Focus on ACEC Committees

ACEC/WSDOT Liaison Committee

Committee Chair: David A. Peters, PE

Senior Vice President, HDR Engineering

The ACEC/WSDOT Executive Liaison Committee continues to meet on a quarterly basis.  On December 29, 2009 the Committee met and discussed the following:

WSDOT has minimal requests in front of the current legislative session; any new programs or funding mechanisms will be addressed in 2011.  A number of funding mechanisms are under discussion including tolling,  HOT lanes or possibly taxes. Also, local agency and transit programs could be linked together in this program.

While a Federal jobs bill may pass in 2010, it is not known whether it will mandate “shovel-ready” projects.  WSDOT currently has a limited number of projects teed up, such as the North-South Freeway in Spokane and portions of 405.

Consultant Liaison is preparing a new Consultant Procedures Manual, which will include a new Conflict of Interest policy.  They invited ACEC to review a draft of the document.

WSDOT has changed the selection process for their State-Wide On-Call Agreements.  There will be fewer firms selected and the contract limits will be lower.  Also, they are selecting prime firms only, without any subconsultants. Subs can be added at a later date for specific task orders using their current process for adding a firm.

There are ongoing discussions regarding subconsultant mark-up, limitation of liability, and the audit process.

Subcommittees for Project Delivery, Design/Build, Bridge and Structures, and Business Administration remain active.  Volunteers are always welcome on these subcommittees.

The next full membership meeting is scheduled for June 8, 2010 at the Bellevue Red Lion Inn.

ACEC/King County Executive Committee Summary

On November 5, the ACEC/King County Executive Committee met to discuss the following:

1. King County recommends a plus-or-minus 4% rate, applying a new cap rate only when multiple year trends occur. ACEC does not support the salary cap, but recognizes King County’s efforts to develop a fair process.
2. A proposed ordinance would provide the King County Council greater control over large capital projects, but both King County departments and ACEC predicts the ordinance will increase the cost and schedule of projects.
3. The ACEC/King County subcommittees developed an invoice checklist, completed the first phase of the 30-60-90% design deliverable guidelines, and worked together in testing a new King County tool to manage project escalation pools.

To read the entire report, click here.