(1) "Agency" means any special district organized under this title or any other political subdivision that such district may create pursuant to state law that is a budgetary unit exercising construction contracting authority or discretion.

(2) "Contract" means any agreement for designing, building, altering, repairing, improving, demolishing, operating, maintaining, or financing a public project.

(3) "Cost-reimbursement contract" means a contract under which a participating entity is reimbursed for costs that are allowable and allocable in accordance with the contract terms and provisions of this part 18.

(4) "Integrated project delivery" or "IPD" means a project delivery method in which there is a contractual agreement between an agency and a single participating entity for the design, construction, alteration, operation, repair, improvement, demolition, maintenance, or financing, or any combination of these services, for a public project.

(5) "IPD contract" means a contract using an integrated project delivery method.

(6) "Participating entity" means a partnership, corporation, joint venture, unincorporated association, or other legal entity that provides appropriately licensed planning, architectural, engineering, development, construction, operating, or maintenance services as needed in connection with an IPD contract.

(7) "Public project" means any lands, buildings, structures, works, machinery, equipment, or facilities suitable for and intended for use as public property for public purposes or suitable for and intended for use in the promotion of the public health, public welfare, or public education, to the extent the boundaries of an agency and a school district are coterminous, or for the conservation of natural resources, including the planning of any such lands, buildings, improvements, structures, works, machinery, equipment, or facilities. "Public project" shall also include existing lands, buildings, improvements, structures, works, and facilities, as well as improvements, renovations, or additions to any such lands, buildings, improvements, structures, works, or facilities, and any operation or maintenance programs for the operation and upkeep of such projects.

(8) "Public purposes" includes, but is not limited to, the supplying of public water services and facilities, public sewer services and facilities, and lands, buildings, structures, improvements, equipment, and any other services or facilities authorized under this article or for public education to the extent the boundaries of the agency and the school district are coterminous.