HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2021-083strikeWhatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
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Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2021-650
File ID: AB2021-650 Version: 1 Status: Adopted
File Created: 10/29/2021 Entered by: THelms@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: County Executive's File Type: Ordinance
Office
Assigned to: Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee FinallAction: 11/23/2021
Agenda Date: 11/23/2021 Enactment #: ORD 2021-083
Primary Contact Email: Bbennett@co.whatcom.wa.us
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code (WCC) 3.08.060 (Purchasing System) to update the
small public works roster process to award public works contracts under WCC 3.08.095 and to
establish consulting services roster award process for architectural, engineering, and other professional
services
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
See attached
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body:
Action:
Sent To:
11/09/2021 Council INTRODUCED Council Finance and
Administrative Services
Committee
Aye: 6 Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, and Frazey
Nay: 0
Absent: 1 Kershner
11/23/2021 Council Finance and Administrative RECOMMENDED FOR
Services Committee ADOPTION
Aye: 3 Browne, Byrd, and Frazey
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 1112412021
Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2021-650)
11/23/2021 Council ADOPTED
Aye: 7 Browne, Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Frazey, and Kershner
Nay: 0
Absent: 0
Attachments: Proposed Ordinance, Exh A 3.08.060 strikethrough, Exh B 3.08.95 strikethrough, Exh C 3.08.096
new redline
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 1112412021
PROPOSED BY: Brad Bennett
ORDINANCE NO. 2021-083
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING WCC 3.08 (PURCHASING SYSTEM) TO UPDATE THE
SMALL PUBLIC WORKS ROSTER PROCESS TO AWARD PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS
UNDER WCC 3.08.095 AND TO ESTABLISH CONSULTING SERVICES ROSTER AWARD
PROCESS FOR ARCHITECTIURAL, ENGINEERING, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES.
WHEREAS, RCW 39.04.155 and other laws regarding contracting for public works by
municipalities, allow certain contracts to be awarded by a small works roster process; and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County Code sections 3.08.060 and 3.08.095 provide for
awards of contracts from a small works roster pursuant to RCW 39.04.155; and
WHEREAS, WCC 3.08.095 should be updated to ensure compliance with the current
requirements of state law as to allow for continued use of the small works roster contract
awards process; and
WHEREAS, Ch. 39.80 RCW and other laws regarding contracting for consulting
services by municipalities allow certain contracts to be awarded by a consultant roster
process; and
WHEREAS, WCC 3.08.060 currently requires all awards of contracts for professional
services exceeding $40,000.00 be based upon bids or proposals in response to
specifications and invitations to bid subject to the provisions of WCC 3,08.090; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council seeks to establish procedures for the use
of consultant rosters as an alternative means of procuring professional services contracts
consistent with the requirements of state law; and
WHEREAS, the availability and use of a consultant roster contract award process will
help achieve greater administrative efficiencies related to the procurement of professional
services; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council wishes to update the purchasing code,
WCC 3.08, to include a new section that provides for a consultant roster contract award
process as an alternative to existing purchasing code requirements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, that the County Code shall hereby be
amended as detailed in the attached Exhibit(s) A, B, and C.
ADOPTED this 23rd day of November
•,t�d�@�s66iiiB/1//
b ®®®®®
ATTEST"_ v�� o.
Dana K—aoy - avjs,,Csle k of the Council
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
.4
Christopher Quinn per email 10/27/2021
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
2021
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
L -_
e
Barr chanan, Council Chair
WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE
WHATCOM COUNTY, W^MINGTON
SAAMI-oc :�M�
Satpal Sidhu, ounty Executive
Date Signed: "0A W�0yu-,�%N
EXtt B1'f. A
3.08.060
3.08.060 Biicts atict proposals r-eq;r€fr ecl-
Awards of contracts for the acquisition of materials, supplies, services, tools, equipment or rental of
personal property and professional services exceeding $40,000 will be based upon bids or proposals
received in response to specifications and invitations to bid, except as fellews provided below:
A. Sole source purchases shall not be required to go through competitive bidding. A purchase may be
determined to be sole source by the county executive or designee when the bidding process would be
futile because only one bidder could respond to the invitation.
B. In the event of an emergency when the public interest or property of the county would suffer material
injury or damage by delay, upon an order of the county executive declaring the existence of such
emergency and reciting the facts constituting same, the requirements governing competitive bids with
reference to any purchase or contract may be waived pursuant to RCW 36.32.270.
C. Public works projects involving funds not exceeding the amount allowed iR under RCW 39.04.155,
Small works rester GE)RtraGt procedures Limited public works preGess, or any successor statute, may be
completed utilizing the small works roster contract award process pursuant to WCC 3.08.095.
D. Acquisition is from another public entity.
E. Contract does not require use of county funds.
F. The procurement of professional services may be completed utilizing the Consultant Roster Award
Process pursuant to WCC 3.08.096.
Proposals from architects and engineers are subject to the requirements of Chapter 39.80 RCW. (Ord.
2016-032 Exh. A; Ord. 2013-029 Exh. A; Ord. 2007-004 Exh. A; Ord. 97-034 Exh. A; Ord. 93-042 Exh.
H).
1;XIt113IT 13
3,.08.0 5
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This section may be utilized in the acquisition of contractual services necessary to complete public works
projects as allowed under RCW 36.32.250, and consistent with RCW 39.04.155. in order to use a small
works roster GGRtraGt award process in hei-, of formal sealed biddiRg, the county shall To use the small
works roster contract award process provided for by this section the following procedures shall be
followed:
A. Publish at least ti.vir--e each Year in the OffiGial GGunty newspaper a notice of the existence of the roster
and selir-,it the narnmes Of GontFaGtC)Fs that are qualified for the reqUeSted Gategones of work. Notice shall be
published at least onGe iR each week for two GonseGLAtive weeks prior to the last date upon which
respORSe to the notice will be reGeived, and may be published for as MaRy additional publiGations as shall
be considered in the co:,^+ interest. Publication. At least once a year, the County or its designee, shall
publish in a newspaper of general circulation within the County's jurisdiction a notice of the existence of a
small works roster and solicit the names of contractors for the small works roster. Responsible contractors
shall be added to the small works roster at any time that a contractor completes an online application
provided by the County or its designee, and meets the minimum State requirements for roster listing.
B. in ever„ case a Gertairl Gateg9ry Of Work is to be aGGGMPI*Shed under this section, all contractors
responding to the above notice a -Rd indiGating their qual'f'Gat;()R to perform the category of work proposed
shall be contacted and provided ;-i.n r) to bid. Small Works Roster - Non- Limited Public Work
Process. Written, or Electronic Bids. The County shall obtain, written, or electronic bids for public
works contracts from contractors on the appropriate small works roster to assure that a competitive price
is established and to award contracts to a contractor who meets the mandatory bidder responsibility
criteria in RCW 39.04.350(1). The County may establish supplementary bidder criteria under RCW
39.04.350 (2) to be considered in the process of awarding a contract.
1) An invitation to bid pursuant to a small works roster will not be advertised. Invitations for bids
shall include an estimate of the scope and nature of the work to be performed as well as materials and
equipment to be furnished. However, detailed plans and specifications need not be included in the
invitation.
2) Bids will be invited from all appropriate contractors on the appropriate small works roster. As an
alternative to the preceding requirement, quotations may be invited from at least five contractors on the
appropriate small works roster who have indicated the capability of performing the kind of work being
contracted, in a manner that will equitably distribute the opportunity among the contractors on the
appropriate roster. "Equitably distribute" means that the County may not favor certain contractors on the
appropriate small works roster over other contractors on the appropriate small works roster who perform
similar services.
If the estimated cost of the work is from two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) up to the
authorized threshold for use of the small works roster process in RCW 39.04 and the County elects to
solicit bids from less than all the appropriate contractors on the appropriate small works roster pursuant to
this sub -section, the County must notify the remaining contractors on the appropriate small works roster
that bids on the work are being sought. The County has the sole option of determining whether their
notice to the remaining contractors is made by:
(a) publishing notice in a legal newspaper in general circulation in the area where the work is to
be done;
(b) mailing a notice to these contractors; or
(c) sending a notice to these contractors by facsimile or email.
3) At the time bids are solicited, the County representative shall not inform a contractor of the terms
or amount of any other contractor's bid for the same project;
4) A written record shall be made by the County representative of each contractor's bid on the
project and of any conditions imposed on the bid. Immediately after an award is made, the bids obtained
shall be recorded, open to public inspection, and available by telephone inquiry.
C. Include in the ;RVitation to b d the date OR whiGh bids will be reGeived, the scope and nature Of WOFk to
be performed, the materials and equipment to be fi-IFRished, and, not provided otherwise in the invitation
to bid hero the rl taffiled nla and spenif rations may he Seen and obtained. Small Works Roster-
, .......... p,.�.,�....,.......r..............._.._ may-be
Public Works Process. The County may award a contract for work, construction, alteration,
repair, or improvement projects using the limited public works process if the project cost is equal to or less
than the amount established in RCW 39.04.155(3). For a limited public works project, the County will
solicit electronic or written bids from a minimum of three contractors from the appropriate small works
roster and shall award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder as defined under RCW 39.04.010.
After an award is made, the bids shall be open to public inspection and available by electronic request.
For limited public works projects, the County may waive the payment and performance bond
requirements of chapter 39.08 RCW and the retainage requirements of chapter 60.28 RCW, thereby
assuming the liability for the contractor's nonpayment of laborers, mechanics, subcontractors, material
men, suppliers, and taxes imposed under Title 82 RCW that may be due from the contractor for the
limited public works project. However, the County shall have the right of recovery against the contractor
for any payments made on the contractor's behalf.
The County shall maintain a list of the contractors contacted and the contracts awarded during the
previous 24 months under the limited public works process, including the name of the contractor, the
contractor's registration number, the amount of the contract, a brief description of the type of work
performed, and the date the contract was awarded.
Lowest Responsible Bidder/Award. Public works contracts under this section shall be awarded to the
lowest responsible bidder provided that, whenever there is a reason to believe that the lowest acceptable
bid is not the best price obtainable, all bids may be rejected and the County may call for new bids. A
responsible bidder shall be a registered or licensed contractor who meets the mandatory bidder
responsibility criteria established by Chapter 133, Laws of 2007 (SHB 2010) and who meets any
supplementary bidder responsibly criteria established by the County.
E. Forge the advertisement Of a GentraGt aWarded threHgh Hse of the small works roster. Unless otherwise
addressed in this section, the provisions of WCC 3.08.090 (B), (E), (G), (H), (1), (J), and (M) shall apply.
(Ord. 2016-032 Exh. A; Ord. 2013-029 Exh. A; Ord. 2007-004 Exh. A; Ord. 97-034 Exh. A).
NEW SECTION UNDER WCC 3.08
3.08.096 Consuffimit roster emitraefl aw<:ard process f�ak �aa�a,ta e�°tua aEg engineering, and of aer
professional services.
As an alternative to the requirements of WCC 3.08.060 and 3.08.090, this section may be utilized to
acquire consultant services. Consultant services include professional services. Professional services are
those services that have a primarily intellectual output or product and include, but are not limited to,
services provided by architects, engineers, surveyors, doctors, trainers, tax professionals, accountants,
and management, labor and financial advisors.
To use the consultant roster contract -award process provided for by this section the following procedures
shall be followed:
A. Publication. At least once a year the County or its designee shall publish in a newspaper of
general circulation within the municipality's jurisdiction a notice of the existence of the consulting services
roster and solicit the names of consultants for the consulting services roster. The County or its designee
shall add responsible consultants to the consulting services roster at any time that a consultant completes
the online application provided by the County or its designee, upload a Statement of Qualifications, and
meets minimum State requirements for roster listing.
B. Review and Selection of the Statement of Qualifications Proposals for professional
services. The County shall use the following process to select the most highly qualified consultant off of
the Consulting Services Roster to provide the required services:
1) The department head shall have established criteria that must be consider in evaluating
consultants for a given project. Consultant rate may be considered for services other than architectural,
engineering, landscape architectural, and surveying. Criteria for architectural, engineering, landscape
architecture, or surveying services shall include a plan to ensure that minority and women -owned firms
and veteran -owned firms are afforded the maximum practicable opportunity to compete for and obtain
public contracts. The level of participation by minority and women -owned firms and veteran -owned firms
shall be consistent with their general availability within the jurisdiction of the county.
2) The department head shall evaluate the written statements of qualifications and performance
data on file with the county at the time that consultant services are required;
3) Such evaluations shall be based on the criteria established by the department head.
4) The department head shall conduct discussions with one or more consultant regarding
anticipated concepts and the relative utility of alternative methods of approach for furnishing the required
services.
5) The consultant deemed most highly qualified by the agency to do the project will be selected.
The department head shall negotiate with the select
determines is fair and reasonable, considering the E
as the scope and complexity of the project. If a sa
Ti for a contract at a price that he/she
ted value of the services to be rendered as well
cannot be negotiated, the
department head terminates the negotiations with that firm and attempts to negotiate a contract with the
next most qualified firms. The process continues until an agreement is reached or the search is
terminated.
C. In those instances where provisions of Chapter 3.08 WCC are inconsistent with the provisions of this
section, the provisions of this section shall control.l[cQll.