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Proposed Rules on Competitive Contracting up for Public Comment

January 8, 2004

General Administration sets 5 public hearings in January 2004 for comment on proposed rules.

Proposed rules governing competitive contracting in state government have been filed with the state code revisor and will be open to public comment from January 8 to February 10, 2004.

The comment period includes five public hearings in the state. General Administration will adopt the final rules by March 2004. The rules take effect July 2005.

An open house precedes each hearing to allow attendees to ask questions of the team that has developed the rules:

January 8, open house from 9 to 10 a.m., formal hearing 10 a.m. to noon, Seattle. Seattle Monorail Project Community Room, the Securities Building, 4th Avenue entrance, 1913 4th Ave.

January 9, open house from 9 to 10 a.m., formal hearing 10 a.m. to noon, Spokane. Spokane Community College District 17 Lair Student Center (Building 6) Sasquatch Room

January 14, open house from 11 a.m. to noon, formal hearing noon to 3 p.m., Olympia. General Administration Building Auditorium

January 14, open house from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., formal hearing 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Olympia. General Administration Building Auditorium

January 16, open house from 9 to 10 a.m., formal hearing 10 a.m. to noon, Olympia. General Administration Building Auditorium

Comments may be submitted online via General Administration's web site or in writing by mail or fax to:

Bill Joplin, assistant director
Department of General Administration
PO Box 41000
Olympia, WA 98504-1000
FAX (360) 586-5898

The Department of General Administration is responsible for developing the rules for competitive contracting. The department met for months around the state with several hundred representatives from business, labor and government to create the proposed rules.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PROPOSED RULES INCLUDE:

  • Determination of a competitive market.
  • Notification requirements to employees about a decision to allow competitive contracting.
  • Evaluation of bids and disclosure of bid information.
  • How a bid is awarded.
  • How to file complaints and appeals.

Competitive contracting is part of the Personnel System Reform Act that the Legislature approved in 2002. The act allows contracting of services "traditionally and historically provided by state employees."

State employees have the opportunity to offer alternatives to contracting and the ability to compete for the work. The law also allows employees to form an "Employee Business Unit" and bid on the contract along with private-sector and other potential providers.

The reform act, now referred to as Washington Works, allows any state agency or higher education institution to use competitive contracting to purchase services. However, they must determine that contracting for services will result in cost savings or improved efficiency.

More information is available on General Administration's web site