For bid requests issued on or after July 1, 2016, California school districts, with approval of their governing board, may procure design-build contracts for projects in excess of $1M, awarding the contract to either the low bid or the best value. The threshold currently is $2.5M. The new threshold was enacted as part of Assembly Bill 1358 (Dababneh) and will remain in place until January 1, 2025, unless a later enacted statute deletes or extends that date. As those in the industry already familiar, “design-build” refers to “a project delivery process in which both the design and construction of a project are procured from a single entity.” Design-build contractors should also take note that the new law will require that certain information is verified under penalty of perjury.

Photo:  Alan Levine, School, Taken May 24, 2012 – Creative Commons