MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Workforce Development
By: Representative Bell (21st)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 31-7-13.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK METHOD OF PROJECT DELIVERY; TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THE PURPOSES OF A QUALIFICATIONS-BASED SELECTION PROCEDURE, A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK SERVICES SHALL BE TREATED THE SAME AS A CONTRACT FOR ARCHITECTURAL, ENGINEERING AND LAND SURVEYING SERVICES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER SELECTED BY AN AGENCY OR GOVERNING AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK SERVICES SHALL SOLICIT BIDS FOR CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT AS PROVIDED IN THE PUBLIC PURCHASING LAW; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER MAY PREQUALIFY VENDORS AND CONTRACTORS WITH CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS BEFORE SOLICITING ANY BIDS OR ENTERING INTO ANY CONTRACTS; TO PROVIDE THAT A BIDDER'S CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION SHALL NOT BE DISCLOSED TO ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE AGENCY, GOVERNING AUTHORITY OR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER WITHOUT THE BIDDER'S PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 25-61-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 31-7-13.2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
31-7-13.2 (1) When used in this section, "construction manager at risk" means a method of project delivery in which a construction manager guarantees a maximum price for the construction of a project and in which the governing authority or board, before using this method of project delivery, shall include a detailed explanation of why using the construction manager at risk method of project delivery for a particular project satisfies the public need better than that traditional design-bid-build method based on the following criteria:
(a) The use of construction manager at risk for the project provides a savings in time or cost over traditional methods; and
(b) The size and type of the project is suitable for use of the construction management at risk method of project delivery.
(2) When the construction manager at risk method of project delivery is used:
(a) There may be a separate contract for design services and a separate contract for construction services;
(b) The contract for construction services may be entered into at the same time as a contract for the design services or later;
(c) Design and construction of the project may be in sequential or concurrent phases; and
(d) Finance, maintenance, operation, reconstruction or other related services may be included for a guaranteed maximum price.
(3) When procuring design professional services under a construction manager at risk project delivery method, the agency or governing authority shall procure the services of a design professional pursuant to qualifications-based selection procedures.
(4) Before the substantial completion of the design documents, the agency or governing authority may elect to hire a construction manager.
(5) When procuring construction management services, the agency or governing authority shall follow the qualifications-based selection procedures as outlined in subsection (10) of this section or the competitive sealed proposal procedures as outlined in Section 31-17-13.
(6) The agency or governing authority may require the architect or engineer and the construction manager, by contract, to cooperate in the design, planning and scheduling, and construction process. The contract shall not make the primary designer or construction manager a subcontractor or joint-venture partner to the other or limit the primary designer's or construction manager's independent obligations to the agency or governing authority.
(7) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter:
(a) Each project for construction under a construction manager at risk contract shall be a specific, single project with a minimum construction cost of Twenty-five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00).
(b) Each project under a construction manager at risk contract shall be a specific, single project. For the purposes of this paragraph, "specific, single project" means a project that is constructed at a single location, at a common location or for a common purpose.
(8) Agencies shall retain an independent architectural or engineering firm to provide guidance and administration of the professional engineering or professional architecture aspects of the project throughout the development of the scope, design, and construction of the project.
(9) The state shall, on an annual basis, compile and make public all proceedings, records, contracts and other public records relating to procurement transactions authorized under this section.
(10) For purposes of this section, the "qualifications-based selection procedure" shall include:
(a) Publicly announcing all requirements for construction management at risk, architectural, engineering, and land surveying services, to procure these services on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications, and to negotiate contracts at fair and reasonable prices after the most qualified firm has been selected.
(b) Agencies or governing authorities shall establish procedures to prequalify firms seeking to provide construction management at risk, architectural, engineering, and land surveying services or may use prequalification lists from other state agencies or governing authorities to meet the requirements of this section.
(c) Whenever a project requiring construction management at risk, architectural, engineering, or land surveying services is proposed for an agency or governing authority, the agency or governing authority shall provide advance notice published in a professional services bulletin or advertised within the official state newspaper setting forth the projects and services to be procured for not less than fourteen (14) days. The professional services bulletin shall be mailed to each firm that has requested the information or is prequalified under Section 31-7-13. The professional services bulletin shall include a description of each project and shall state the time and place for interested firms to submit a letter of interest and, if required by the public notice, a statement of qualifications.
(d) The agency or governing authority shall evaluate the firms submitting letters of interest and other prequalified firms, taking into account qualifications. The agency or governing authority may consider, but shall not be limited to, considering:
(i) Ability of professional personnel;
(ii) Past record and experience;
(iii) Performance data on file;
(iv) Willingness to meet time requirements;
(v) Location;
(vi) Workload of the firm; and
(vii) Any other qualifications-based factors as the agency or governing authority may determine in writing are applicable.
The agency or governing authority may conduct discussions with and require public presentations by firms deemed to be the most qualified regarding their qualifications, approach to the project and ability to furnish the required services.
(e) The agency or governing authority shall establish a committee to select firms to provide construction management at risk, architectural, engineering, and land surveying services. A selection committee may include at least one (1) public member nominated by a statewide association of the profession affected. The public member may not be employed or associated with any firm holding a contract with the agency or governing authority nor may the public member's firm be considered for a contract with that agency or governing authority while serving as a public member of the committee. In no case shall the agency or governing authority, before selecting a firm for negotiation under paragraph (f) of this subsection (10), seek formal or informal submission of verbal or written estimates of costs or proposals in terms of dollars, hours required, percentage of construction cost, or any other measure of compensation.
(f) On the basis of evaluations, discussions, and any presentations, the agency or governing authority shall select no less than three (3) firms that it determines to be qualified to provide services for the project and rank them in order of qualifications to provide services regarding the specific project. The agency or governing authority shall then contact the firm ranked most preferred to negotiate a contract at a fair and reasonable compensation. If fewer than three (3) firms submit letters of interest and the agency or governing authority determines that one (1) or both of those firms are so qualified, the agency or governing authority may proceed to negotiate a contract under paragraph (g) of this subsection (10).
(g) The agency or governing authority shall prepare a written description of the scope of the proposed services to be used as a basis for negotiations and shall negotiate a contract with the highest qualified firm at compensation that the agency or governing authority determines in writing to be fair and reasonable. In making this decision, the agency or governing authority shall take into account the estimated value, scope, complexity, and professional nature of the services to be rendered. In no case may the agency or governing authority establish a maximum overhead rate or other payment formula designed to eliminate firms from contention or restrict competition or negotiation of fees. If the agency or governing authority is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the firm that is most preferred, negotiations with that firm shall be terminated. The agency or governing authority shall then begin negotiations with the firm that is next preferred. If the agency or governing authority is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with that firm, negotiations with that firm shall be terminated. The agency or governing authority shall then begin negotiations with the firm that is next preferred. If the agency or governing authority is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with any of the selected firms, the agency or governing authority shall reevaluate the construction management at risk, architectural, engineering, or land surveying services requested, including the estimated value, scope, complexity, and fee requirements. The agency or governing authority shall then compile a second list of not less than three (3) qualified firms and proceed in accordance with the provisions of this section. A firm negotiating a contract with an agency or governing authority shall negotiate subcontracts for architectural, engineering, and land surveying services at compensation that the firm determines in writing to be fair and reasonable based upon a written description of the scope of the proposed services.
(11) (a) The construction manager selected by the agency or governing authority to provide construction management at risk services shall solicit bids for construction on the project pursuant to Section 31-7-13. The construction manager shall be entitled to enter into contracts for construction with the lowest and best bidders, as determined in consultation with the agency or governing authority. Before soliciting bids or entering into any such contract, the construction manager, in consultation with the agency or governing authority, may prequalify any contractors or vendors seeking to submit a bid on the project, taking into account defined qualifications which may include, but not be limited to, the following:
(i) Past experience and performance record on projects of similar size and scope;
(ii) Current financial status and ability to provide acceptable payment and performance bonds and meet defined insurance requirements;
(iii) Current workload and backlog of committed work for the period scheduled for the project under consideration;
(iv) Safety record to include prior citations and fines if applicable;
(v) History of legal disputes or performance defaults;
(vi) Identification and experience of project personnel and required manpower;
(vii) Plan for and ability to meet the applicable project schedule; and
(viii) Any other qualification-based factors as the agency, governing authority or construction manager may determine are applicable.
(b) The construction manager, in consultation with the agency or governing authority, shall publish the defined qualifications that shall be considered in the prequalification process at least two (2) weeks in advance of any prequalification of contractors or vendors seeking to submit a bid on the project. Publication shall be in a regular newspaper published in the county or municipality in which the agency or governing authority is located. The agency or governing authority shall also post the defined prequalification requirements on its website.
(c) The failure of a bidder to provide information in a timely and complete manner in response to any prequalification process may result in the disqualification of such bidder in the discretion of the agency, governing authority, and construction manager.
(d) Confidential and proprietary information furnished by a bidder pursuant to this section shall not be disclosed outside of the agency, governing authority, or construction manager without the prior written consent of the bidder. The bidder shall identify and label any information considered to be confidential and proprietary at the time of submission of the same to the agency, governing authority, or construction manager.
( * * *12) The provisions of this section
shall not affect any procurement by the Mississippi Transportation Commission.
SECTION 2. Section 25-61-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
25-61-9. (1) Records furnished to public bodies by third parties which contain trade secrets or confidential commercial or financial information shall not be subject to inspection, examination, copying or reproduction under this chapter until notice to third parties has been given, but the records shall be released no later than twenty-one (21) days from the date the third parties are given notice by the public body unless the third parties have filed in chancery court a petition seeking a protective order on or before the expiration of the twenty-one-day time period. Any party seeking the protective order shall give notice to the party requesting the information in accordance with the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure.
(2) If any public record which is held to be exempt from disclosure pursuant to this chapter contains material which is not exempt pursuant to this chapter, the public body shall separate the exempt material and make the nonexempt material available for examination or copying, or both, as provided for in this chapter.
(3) Trade secrets and confidential commercial and financial information of a proprietary nature developed by a college, university or public hospital under contract with a firm, business, partnership, association, corporation, individual or other like entity shall not be subject to inspection, examination, copying or reproduction under this chapter.
(4) Misappropriation of a trade secret shall be governed by the provisions of the Mississippi Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Sections 75-26-1 through 75-26-19.
(5) A waste minimization plan and any updates developed by generators and facility operators under the Mississippi Comprehensive Multimedia Waste Minimization Act of 1990 shall be retained at the facility and shall not be subject to inspection, examination, copying or reproduction under this chapter.
(6) Data processing software obtained by an agency under a licensing agreement that prohibits its disclosure and which software is a trade secret, as defined in Section 75-26-3, and data processing software produced by a public body which is sensitive must not be subject to inspection, copying or reproduction under this chapter.
As used in this subsection, "sensitive" means only those portions of data processing software, including the specifications and documentation, used to:
(a) Collect, process, store, and retrieve information which is exempt under this chapter.
(b) Control and direct access authorizations and security measures for automated systems.
(c) Collect, process, store, and retrieve information, disclosure of which would require a significant intrusion into the business of the public body.
(7) For all procurement contracts awarded by state agencies, the provisions of the contract which contain the commodities purchased or the personal or professional services provided, the unit prices contained within the procurement contracts, the overall price to be paid, and the term of the contract shall not be deemed to be a trade secret or confidential commercial or financial information under this section, and shall be available for examination, copying or reproduction as provided for in this chapter. Any party seeking a protective order for a procurement contract awarded by state agencies shall give notice to and provide the reasons for the protective order to the party requesting the information in accordance with the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure. The notice and reasons for the protective order must be posted on the Mississippi procurement portal for a minimum of seven (7) days before filing the petition seeking the protective order in chancery court. Any party seeking a protective order in violation of this subsection may be barred by a state agency from submitting bids, proposals or qualifications for procurement for a period not to exceed five (5) years.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.