Notwithstanding section 5517.01 of the Revised Code, the director of transportation may establish a program to expedite the sale and construction of special projects by combining the design and construction elements of a highway or bridge project into a single contract. The director shall prepare and distribute a scope of work document upon which the bidders shall base their bids. Except in regard to those requirements relating to providing plans, the director shall award contracts under this section in accordance with Chapter 5525. of the Revised Code.

Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 5525. of the Revised Code, the director may use a value-based selection process, combining technical qualifications and competitive bidding elements, including consideration for minority or disadvantaged businesses that may include joint ventures, when letting special projects that contain both design and construction elements of a transportation project into a single contract.

The total dollar value of contracts made under this section shall not exceed one billion dollars per fiscal year. The director may provide compensation for preparation of a responsive preliminary design concept to not more than two bidders who, after the successful bidder, submitted the next best bids. The director may establish policies or procedures necessary to determine the amount of compensation to be provided for each project and the method of evaluating the value of the preliminary design concept submitted, but in no instance may the compensation exceed the value of such concept.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.7, HB 114, §101.01, eff. 6/29/2011.

Amended by 128th General Assemblych.7, HB 2, §101.01, eff. 7/1/2009.

Effective Date: 03-31-2003 .