TAKE ACTION: Urge your Senators to Co-sponsor S. 2652
On July 24, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced S. 2652, a bill that would reasonably limit one-step design-build procurements and the shortlist for two-step design-build procurements. Please take action now and urge your senators to cosponsor and support S. 2652.
Specifically, the bill would mandate the use of the two-step design-build procurement process for projects valued at $750,000 or more. As a result, there would be no one-step design-build procurements above this threshold, though they would be allowed below that. Additionally, the bill would require contracting officers to provide written justification for short listing more than five finalists in the two-step design build process.
Having more than five, ten and even twenty teams submit full technical proposals on design-build solicitations is incredibly costly and inherently risky. Federal agencies continued packing the short list or use of one-step design-build solicitations on mega-projects serves to drive away contractor and designer teams, thereby eliminating a substantial amount of competition.
AGC testified in support of a similar measure before a House committee late last year. The introduction of S. 2652 comes as a result of AGC’s coalition efforts pushing a host of procurement reforms, which also include prohibiting reverse auctions for construction services, and increasing the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) loan guarantee to allow more small businesses access to SBA loans.
Again, please take action now and urge your senators to cosponsor and support S. 2652.
For more information, please contact Jimmy Christianson at (703) 837-5325 or christiansonj@agc.org.