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Chapter 4. Local Agency Design-build Projects of California Public Contract Code >> Division 2. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 4.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the design-build method of project delivery, using a best value procurement methodology, has been authorized for various agencies that have reported benefits from such projects including reduced project costs, expedited project completion, and design features that are not achievable through the traditional design-bid-build method.
  (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the following occur:
  (1) This chapter provides general authorization for local agencies to use design-build for projects, excluding projects on the state highway system.
  (2) This chapter shall not be deemed to provide a preference for the design-build method over other procurement methodologies.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
  (a) "Best value" means a value determined by evaluation of objective criteria that may include, but not be limited to price, features, functions, life-cycle costs, experience, and past performance. A best value determination may involve the selection of the lowest cost proposal meeting the interests of the local agency and meeting the objectives of the project, selection of the best proposal for a stipulated sum established by the procuring agency, or a tradeoff between price and other specified factors.
  (b) "Construction subcontract" means each subcontract awarded by the design-build entity to a subcontractor that will perform work or labor or render service to the design-build entity in or about the construction of the work or improvement, or a subcontractor licensed by the State of California that, under subcontract to the design-build entity, specially fabricates and installs a portion of the work or improvement according to detailed drawings contained in the plans and specifications produced by the design-build team.
  (c) "Design-build" means a project delivery process in which both the design and construction of a project are procured from a single entity.
  (d) "Design-build entity" means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, or other legal entity that is able to provide appropriately licensed contracting, architectural, and engineering services as needed pursuant to a design-build contract.
  (e) "Design-build team" means the design-build entity itself and the individuals and other entities identified by the design-build entity as members of its team. Members shall include the general contractor and, if utilized in the design of the project, all electrical, mechanical, and plumbing contractors.
  (f) "Local agency" means the following:
  (1) A city, county, or city and county.
  (2) A special district that operates wastewater facilities, solid waste management facilities, water recycling facilities, or fire protection facilities.
  (3) Any transit district, included transit district, municipal operator, included municipal operator, any consolidated agency, as described in Section 132353.1 of the Public Utilities Code, any joint powers authority formed to provide transit service, any county transportation commission created pursuant to Section 130050 of the Public Utilities Code, or any other local or regional agency, responsible for the construction of transit projects.
  (4) The San Diego Association of Governments, as referenced in the San Diego Regional Transportation Consolidation Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 132350) of Division 12.7 of the Public Utilities Code).
  (g) (1) For a local agency defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (f), "project" means the construction of a building or buildings and improvements directly related to the construction of a building or buildings, county sanitation wastewater treatment facilities, and park and recreational facilities, but does not include the construction of other infrastructure, including, but not limited to, streets and highways, public rail transit, or water resources facilities and infrastructure. For a local agency defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) that operates wastewater facilities, solid waste management facilities, or water recycling facilities, "project" also means the construction of regional and local wastewater treatment facilities, regional and local solid waste facilities, or regional and local water recycling facilities.
  (2) For a local agency defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f), "project" means the construction of regional and local wastewater treatment facilities, regional and local solid waste facilities, regional and local water recycling facilities, or fire protection facilities.
  (3) For a local agency defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (f), "project" means a transit capital project that begins a project solicitation on or after January 1, 2015. A "project," as defined by this paragraph, that begins the solicitation process before January 1, 2015, is subject to Article 6.8 (commencing with Section 20209.5) of Chapter 1. "Project," as defined by this paragraph, does not include state highway construction or local street and road projects.
  (4) For a local agency defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (f), "project" has the same meaning as in paragraph (3), and in addition shall include development projects adjacent, or physically or functionally related, to transit facilities developed or jointly developed by the local agency.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), and notwithstanding any other law, a local agency, with approval of its governing body, may procure design-build contracts for public works projects in excess of one million dollars ($1,000,000), awarding the contract either the low bid or the best value, provided that this article shall not apply to any projects on the state highway system.
  (b) When a local agency described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (f) of Section 22161 awards a contract for the acquisition and installation of technology applications or surveillance equipment designed to enhance safety, disaster preparedness, and homeland security efforts, there shall be no cost threshold and the contract may be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder or by using the best value method.
  (c) The local agency shall develop guidelines for a standard organizational conflict-of-interest policy, consistent with applicable law, regarding the ability of a person or entity, that performs services for the local agency relating to the solicitation of a design-build project, to submit a proposal as a design-build entity, or to join a design-build team. This conflict-of-interest policy shall apply to each local agency entering into design-build contracts authorized under this chapter.
The procurement process for the design-build projects shall progress as follows:
  (a) (1) The local agency shall prepare a set of documents setting forth the scope and estimated price of the project. The documents may include, but need not be limited to, the size, type, and desired design character of the project, performance specifications covering the quality of materials, equipment, workmanship, preliminary plans or building layouts, or any other information deemed necessary to describe adequately the local agency's needs. The performance specifications and any plans shall be prepared by a design professional who is duly licensed and registered in California.
  (2) The documents shall not include a design-build-operate contract for any project. The documents, however, may include operations during a training or transition period but shall not include long-term operations for any project.
  (b) The local agency shall prepare and issue a request for qualifications in order to prequalify or short-list the design-build entities whose proposals shall be evaluated for final selection. The request for qualifications shall include, but need not be limited to, the following elements:
  (1) Identification of the basic scope and needs of the project or contract, the expected cost range, the methodology that will be used by the local agency to evaluate proposals, the procedure for final selection of the design-build entity, and any other information deemed necessary by the local agency to inform interested parties of the contracting opportunity.
  (2) Significant factors that the local agency reasonably expects to consider in evaluating qualifications, including technical design and construction expertise, acceptable safety record, and all other nonprice-related factors.
  (3) A standard template request for statements of qualifications prepared by the local agency. In preparing the standard template, the local agency may consult with the construction industry, the building trades and surety industry, and other local agencies interested in using the authorization provided by this article. The template shall require the following information:
  (A) If the design-build entity is a privately held corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or joint venture, a listing of all of the shareholders, partners, or members known at the time of statement of qualification submission who will perform work on the project.
  (B) Evidence that the members of the design-build team have completed, or demonstrated the experience, competency, capability, and capacity to complete projects of similar size, scope, or complexity, and that proposed key personnel have sufficient experience and training to competently manage and complete the design and construction of the project, and a financial statement that ensures that the design-build entity has the capacity to complete the project.
  (C) The licenses, registration, and credentials required to design and construct the project, including, but not limited to, information on the revocation or suspension of any license, credential, or registration.
  (D) Evidence that establishes that the design-build entity has the capacity to obtain all required payment and performance bonding, liability insurance, and errors and omissions insurance.
  (E) Information concerning workers' compensation experience history and a worker safety program.
  (F) If the proposed design-build entity is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, or other legal entity, a copy of the organizational documents or agreement committing to form the organization.
  (G) An acceptable safety record. A proposer's safety record shall be deemed acceptable if its experience modification rate for the most recent three-year period is an average of 1.00 or less, and its average total recordable injury or illness rate and average lost work rate for the most recent three-year period does not exceed the applicable statistical standards for its business category or if the proposer is a party to an alternative dispute resolution system as provided for in Section 3201.5 of the Labor Code.
  (4) (A) The information required under this subdivision shall be certified under penalty of perjury by the design-build entity and its general partners or joint venture members.
  (B) Information required under this subdivision that is not otherwise a public record under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code) shall not be open to public inspection.
  (c) A design-build entity shall not be prequalified or shortlisted unless the entity provides an enforceable commitment to the local agency that the entity and its subcontractors at every tier will use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all work on the project or contract that falls within an apprenticeable occupation in the building and construction trades.
  (1) For purposes of this subdivision:
  (A) "Apprenticeable occupation" means an occupation for which the chief had approved an apprenticeship program pursuant to Section 3075 of the Labor Code prior to January 1, 2014.
  (B) "Skilled and trained workforce" means a workforce that meets all of the following conditions:
  (i) All the workers are either skilled journeypersons or apprentices registered in an apprenticeship program approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.
  (ii) (I) As of January 1, 2016, at least 20 percent of the skilled journeypersons employed to perform work on the contract or project by the entity and each of its subcontractors at every tier are graduates of an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation that was either approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards pursuant to Section 3075 of the Labor Code or located outside California and approved for federal purposes pursuant to the apprenticeship regulations adopted by the federal Secretary of Labor.
  (II) As of January 1, 2017, at least 30 percent of the skilled journeypersons employed to perform work on the contract or project by the entity and each of its subcontractors at every tier are graduates of an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation that was either approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards pursuant to Section 3075 of the Labor Code or located outside California and approved for federal purposes pursuant to the apprenticeship regulations adopted by the federal Secretary of Labor.
  (III) As of January 1, 2018, at least 40 percent of the skilled journeypersons employed to perform work on the contract or project by the entity and each of its subcontractors at every tier are graduates of an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation that was either approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards pursuant to Section 3075 of the Labor Code or located outside California and approved for federal purposes pursuant to the apprenticeship regulations adopted by the federal Secretary of Labor.
  (IV) As of January 1, 2019, at least 50 percent of the skilled journeypersons employed to perform work on the contract or project by the entity and each of its subcontractors at every tier are graduates of an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation that was either approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards pursuant to Section 3075 of the Labor Code or located outside California and approved for federal purposes pursuant to the apprenticeship regulations adopted by the federal Secretary of Labor.
  (V) As of January 1, 2020, at least 60 percent of the skilled journeypersons employed to perform work on the contract or project by the entity and each of its subcontractors at every tier are graduates of an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation that was either approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards pursuant to Section 3075 of the Labor Code or located outside California and approved for federal purposes pursuant to the apprenticeship regulations adopted by the federal Secretary of Labor.
  (iii) For an apprenticeable occupation in which no apprenticeship program had been approved by the chief prior to January 1, 1995, up to one-half of the graduation percentage requirements of clause (ii) may be satisfied by skilled journeypersons who commenced working in the apprenticeable occupation prior to the chief's approval of an apprenticeship program for that occupation in the county in which the project is located.
  (C) "Skilled journeyperson" means a worker who either:
  (i) Graduated from an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation that was approved by the chief or located outside California and approved for federal purposes pursuant to the apprenticeship regulations adopted by the federal Secretary of Labor.
  (ii) Has at least as many hours of on-the-job experience in the applicable occupation as would be required to graduate from an apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation that is approved by the chief.
  (2) An entity's commitment that a skilled and trained workforce will be used to perform the project or contract may be established by any of the following:
  (A) The entity's agreement with the local agency that the entity and its subcontractors at every tier will comply with the requirements of this subdivision and that the entity will provide the local agency with evidence, on a monthly basis while the project or contract is being performed, that the entity and its subcontractors are complying with the requirements of this subdivision.
  (B) If the local agency has entered into a project labor agreement that will bind all contractors and subcontractors performing work on the project or contract and that includes the requirements of this subdivision, the entity's agreement that it will become a party to that project labor agreement.
  (C) Evidence that the entity has entered into a project labor agreement that includes the requirements of this subdivision and that will bind the entity and all its subcontractors at every tier performing the project or contract.
  (d) Based on the documents prepared as described in subdivision (a), the local agency shall prepare a request for proposals that invites prequalified or short-listed entities to submit competitive sealed proposals in the manner prescribed by the local agency. The request for proposals shall include, but need not be limited to, the following elements:
  (1) Identification of the basic scope and needs of the project or contract, the estimated cost of the project, the methodology that will be used by the local agency to evaluate proposals, whether the contract will be awarded on the basis of low bid or best value, and any other information deemed necessary by the local agency to inform interested parties of the contracting opportunity.
  (2) Significant factors that the local agency reasonably expects to consider in evaluating proposals, including, but not limited to, cost or price and all nonprice-related factors.
  (3) The relative importance or the weight assigned to each of the factors identified in the request for proposals.
  (4) Where a best value selection method is used, the local agency may reserve the right to request proposal revisions and hold discussions and negotiations with responsive proposers, in which case the local agency shall so specify in the request for proposals and shall publish separately or incorporate into the request for proposals applicable procedures to be observed by the local agency to ensure that any discussions or negotiations are conducted in good faith.
  (e) For those projects utilizing low bid as the final selection method, the competitive bidding process shall result in lump-sum bids by the prequalified or short-listed design-build entities, and awards shall be made to the design-build entity that is the lowest responsible bidder.
  (f) For those projects utilizing best value as a selection method, the design-build competition shall progress as follows:
  (1) Competitive proposals shall be evaluated by using only the criteria and selection procedures specifically identified in the request for proposals. The following minimum factors, however, shall be weighted as deemed appropriate by the local agency:
  (A) Price, unless a stipulated sum is specified.
  (B) Technical design and construction expertise.
  (C) Life-cycle costs over 15 or more years.
  (2) Pursuant to subdivision (d), the local agency may hold discussions or negotiations with responsive proposers using the process articulated in the local agency's request for proposals.
  (3) When the evaluation is complete, the responsive proposers shall be ranked based on a determination of value provided, provided that no more than three proposers are required to be ranked.
  (4) The award of the contract shall be made to the responsible design-build entity whose proposal is determined by the local agency to have offered the best value to the public.
  (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, upon issuance of a contract award, the local agency shall publicly announce its award, identifying the design-build entity to which the award is made, along with a statement regarding the basis of the award.
  (6) The statement regarding the local agency's contract award, described in paragraph (5), and the contract file shall provide sufficient information to satisfy an external audit.
(a) The design-build entity shall provide payment and performance bonds for the project in the form and in the amount required by the local agency, and issued by a California admitted surety. The amount of the payment bond shall not be less than the amount of the performance bond.
  (b) The design-build contract shall require errors and omissions insurance coverage for the design elements of the project.
  (c) The local agency shall develop a standard form of payment and performance bond for its design-build projects.
(a) The local agency, in each design-build request for proposals, may identify specific types of subcontractors that must be included in the design-build entity statement of qualifications and proposal. All construction subcontractors that are identified in the proposal shall be afforded all the protections of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 4100) of Part 1.
  (b) Following award of the design-build contract, the design-build entity shall proceed as follows in awarding construction subcontracts with a value exceeding one-half of 1 percent of the contract price allocable to construction work:
  (1) Provide public notice of availability of work to be subcontracted in accordance with the publication requirements applicable to the competitive bidding process of the local agency, including a fixed date and time on which qualifications statements, bids, or proposals will be due.
  (2) Establish reasonable qualification criteria and standards.
  (3) Award the subcontract either on a best value basis or to the lowest responsible bidder. The process may include prequalification or short-listing. The foregoing process does not apply to construction subcontractors listed in the original proposal. Subcontractors awarded construction subcontracts under this subdivision shall be afforded all the protections of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 4100) of Part 1.
(a) If the local agency elects to award a project pursuant to this article, retention proceeds withheld by the local agency from the design-build entity shall not exceed 5 percent if a performance and payment bond, issued by an admitted surety insurer, is required in the solicitation of bids.
  (b) In a contract between the design-build entity and a subcontractor, and in a contract between a subcontractor and any subcontractor thereunder, the percentage of the retention proceeds withheld may not exceed the percentage specified in the contract between the local agency and the design-build entity. If the design-build entity provides written notice to any subcontractor that is not a member of the design-build entity, prior to or at the time the bid is requested, that a bond may be required and the subcontractor subsequently is unable or refuses to furnish a bond to the design-build entity, then the design-build entity may withhold retention proceeds in excess of the percentage specified in the contract between the local agency and the design-build entity from any payment made by the design-build entity to the subcontractor.
Nothing in this article affects, expands, alters, or limits any rights or remedies otherwise available at law.
This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2025, and as of that date is repealed.