Sec. 4b-51. (Formerly Sec. 4-131). Alterations, repairs or additions to real
assets. Selection of consultants for certain projects. (a) The Commissioner of Public
Works shall have charge and supervision of the remodeling, alteration, repair or enlargement of any real asset, except any dam, flood or erosion control system, highway, bridge
or any mass transit, marine or aviation transportation facility, a facility of the Connecticut
Marketing Authority, an asset of the Department of Agriculture program established
pursuant to section 26-237a, or any building under the supervision and control of the
Joint Committee on Legislative Management, involving an expenditure in excess of
five hundred thousand dollars, and except that each constituent unit of the state system
of higher education may have charge and supervision of the remodeling, alteration,
repair, construction or enlargement of any real asset involving an expenditure of not
more than two million dollars, except that The University of Connecticut shall have
charge and supervision of the remodeling, alteration, repair, construction, or enlargement of any project, as defined in subdivision (16) of section 10a-109c, notwithstanding
the amount of the expenditure involved. In any decision to remodel, alter, repair or
enlarge any real asset, the commissioner shall consider the capability of the real asset
to facilitate recycling programs.
(b) No officer, department, institution, board, commission or council of the state
government, except the Commissioner of Public Works, the Commissioner of Transportation, the Connecticut Marketing Authority, the Department of Agriculture for purposes
of the program established pursuant to section 26-237a, the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, or a constituent unit of the state system of higher education as authorized in subsection (a) of this section, shall, unless otherwise specifically authorized by
law, make or contract for the making of any alteration, repair or addition to any real
asset involving an expenditure of more than five hundred thousand dollars.
(c) The plans necessary for any such remodeling, alteration, repair or enlargement
of any state humane institution, as defined in section 17b-222, shall be subject to the
approval of the administrative head of such humane institution.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the Commissioner of
Public Works may select consultants to be on a list established for the purpose of providing any consultant services. Such list shall be established as provided in sections 4b-56
and 4b-57. The commissioner may enter into a contract with any consultant on such list
to perform a range of consultant services or to perform a range of tasks pursuant to a task
letter detailing services to be performed under such contract. As used in this subsection,
"consultant" means "consultant" as defined in section 4b-55, and "consultant services"
means "consultant services" as defined in section 4b-55.
(e) Costs for projects authorized under subsection (b) of this section shall be charged
to the bond fund account for the project for which such costs are incurred. The Department of Public Works shall develop procedures for expediting the administration of
projects for alterations, repairs or additions authorized under said subsection (b).
(f) Any state agency proposing to remodel, alter or enlarge any real asset shall
submit a statement to the commissioner demonstrating the capability of the real asset
to facilitate recycling programs.
(1949 Rev., S. 203; March, 1950, S. 1899d; 1957, P.A. 150, S. 2; 457, S. 2; P.A. 73-488; P.A. 75-326; 75-365, S. 1;
P.A. 77-614, S. 73, 610; P.A. 81-421, S. 2, 9; P.A. 82-114, S. 1, 2; 82-369, S. 17, 28; 82-438, S. 3, 6; P.A. 83-487, S. 23,
33; P.A. 84-48, S. 9, 17; P.A. 85-567, S. 1, 6; P.A. 87-496, S. 32, 110; 87-529, S. 1; P.A. 88-117, S. 3, 5; 88-231, S. 3; 88-291, S. 3, 6; P.A. 91-200, S. 2, 3; 91-230, S. 8, 17; P.A. 93-201, S. 4, 24; P.A. 95-230, S. 35, 45; P.A. 97-293, S. 19, 26;
P.A. 98-235, S. 5; P.A. 99-75, S. 4; P.A. 01-172, S. 3; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(f); P.A. 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 07-213, S. 17.)
History: P.A. 73-488 gave commissioner of transportation power to make or contract for real estate expenditures; P.A.
75-326 gave heads of humane institutions authority to approve or disapprove plans for changes to institutions under their
control; P.A. 75-365 raised expenditures amount to $50,000, and required public works commissioner's approval of all
contracts; P.A. 77-614 replaced public works commissioner with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 81-421
excluded the supervision of the alteration of mass transit, marine or aviation transportation facilities from the duties of
the commissioner; P.A. 82-114 increased amount from $50,000 to $100,000; P.A. 82-369 also increased the amount of
expenditure involved from $50,000 or more to $100,000 or more and added provision that amount of expenditure involved
in such an alteration, repair or addition made or contracted for by any such officer, department, institution, board, commission or council, may, with prior approval of said commissioner, exceed $100,000 up to a maximum of $250,000; P.A. 82-438 amended section to provide that commissioner of administrative services does not have charge and supervision of
remodeling, alteration, repair or enlargement of state capitol building and to authorize legislative management committee
to make or contract for alterations, repairs or additions to the capitol; P.A. 83-487 added exception for Connecticut marketing
authority and its facilities; P.A. 84-48 excepted any building under the supervision and control of the joint committee on
legislative management, where previously exception was for state capitol building; P.A. 85-567 divided section into Subsecs., amended Subsec. (a) to permit departments and institutions to have charge and supervision over and to contract for
alterations, repairs and additions involving expenditures of up to $250,000, where previously the limit was $100,000 and
added a Subsec. (d) re selection of architects and engineers, maximum fees for technical services and expedited project
administration; P.A. 87-496 replaced commissioner and department of administrative services with commissioner and
department of public works; P.A. 87-529 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to provide that each constituent unit of the state
system of higher education have charge and supervision of the remodeling, alteration, repair or enlargement of any real
asset involving an expenditure of not more than $500,000; P.A. 88-117 added an exception to the fee limit in Subsec. (d)
for projects of constituent units and made a technical change in Subsec. (e); P.A. 88-231 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring
commissioner to consider capabilities of real assets to facilitate recycling programs and added Subsec. (e) requiring statements by agencies proposing to remodel, alter or enlarge real assets demonstrating the capability of such real assets to
facilitate recycling; P.A. 88-291 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by adding the exception for the department of agriculture
program established pursuant to Sec. 26-237a; Sec. 4-131 transferred to Sec. 4b-51 in 1989; P.A. 91-200 amended Subsec.
(a) to exclude from commissioner's authority the control of any "dam, flood or erosion control system"; P.A. 91-230 in
Subsec. (a) added "construction" and changed $500,000 to $1,000,000 in the exception concerning the constituent units
of the state system of higher education and in Subsec. (d) changed $50,000 to $150,000; P.A. 93-201 amended Subsec.
(a) to increase the expenditure limit for a constituent unit from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 and amended Subsec. (d) to
increase the fee limit for projects of a constituent unit from $150,000 to $300,000, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-230
amended Subsec. (a) to add exception for The University of Connecticut, effective June 7, 1995; P.A. 97-293 made a
technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-235 amended Subsec. (d) by substituting "consultants" for
"architects and engineers", "consultant services" for "architectural and engineering technical services" and $50,000 for
$25,000 and adding the definitions of "consultant" and "consultant services"; P.A. 99-75 substituted $500,000 for $250,000
in Subsecs. (a) and (b); P.A. 01-172 amended Subsec. (d) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1), making a technical
change therein, and add Subdiv. (2) re applications and advertisements for consultants; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced
Department of Agriculture with Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189
repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and
Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 07-213 amended Subsec. (d) to authorize commissioner to select consultants in accordance with Secs. 4b-56 and 4b-57 and enter into a contract with any such consultant to perform a range of
consultant services or tasks, make technical changes and delete former Subdiv. (2) re application process for inclusion on
consultant list, effective July 1, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 4b-55. (Formerly Sec. 4-134a). State Construction Services Selection
Panel; Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority Construction Services Panel. Definitions. As used in this section, section 4b-1 and sections 4b-56 to 4b-59, inclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Public Works;
(b) "Consultant" means (1) any architect, professional engineer, landscape architect, land surveyor, accountant, interior designer, environmental professional or construction administrator, who is registered or licensed to practice such person's profession
in accordance with the applicable provisions of the general statutes, or (2) any planner
or financial specialist;
(c) "Consultant services" shall include those professional services rendered by architects, professional engineers, landscape architects, land surveyors, accountants, interior designers, environmental professionals, construction administrators, planners or
financial specialists, as well as incidental services that members of these professions
and those in their employ are authorized to perform;
(d) "University of Connecticut library project" means a project to renovate and
improve the Homer Babbidge Library at The University of Connecticut;
(e) "Firm" means any individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, association or other legal entity (1) authorized by law to practice the profession of architecture,
landscape architecture, engineering, land surveying, accounting, interior design, environmental or construction administration, or (2) practicing the profession of planning
or financial specialization;
(f) "Priority higher education facility project" means any project which is part of a
state program to repair, renovate, enlarge, equip, purchase or construct (1) instructional
facilities, (2) academic core facilities, including library, research and laboratory facilities, (3) student residential or related student dining facilities, or (4) utility systems
related to such projects, which are or will be operated under the jurisdiction of the board
of trustees of any constituent unit of the state system of higher education, except The
University of Connecticut provided the project is included in the comprehensive facilities master plan of the constituent unit pursuant to section 10a-4a or in the most recent
state facility plan of the Office of Policy and Management pursuant to section 4b-23;
(g) "Project" means any state program requiring consultant services if the cost of
such services is estimated to exceed three hundred thousand dollars;
(h) "Selection panel" or "panel" means the State Construction Services Selection
Panel established pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4b-56 or, in the case of a Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority project pursuant to section 10a-186a,
means the Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority Construction Services
Panel established pursuant to subsection (c) of section 4b-56;
(i) "User agency" means the state department or agency requesting the project or
the agency for which such project is being undertaken pursuant to law;
(j) "Community court project" means (1) any project to renovate and improve a
facility designated for the community court pilot program established pursuant to section
51-181c, and (2) the renovation and improvement of other state facilities required for
the relocation of any state agency resulting from the placement of the community court;
(k) "Connecticut Juvenile Training School project" means a project (1) to develop
on a designated site new facilities for a Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown including, but not limited to, preparing a feasibility study for, designing, constructing, reconstructing, improving or equipping said facility for use by the Department
of Children and Families, which is an emergency project because there is an immediate
need for completion of said project to remedy overcrowding at Long Lane School; said
school shall have an annual average daily population of not more than two hundred forty
residents; or (2) to develop a separate facility for girls including, but not limited to,
acquiring of land or buildings, designing, constructing, reconstructing, improving or
equipping said facility for use by the Department of Children and Families;
(l) "Downtown Hartford higher education center project" means a project to develop a higher education center, as defined in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of
section 32-600, and as described in subsection (a) of section 32-612, for the regional
community-technical college system;
(m) "Correctional facility project" means any project (1) which is part of a state
program to repair, renovate, enlarge or construct facilities which are or will be operated
by the Department of Correction, and (2) for which there is an immediate need for
completion in order to remedy prison and jail overcrowding; and
(n) "Juvenile detention center project" means any project (1) which is part of a state
program to repair, renovate, enlarge or construct juvenile detention centers which are
or will be operated by the Judicial Department, and (2) for which there is an immediate
need for completion in order to remedy overcrowding.
(P.A. 79-450, S. 1, 8; P.A. 82-369, S. 18, 28; P.A. 85-567, S. 3, 6; P.A. 87-496, S. 38, 110; 87-529, S. 4; P.A. 88-117,
S. 4, 5; P.A. 89-353, S. 1, 8; P.A. 90-261, S. 1, 19; P.A. 91-230, S. 1, 17; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-9, S. 6, 10; P.A. 92-228,
S. 4, 9; P.A. 93-201, S. 6, 24; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 3, 203; P.A. 95-152, S. 1; 95-230, S. 37, 45; P.A. 96-235, S. 5,
19; P.A. 97-293, S. 11, 26; P.A. 98-21, S. 2; 98-59, S. 2, 3; 98-235, S. 4; P.A. 99-26, S. 2, 39; 99-75, S. 6; 99-241, S. 48,
66; P.A. 00-192, S. 15, 102; P.A. 01-26, S. 4; 01-172, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-7, S. 15, 28; P.A. 03-215, S. 11; P.A.
05-287, S. 49; P.A. 07-213, S. 18.)
History: P.A. 82-369 redefined "project" by increasing the estimated cost of design professional services from $10,000
to $25,000; P.A. 85-567 amended definition of "project", increasing dollar amount for construction costs from one hundred
thousand to $250,000; P.A. 87-496 redefined "commissioner" as public works rather than administrative services commissioner; P.A. 87-529 redefined "project" by increasing dollar amount for construction costs in the case of a constituent unit
of the state system of higher education from $250,000 to $500,000; P.A. 88-117 amended Subsec. (e)(1) to provide an
exception for constituent units, of the state system of higher education; Sec. 4-134a transferred to Sec. 4b-55 in 1989; P.A.
89-353 added definition of "emergency correctional facility project" and relettered former Subsecs. (d) to (g), inclusive; P.A.
90-261 amended the definition of "emergency correctional facility project" to change the deadline for the commencement of
the project from June 30, 1990, to December 31, 1991, and to increase the maximum estimated construction cost from
$12,000,000 to $20,000,000; P.A. 91-230 inserted definition of "priority higher education facility project" as Subsec. (f),
relettering former Subsecs. accordingly and in Subsec. (g) changed $50,000 to $150,000 in Subdiv. (1), and $500,000 to
$1,000,000 in Subdiv. (2); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-9 amended Subsec. (d)(2) to substitute December 31, 1993, for December
31, 1991; P.A. 92-228 amended Subsec. (h) to change name of panel from "design professional services selection panel"
to "state construction services selection panel"; P.A. 93-201 amended Subsec. (g) defining "project" to increase the limits
for a constituent unit from $150,000 to $300,000 for design services and from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 for construction
costs for higher education projects, effective July 1, 1993; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2 added definition of "University of
Connecticut library project" and relettered former Subsecs. (f) to (j), inclusive, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-152 amended
Subsec. (d)(1) to delete provision that the immediate need for completion of such facility project "has been certified by
the advisory commission pursuant to section 18-87f", reflecting the repeal of said section by the same public act; P.A. 95-230 amended Subsecs. (g) and (h) to add exception for The University of Connecticut, effective June 7, 1995; P.A. 96-235 amended Subsec. (b) by changing defined term from "design professional" to "consultant" and including registered
or licensed accountants, interior designers, environmental professionals and construction administrators and any planner,
construction manager or financial specialist in such definition, amended Subsec. (c) by changing defined term from "design
professional services" to "consultant services" and including services rendered by accountants, interior designers, environmental professionals, construction administrators, planners, construction managers and financial specialists in such definition, amended Subsec. (f) by adding entities authorized by law to practice profession of accounting, interior design, environmental or construction administration or practicing profession of planning, construction management or financial
specialization to definition of "firm" and amended Subsec. (h) by substituting "consultant services" for "design professionals", effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 97-293 redefined "selection panel" or "panel" to include the Connecticut Health and
Education Facilities Authority Construction Services Panel, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-21 added Subsec. (k) defining
"community court project"; P.A. 98-59 changed effective date of P.A. 98-21 from October 1, 1998, to April 13, 1998; P.A.
98-235 deleted reference to Sec. 4b-23(i) in introductory text and amended Subsec. (h), defining "project", by substituting
$50,000 for $25,000 in Subdiv. (1) and $400,000 for $250,000 in Subdiv. (2); P.A. 99-26 added Subsec. (l), designated
by the Revisors as Subsec. (k) defining the "Connecticut Juvenile Training School project" and made a technical change
for purposes of gender neutrality, effective May 7, 1999; P.A. 99-75 repealed Subsec. (d) which defined "Emergency
correctional facility project", relettered former Subsecs. (e) to (k), inclusive, accordingly and substituted $500,000 for
$400,000 in relettered Subsec. (g), defining "project"; P.A. 99-241 made a technical change in Subsec. (b) for purposes
of gender neutrality and added new Subsec. (l) re downtown Hartford higher education center, effective June 28, 1999;
P.A. 00-192 added Subsecs. (m) and (n) defining "correctional facility project" and "juvenile detention center project",
effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 01-26 made a technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 01-172 amended Subsec. (g) to substitute
"and" for "or" between Subdivs. (1) and (2); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-7 amended Subsec. (k) to make technical changes and
include in the definition of "Connecticut Juvenile Training School" a provision for a separate facility for girls, effective
July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-215 redefined "consultant", "consultant services" and "firm" by deleting references to "construction
managers" and "construction management", effective October 1, 2004; P.A. 05-287 amended Subsec. (i) to redefine "user
agency" to include the agency for which the project is being undertaken pursuant to law, effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 07-213 amended Subsec. (g) to redefine "project", effective July 10, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 4b-56. (Formerly Sec. 4-134b). State construction services selection panels, and Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority construction services panels, established. Membership. (a) There shall be established within the Department of Public Works state construction services selection panels which shall consist
of five members. Four of such members shall be appointed by the commissioner, shall
serve only for deliberations involving the project for which such members are appointed,
and shall be current or retired employees of the Department of Public Works. The remaining member shall be appointed by the head or acting head of the user agency and
shall serve only for deliberations involving the project for which such member is appointed.
(b) The selection panels shall not be deemed to be a board or commission within
the meaning of section 4-9a.
(c) There shall be established within the Department of Public Works Connecticut
Health and Education Facilities Authority construction services panels which shall consist of five members. Three of such members shall be appointed by the Commissioner
of Public Works, shall serve only for deliberations involving the project for which such
members are appointed and shall be current employees of the Department of Public
Works. The remaining members shall be appointed by the head or acting head of the
user agency and shall serve only for deliberations involving the project for which such
members are appointed.
(d) The panels established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall not be
deemed to be a board or commission within the meaning of section 4-9a. Such panels
shall be the selection panels only for Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority projects pursuant to section 10a-89b.
(e) There shall be established, within the Department of Public Works, a State Construction Services Selection Panel that shall consist of five members. Such members
shall be appointed by the commissioner, shall be current employees of the Department
of Public Works or any agency for which consultant services may be contracted, and
shall serve only for deliberations involving the selection of consultants under subsection
(d) of section 4b-51 for which the employees are appointed.
(f) The panel established pursuant to subsection (e) of this section shall not be
deemed to be a board or commission within the meaning of section 4-9a.
(P.A. 79-450, S. 3, 8; P.A. 87-496, S. 39, 110; P.A. 91-43, S. 2; P.A. 92-228, S. 5, 9; P.A. 96-235, S. 15, 19; P.A. 97-47, S. 49; 97-293, S. 12, 26; P.A. 07-213, S. 15, 19.)
History: P.A. 87-496 substituted "public works" for "administrative services" department; Sec. 4-134b transferred to
Sec. 4b-56 in 1989; P.A. 91-43 amended Subsec. (a) to allow either current or retired employees to be appointed by
commissioner to panel; P.A. 92-228 amended Subsec. (a) by changing name of panel from "state design professional
services selection panel" to "state construction services selection panel"; P.A. 96-235 amended Subsec. (a) by decreasing
membership of panel from six to five and decreasing number of appointments by Commissioner of Public Works from
five to four, effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 97-47 rearranged provisions in Subsec. (a); P.A. 97-293 added Subsecs. (c) and
(d) re Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority Construction Services Panel, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 07-213 amended Subsec. (a) to establish more than one panel, provide that members appointed by commissioner serve only
for deliberations involving the project for which the member is appointed, eliminate one-year term for such members, and
remove commissioner's authority to fill vacancies on the panel, made a technical change in Subsec. (b), amended Subsec.
(c) to establish more than one panel, provide that members appointed by commissioner serve only for deliberations involving
the project for which the member is appointed, eliminate one-year term for such members, and remove commissioner's
authority to fill vacancies on the panel, made technical changes in Subsec. (d), and added Subsecs. (e) and (f) re State
Construction Services Selection Panel for selection of consultants under Sec. 4b-51(d), effective July 10, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 4b-57. (Formerly Sec. 4-134c). Invitation of responses. Consideration by
selection panel. (a) Whenever consultant services are required by the commissioner in
fulfilling the responsibilities under section 4b-1, and in the case of each project, the
commissioner shall invite responses from such firms by advertisements inserted at least
once in one or more newspapers having a circulation in each county in the state except
that the commissioner may receive consultant services under a contract entered into
pursuant to subsection (d) of section 4b-51. The commissioner shall prescribe, by regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54, the advance notice required for, the manner
of submission, and conditions and requirements of, such responses.
(b) In the case of a project, the responses received shall be considered by the selection panel. The panel shall select from among those responding no fewer than three
firms, which such panel determines in accordance with criteria established by the commissioner are most qualified to perform the required consultant services. In the case of
any project that requires consultant services by an architect or professional engineer,
additional criteria to be considered by such panel in selecting a list of the most qualified
firms shall include: (1) Such firm's knowledge of this state's building and fire codes,
and (2) the geographic location of such firm in relation to the geographic location of
the proposed project. The selection panel shall submit a list of the most qualified firms
to the commissioner for the commissioner's consideration unless fewer than three responses for a particular project have been received, in which case the panel shall submit
the names of all firms who have submitted responses.
(c) In the case of consultants selected under subsection (d) of section 4b-51, the
responses received shall be considered by the selection panel. The panel shall select,
from among those persons responding, a list of those persons most qualified to perform
the consultant services. Knowledge of the state building and fire code shall be considered
in determining a consultant's qualifications.
(P.A. 79-450, S. 4, 8; P.A. 80-483, S. 13, 186; P.A. 96-235, S. 11, 19; P.A. 05-287, S. 29; P.A. 06-196, S. 32; P.A. 07-213, S. 20.)
History: P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; Sec. 4-134c transferred to Sec. 4b-57 in 1989; P.A. 96-235 substituted
"consultant" for "design professional", effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 05-287 amended Subsec. (b) to provide additional
criteria to be considered by the panel in the case of a project that requires consultant services by an architect or professional
engineer, effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-213
amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change and create exception for consultant services under contract entered into
pursuant to Sec. 4b-51(d) and added Subsec. (c) re consultants selected under Sec. 4b-51(d), effective July 10, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 4b-91. (Formerly Sec. 4-137a). Bidding for public building contracts. Prequalification requirements. (a) Every contract for the construction, reconstruction,
alteration, remodeling, repair or demolition of any public building or any other public
work by the state except a public highway or bridge project or any other construction
project administered by the Department of Transportation, which is estimated to cost
more than five hundred thousand dollars, except a contract awarded by the Commissioner of Public Works for (1) a community court project, as defined in subsection (j)
of section 4b-55, (2) the downtown Hartford higher education center project, as defined
in subsection (l) of section 4b-55, (3) a correctional facility project, as defined in subsection (m) of section 4b-55, (4) a juvenile detention center project, as defined in subsection
(n) of section 4b-55, or (5) a student residential facility for the Connecticut State University system that is a priority higher education facility project, as defined in subsection
(f) of section 4b-55, shall be awarded to the lowest responsible and qualified general
bidder who is prequalified pursuant to section 4a-100 on the basis of competitive bids
in accordance with the procedures set forth in this chapter, after the Commissioner of
Public Works or, in the case of a contract for the construction of or work on a building
under the supervision and control of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management
of the General Assembly, the joint committee or, in the case of a contract for the construction of or work on a building under the supervision and control of one of the constituent
units of the state system of higher education, the constituent unit, has invited such bids
by advertisements inserted at least once in one or more newspapers having a circulation
in each county in the state. The Commissioner of Public Works, the joint committee or
the constituent unit, as the case may be, shall indicate the prequalification classification
required for the contract in such advertisement. As used in this section, "prequalification
classification" means the prequalification classifications established by the Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to section 4a-100.
(b) The Commissioner of Public Works, the joint committee or the constituent unit,
as the case may be, shall determine the manner of submission and the conditions and
requirements of such bids, and the time within which the bids shall be submitted, consistent with the provisions of sections 4b-91 to 4b-96, inclusive. Such award shall be made
not later than ninety days after the opening of such bids. If the general bidder selected
as the general contractor fails to perform the general contractor's agreement to execute
a contract in accordance with the terms of the general contractor's general bid and furnish
a performance bond and also a labor and materials or payment bond to the amount
specified in the general bid form, an award shall be made to the next lowest responsible
and qualified general bidder. No employee of the Department of Public Works, the joint
committee or a constituent unit with decision-making authority concerning the award
of a contract and no public official, as defined in section 1-79, may communicate with
any bidder prior to the award of the contract if the communication results in the bidder
receiving information about the contract that is not available to other bidders, except
that if the lowest responsible and qualified bidder's price submitted is in excess of funds
available to make an award, the Commissioner of Public Works, the Joint Committee
on Legislative Management or the constituent unit, as the case may be, may negotiate
with such bidder and award the contract on the basis of the funds available, without
change in the contract specifications, plans and other requirements. If the award of a
contract on said basis is refused by such bidder, the Commissioner of Public Works,
the Joint Committee on Legislative Management or the constituent unit, as the case may
be, may negotiate with other contractors who submitted bids in ascending order of bid
prices without change in the contract, specifications, plans and other requirements. In
the event of negotiation with general bidders as provided in this section, the general
bidder involved may negotiate with subcontractors on the same basis, provided such
general bidder shall negotiate only with subcontractors named on such general bidder's
general bid form.
(c) No person may bid on a contract or perform work pursuant to a contract for the
construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, repair or demolition of any public
building for work by the state or a municipality, which is estimated to cost more than
five hundred thousand dollars and is paid for, in whole or in part, with state funds, unless
the person is prequalified in accordance with section 4a-100.
(d) Each bid submitted for a contract described in subsection (c) of this section
shall include a copy of a prequalification certificate issued by the Commissioner of
Administrative Services. The bid shall also be accompanied by an update bid statement
in such form as the Commissioner of Administrative Services prescribes. The form for
such update bid statement shall provide space for information regarding all projects
completed by the bidder since the date the bidder's prequalification certificate was issued
or renewed, all projects the bidder currently has under contract, including the percentage
of work on such projects not completed, the names and qualifications of the personnel
who will have supervisory responsibility for the performance of the contract, any significant changes in the bidder's financial position or corporate structure since the date the
certificate was issued or renewed, any change in the contractor's qualification status as
determined by the provisions of subdivision (6) of subsection (c) of section 4a-100
and such other relevant information as the Commissioner of Administrative Services
prescribes. Any bid submitted without a copy of the prequalification certificate and an
update bid statement shall be invalid. Any public agency that accepts a bid submitted
without a copy of such prequalification certificate and an update bid statement, as required by this section, may become ineligible for the receipt of funds related to such bid.
(e) Any person who bids on a contract described in subsection (c) of this section
shall certify under penalty of false statement at the conclusion of the bidding process
that the information in the bid is true, that there has been no substantial change in the
bidder's financial position or corporate structure since the bidder's most recent prequalification certificate was issued or renewed, other than those changes noted in the update
bid statement, and that the bid was made without fraud or collusion with any person.
(f) Any person who receives information from a state employee or public official
that is not available to the general public concerning any construction, reconstruction,
alteration, remodeling, repair or demolition project on a public building prior to the date
that an advertisement for bids on the project is published shall be disqualified from
bidding on the project.
(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter regarding competitive bidding
procedures, the commissioner may select and interview at least three responsible and
qualified general contractors who are prequalified pursuant to section 4a-100 and submit
the three selected contractors to the construction services award panels process described
in section 4b-100a and any regulation adopted by the commissioner. The commissioner
may negotiate with the successful bidder a contract which is both fair and reasonable
to the state for a community court project, as defined in subsection (j) of section 4b-55,
the downtown Hartford higher education center project, as defined in subsection (l) of
section 4b-55, a correctional facility project, as defined in subsection (m) of section 4b-55, a juvenile detention center project, as defined in subsection (n) of section 4b-55, or
a student residential facility for the Connecticut State University system that is a priority
higher education facility project, as defined in subsection (f) of section 4b-55. The Commissioner of Public Works, prior to entering any such contract or performing any work
on such project, shall submit such contract to the State Properties Review Board for
review and approval or disapproval by the board, pursuant to subsection (i) of this
section. Any general contractor awarded a contract pursuant to this subsection shall be
subject to the same requirements concerning the furnishing of bonds as a contractor
awarded a contract pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(h) Any agency that seeks to have a project awarded without being subject to competitive bidding procedures shall certify to the joint committee of the General Assembly
having cognizance of matters relating to government administration and elections that
the project is of such an emergency nature that an exception to the competitive bidding
procedures of this section is required. Such certification shall include input from all
affected agencies, detail the need for the exception and include any relevant documentation.
(i) In the event that the General Assembly approves legislation authorizing an exception to the competitive bidding process for a project, the State Properties Review
Board shall complete a review of the contract for such project and approve or disapprove
such contract no later than thirty days after the Commissioner of Public Works submits
such contract to the board. Such review shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of section 4b-3. In the event that such review does not occur within the thirty-day
period prescribed by this subsection, such contract shall be deemed to be approved.
(j) On and after October 1, 2007, no person whose subcontract exceeds five hundred
thousand dollars in value may perform work as a subcontractor on a project for the
construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, repair or demolition of any public
building for work by the state or a municipality, which project is estimated to cost more
than five hundred thousand dollars and is paid for, in whole or in part, with state funds,
unless the person is prequalified in accordance with section 4a-100. The provisions of
this subsection shall not apply to a project described in subdivision (2) of subsection
(a) of this section.
(P.A. 73-528, S. 1, 12; P.A. 74-246, S. 1, 11; P.A. 75-425, S. 23, 57; P.A. 77-614, S. 73, 610; P.A. 82-438, S. 5, 6; 82-447, S. 1; P.A. 84-48, S. 12, 17; P.A. 87-496, S. 41, 110; 87-529, S. 5; P.A. 88-116, S. 4; P.A. 89-353, S. 3, 8; P.A. 92-228, S. 6, 9; P.A. 93-30, S. 4, 14; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 5, 203; P.A. 95-230, S. 39, 45; P.A. 96-235, S. 14, 19; P.A.
97-293, S. 21, 26; P.A. 98-21, S. 4; 98-59, S. 2, 3; P.A. 99-26, S. 4, 39; 99-75, S. 8; 99-241, S. 50, 66; P.A. 00-192, S. 17,
102; P.A. 02-140, S. 3; P.A. 03-215, S. 1; P.A. 04-141, S. 1; P.A. 05-287, S. 10, 11; P.A. 06-134, S. 18, 19, 24; P.A. 07-202, S. 7; 07-213, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 74-246 required award of bid within 60 days of bid opening rather than previous 90 days and clarified
procedure for negotiation of contract when bids exceed available funds and including provision for negotiations between
bidders and sub-bidders; P.A. 75-425 required bidding on projects estimated to exceed $250,000 rather than $500,000 as
previously; P.A. 77-614 replaced public works commissioner with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 82-438
provided that legislative management committee is responsible for bidding procedures involving work on the state capitol
building; P.A. 82-447 amended section to replace references to sub-bidders with references to subcontractors; P.A. 84-48
included any construction of or work on any building under the supervision and control of the joint committee on legislative
management as being under the control of said committee where "state capitol building" was previously mentioned; P.A.
87-496 replaced administrative services commissioner with public works commissioner; P.A. 87-529 provided that a
constituent unit of the state system of higher education is responsible for bidding procedures involving work on a building
under the supervision of the constituent unit; P.A. 88-116 added provision re manner, conditions, requirements and time
for bids; Sec. 4-137a transferred to Sec. 4b-91 in 1989; P.A. 89-353 designated existing section as Subsec. (a), exempted
emergency correctional facility project from Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re procedure for award of contract for
emergency correctional facility project to a general contractor; P.A. 92-228 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdivs. (2)
and (3), exempting large public building project and construction management contracts from requirements of Subsec.
(a); P.A. 93-30 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 1993; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2 exempted the
University of Connecticut library project from Subsec. (a) and included said project in provisions of Subsec. (b), effective
July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-230 amended Subsec. (a) to add exception for The University of Connecticut and made technical
changes to the lettering and numbering, effective June 7, 1995; P.A. 96-235 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by repealing exemption
from competitive bidding requirements for large public building projects and construction management, as defined in Sec.
4b-98, which was repealed elsewhere in the act, effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 97-293 made a technical change in Subsec.
(a), effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-21 amended Subsec. (a) to exempt a community court project and amended Subsec.
(b) to include a community court project; P.A. 98-59 changed effective date of P.A. 98-21 from October 1, 1998, to April
13, 1998; P.A. 99-26 amended Subsec. (a) to exempt the Connecticut Juvenile Training School project, amended Subsec.
(b) to include said project and made technical changes, effective May 7, 1999; P.A. 99-75 substituted $500,000 for $250,000
in Subsec. (a), deleted references to "an emergency correctional facility project" and made technical changes; P.A. 99-241 added the downtown Hartford higher education center and made technical changes, effective June 28, 1999; P.A. 00-192 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to include correctional facility project and juvenile detention center project, effective
July 1, 2000; P.A. 02-140 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by adding provisions re student residential facilities and made
technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-215 amended Subsec. (a) to reference prequalified contractors and require that advertisements indicate the prequalification and aggregate work capacity rating, designated part of
Subsec. (a) as Subsec. (b), adding prohibition on communications with a bidder prior to the award of a contract and making
technical changes therein, inserted new Subsec. (c) re prequalification, inserted new Subsec. (d) re update statement,
inserted new Subsec. (e) re certification under penalty of false statement, inserted new Subsec. (f) re receipt of information
not available to the general public and relettered former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (g), referencing prequalification and selection
by the award panel and requiring certification to legislative management committee re emergency nature of projects therein,
effective October 1, 2004; P.A. 04-141 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Sec. 4b-24(4), i.e. Sec. 9 of P.A. 03-215, eliminate requirement that the Commissioner of Public Works, the joint committee or the constituent unit indicate
the aggregate work capacity rating required for the contract in the advertisement and delete definition of aggregate work
capacity rating, amended Subsec. (b) to prohibit public official, as defined in Sec. 1-79, from communicating with any
bidder prior to the award of the contract if the communication results in the bidder receiving information about the contract
not available to other bidders, made technical changes in Subsec. (d), amended Subsec. (f) to include receipt of information
from a state employee, made technical changes in Subsec. (g) and added requirement that the Commissioner of Public
Works submit contract to the State Properties Review Board for review and approval or disapproval, designated provisions
re agency seeking to have project awarded without being subject to competitive bidding procedures on and after October
1, 2004, as Subsec. (h) and amended said Subsec. to require certification for such project to the government administration
and elections committee rather than the legislative management committee and made technical changes, and added Subsec.
(i) re review of contract for approved project by the State Properties Review Board; P.A. 05-287 amended Subsec. (a)(1)
to delete exceptions in former Subparas. (B) and (D) for the Connecticut Juvenile Training School project and The University
of Connecticut library project and redesignate existing Subpara. (C) as new Subpara. (B), and existing Subparas. (E) to
(G), inclusive, as new Subparas. (C) to (E), inclusive, and amended Subsec. (g) to remove The University of Connecticut
library project and the Connecticut Juvenile Training School project from the list of projects for which the commissioner
may negotiate a contract with the successful bidder, effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 06-134 amended Subsec. (a) to eliminate
exception for certain projects undertaken and controlled by The University of Connecticut and made technical changes in
both Subsec. (a) and Subsec. (c), effective January 1, 2007, and added new Subsec. (j) re requirement of certain subcontractors to be prequalified, effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 07-202 amended Subsec. (a) to include any other public work by
the state and add exception for public highway or bridge projects or any other construction projects administered by
Department of Transportation, amended Subsec. (c) to include work performed pursuant to a contract, amended Subsec.
(d) to add provision re acceptance of bid without prequalification certificate and update bid statement, and made technical
changes, effective July 10, 2007; P.A. 07-213 amended Subsec. (b) to change "within sixty days" to "not later than ninety
days" re making of award, effective July 10, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 4b-92. (Formerly Sec. 4-137b). "Lowest responsible and qualified bidder" defined. Bid bonds, certified checks, when forfeited. As used in this chapter
and except as otherwise provided, the words "lowest responsible and qualified bidder"
shall mean the bidder who is prequalified pursuant to section 4a-100, and whose bid is
the lowest of those bidders possessing the skill, ability and integrity necessary to faithful
performance of the work based on objective criteria considering past performance and
information contained in the update bid statement submitted pursuant to section 4b-91.
Essential information in regard to such qualifications shall be submitted with the bid in
such form as the awarding authority may require by specification in the bid documents
and on the bid form. Every general bid shall be accompanied by a bid bond or a certified
check in an amount which shall be ten per cent of the bid, provided no such bid bond
or certified check shall be required in relation to any general bid in which the total
estimated cost of labor and materials under the contract with respect to which such
general bid is submitted is less than fifty thousand dollars. Failure to execute a contract
awarded as specified and bid shall result in the forfeiture of such bid bond or certified
check. In considering past performance the awarding authority shall evaluate the skill,
ability and integrity of bidders in terms of the bidders' fulfillment of contract obligations
and of the bidders' experience or lack of experience with projects of the nature and
scope of the project for which the bids are submitted.
(P.A. 73-528, S. 2, 12; P.A. 74-246, S. 2, 11; P.A. 79-490; P.A. 82-358, S. 8, 10; 82-447, S. 2; P.A. 99-75, S. 9; P.A.
03-215, S. 2; P.A. 07-202, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 74-246 deleted provision that bidder certify labor to be employed can work harmoniously with others,
required objective criteria for judging bidders' qualifications and raised bid bond from 5% to 10% of bid; P.A. 79-490
exempted sub-bidders bidding less than $10,000 in labor and materials costs from bid bond requirement; P.A. 82-358
provided that bid bond or certified check is not required for general bids with estimated cost of labor and materials of less
than $10,000 and raised estimated cost relative to sub-bids from $10,000 to $20,000; P.A. 82-447 amended section to
eliminate all reference to sub-bidding process and to specify factors for evaluation in considering a contractor's past
performance; Sec. 4-137b transferred to Sec. 4b-92 in 1989; P.A. 99-75 substituted $50,000 for $10,000; P.A. 03-215
redefined "lowest responsible and qualified bidder" and substituted "nature and scope" for "size" re projects, effective
October 1, 2004; P.A. 07-202 made a technical change, effective July 10, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 4b-100. Regulations.
Subsec. (b):
Neither the competitive bidding statutes nor the regulations promulgated by Department of Public Works require
department to hold a hearing to address alleged violations of bidding process for public building contracts. 282 C. 764.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 4b-100a. Construction services award panels. Screening, interview and
selection of contractors. Memoranda re selection. Regulations. (a) The Department
of Public Works shall establish construction services award panels which shall each
consist of six members. Three of such members shall be appointed by the Commissioner
of Public Works, shall be current employees of the Department of Public Works and
shall serve only for deliberations involving the project for which such members are
appointed. Two members shall be appointed by the department head of the user agency
and one member shall be a neutral party appointed by the commissioner.
(b) A panel established pursuant to this section shall not be deemed to be a board
or commission within the meaning of section 4-9a. Such panels shall be the award panels
for any contract for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, repair or
demolition of any public building for the state pursuant to subsection (g) of section 4b-91 and section 4b-24.
(c) For each applicable contract, the commissioner shall designate one panel to
screen all submitted proposals and establish a list of bidders to be interviewed and shall
designate a separate panel consisting of different members to interview bidders on the
list and submit a list of recommended contractors to the commissioner ranked in order
of preference with the most qualified bidder listed first.
(d) The commissioner shall designate one voting member on each panel to serve
as chairperson. The chairperson shall moderate the committee, collect votes and compile
the results.
(e) Each award panel shall prepare a memorandum on the selection process indicating (1) how the evaluation criteria were applied by each panel member to determine the
most qualified firms, (2) the ranking of each bidder by each panel member which shall
be available to the public after execution of the contract with the selected contractor,
and (3) a certification by each panel member that the selection of the most qualified
firm was not the result of collusion, the giving of a gift or the promise of a gift, compensation, fraud or inappropriate influence from any person.
(f) The commissioner shall select a contractor from among the list of firms submitted
by the award panel that interviewed the contractors. After the commissioner has made
a selection, the names of the contractor firms submitted to the commissioner shall be
available to the public upon request. In the event the commissioner does not select the
most qualified bidder listed by the awards panel, the commissioner shall prepare a written explanation of the commissioner's decision. The commissioner shall also prepare
a memorandum on the final phase of the selection process, indicating how the commissioner applied the evaluation criteria to determine the successful bidder. Such memorandum shall include a certification by the commissioner that the commissioner's selection
of the successful bidder was not the result of collusion, the giving of a gift or the promise
of a gift, compensation, fraud or undue pressure from any person and shall be available
to the public after execution of the contract with the selected contractor.
(g) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to
implement the provisions of this section.
(P.A. 03-215, S. 8; P.A. 04-141, S. 6; P.A. 07-213, S. 16.)
History: P.A. 03-215 effective October 1, 2004; P.A. 04-141 amended Subsec. (c) to require that list of contractors
submitted to the commissioner be ranked in order of preference with the most qualified bidder listed first, amended Subsec.
(e) to add Subdiv. designators, provisions re application of criteria and ranking of bidders by each panel member and
provision re certification of no collusion or gift giving during the selection of the most qualified firm, designated provisions
in Subsec. (e) re selection of contractor by commissioner as new Subsec. (f) and amended said Subsec. by adding provisions
re written explanation of decision and certification by commissioner and replacing "most qualified firm" with "successful
bidder", and redesignated existing Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (g); P.A. 07-213 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that members
appointed by commissioner serve only for deliberations involving the project for which the member is appointed, eliminate
provisions re the term for such members and commissioner's authority to fill vacancies on the panel and make technical
changes, and made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 10, 2007.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |