Design-bid bills were signed into law in California, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas, according to the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), Washington, D.C. In addition, the fiscal year 2007 Bond Bill was amended by DE SB 148 to eliminate certain ambiguities in the provisions permitting the Dept. of Transportation to use the design-build procurement method on an experimental basis. The new language defines how a design-build procurement system works and applies federal standards for such contracts.
The amendment provides assurances that certain standard provisions for large public works contracts, including the prevailing wage laws and contract security provisions for the state, subcontractors, and supplies, will be included in these contractors, in accordance with department practices, says DBIA. The bill specifically addresses the upcoming Indian River Inlet Bridge project, and provides for an award process for that project that is the design-build equivalent of a best value contract methodology.
DBIA continues to advocate including design-build language in 2007 appropriations bills, particularly for Veterans Affairs and military construction, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and U.S. Housing and Urban Development.
