Bill Text: WV HB4506 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to procurement of architect-engineer services by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 8-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-23 - To House Agriculture and Natural Resources [HB4506 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2020-HB4506-Introduced.html

FISCAL NOTEWEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4506

By Delegates Atkinson, Tomblin, Sypolt, Westfall, Hott, Hartman, Anderson, Cadle, Dean and D. Kelly

(By Request of the Division of Natural Resources)

[Introduced January 23, 2020; Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Government Organization]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §20-1-15, relating to procurement of architect-engineer services by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and exempting the agency from certain existing procurement requirements.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

article 1.  organization and administration.

§20-1-15. Procurement of Architect-Engineer Services by the Division.


(a) The Legislature declares the Division of Natural Resources to be exempt from §5G-1-1 et seq. of this code and it to be the policy of the division to procure architectural or engineering services or both on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualification for the type of professional services required.

(b) Definitions.  As used in this section:

“Agency” means the Division of Natural Resources.

“Architectural and engineering services” includes those professional services of an architectural or engineering nature as well as incidental services that members of those professions and those in their employ may logically or justifiably perform.

“Chief procurement officer” means the chief procurement officer of  the Division of Natural Resources or anyone the chief procurement officer has designated to procure the services of architects and engineers.

“Firm” or “professional firm” means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity permitted by law to practice the professions of architecture and engineering.

(c) In the procurement of architectural and engineering services for projects estimated to cost $750,000 or more, the chief procurement officer shall encourage firms engaged in the lawful practice of the profession to submit an expression of interest, which shall include a statement of qualifications and performance data, and may include anticipated concepts and proposed methods of approach to the project. All jobs shall be announced by public notice published as a Class II legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of §59-3-1 et seq. of this code. A committee of three to five representatives of the agency shall evaluate the statements of qualifications and performance data and other material submitted by interested firms and select three firms which, in their opinion, are best qualified to perform the desired service: Provided, That if such circumstances exist, such that seeking competition could result in a compromise to public safety, significantly increase costs, or an extended interruption of essential services, the agency may, with the prior approval of the chief procurement officer, select a firm on the basis of previous satisfactory performance and knowledge of the agency’s facilities and needs. Interviews with each firm selected shall be conducted and the committee shall conduct discussions regarding anticipated concepts and proposed methods of approach to the assignment. The committee shall then rank, in order of preference, no less than three professional firms deemed to be the most highly qualified to provide the services required, and shall commence scope of service and price negotiations with the highest qualified professional firm for architectural or engineering services or both. Should the agency be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the professional firm considered to be the most qualified, at a fee determined to be fair and reasonable, price negotiations with the firm of second choice shall commence. Failing accord with the second most qualified professional firm, the committee shall undertake price negotiations with the third most qualified professional firm. Should the agency be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with any of the selected professional firms, it shall select additional professional firms in order of their competence and qualifications and it shall continue negotiations in accordance with this section until an agreement is reached: Provided, however, That  for any water or wastewater construction project the engineering design and construction inspection costs may not exceed the amount calculated pursuant to the compensation curves for consulting engineering services based upon project construction costs published by the American Society of Civil Engineers manual of practice, unless granted a variance by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council established pursuant to §31-15A-1 et seq. of this code.

(d) In the procurement of architectural and engineering services for projects estimated to cost less than $750,000, competition shall be sought by the agency. The agency shall conduct discussions with three or more professional firms solicited on the basis of known or submitted qualifications for the assignment prior to the awarding of any contract: Provided, That if a judgment is made that special circumstances exist and that seeking competition is not practical, the agency may, with the prior approval of the chief procurement officer, select a firm on the basis of previous satisfactory performance and knowledge of the agency’s facilities and needs. After selection, the agency and firm shall develop the scope of services required and negotiate a contract.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for procurement of architect-engineer services by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and providing an exemption from §5G-1-1 et seq.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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