Bill to Restrict Use of Alternative Public Works Contracting

HB 1690 would clearly establish the intent of the Washington State Legislature with respect to the use of alternative public works contracting procedures by public agencies. Specifically, the bill would require that "public bodies that want to use an alternative public works contracting procedure may use only those procedures...specifically authorized in chapter 39.10. RCW."

The bill appears to be a response by the Legislature to the University of Washington's use of a developer model contracting procedure, adopted through a new Washington Administrative Code section (WAC 478-350), for the renovation of Husky Stadium.

The bill would specifically restrict the use by institutions of higher education (and other public agencies) in using alternative public works contracting procedures not specifically authorized by the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB) and the Legislature.

There will be a public hearing on the bill on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 before the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee, at 1:30 p.m.

Training: Basics of Public Works Contract Administration

Basics of Public Works Contract Administration

When: Monday, April 6, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where: City of Kirkland, Peter Kirk Conference Room, 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland, WA

Instructor: Charlotte Walther, Contracts & Procurement Administrator, Port of Everett

Sponsored by Washington State Chapter of NIGP (National Institute of Governmental Purchasing)

Cost:

• $150 for NIGP members
• $180 for non-members

Registration Deadline: March 30, 2009

For more information and to register, visit the website of the Washington State Chapter of NIGP

The training will cover the basic process of managing public works contracts from the beginning to the end of the project including the following:

• Contracts Administrator's role
• Coordination with engineers and project managers
• Ensuring Project Manual contains necessary documentation for contract administration
• Posting bid documents
• Bid openings, reviewing bids, and posting bid results
• Awarding the contract
• Reviewing contract documentation (contract, insurance, bonds)
• Administering the contract while project is ongoing
• Project closeout and retainage release
• Small Works Rosters and the bid process
• Limited Public Works process
• Prevailing Wages and reporting
• Bonds: Bid, Performance and Payment Bonds, Retainage
• Certificates of Insurance
• Federally funded projects

Free Training on FEMA Contracting Requirements

Disasters Happen - Are You FEMA Ready?

Four informative sessions at the Excellence in Procurement Summit

When: Thursday, March 26, 2009, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Where: UW Tacoma, Keystone Building, Carwein Auditorium, 1953 C Street, Tacoma, WA

Sponsored by: Washington State Chapter of NIGP (National Institute of Governmental Purchasing)

Cost: Free

Speaker: Alysha Kaplan, Regional Public Assistance Supervisor, Washington State Emergency Management Division

For more information and to register, visit the website of NIGP's Washington State Chapter

Questions, contact Cathy Robinson at 206-801-2321

Obama Orders Use of Project Labor Agreements

President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order on February 6, 2009 encouraging the use of Project Labor Agreements on federal construction projects over $25 million. The Executive Order revokes previous Executive Orders by former President George W. Bush that prohibited the use of Project Labor Agreements.

Project Labor Agreements are between a government agency and labor unions in which it is agreed that only union labor will be used on the project at both the contractor and subcontractor levels.

Labor & Industries Improves Prevailing Wage Correction Notifications

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has instituted positive changes to ensure that public agencies and contractors are appropriately notified of changes in prevailing wage rates, and that the Department is in compliance with their regulations for when corrections become effective.

L&I publishes new prevailing wage rates twice a year, the first business day of February and the first business day of August. Wages become effective 30 days from publication. L&I's regulations also state that corrections to wage rates become effective 30 days after the correction has been published.

In addition to notifying those on L&I's e-mail notification list, they are now publishing on their website a Wage Rate Correction Notice listing (http://www.lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/PrevWage/WageRates/Printable/default.asp).

Thus, for the wages published on February 2, 2009 and effective on March 4, 2009, L&I has already issued one correction to prevailing wage rates for Drywall Taper Apprentices. Click here to read the actual correction notice. The correction was published by L&I on February 4, 2009 and it becomes effective on March 6, 2009. This change in practice is now consistent with WAC 296-127-011. Previously, L&I was making corrections effective the same day as the original wage rates that were published.

A user can now click on L&I's website and then further click on the listing for corrections.

Public agencies and contractors do still need to be aware, however, that prevailing wage rates printed from L&I's website should be printed just prior to publication of the bidding document to ensure that the most current wage listing is being included in the documents. This is necessary because, even though L&I now has a notice of corrections online, the main listing of wages does not contain any indication of the date or nature of any corrections that may have been made.

Labor and Industries is to be commended for this positive step in improving the flow of communication to public agencies and contractors.

Regional Contracting Forum

The Regional Contracting Forum will be held this year on March 31, 2009 at the old Union Station at 4th Avenue and Jackson Street, in downtown Seattle.

The Forum is an opportunity for businesses (contractors, consultants, service providers, and vendors) to meet with representatives of public agencies from throughout the Puget Sound area about how to obtain contracts and work with those agencies.

New information and registration has not yet been posted on OMWBE's website, but check it regularly for updates.

Job Opening: Port of Seattle Seeks Manager for Personal Service Contracts

Position: Sr. Manager Service Agreements

Agency: Port of Seattle

Salary: Minimum $83,987, Midpoint $104,969

New filing deadline: Friday, February 13, 2009 (extended from January 9, 2009)

Purpose: To manage the Service Agreement Section of the newly created Central Procurement Office and to ensure Port compliance with all legal and policy requirements associated with the procurement of professional and personal services.

For a complete job description and minimum requirements, click here.

For information on how to apply, click here.