Small Works Roster Changes in 2000

ESSB 6347 has passed the Legislature, has been signed by Governor Locke and will become effective June 8, 2000. This legislation, Chapter 138, Laws of 2000, changes small works roster provisions for awarding public works contracts.

Background
There are many statutory provisions for the use of small works rosters by various units of government. The dollar thresholds for the use of the small works roster vary from $10,000 for fire protection districts to $200,000 for port districts. Most others are $100,000. Most units of government reference the use of the uniform small works procedure found in the public works chapter of the public contracts title of law. Higher education, housing authorities, irrigation districts, public utility districts and school districts are the exceptions. This uniform procedure requires state agencies and local governments to solicit contractors to put their names on a general list or specialty list. This is required once per year for state agencies and twice per year for local governments. Bids must be solicited from at least five contractors on the small works roster. A list of the contracts awarded by use of the small works roster must be posted at least once every two months.

Summary
The threshold for use of the uniform small works roster process becomes $200,000 for all units of state government and the following units of local government:

Counties, cities, towns, community and technical colleges, county roads, fire protection districts, higher education, housing authorities, port districts, public hospital districts, public utility districts, school districts and water-sewer districts.

The bill does not affect irrigation districts. All included units of government must solicit contractors to put their names on a general list or specialty list at least once per year. Bids must be solicited from at least five contractors or in a manner that will equitably distribute the opportunity among contractors with the capability of performing the work. If the estimated cost of the work falls between $100,000 and $200,000, the state agency or local government, except port districts, must notify the rest of the roster of the availability of work. A list of contracts awarded by use of the small works roster must be posted at least once a year.

The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic is to prepare a small works roster manual in cooperation with the Municipal Research and Services Center. A report on the use of the small works roster must be submitted to the Alternative Public Works Construction Methods Oversight Committee before the 2003 legislative session.