GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1773

Short Title:  Bidding Law Change/Watauga Hospital.	(Local)

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Sponsors: Representatives G. Wilson; Baker and Hiatt.

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Referred to:  Local Government II.

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May 25, 2000

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ALLOW THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WATAUGA MEDICAL CENTER, INCORPORATED, TO ENTER INTO SINGLE-PRIME CONTRACTOR PUBLIC CONTRACTS.
Whereas, Watauga Medical Center, Incorporated, plans to renovate existing facilities and construct new facilities at Watauga County Hospital; and
Whereas, the project is extremely complex because it requires major construction with a minimum of disruption to the operation of the hospital; and
Whereas, specialty contractors are needed to (i) address the special problems that result from construction within an existing, ongoing medical facility and (ii) carry out construction projects that completely alter the scheme, layout, and design of the existing facility; and
Whereas, the potential for severe weather in the area requires a single contractor who can be flexible in the coordination of various components and stages of construction; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, the Board of Trustees of Watauga Medical Center, Incorporated, may (i) prequalify bidders and (ii) accept bids only under the single-prime contract system, for the renovation of existing facilities and the construction of new facilities at Watauga County Hospital.
Section 1.(b) The Board shall award the contract for a project bid under this act to the lowest responsible bidder, taking into consideration quality, performance, and time specified in the bids for performance of the contract.
Section 1.(c) All bidders must identify on their bid the contractors they have selected for the subdivisions or branches of work for:
(1)	Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning;
(2)	Plumbing;
(3)	Electrical; and
(4)	General.
No contractor whose bid is accepted shall substitute any person as subcontractor in the place of the subcontractor listed in the original bid, except with the approval of the Board for good cause shown by the contractor. The terms, conditions, and requirements of each contract between the prime contractor and a subcontractor performing work under a subdivision or branch of work listed in this subsection shall be substantially the same as the terms, conditions, and requirements of the contract between the prime contractor and Watauga Medical Center, Incorporated.
Section 1.(d) Each contractor bidding on a project under this act shall make a good faith effort to include minority business subcontractors in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the bidder's total bid or shall verify why that bidder was unable to secure qualified minority subcontractors in such an amount.
Section 2.  This act applies only to Watauga Medical Center, Incorporated.
Section 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and expires June 30, 2003.