Public works bidding

What’s new

• Message for Changes to Public Works Bidding: Public Works Bidding
  Changes Effective January 1, 2025:
  • Our Bonfire bidding submittal questionnaire has been modified to verify the bidder’s compliance with bidding terms and conditions in accordance with State of Washington Public Works Bid Laws and the associated Project Documents. The updated bidder compliance form is intended to call bidders’ attention to and obtain acknowledgement of key components of the project. This form will aid DES in confirming that a responsive bid has been submitted.
• Switch to statewide small works roster: DES switched to the statewide small works roster through the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC). Register now.
• Online bidding: DES has launched a new bidding portal (Bonfire) that allows you to submit bids and proposals to DES online.
  • It is live for construction contractors, including small works roster.
  • Coming soon for other solicitation types, and small works roster consultants.
  • In the Bonfire portal, select "register now" in the upper right-hand corner.

Policies and procedures

• View our policies and procedures.

Public works request form

• PWR - public works request form - updated Dec. 12, 2024
• Questions: eas-pwr@des.wa.gov

Consultant selection

• A/E fee guidelines and schedule
• A/E reference file - consultant search
• A/E conditions of agreement
• Conditions of the agreement, attachment A
• Conditions of the agreement - summary of changes
• A/E fee calculator
• A/E invoice - % fee - updated March 21, 2024
• A/E invoice - fixed fee - updated March 21, 2024
• A/E invoice instructions
• A/E Consultant Selection Form (on-call, small, and large projects)
• A/E Consultant Selection Form (design-build projects)
• A/E Consultant Selection Form (GC/CM projects)
• Consultant diverse business inclusion plan
• Federal SF330 form
• Instructions for architects and engineers - updated Nov. 7, 2024
• Pre-agreement conference checklist

Design

• Division 01 - DBB
• Constructability review guidelines - updated Feb. 18, 2020
• Metering and measurement report template
• Predesign manual (OFM) - 2023-25 OFM capital budget instructions
  - updated July 14, 2022

Capitol Campus and DES-managed facilities

• Facilities, design guidelines & construction standards

Bidding

Construction manual by solicitation type

Note: Small works roster bid submissions are now online through Bonfire. DES has combined the construction manual only for both construction contractors and small works roster ($150-$350k) into one manual, effective July 18, 2024.

Construction contractors [Bonfire]

• Bidding terms and conditions (bid form) - updated July 1, 2024
• Advertisement for bids - updated Nov. 29, 2023
• Construction manual (general conditions and instructions to bidders) - effective July 18, 2024

Small works roster - ($150-350K Bonfire)

• SWR: Bidding terms and conditions - updated July 1, 2024
• SWR: Advertisement for bids - updated July 1, 2024
• SWR: Construction manual (general conditions and instructions to bidders) - effective July 18, 2024

Small works roster - direct negotiate contracting instructions (below $150K)

• SWR: Direct Contract/Negotiate Instructions for bidders - Last updated July 18, 2024

Design-build (DB), general contractor/construction manager (GC/CM), job order contracting (JOC)

• Construction manual - effective Sept. 12, 2023

Other bidding documents

• Apprentice utilization plan
• Bid range calculator
• Subcontractor list form A (HVAC, plumbing & electrical)
  - updated June 12, 2024
• Subcontractor list form B (structural steel install & rebar install) - updated June 12, 2024
• Certificate of insurance
• Liquidated damages checklist
• Plan centers
• Pre-bid walk-through agenda template
• Prevailing wage example
• Responsibility criteria under $1M
  • Form 1 contractor experience
  • Form 2 resume of key personnel
  • Form 5 reference evaluation
  • Form 6 criteria evaluation score sheet
• Responsibility criteria over $1M
  • Form 1 contractor experience
  • Form 2 resume of key personnel
  • Form 3 prime contractor diverse business inclusion plan
  • Form 4 apprenticeship utilization
  • Form 5 reference evaluation
  • Form 6 criteria evaluation score sheet
• Wage theft prevention form

Small works roster

Bidding templates for public agencies

Agencies with public works authority who choose to use these sample bidding templates must review and change them to meet their own requirements and business processes.

• Small Works Roster $150,000-$350,000
  • Bid Form: SWR 150-350K - Last updated July 1, 2024
  • Contract: SWR 150-350K - Last updated July 1, 2024
• Direct Negotiate - for projects under $150K
  • Bid Form: SWR Direct Negotiate - Last updated July 1, 2024
  • Contract: SWR Direct Negotiate - Last updated July 1, 2024
  • SWR: Invitation to Direct Contract/Negotiate - Last updated July 1, 2024

Construction

• Dig permit authorization application
• Field authorization (FA) form - updated March 3, 2025
• Change order proposal (COP) - updated March 3, 2025
• Contractor invoice form - with formulas (locked) - updated June 20, 2024
• Instructions school district/higher ed for reporting apprentice utilization to DES
• Invoice instructions - contractors - posted July 1, 2016
• Prevailing wage rates (Dept. Labor & Industries)
• Statement of apprentice and journeyman participation
• JOC work order template - updated March 3, 2025
• Request for information (RFI) - updated Feb. 6, 2025
• Substitution request form (SRF) - updated Feb. 6, 2025
• Notice of nonconformance form - updated Feb. 6, 2025
• Request for equitable adjustment in contract time form - updated Feb. 6, 2025
• Pre-construction checklist - updated Nov. 5, 2024

Closeout

• Final acceptance checklist - updated June 26, 2023
• Substantial completion checklist and certification - updated Sept. 30, 2023

Energy

ESPC

• ESCO invoice instructions
• ESCO invoice instructions - attachment A
• Invoicing FAQs
• Energy field authorization/change order proposal forms
• Energy invoice - fixed fee - professional services 
• Energy invoice form - blank - construction services 
• Energy services construction (ESCO) completion checklist 
• Energy completion notice
• Apprentice utilization plan

ELCCA

• Energy life cycle cost guidelines
• Evaluation life cycle cost analysis tool (ELCCAT)
• Public facilities energy characteristics form

Reference documents

• Public works RCWs and WACS
• Emergency declaration
  - Public works contract request (Word Template)
• LEED guidelines
• Project metering guidance
• Reports & presentation materials
• Trade categories & specialties
• Value engineering guidelines - updated Feb. 18, 2020