Rules:  The new law directed the state Department of General Administration (now known as the Department of Enterprise Services) to:

1. Conduct a survey of the bid preferences of all the states
2. Report back to the legislature
3. Either adopt rules and procedures or announce that rules are not necessary for implementation.

Effective March 31, 2012:  It is my understanding that the Department of Enterprise Services intends to announce on March 1, 2012 that rules are not necessary for implementation, and that the reciprocal bid preference requirements will go into effect on March 31, 2012.

Background:  For more information on the new law, visit my May 24, 2011 blog on the subject.

Mike Purdy's Public Contracting Blog 

© 2012 by Michael E. Purdy Associates, LLC 

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