PURPOSE
The Department of Administrative
Services, through its General Services Division, Office of the State
Architect, contracts for most new construction and renovation projects
involving state-owned buildings, as the authorized contracting agent
for universities, state-supported colleges and state agencies, subject
to certain exceptions under local administration authority. The purpose
of this directive is to outline the process for the selection of design
services and for the competitive bidding process for state construction
projects.
GENERAL
Once funding for a public
improvement project is approved, Administrative Services makes a decision
whether to handle the project in-house (through supervision of the
State Architect's office) or to hire a project architect and/or engineers.
Selection of Design Services
and Construction Manager
Professional Design services
are selected and contracted for according to the requirements of sections
153.65 through 153.71 of the Ohio Revised Code and section 153:1-1
et. seq. of the Ohio Administrative Code. The requirements for selecting
professional design services are followed by Administrative Services
for all projects except a project with an estimated design fee of
less than $25,000 or a project determined by Administrative Services
to be an emergency.
Construction management
services are selected and contracted for according to the requirements
of section 9.33 et. seq. of the Revised Code. The requirements for
selecting construction management services are followed by Administrative
Services for all projects.
Both selection processes
involve a qualifications based evaluation of the firms, selecting
the firm which is most qualified to provide the requested services
and negotiating a contract which is fair and reasonable with that
firm.
Competitive Bidding for
Construction
When the construction budget
is estimated to be $50,000 or more per project, competitive bidding
is required for the project, pursuant to section 153.01 of the Revised
Code. Notice is required to be published once each week for three
consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county
where the project is located and in such other newspapers as ordered
by Administrative Services, pursuant to section 153.07 of the Revised
Code. The last publication shall be at least eight days preceding
the day for opening bids. If any or all bids are rejected and the
state resubmits the contract for bidding, such advertisement shall
be published once, not less than five days preceding the date of the
bid opening.
When the entire cost of
the project exceeds $50,000, the state is required to solicit separate
bids for, at least, the general, plumbing, electrical and HVAC (heating,
ventilating and air conditioning) work, pursuant to sections 153.50
through 153.52 of the Revised Code. If the estimated cost of any of
the required separate bids is less than $5,000, the state is not required
to solicit a separate bid for that scope of work. The state may solicit
a combined bid for all work on the project and award a single contract
for the entire project, or the state may solicit bids which combine
more than one of the required separate bids, awarding the contract
to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
For more information about
contract requirements, contract documents, policies and procedures,
contact the Office of the State Architect at (614) 466-4761.
This directive supersedes
any previously issued directive or policy and will remain effective
until canceled or superseded.
AUTHORITY & REFERENCE
ORC 9.33 et. seq.
ORC 9.312
ORC 123.01
ORC 153.01-153.71