Section 20301.5.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 20301, the district may let a design-and-build contract for any project for a transit center or station, transit park-and-ride lot, bus and light rail maintenance facility, or administrative office building, or any combination of those, upon approval by the board of directors. The district also may let a design-and-build contract for the Fremont-South Bay Commuter Rail Project contained in Santa Clara County's 1996 Measure B Transportation Improvement Program, upon approval by the board of directors.

(b) (1) If the board of directors elects to proceed under subdivision (a), before entering into any contract that requires advertising for bids for a project, the board shall cause to be prepared estimates, and shall prepare documents, for the solicitation of bids on a design-and-build basis.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "design and build" means a method of procuring design and construction from a single source. The selection of the single source shall occur before the development of complete plans and specifications.

(c) The request for submission of bids shall include all of the following:

(1) A clear, precise description of the services to be provided and work to be performed.

(2) A description of the format that submittals shall follow and the elements they shall contain, including the qualifications and relevant experience of the design professional and the contractor, and the criteria that shall be used in evaluating the submittal, including the bid price.

(3) A requirement that bidders submit their proposals with the construction bid price and all cost information in a separate sealed envelope.

(4) The date on which the submittals are due, and the timetable that will be used in reviewing and evaluating the submittals.

(d) All submittals received prior to the closing time stated in the request for submittal shall be reviewed to determine those that meet the format requirements and the standards specified in the request for submittal.

(e) The contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder meeting the standards of the request for submittal.

(f) For the purposes of this section, selections of design professionals shall meet the standards set forth in Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 4525) of Division 5 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(g) This section shall apply only to a project that is under the supervision of a licensed general building contractor, as defined in Section 7057 of the Business and Professions Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 596, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)