Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
For Immediate Release: December 15, 2008
Sen. Harry Coates
Sen. Coates Files Bill to Protect Jobs for State's Construction
Industry
Author Wants State to Use More Tried and
True Construction Methods
The weak economy is negatively impacting many industries including
construction. Due to the economic slowdown, many commercial construction
projects are getting put on hold across the state. State Sen. Harry
Coates says that construction professionals are seeing even
more of their job opportunities go to out-of-state entities because
of an unfair state law. For this reason, he has filed Senate Bill
31 to remove the design-build delivery method from the Public Building
Construction and Planning Act.
"Since the addition of the design-build aspect of the Act in
2000, we've seen more and more projects go to out-of-state companies
because in many cases Oklahoma contractors, including some of the
state's best, can't meet the selection criteria required under current
rules," said Coates, R-Seminole. "Removing this delivery
method will allow more Oklahoma companies to qualify for construction
jobs."
"Design-build" is a project delivery method whereby the
state acquires both design and construction services in the same
contract from a single entity known as the design builder without
the bid component of the traditional design-bid-build process. Under
more traditional methods like design-bid-build, the architect and
engineer work for the building owner. However, under the design-build
method, the architect and contractor work together so that there
is no design entity looking after the state's interest.
"There needs to be a clear separation of design services from
those services provided by the builder. Otherwise, there is no entity
looking out for the best interest of the public in getting the best
construction for the dollars spent," said Coates. "The
design-build delivery method clearly eliminates competition within
the public construction market."
Coates pointed to the recent awarding of $100 million to out-of-state
firms for the construction of four new armories in the state as
an example of why he feels his legislation is necessary. The projects
will be completed using the design-build method. Due to the selection
criteria required under this rarely-used method in the state, Oklahoma
contractors were unable to qualify for the projects. Coates went
on to say that without his legislation the remaining $50 million
in armory projects will more than likely be awarded to out-of-state
entities.
For more information contact:
Senator Coates' Office: (405) 521-5547
|
