Bill > SB5476

This bill modifies the responsible bidder criteria for public works projects in Washington state, introducing several key changes to how contractors are evaluated before being awarded public contracts. The bill requires bidders to meet enhanced criteria, including having current professional licenses, state registrations, and insurance coverage, and adds new requirements around public works project experience and training. Specifically, bidders must now either have completed at least one public works project within the previous three years without receiving certain citations, or have at least one designated employee who has received recent training on public works and prevailing wage requirements from the Department of Labor and Industries. The bill also introduces a new requirement for projects subject to apprenticeship utilization requirements: bidders must submit an apprentice utilization plan within 60 days of contract award, which includes details like projected project dates, total work hours, and apprenticeship program information. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Labor and Industries publish resources to help contracting agencies verify bidder compliance, and allows state and municipal entities to adopt supplemental criteria for determining bidder responsibility, with a process for bidders to request modifications or appeal non-responsible determinations. The new provisions aim to ensure more qualified and compliant contractors are selected for public works projects, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Government Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5476&Year=2025&Initiative=false