(i) “Low bid design-build contract” means a design-build contract award made to the lowest qualified responsible bidder.
(j) “Member” means a private legal entity that is a member of a consortium or joint venture that is a design-builder.
(k) “Office” means
the office of innovative program delivery attached to the department under s. 15.463 (1) .
(L) “Project” means a project involving a highway improvement, as defined in s. 84.06 (1) (a).
(m) “Qualified responsible bidder” means a design-builder responding to a request for qualifications
and that is certified by the technical review committee .
(n) “Responsive cost proposal” means a proposal that clearly identifies the costs of all services to be performed by the qualified responsible bidder, including all related fees, wages, and equipment and material costs.
(o) “Responsive technical proposal” means a proposal that clearly demonstrates a qualified responsible bidder's understanding of the design, engineering, and construction services to be performed and clearly describes the bidder's approach to the project.
(p) “Technical review committee” means the committee appointed under sub. (3).
(q) “Value engineering change” means a proposal that provides for a product of equal or improved quality to the product required by the department and that will reduce the project cost, improve safety, or decrease the time to complete the project.
(2) Design-build projects.
(a) The department shall administer a pilot program under which not more than 6 contracts are awarded for design-build projects to be completed no later than December 31, 2025 .
The director cannot designate a project as a design-build project unless the department is able to clearly define the scope of work.
(b) The department cannot expend more than $250,000,000 for 6 design-build contracts designated as follows:
1. One low bid design-build contract for a project with an estimated value of not less than $5,000,000 and not more than $25,000,000.
2. One best value design-build contract for a project with an estimated value of not less than $25,000,000 and not more than $75,000,000.
3. One fixed price variable scope design-build contract with an estimated value of not less than $25,000,000 and not more than $75,000,000.
4. Three contracts designated by the director with a total estimated value of not more than $125,000,000. The department may enter into a low bid design-build contract, best value design-build contract or a fixed price variable scope design-build contract under this subdivision.
(c) For each project designated as a design-build project under par. (a), the office shall prepare a written analysis supporting the office's determination that it is the best interests of the state to make the designation. The written determination and supporting materials are subject to inspection under s. 19.35. The written analysis shall include all of the following:
1. The extent to which the department can adequately define the project requirements in a proposed scope of design and construction.
2. The impact on the projected project schedule and completion date.
3. The impact on the projected cost of the project.
4. The impact on the quality factors of the project.
5. The availability of contractors with experience with design-build projects or other innovative project delivery methods.
6. The capability of the department to manage a design-build project with office employees and design consultants.
7. The capability of the department to oversee a design-build project with a contractor with experience with design-build projects or other innovative project delivery methods.
8. The availability of current department employees qualified to perform design and engineering services required for the design-build project.
9. The original character of the product or the services.
10. The statutory authority for the designation of the project as a design-build project and how the project furthers the department's statutory duties.
11. Whether the design-build project must comply with any federal rule or regulation or any U.S. depart
ment of transportation requirement and a statement that the design-build project is in compliance.
12. Any other criteria the office determines is necessary.
(d) For each project designated under par. (a), the office shall solicit requests for qualifications, requests for proposals, and cost proposals as provided in this section and, subject to sub. (7) (c) and (d), let each project by contract to a qualified responsible bidder.
(e) No more than 6 months following the completion of a design-build project designated under this subsection, the office shall prepare a report, with input from the design-builder and the technical review committee, detailing the project, the decision to designate the project as a design-build project, the type of design-build contract let, and recommendations for statutory changes, if any. The office shall provide this report to the joint committee on finance and the senate and assembly standing committees having jurisdiction over transportation matters. The senate and assembly standing committees having jurisdiction over transportation matters shall schedule a hearing on the report not more than 30 days following distribution of the report by the chief clerks of the senate and the assembly. This paragraph does not apply to projects completed after December 31, 2025.
(3) Technical review committee. (a) The secretary shall appoint 5 individuals to a technical review committee to evaluate proposals submitted under this section. The committee shall consist of the following:
1. An employee of the department representing a regional office of the department who has at least 5 years of experience in the transportation construction industry.
2. Two employees of the department representing the division of the department responsible for transportation project development, each of whom have at least 5 years of experience in the transportation construction industry.
3. One person representing a state association of architectural, engineering, or design companies.
4. One person representing a state association of transportation construction companies.
(b) The secretary cannot appoint to the technical review committee any person associated, as defined in s. 19.42 (2), with a design-builder. No person appointed to the technical review committee may review proposals under this section when the proposed project could benefit the appointee or the appointee's immediate family, as defined in s. 19.42 (7).
(c) A person appointed to the technical review committee is an agent of the department under s. 895.46.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all records of the technical review committee are open to public inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1).
(4) Bids. The office shall solicit design-build proposals in 2 phases. In the first phase, the office shall solicit requests for qualifications under sub. (5) and requests for proposals under sub. (6). The technical
review committee shall certify responsible bidders as provided in sub. (5) (c) and shall score technical proposals as provided in sub. (6) (b). In the 2nd phase, the office shall solicit cost proposals and the technical review committee shall evaluate cost proposals as provided in sub. (7).
(5) Request for qualifications. (a) The office shall prepare a request for qualifications that includes all of the following:
1. Minimum required qualifications for certification as a qualified bidder, which shall include all of the following:
a. The design and construction experience of the design-builder or member, personnel, and contractors who will manage the design, engineering, and construction aspects of the project.
The office cannot require a level of experience that will unreasonably restrict competition.
b. A requirement that the design-builder or member employ an individual who has no fewer than 5 years of experience in highway construction specific to highway improvement projects in this state.
c. A requirement that the design-builder or member be a design professional or will employ or contract with a design professional.
d. A sworn statement of the design-builder's financial ability, equipment, and experience in design-build project delivery and any other information the office determines is necessary to determine a bidder's competency.
2. Minimum required qualifications for certification as a responsible bidder, which shall include all of the following:
a. The design-builder is registered or authorized to do business in this state.
b. The design-builder submits a sworn statement that indicates that it has adequate financial resources to complete the work described in the request for qualifications, taking into account any other work the design-builder is currently under contract to complete.
c. The design-builder is bondable for the term of the proposed contract and is able to obtain a 100 percent performance bond and a separate 100 percent payment bond.
d. If the department has previously contracted with the design-builder or a member, the design-builder or member has a record of satisfactorily completing projects.
In making this determination, the technical review committee shall consider if the design-builder or the member has completed all contracts in accordance with drawings and specifications, diligently pursued execution of the work and completed contracts according to the time schedule, fulfilled guarantee requirements of contracts, and complied with applicable safety program requirements. The technical review committee cannot consider whether a design-builder or member exercised
legal rights specified in statute or rule or under a contract with the department.
e. The design-builder or a member is not on a list maintained by the department identifying persons ineligible to bid due to suspension or debarment or on a list that the department of administration maintains for persons who violated statutory provisions or administrative rules relating to construction.
f. The design-builder or a member has been in business for at least 12 months.
g. The design-builder or a member has served as a
prime contractor on no fewer than 5 projects administered by the department during the previous 5 calendar years .
h. The design-builder can provide information
to the technical review committee upon request about ownership, management, and control of the design-builder.
i. The design-builder or a member has not been debarred from any government contracts and has not been found to have committed tax avoidance or evasion in any jurisdiction in the previous 10 years.
j. The design-builder has not been disciplined under a professional license in any jurisdiction in the previous 10 years.
k. No design professional employed by the design-builder or a member or that the design-builder will contract with has been disciplined in any jurisdiction under a license that is currently in use.
3. Information about bid procedures and the proposed project, including all of the following:
a. The type of contract to be awarded.
b. The selection criteria for recommendation of design-builders for phase 2.
c. Project requirements, including a scope of work statement and a schedule.
d. The required completion date of the project.
e. A description of requirements for the technical proposal for the project.
(b) The office shall advertise the request for qualifications
by publication of a class 1 notice, as defined in s. 985.07 (1), in the official state newspaper and on the department's Internet site .
The office may place similar notices in publications likely to inform potential bidders of the project. The office shall issue a request for qualifications or provide information as to where the request for qualifications may be obtained to any person, without regard to the qualifications of the person. The office shall include in all advertisements under this paragraph the location and scope of work, the amount of bid guarantee required, the date, time, and place of bid or proposal opening, and the date when and place where plans will be available.
(c) The technical review committee shall certify at least 2 but not more than 4 design-builders as qualified responsible bidders. If the office does not receive at least 2 responses to the request for qualifications or if the tech
nical review committee certifies only one design-builder as a qualified responsible bidder, the office may re-advertise or cancel the project.
(6) Request for proposals. (a) The office shall prepare a request for proposals for each design-build contract that includes all the following:
1. The name, title, address, and telephone numbers of persons to whom questions concerning the proposal should be directed.
2. The procedures to be followed for submitting proposals, including how proposals must be delivered, the date and time by which they must be received, and the name and address of the person who is to receive them.
3. The date and time of the pre-proposal conference, if any.
4. A requirement that a technical proposal and a cost proposal be submitted in separate sealed proposals at the same time.
5. A clear description of the scope of all design, engineering, and construction work.
6. The criteria for evaluating proposals and their relative weight, if applicable.
7. The design criteria package, including a description of drawings, specifications, or other information to be submitted with the proposals, which shall allow the design-builder to use innovative projects meeting the criteria.
8. The project schedule and budget limits, if any.
9. The proposed terms and conditions of the contract.
10. Requirements relating to performance bonds, payments bonds, and insurance.
11. Amount of stipend, if any.
12. The procedures for awarding a contract.
13. A process
for the technical review committee to review and accept alternative technical concepts and value engineering change proposals.
14. A requirement that the design-builder perform not less than 30 percent of the construction services under the contract with labor provided by employees of the design-builder or member and equipment owned or rented by the design-builder or member.
15. Any other information the office determines is necessary.
(b) The technical review committee shall evaluate each technical proposal, which may include a confidential interview, and shall assign points in accordance with the request for proposals and subject to all of the following:
1. For a project that will be awarded as either a low bid design-build contract or a fixed price variable scope design-build contract, the technical review committee shall determine whether technical proposals are responsive to the request for proposals without ranking or scoring the proposals.
2. For a project that will be awarded as a best value design-build contract, the technical review committee
shall determine whether technical proposals are responsive to the request for proposals and score each responsive technical proposal as required by the request for proposals. The technical review committee may award not more than 20 percent of the points awarded to a technical proposal based on the design-builder's qualifications and ability to design, contract, and deliver the project in accordance with any deadline established in the request for proposals. The technical review committee may award a technical proposal not more than 55 percent of the maximum number of combined points that may be awarded to a technical proposal and cost proposal.
(c) The office shall allow design-builders to include alternative technical concepts and value engineering changes in their proposals by describing the process for submission and evaluation of alternative technical concepts and value engineering changes in the request for proposals.
(d) The technical review committee cannot consider a proposal responsive unless the proposal includes a conceptual design, critical path method, bar schedule of the work to be performed or similar schematic, design plans and specifications, technical reports, and all other information required by the request for proposals. The technical review committee cannot consider any price or fee included in the technical proposal.
(e) The office shall notify the design-builder for each proposal that is determined to be responsive under par. (b) that the design-builder may submit a cost proposal under sub. (7). The office shall reject all proposals that are determined to be nonresponsive under par. (b).
(7) Cost proposals. (a) Design-builders notified under sub. (6) (e) may submit a cost proposal and the proposal shall include a fixed cost of design, engineering, and construction services prepared by a design professional that contains all design, engineering, construction, and quality assurance and quality control costs of the project.
(b) The technical review committee may open cost proposals only after the technical proposals have been reviewed as provided in sub. (6). At the time and place specified in the request for proposals, the technical review committee shall open cost proposals, read the proposals aloud, and, for a project that will be awarded as a best value design-build contract, make public the committee's scoring of the technical proposals.
