The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Sharon F. Lyles.
DIGEST
SB 200 Reengrossed 2019 Regular Session Cortez
Proposed law creates a pilot program to authorize local governmental subdivisions and political
subdivisions to use A+B bidding method to determine the lowest responsive bidder on a contract for
public works. The pilot is limited to 15 projects subject to prior approval of the House and Senate
committees on transportation, highways, and public works. If the committees approve a project, the
owner is required to submit in writing to the chairmen of committees, the name and address of the
lowest responsive bidder awarded the contract, together with the bid values of the A+B components.
Further, upon completion and acceptance of the project, the owner is required to submit in writing
to the chairmen of the committees a project report that includes the final project cost and an
evaluation of whether or not contract times were reduced, costs were acceptable, and quality was
maintained by use of the A+B bid method.
Proposed law defines "A+B bidding" and "owner" as follows:
(1)"A+B bidding" means cost plus time bidding that factors time plus cost to determine the low
bid. Under the A+B method, each submitted bid has two components where "A" is the
traditional bid for the contract items and is the dollar amount for all work to be performed
under the contract, and "B" is a "bid" of the total number of calendar days required to
complete the project, as estimated by the bidder. Bid days are multiplied by a user cost,
furnished by the project owner, and added to the "A" component to obtain the total bid. The
bid for award to the lowest responsive bidder is based on a combination of the bid for the
contract items and the associated cost of time.
(2)"Owner" means a "local governmental subdivision" or a "political subdivision" as defined
in La. Const. Art. VI, Sec. 44(1) and (2).
Proposed law provides that bidding documents may contain alternates, which allow for different
materials or methods of construction, provided that any such alternate materials are currently
approved by the local governmental subdivision or political subdivision.
Proposed law supersedes any conflicting provisions of any law, including but not limited to the
requirements of the Public Bid Law, but the provisions of the Public Bid Law are otherwise
applicable to such contracts.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Adds R.S. 38:2211.2)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Specifies that any alternate materials contained in the bidding documents are
currently approved by the local governmental subdivision or political subdivision.