PA Bill Introduced to Permit Design-Build Construction of Public Schools
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 743 was recently introduced. The new legislation, if passed, would dramatically impact the construction of public school buildings by permitting the use of the design-build delivery method.
Currently, a public school district must comply with the Pennsylvania Separations Act, which generally requires the public school district to award separate prime contracts to the lowest responsible bidder for (at a mininimum) the following construction trades: general construction, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing contractors. That “multi-prime” low-bid project delivery method, proponents of the new legislation urge, is too rigid and too expensive. Proponents of the design-build project delivery method contend that the new legislation paves the way for a more flexible and efficient process. If the new legislation is passed, a public school district will be able to enter into one design/build contract for any public school construction project. The public school district will be able to engage a single-source entity for both architectural services and construction services.