Representative Doug Owens proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BID

2     
NOTICE

3     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Doug Owens

6     
Senate Sponsor: Todd D. Weiler

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill modifies a provision relating to notice requirements for bids for a local
11     government construction project.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     eliminates a requirement that a local government entity post notice of a bid on a
15     building improvement or public works project in five public places;
16          ▸     requires notice of the bid to be posted on the state procurement notice website; and
17          ▸     makes technical changes.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          This bill provides a coordination clause.
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     AMENDS:
24          11-39-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 355
25     

26     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27          Section 1. Section 11-39-103 is amended to read:
28          11-39-103. Requirements for undertaking a building improvement or public
29     works project -- Request for bids -- Authority to reject bids.
30          (1) If the estimated cost of the building improvement or public works project exceeds
31     the bid limit, the local entity shall, if it determines to proceed with the building improvement or
32     public works project:
33          (a) request bids for completion of the building improvement or public works project by
34     posting notice, at least five days before opening the bids, on:
35          [(i) posting notice at least five days before opening the bids in at least five public
36     places in the local entity and leaving the notice posted for at least three days; and]
37          [(ii) posting notice on] (i) the Utah Public Notice Website created in Section
38     63A-16-601[, at least five days before opening the bids]; and
39          (ii) a state website that is:
40          (A) owned or managed by or provided under contract with the division; and
41          (B) established for the purpose of posting public procurement notices; and
42          (b) except as provided in Subsection (3), enter into a contract for the completion of the
43     building improvement or public works project with:
44          (i) the lowest responsive responsible bidder; or
45          (ii) for a design-build project formulated by a local entity, a responsible bidder that:
46          (A) offers design-build services; and
47          (B) satisfies the local entity's criteria relating to financial strength, past performance,
48     integrity, reliability, and other factors that the local entity uses to assess the ability of a bidder
49     to perform fully and in good faith the contract requirements for a design-build project.
50          (2) (a) Each notice under Subsection (1)(a) shall indicate that the local entity may reject
51     any or all bids submitted.
52          (b) (i) The cost of a building improvement or public works project may not be divided
53     to avoid:
54          (A) exceeding the bid limit; and
55          (B) subjecting the local entity to the requirements of this section.
56          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(b)(i), a local entity may divide the cost of a
57     building improvement or public works project that would, without dividing, exceed the bid
58     limit if the local entity complies with the requirements of this section with respect to each part
59     of the building improvement or public works project that results from dividing the cost.
60          (3) (a) The local entity may reject any or all bids submitted.
61          (b) If the local entity rejects all bids submitted but still intends to undertake the
62     building improvement or public works project, the local entity shall again request bids by
63     following the procedure provided in Subsection (1)(a).
64          (c) If, after twice requesting bids by following the procedure provided in Subsection
65     (1)(a), the local entity determines that no satisfactory bid has been submitted, the governing
66     body may undertake the building improvement or public works project as it considers
67     appropriate.
68          Section 2. Coordinating H.B. 280 with S.B. 43 -- Substantive and technical
69     amendments.
70          If this H.B. 280 and S.B. 43, Public Notice Requirements, both pass and become law, it
71     is the intent of the Legislature that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
72     shall prepare the Utah Code database for publication, by amending Subsection 11-39-103(1)(a)
73     to read:
74          "(a) request bids for completion of the building improvement or public works project
75     by:
76          (i) [posting] providing notice for the local entity, as a class A notice under Section
77     63G-28-102, except the notice described in Subsection 63G-28-102(1)(c), for at least five days
78     before opening the bids [in at least five public places in the local entity and leaving the notice
79     posted for at least three days]; and
80          [(ii) posting notice on the Utah Public Notice Website created in Section 63A-16-601,
81     at least five days before opening the bids; and]
82          (ii) at least five days before opening the bids, posting notice on a state website that is:
83          (A) owned or managed by or provided under contract with the division; and
84          (B) established for the purpose of posting public procurement notices; and".