Alternative highway project delivery methods, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

The bill authorizes a design-build method under which design, engineering, construction, and related services are procured through a single contract with a single entity capable of providing the services. The bill creates requirements for designating design-build projects, soliciting and evaluating requests for qualifications and requests for proposals, and awarding design-build contracts.

The bill requires DOT to designate design-build projects and award the following contracts:

1. One low bid design-build contract, which is awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, for a project with an estimated value of $10,000,000 to $50,000,000.

2. One best value design-build contract, which is awarded following a calculation of value as provided in the project's request for proposals, for a project with an estimated value of $50,000,000 to $150,000,000.

3. One fixed price variable scope design-build contract, which is awarded to the lowest qualified responsible bidder able to provide the best qualitative scope of work at a fixed price, with an estimated value of $50,000,000 to $150,000,000.

4. Three contracts, to be determined by DOT, with a total estimated value of not more than $200,000,000.

The bill creates in DOT an office of innovative program delivery that is responsible for conducting the design-build pilot program. The office is supervised by a director appointed by the DOT secretary. The office is required to prepare a report establishing the program structure and to develop a design-build procurement manual. At the end of the pilot program term, the office must prepare a report for the legislature evaluating the success of the program and joint committee on finance must make a recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be made permanent.