S 6869: Requires qualification-based criteria for awarding certain contracts for services to an entity that submits a statement of qualifications in response to a request for qualifications when an authorized entity utilizes a one-step method.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6869 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE March 25, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities 1 AN ACT to amend chapter 749 of the laws of 2019 authorizing, for certain public works undertaken pursuant to project labor agreements, use of the alternative delivery method known as design-build contracts, in relation to requiring qualification-based criteria for awarding certain contracts for services The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 2 of chapter 749 of the laws of 2019, authorizing, 2 for certain public works undertaken pursuant to project labor agree- 3 ments, use of the alternative delivery method known as design-build 4 contracts, is amended by adding a new subdivision (f) to read as 5 follows: 6 (f) "Qualifications-based" shall mean the basis for awarding a 7 contract for services to an entity that submits a statement of quali- 8 fications in response to a request for qualifications when an authorized 9 entity utilizes a one-step method. 10 § 2. Subdivision (a) of section 4 of chapter 749 of the laws of 2019, 11 authorizing, for certain public works undertaken pursuant to project 12 labor agreements, use of the alternative delivery method known as 13 design-build contracts, is amended to read as follows: 14 (a) A contractor selected by such an authorized entity to enter into a 15 design-build contract shall be selected through a one-step or two-step 16 method, as follows: 17 (1) Step one. Generation of a list of responding entities that have 18 demonstrated the general capability to perform the design-build 19 contract. Unless the authorized entity is utilizing a one-step method, 20 the authorized entity shall generate a list of responding entities that 21 have demonstrated the general capability to perform the design-build 22 contract. Such list shall consist of a specified number of responding EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD05154-01-5 
 S. 6869 2 1 entities, as determined by an authorized entity, and shall be generated 2 based upon the authorized entity's review of responses to a publicly 3 advertised request for qualifications. The authorized entity's request 4 for qualifications shall include a general description of the public 5 work, the maximum number of responding entities to be included on the 6 list, the selection criteria to be used and the relative weight of each 7 criteria in generating the list. Such selection criteria shall include 8 the qualifications and experience of the design and construction team, 9 organization, demonstrated responsibility, ability of the team or of a 10 member or members of the team to comply with applicable requirements, 11 including the provisions of articles 145, 147 and 148 of the education 12 law, past record of compliance with the labor law, and such other quali- 13 fications the authorized entity deems appropriate, which may include but 14 are not limited to project understanding, financial capability and 15 record of past performance. [The] Unless the authorized entity is 16 utilizing a one-step method, the authorized entity shall evaluate and 17 rate all responding entities to the request for qualifications. Based 18 upon such ratings, the authorized entity shall list the responding enti- 19 ties that shall receive a request for proposals in accordance with para- 20 graph two of this subdivision. If the authorized entity is utilizing a 21 one-step method, the authorized entity shall evaluate and rate all 22 statements of qualification submitted in response to the request for 23 qualifications and shall award the design-build contract to the best 24 qualified contractor with a commitment to thirty percent of city-wide 25 contracts awarded to minority and women-owned businesses. Notwithstand- 26 ing any contrary provision of law, any authorizing entity awarding a 27 design-build contract to a contractor determined to be the best quali- 28 fied contractor in accordance with this paragraph may elect either to 29 enter into a single contract with two phases or separate contracts for 30 each of the two phases. To the extent consistent with applicable federal 31 law, the authorized entity shall consider, when awarding any contract 32 pursuant to this section, the participation of (i) responding entities 33 that are certified as minority- or women-owned business enterprises 34 pursuant to article 15-A of the executive law, or certified pursuant to 35 local law as minority- or women-owned business enterprises, or, where 36 the New York city school construction authority acts as the authorized 37 entity, certified pursuant to section 1743 of the public authorities 38 law; and (ii) small business concerns identified pursuant to subdivision 39 (b) of section 139-g of the state finance law. In addition, nothing in 40 this section shall be deemed to supersede any pre-qualification guide- 41 lines or requirements otherwise authorized by law for an authorized 42 entity. 43 (2) Step two. Selection of the proposal which is the best value to the 44 authorized entity. The authorized entity shall issue a request for 45 proposals to the responding entities listed pursuant to paragraph one of 46 this subdivision. If such a responding entity consists of a team of 47 separate entities, the entities that comprise such a team must remain 48 unchanged from the responding entity as listed pursuant to paragraph one 49 of this subdivision unless otherwise approved by the authorized entity. 50 The request for proposals shall set forth the public work's scope of 51 work, and other requirements, as determined by the authorized entity, 52 which may include separate goals for work under the contract to be 53 performed by businesses certified as minority- or women-owned business 54 enterprises pursuant to article 15-A of the executive law or section 55 1743 of the public authorities law, or certified pursuant to local law 56 as minority- or women-owned business enterprises. The request for 
 S. 6869 3 1 proposals shall also specify the criteria to be used to evaluate the 2 responses and the relative weight of each of such criteria. Such crite- 3 ria shall include the proposal's cost, the quality of the proposal's 4 solution, the qualifications and experience of the proposer, and other 5 factors deemed pertinent by the authorized entity, which may include, 6 but shall not be limited to, the proposal's manner and schedule of 7 project implementation, the proposer's ability to complete the work in a 8 timely and satisfactory manner, maintenance costs of the completed 9 public work, maintenance of traffic approach, and community impact. 10 (3) Any contract awarded pursuant to this act shall be awarded to a 11 responsive and responsible proposer, which, in consideration of these 12 and other specified criteria deemed pertinent, offers the best value, or 13 in the case of a contract awarded utilizing a one-step method, is the 14 best-qualified contractor, as determined by the authorized entity in 15 accordance with this section. The request for proposals, or the request 16 for qualifications if the contract is awarded utilizing a one-step meth- 17 od, shall include a statement that proposers shall designate in writing 18 those portions of the proposal that contain trade secrets or other 19 proprietary information that are to remain confidential; that the mate- 20 rial designated as confidential shall be readily separable from the 21 proposal. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prohibit the 22 authorized entity from negotiating final contract terms and conditions 23 including cost. All proposals or responses submitted shall be scored 24 according to the criteria listed in the request for proposals, or the 25 request for qualifications if the contract is awarded utilizing a one- 26 step method, and such final scores shall be published on the authorized 27 entity's website after registration of such contract or the date upon 28 which such contract may be implemented, if registration requirements do 29 not apply. 30 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that 31 the amendments to chapter 749 of the laws of 2019 made by sections one 32 and two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such chapter and 33 shall be deemed repealed therewith.