Committee hears bill to allow NDOT one-time progressive design-build for I-80 widening in Washoe County

Senator Skip Daly, sponsor of Senate Bill 315, told the Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure that SB 315 would authorize the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to use a one-time progressive design-build (PDB) procurement for the widening of Interstate 80 from Vista Boulevard in Sparks to USA Parkway in Storey County.

“Progressive design build is a combination process with elements from design build and construction manager at risk,” Daly said, describing the procurement option as a hybrid aimed at speeding preconstruction and design so the department can secure and use federal grant funds. He said the text is drafted as a special act limited to this single project and “will not appear in NRS.”

NDOT and construction industry witnesses said the method is a common tool in other states. Pedro Rodriguez, Assistant Chief of Project Management for NDOT, testified the project’s estimated construction cost is approximately $500 million to $600 million and includes adding a lane in each direction between Vista and USA Parkway, structures, retaining walls, ITS improvements and pavement reconstruction. Craig Madole, CEO of the Nevada Chapter AGC, and contractors including Granite Construction, Kiewit and Community Construction said PDB could accelerate work and help secure roughly $275 million in federal grant funds cited by supporters.

Supporters urged the committee to permit the delivery method for this project only. The bill includes provisions that NDOT would use either a one-step or two-step selection, require compliance with Nevada prevailing wage laws, allow negotiation of a guaranteed maximum price after preconstruction, and require a minimum self-performance percentage by the prime contractor. Sponsor Daly and stakeholders said a friendly amendment raised the self-performance requirement from 15% to 30% to align with existing CMAR language.

Organizations testifying in support included Laborers Local 169 and other building trades, the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, Granite Construction, Kiewit, IBEW 1245 (via representative), and regional business groups. The Nevada Contractors Association testified in opposition, citing concerns about drafting, limited time to review materials and NDOT’s existing alternative delivery options. The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) said it submitted an amendment addressing engineer protections and, with that amendment, was neutral.

NDOT staff said the department supports a pilot to gather data on PDB and believes it may create efficiencies for this complex project. Sponsor Daly said he supports the pilot as a one-time authorization under the exceptional circumstances of a large federally funded corridor project and noted he would not necessarily support making PDB a permanent statewide delivery option.

The committee closed the hearing on SB 315 after taking testimony; no floor vote on the bill was recorded in the hearing.