The UUCF office
just received word that Governor Crist has signed
into law HB 611 relating to public construction
and competitively bidding of those projects.
This legislation was the top priority for UUCF
this Legislative Session as well as a must pass
bill for The Construction Coalition. The law
will take effect on October 1, 2009.
Although the legislation substantially changed
from the original version and does not contain
provisions prohibiting local bid preferences,
it does more clearly define “repairs” and “maintenance” for
purposes of work that can be performed by local
government with their own forces. The law also
increases the threshold where local governments
are required to put projects out for competitive
bid to $300,000 for construction or $75,000 for
electrical work. The current law requires the
threshold amount of $200,000.00 be adjusted annually
using the Consumer Price Index which would make
the adjusted threshold over $285,000.00 today.
Another important provision of the new law is
transparency. The new law provides for transparency
by requiring public notice before local governments
may perform certain projects using its own resources.
The law specifies that:
- The notice must include information
about the scope of the work and all costs
associated with the work, including: employee
compensation
and benefits, equipment cost and maintenance,
insurance costs, and materials.
- The law requires the local government
to make available to the public a detailed
itemization of each component of the project.
- Public notices contain detailed cost
estimates.
- Contractors or vendors may present
evidence to the governing board regarding the
project and the accuracy of the estimated cost
of the project.
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