National Guard seeks prequalification for A/E contracts to speed repair projects; committee votes to advance

Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, deputy adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard, told the committee Senate Bill 21-30 would authorize prequalification and indefinite‑delivery, indefinite‑quantity (IDIQ) mechanisms for architect and engineering services used on recurring maintenance, repair and modernization (SRM) projects. She said the Guard typically receives annual Department of Defense SRM reimbursements (about $11–12 million per federal fiscal year in recent years) and that those funds must be executed within the federal fiscal year; failing to spend allocated SRM funds risks losing future federal allocations.

Huber said most projects are small and repetitive—about 90% fall below $250,000—and that the current procurement process limits the Guard’s ability to execute a high volume of timely projects across dozens of facilities. The requested authority would still use selection criteria in existing Chapter 54‑44‑7 (qualifications‑based selection) and retain competition: firms would be prequalified for up to five years but selected for individual projects using the statutory evaluation criteria. Huber emphasized the authority would cover only A/E services (not construction contracting) and only routine SRM work, not large new construction such as armories.

Trade groups that testified in support said the approach preserves competition while speeding procurement. Russ Hanson of the Associated General Contractors said deferred maintenance grows more expensive the longer it waits. Mike Crumwoody of the American Institute of Architects (and the state engineering association) said members had been consulted and raised no objection because the Guard’s approach maintains Chapter 54 selection rules. After testimony and discussion, Representative Steiner moved a due‑pass recommendation; the roll call recorded 11 votes in favor, 2 opposed. The committee advanced the bill.