Bill > HB1505

This bill amends Mississippi's construction manager at risk law to create a special procurement process specifically for Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL). The bill exempts IHL projects from the traditional public bidding requirements under Section 31-7-13 and allows construction managers more flexibility in selecting contractors and vendors. Instead of soliciting public bids, construction managers for IHL projects can now obtain proposals from contractors and vendors based on a comprehensive set of qualifications, including cost, past performance, financial status, safety record, and project schedule. The construction manager can then select contractors based on these criteria in consultation with the agency or governing authority, without being required to automatically choose the lowest bidder. The bill requires public notice of the selection criteria at least four weeks in advance and allows construction managers to prequalify potential contractors. Additionally, the bill permits construction managers or their affiliates to self-perform up to 15% of project work, provided their proposals are competitive and deemed to be in the project's best interest. The changes are intended to provide more flexibility and potentially improve efficiency in managing construction projects for Mississippi's higher education institutions.