GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

1997 SESSION

S.L. 1997-196

SENATE BILL 465

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ESTABLISH FISCAL POLICIES FOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN CONTRACTS WHICH WILL PROMOTE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN QUALITY AND ENSURE MAXIMUM COMPETITION AMONG COMPETING PROFESSIONAL FIRMS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  G.S. 136-28.1(f) reads as rewritten:

"(f)      The Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Transportation is required to may solicit proposals under rules and regulations published adopted by the Department of Transportation for all contracts for professional engineering services and other kinds of professional or specialized services necessary in connection with highway construction, maintenance, or repair that are over ten thousand dollars ($10,000). repair.  In order to promote engineering and design quality and ensure maximum competition by professional firms of all sizes, the Department may establish fiscal guidelines and limitations necessary to promote cost-efficiencies in overhead, salary, and expense reimbursement rates.  The right to reject any and all proposals is reserved to the Board of Transportation, but the Board of Transportation may consult with the Advisory Budget Commission before awarding any such contract. Transportation."

Section 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 11th day of June, 1997.

s/   Dennis A. Wicker

President of the Senate

s/   Harold J. Brubaker

Speaker of the House of Representatives

s/   James B. Hunt, Jr.

Governor

Approved 5:04 p.m. this 19th day of June, 1997