Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the On Call Engineering Contract topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Subcommittee reviews $2 million on-call engineering contract for Department of Education
Summary
Members questioned a proposed on-call engineering contract with Pettit & Pettit Consulting Engineers authorized up to $2 million per year for the Department of Education’s campus and state properties, with staff saying the contract speeds emergency and renovation work but is only paid when used.
The Review Subcommittee reviewed a proposed on-call engineering services contract for the Arkansas Department of Education that is authorized up to $2,000,000 annually and would be used for projects including the blind and deaf schools and properties on Capitol Mall.
The contract was presented by Katie Walden of the Bureau of Legislative Research, who summarized construction and procurement items for the subcommittee. Representative Kavanaugh asked for details about the $2,000,000 amount and whether it represented an annual ceiling. Greg Rogers of the Department of Education said, “It's still be $2,000,000 annually. And if I need to do an amendment to it to increase amount, then we would have to come back for that.”
Rogers told the committee the on-call contract exists to allow the department to move quickly when emergency repairs or renovation work is needed across several facilities, including blind and deaf schools and the 4 Capitol Mall and Number 3 Capitol Mall. He said on-call fees would be included in project costs when the contract is used and that subcontractor work would be included under Pettit & Pettit’s fee and the $2,000,000 cap. He confirmed that if the on-call contract is not used, the vendor is not paid.
Discussion clarified that the on-call engineer could perform architecture or engineering services directly or subcontract as needed, and that the department must return to the committee for amendments or to request additional appropriation if spending would exceed appropriations. Representative Kavanaugh pressed on how the department ensures the total appropriation limits are not exceeded when multiple contracts and amendments exist.
No formal vote was recorded specifically on this contract during the discussion; the subcommittee later moved to consider the listed contracts reviewed as presented (see actions).
