January 29, 2020
Public Finance Alert
Author(s): Roderick N. Devlin, Bruce J. Baker, Erica F. Buckley
The newly passed “New York City Public Works Investment Act” authorizes several New York City entities to use design-build contracts for public works projects. This alert discusses what developers and governmental entities need to know.
On December 31, 2019, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the “New York City Public Works Investment Act” into law. The Act authorizes the following New York City entities to use design-build contracts for public works projects:
The Act applies to any public work project by an authorized New York City entity that has an estimated cost of not less than $10 million, or $1.2 million in the case of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the New York City Housing Authority, subject to certain exceptions (including for anti-terrorism projects).
The governor had been pressing for more comprehensive state-wide design-build authorization, allowing for the use of design-build contracting in place of the widely used design-bid-build approach.
The Act requires a two-step procurement process. In step one, the authorized NYC entity must issue a Request for Qualifications in order to generate a list of responding entities that have the capability to perform the design-build contract. Step two is the selection (pursuant to a Request for Proposals) of the proposal that provides the “best value” to the NYC entity.
The Act allows the NYC entity to negotiate the final contract terms and conditions with the winning DB team, including cost.
The Act does not specify the payment mechanisms to be included in the design-build contract, but does highlight the following permitted options:
The Act does not specify a minimum coverage amount for payment and performance bonds, leaving this to the discretion of the procuring NYC entity. However, certain of the authorized NYC entities may have their own minimum coverage requirements separate and apart from the Act.
The design-build structure includes compliance with a project labor agreement. Every tier of sub-contractor under the design-build agreement must also comply with the project labor agreement, and the design-build agreement must include related compliance monitoring and enforcement provisions.
Design-build contracts entered into under the Act are also subject to applicable federal, state, and local requirements for disadvantaged business enterprises and minority and women-owned business enterprises.
No later than June 30, 2020, and annually thereafter, the relevant entities are required to submit to the governor (and others) an annual report with the following information:
The Act was effective on December 31, 2019. Like the earlier 2011 design-build legislation, it has an automatic sunset in three years (unless renewed). Procurements that are underway prior to such sunset date can proceed.
The foregoing has been prepared for the general information of clients and friends of the firm. It is not meant to provide legal advice with respect to any specific matter and should not be acted upon without professional counsel. If you have any questions or require any further information regarding these or other related matters, please contact your regular Nixon Peabody LLP representative. This material may be considered advertising under certain rules of professional conduct.
