§ 161 - Requirements on state construction projects
§ 161. Requirements on state construction projects
(a) Bids; selection.
(1) When the construction cost of any state project exceeds the sum of $50,000.00, the commissioner of buildings and general services shall publicly advertise or invite three or more bids. The contract for any such state project or improvement shall be awarded to one of the three lowest responsible bidders, conforming to specification, with consideration being given to quantities involved, time required for delivery, purpose for which required, competency and responsibility of bidder, and his or her ability to render satisfactory service, but the commissioner of buildings and general services with the approval of the secretary of administration, shall have the right to reject any and all bids and to invite other bids.
(2) When using the design-build construction delivery process, the commissioner of buildings and general services shall publicly advertise or invite three or more bids. The award of a design-build contract shall be to the bidder determined by the commissioner to be most responsive to evaluation criteria established by the commissioner. Such criteria may include physical plant characteristics proposed, program response to space needs, ability of the design-build team, anticipated development schedule and overall cost considerations, including alternates, allowances and schedule of values.
(b) Each contract awarded under this section for any state project with a construction cost exceeding $100,000.00 and which is authorized or funded in whole or in part by a capital construction act pursuant to section 701a of Title 32, including such a project of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College and of the Vermont State Colleges, shall provide that all construction employees working on the project shall be paid no less than the mean prevailing wage published periodically by the department of labor in its occupational employment and wage survey.
(c) In the construction of any state project, local capable labor shall be utilized whenever practicable, but this section shall not be construed to compel any person to discharge or lay off any regular employee.
(d) This section shall not apply to maintenance or construction projects carried out by the agency of transportation and forests, parks and recreation. (Added 1973, No. 115, §§ 1-3, eff. April 25, 1973; amended 1983, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(b), eff. April 11, 1984; 1993, No. 233 (Adj. Sess.), § 76, eff. June 21, 1994; 1995, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(b), eff. May 6, 1996; 1997, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 72, eff. April 29, 1998; 1999, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 43, eff. May 24, 2000; 2005, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 5, 2006.)