Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB)

The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board, mandated by RCW 39.10, reviews alternative public works contracting procedures and provides guidance to state policymakers on ways to further enhance the quality, efficiency and accountability of public works contracting methods.

Future meetings:

  • Feb. 13, 2025
  • April 10, 2025
  • May 8, 2025
  • Sept. 11, 2025
  • Oct. 9, 2025
  • Dec. 11, 2025

CPARB Mission

To provide an evaluation of public capital projects construction processes, including the impact of contracting methods on project outcomes, and to advise the legislature on policies related to public works delivery methods and alternative public works contracting procedures.

The Board agrees to embody the following Shared Commitments:

  • Respect
  • Purpose
  • Listen to Understand
  • Accountability
  • Inclusion

What's new with CPARB

CPARB Members

Board Member Contact List

CPARB Recruitment for the 16 Governor-appointed positions is through the Governor's Office. To apply for a position on CPARB, please go to the Boards & Commissions webpage.

Recruitment is ongoing for the following CPARB positions:

  • Private Industry (1 position)
  • OMWBE
  • Engineers

Legislation of Interest

Weekly Legislative Activity on Bills of Interest: 2024

Board Legislation Submission Timeline (as approved by CPARB 2018)

Please email ALL submissions to CPARB@des.wa.gov

Public Works and Construction Training Resources

Please note: DES, CPARB, and PRC are not responsible for the content within each entity’s training offerings. Being listed in the training resources does not constitute endorsement of the entity or its training content. The intent is to provide industry resources for training opportunities for as many entities as possible.

Bylaws, guidelines & reports

Background & Reference

Through extensive stakeholder involvement with committees, CPARB has:

  • Recommended 25 public works bills to the Legislature that address quality, efficiency, and accountability of traditional and alternative public works contracting, of which 15 passed into new law:
  • Development of Alternative Delivery Best Practices Guidelines
    • Design-Build
    • Job Order Contracting
    • Business Equity/Diverse Business Inclusion
    • GC/CM - In draft
  • Major and minor improvements to alternative public works contracting, RCW 39.10:
    • Design-Build (DB), including allowing “progressive Design-Build” selection with price factors without designs submitted
    • General Contractor/Construction Manager (GC/CM), including allowing an alternative selection process for mechanical and electrical subcontractors, adding heavy civil project procedures, and addressing protests
    • Job Order Contracting (JOC), including increasing work order limit to $350k, increasing annual limits to $6M for King Co. and DES, and adding public bodies that can use the process
  • Responsible bidder criteria (added mandatory criteria into law and provided guidelines for using Supplemental bidder responsibility criteria) RCW 39.04.350
  • Timely processing & payment of undisputed claims (change orders) RCW 39.04.360
  • Increasing Small Works Roster project dollar limits & added provisions for small business
  • Performed studies and publish reports for the Legislature and Other's Use
  • Discussed various improvements including: Diverse Business Inclusion, Small Business Opportunities, Responsibility/Eligibility, Job Order Contracting, Reauthorization, Heavy Civil GC/CM, and Life Cycle Cost Analysis & Energy Efficiency, Integrated project delivery and Best Value methods, ECCM/MCCM Best Practices

Sunset Reviews by JLARC: 2013 & 2021 (expiration years, so sunset review typically takes place ~ 1 year before.)

Contact us

Talia Baker

CPARB\PRC Program Specialist