(Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 18, 2003)

 

Assembly Bill No. 398–Assemblymen Geddes, Hettrick, Hardy, Beers, Knecht, Anderson, Andonov, Arberry, Buckley, Carpenter, Chowning, Christensen, Collins, Conklin, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goicoechea, Goldwater, Grady, Griffin, Gustavson, Horne, Koivisto, Leslie, Mabey, Manendo, Marvel, Mortenson, Parks, Perkins, Pierce, Sherer and Weber

 

March 17, 2003

____________

 

Joint Sponsors: Senators Townsend and Amodei

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Government Affairs

 

SUMMARY—Revises procedure pursuant to which certain performance contracts for cost-savings energy measures in buildings occupied by governmental entities are bid. (BDR 27‑1115)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                           Effect on the State: No.

 

~

 

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to purchasing; revising the procedures pursuant to which certain performance contracts for the installation or purchase of cost-savings energy measures in buildings occupied by state and local governmental entities are bid; providing the types and terms of such performance contracts; providing limitations on such performance contracts entered into by state agencies; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

2-1  Section 1. Chapter 332 of NRS is hereby amended by adding

2-2  thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 14, inclusive, of this

2-3  act.

2-4  Sec. 2.  As used in sections 2 to 14, inclusive, of this act,

2-5  unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined

2-6  in sections 3 to 7, inclusive, of this act, have the meanings

2-7  ascribed to them in those sections.

2-8  Sec. 3.  “Building” means any structure, building or facility,

2-9  including any equipment, furnishings or appliances within the

2-10  structure, building or facility, that is owned or operated by a local

2-11  government. The term includes, without limitation, occupied and

2-12  unoccupied structures, buildings and facilities, and any other

2-13  improvements owned or operated by a local government that incur

2-14  operating costs.

2-15      Sec. 4.  “Operating cost savings” means any expenses that

2-16  are eliminated or avoided on a long-term basis as a result of the

2-17  installation or modification of equipment, or services performed

2-18  by a qualified service company. The term does not include any

2-19  savings that are realized solely because of a shift in the cost of

2-20  personnel or other similar short-term cost savings.

2-21      Sec. 5.  “Operating cost-savings measure” means any

2-22  improvement, repair or alteration to a building, or any equipment,

2-23  fixture or furnishing to be added or used in a building that is

2-24  designed to reduce operating costs, including those costs related to

2-25  electrical energy and demand, thermal energy, water consumption,

2-26  waste disposal and contract-labor costs, and increase the

2-27  operating efficiency of the building for the appointed functions

2-28  that are cost-effective. The term includes, without limitation:

2-29      1.  Procurement of low-cost energy supplies, including

2-30  electricity and natural gas.

2-31      2.  Procurement of cost savings as a result of outsourcing

2-32  energy needs for electrical power, heating and cooling.

2-33      3.  Operational or maintenance labor savings resulting from

2-34  reduced costs for maintenance contracts as provided through

2-35  reduction of required maintenance or operating tasks, including,

2-36  without limitation, replacement of filters and lighting products,

2-37  and equipment failures.

2-38      4.  Investment in equipment, products and materials, and

2-39  strategies for building operation, or any combination thereof,

2-40  designed to reduce energy and other utility expenses, including,

2-41  without limitation:

2-42      (a) Costs for materials and labor required to replace old

2-43  equipment with new, more efficient equipment.

2-44      (b) Storm windows or doors, caulking or weather stripping,

2-45  multiglazed windows or doors, heat-absorbing or heat-reflective

3-1  glazed or coated windows or doors, reductions in glass area, and

3-2  other modifications to windows and doors that will reduce energy

3-3  consumption.

3-4  (c) Automated or computerized energy control systems.

3-5  (d) Replacement of, or modifications to, heating, ventilation or

3-6  air-conditioning systems.

3-7  (e) Replacement of, or modifications to, lighting fixtures.

3-8  (f) Improvements to the indoor air quality of a building that

3-9  conform to all requirements of an applicable building code.

3-10      (g) Energy recovery systems.

3-11      (h) Systems for combined cooling, heating and power that

3-12  produce steam or other forms of energy, for use primarily within

3-13  the building or a complex of buildings.

3-14      (i) Installation of, or modifications to, existing systems for

3-15  daylighting, including lighting control systems.

3-16      (j) Installation of, or modification to, technologies that use

3-17  renewable or alternative energy sources.

3-18      (k) Programs relating to building operation that reduce

3-19  operating costs, including, without limitation, computerized

3-20  programs, training and other similar activities.

3-21      (l) Programs for improvement of steam traps to reduce

3-22  operating costs.

3-23      (m) Devices that reduce water consumption in buildings, for

3-24  lawns and for other irrigation applications.

3-25      (n) Any additional improvements to building infrastructures

3-26  that produce energy and operating cost savings, significantly

3-27  reduce energy consumption or increase the operating efficiency of

3-28  the buildings for their appointed functions, provided that such

3-29  improvements comply with applicable building codes.

3-30      (o) Trash compaction and waste minimization.

3-31      5.  Investment in educational programs relating to

3-32  occupational behavior that are designed to reduce the

3-33  consumption of energy or water, or both, and the generation of

3-34  waste.

3-35      Sec. 6.  “Performance contract” means a contract between a

3-36  local government and a qualified service company for the

3-37  evaluation, recommendation and implementation of one or more

3-38  operating cost-savings measures.

3-39      Sec. 7.  “Qualified service company” means a person with a

3-40  record of established projects or a person with demonstrated

3-41  technical, operational, financial and managerial capabilities to

3-42  design and carry out operating cost-savings measures and other

3-43  similar building improvements, and who has the ability to secure

3-44  necessary financial measures to ensure related guarantees for

3-45  operating cost savings.

4-1  Sec. 8.  1.  Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter

4-2  and chapter 338 of NRS to the contrary, a local government may

4-3  enter into a performance contract with a qualified service

4-4  company for the purchase and installation of an operating cost-

4-5  savings measure to reduce costs related to energy, water and the

4-6  disposal of waste, and related labor costs. Such a performance

4-7  contract may be in the form of an installment payment contract or

4-8  a lease-purchase contract. Any operating cost-savings measures

4-9  put into place as a result of a performance contract must comply

4-10  with all applicable building codes.

4-11      2.  The local government shall prepare and issue a request for

4-12  qualifications to not less than three qualified service companies.

4-13      3.  In sending out a request for qualifications, the local

4-14  government:

4-15      (a) Shall attempt to identify at least one qualified service

4-16  company located within this state; and

4-17      (b) May consider whether and to what extent the qualified

4-18  service company, to which the request for qualifications will be

4-19  sent, will use local contractors.

4-20      4.  The local government shall use objective criteria in

4-21  selecting a qualified service company. The objective criteria for

4-22  evaluation must include the following areas as substantive factors

4-23  to assess the capability of the qualified service company:

4-24      (a) Design;

4-25      (b) Engineering;

4-26      (c) Installation;

4-27      (d) Maintenance and repairs associated with performance

4-28  contracts;

4-29      (e) Experience in conversions to different sources of energy or

4-30  fuel and other services related to operating cost-savings measures

4-31  provided that is done in association with a comprehensive energy,

4-32  water or waste disposal cost-savings retrofit;

4-33      (f) Monitoring projects after the projects are installed;

4-34      (g) Data collection and reporting of savings;

4-35      (h) Overall project experience and qualifications;

4-36      (i) Management capability;

4-37      (j) Ability to access long-term financing;

4-38      (k) Experience with projects of similar size and scope; and

4-39      (l) Such other factors determined by the local government to

4-40  be relevant and appropriate to the ability of the qualified service

4-41  company to perform the project.

4-42  In selecting a qualified service company, the local government

4-43  shall also consider the financial health of the qualified service

4-44  company as evidenced by its financial statements and ratings and

4-45  whether the qualified service company holds the appropriate

5-1  licenses required for the design, engineering and construction to

5-2  be completed.

5-3  5.  The qualified service company selected by the local

5-4  government pursuant to subsection 4 shall prepare a financial-

5-5  grade operational audit. Except as otherwise provided in this

5-6  subsection, the audit prepared by the qualified service company

5-7  becomes, upon acceptance, a part of the final performance

5-8  contract and the costs incurred by the qualified service company

5-9  in preparing the audit shall be deemed to be part of the

5-10  performance contract. If, after the audit is prepared, the local

5-11  government decides not to execute the performance contract, the

5-12  local government shall pay the qualified service company that

5-13  prepared the audit the costs incurred by the qualified service

5-14  company in preparing the audit if the local government has

5-15  specifically appropriated money for that purpose.

5-16      Sec. 9.  1.  A performance contract may be financed through

5-17  a person other than the qualified service company.

5-18      2.  A performance contract may be structured as:

5-19      (a) A performance contract that guarantees operating cost

5-20  savings, which includes, without limitation, the design and

5-21  installation of equipment, the operation and maintenance, if

5-22  applicable, of any of the operating cost-savings measures and the

5-23  guaranteed annual savings which must meet or exceed the total

5-24  annual contract payments to be made by the local government,

5-25  including any financing charges to be incurred by the local

5-26  government over the life of the performance contract. The local

5-27  government may require that these savings be verified annually or

5-28  over a sufficient period that demonstrates savings.

5-29      (b) A shared-savings contract which includes provisions

5-30  mutually agreed upon by the local government and qualified

5-31  service company as to the negotiated rate of payments based upon

5-32  operating cost savings and a stipulated maximum consumption

5-33  level of energy or water, or both energy and water, over the life of

5-34  the contract.

5-35      Sec. 10.  1.  A performance contract must provide that all

5-36  payments, other than any obligations that become due if the

5-37  contract is terminated before the contract the expires, must be

5-38  made over time.

5-39      2.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a

5-40  performance contract, and the payments provided thereunder, may

5-41  extend beyond the fiscal year in which the performance contract

5-42  becomes effective for costs incurred in future fiscal years. The

5-43  performance contract may extend for a term not to exceed 20

5-44  years. The length of a performance contract may reflect the useful

6-1  life of the operating cost-savings measure being installed or

6-2  purchased under the performance contract.

6-3  3.  A performance contract may provide for payments over a

6-4  period not to exceed the deadlines in the performance contract

6-5  from the date of the final installation of the operating cost-savings

6-6  measures.

6-7  Sec. 10.3. If a performance contract entered into pursuant to

6-8  sections 2 to 14, inclusive, of this act requires the employment of

6-9  skilled mechanics, skilled workmen, semiskilled mechanics,

6-10  semiskilled workmen or unskilled labor to perform the

6-11  performance contract, the performance contract must include a

6-12  provision relating to the prevailing wage as required pursuant to

6-13  NRS 338.020 to 338.090, inclusive.

6-14      Sec. 10.7.  Notwithstanding any provision of sections 2 to 14,

6-15  inclusive, of this act to the contrary, a performance contract

6-16  entered into pursuant to sections 2 to 14, inclusive, of this act must

6-17  include a clause that sets out the rights of the local government

6-18  and the qualified service company if the local government does not

6-19  appropriate sufficient money for payments to be continued under

6-20  the performance contract.

6-21      Sec. 11.  A local government may reinvest any savings

6-22  realized under a performance contract whenever practical into

6-23  operating cost-savings measures provided the local government is

6-24  satisfying all its other obligations under the performance contract.

6-25      Sec. 12.  1.  During the term of a performance contract, the

6-26  qualified service company shall monitor the reductions in energy

6-27  or water consumption and other operating cost savings

6-28  attributable to the operating cost-savings measure purchased or

6-29  installed under the performance contract, and shall, at least once

6-30  a year or at such other intervals specified in the performance

6-31  contract, prepare and provide a report to the local government

6-32  documenting the performance of the operating cost-savings

6-33  measures.

6-34      2.  A performance contract must identify the methodology that

6-35  the local government will use to validate the cost savings identified

6-36  by the qualified service company.

6-37      3.  A qualified service company and the local government may

6-38  agree to make modifications in the calculation of savings based

6-39  on:

6-40      (a) Subsequent material changes to the baseline consumption

6-41  of energy or water identified at the beginning of the term of the

6-42  performance contract.

6-43      (b) A change in utility rates.

6-44      (c) A change in the number of days in the billing cycle of a

6-45  utility.

7-1  (d) A change in the total square footage of the building.

7-2  (e) A change in the operational schedule, and any

7-3  corresponding change in the occupancy and indoor temperature,

7-4  of the building.

7-5  (f) A material change in the weather.

7-6  (g) A material change in the amount of equipment or lighting

7-7  used at the building.

7-8  (h) Any other change which reasonably would be expected to

7-9  modify the use of energy or the cost of energy.

7-10      Sec. 13.  A qualified service company shall provide to the

7-11  Office of Energy within the Office of the Governor information

7-12  concerning each performance contract which the qualified service

7-13  company enters into pursuant to sections 2 to 14, inclusive, of this

7-14  act, including, without limitation, the name of the project, the

7-15  local government for which the project is being carried out and

7-16  the expected operating cost savings. The Office of Energy may

7-17  report any energy savings realized as a result of such performance

7-18  contracts to the United States Department of Energy pursuant to

7-19  42 U.S.C. § 13385.

7-20      Sec. 14.  A performance contract may include appropriate

7-21  financial mechanisms determined to be necessary to guarantee

7-22  that operating cost savings are realized by the local government if

7-23  the actual cost savings do not meet the predicted cost savings.

7-24      Sec. 15.  Chapter 333 of NRS is hereby amended by adding

7-25  thereto the provisions set forth as sections 16 to 29, inclusive, of this

7-26  act.

7-27      Sec. 16.  As used in sections 16 to 29, inclusive, of this act,

7-28  unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined

7-29  in sections 17 to 21.5, inclusive, of this act, have the meanings

7-30  ascribed to them in those sections.

7-31      Sec. 17.  “Building” means any structure, building or facility,

7-32  including any equipment, furnishings or appliances within the

7-33  structure, building or facility, that is owned or operated by a using

7-34  agency. The term includes, without limitation, occupied and

7-35  unoccupied structures, buildings and facilities, and any other

7-36  improvements owned or operated by a using agency that incur

7-37  operating costs.

7-38      Sec. 18.  “Operating cost savings” means any expenses that

7-39  are eliminated or avoided on a long-term basis as a result of the

7-40  installation or modification of equipment, or services performed

7-41  by a qualified service company. The term does not include any

7-42  savings that are realized solely because of a shift in the cost of

7-43  personnel or other similar short-term cost savings.

7-44      Sec. 19.  “Operating cost-savings measure” means any

7-45  improvement, repair or alteration to a building, or any equipment,

8-1  fixture or furnishing to be added or used in a building that is

8-2  designed to reduce operating costs, including those costs related to

8-3  electrical energy and demand, thermal energy, water consumption,

8-4  waste disposal and contract-labor costs, and increase the

8-5  operating efficiency of the building for the appointed functions

8-6  that are cost-effective. The term includes, without limitation:

8-7  1.  Procurement of low-cost energy supplies, including

8-8  electricity and natural gas.

8-9  2.  Procurement of cost savings as a result of outsourcing

8-10  energy needs for electrical power, heating and cooling.

8-11      3.  Operational or maintenance labor savings resulting from

8-12  reduced costs for maintenance contracts as provided through

8-13  reduction of required maintenance or operating tasks, including,

8-14  without limitation, replacement of filters and lighting products,

8-15  and equipment failures.

8-16      4.  Investment in equipment, products and materials, and

8-17  strategies for building operation, or any combination thereof,

8-18  designed to reduce energy and other utility expenses, including,

8-19  without limitation:

8-20      (a) Costs for materials and labor required to replace old

8-21  equipment with new, more efficient equipment.

8-22      (b) Storm windows or doors, caulking or weather stripping,

8-23  multiglazed windows or doors, heat-absorbing or heat-reflective

8-24  glazed or coated windows or doors, reductions in glass area, and

8-25  other modifications to windows and doors that will reduce energy

8-26  consumption.

8-27      (c) Automated or computerized energy control systems.

8-28      (d) Replacement of, or modifications to, heating, ventilation or

8-29  air-conditioning systems.

8-30      (e) Replacement of, or modifications to, lighting fixtures.

8-31      (f) Improvements to the indoor air quality of a building that

8-32  conform to all requirements of an applicable building code.

8-33      (g) Energy recovery systems.

8-34      (h) Systems for combined cooling, heating and power that

8-35  produce steam or other forms of energy, for use primarily within

8-36  the building or a complex of buildings.

8-37      (i) Installation of, or modifications to, existing systems for

8-38  daylighting, including lighting control systems.

8-39      (j) Installation of, or modification to, technologies that use

8-40  renewable or alternative energy sources.

8-41      (k) Programs relating to building operation that reduce

8-42  operating costs, including, without limitation, computerized

8-43  programs, training and other similar activities.

8-44      (l) Programs for improvement of steam traps to reduce

8-45  operating costs.

9-1  (m) Devices that reduce water consumption in buildings, for

9-2  lawns and for other irrigation applications.

9-3  (n) Any additional improvements to building infrastructures

9-4  that produce energy and operating cost savings, significantly

9-5  reduce energy consumption or increase the operating efficiency of

9-6  the buildings for their appointed functions, provided that such

9-7  improvements comply with applicable building codes.

9-8  (o) Trash compaction and waste minimization.

9-9  5.  Investment in educational programs relating to

9-10  occupational behavior that are designed to reduce the

9-11  consumption of energy or water, or both, and the generation of

9-12  waste.

9-13      Sec. 20.  “Performance contract” means a contract between a

9-14  using agency and a qualified service company for the evaluation,

9-15  recommendation and implementation of one or more operating

9-16  cost-savings measures.

9-17      Sec. 21.  “Qualified service company” means a person with a

9-18  record of established projects or a person with demonstrated

9-19  technical, operational, financial and managerial capabilities to

9-20  design and carry out operating cost-savings measures and other

9-21  similar building improvements, and who has the ability to secure

9-22  necessary financial measures to ensure related guarantees for

9-23  operating cost savings.

9-24      Sec. 21.5.  “Using agency” means all officers, departments,

9-25  institutions, boards, commissions and other agencies in the

9-26  Executive Department of the State Government which derive their

9-27  support from public money in whole or in part, whether the money

9-28  is provided by the State of Nevada, received from the Federal

9-29  Government or any branch, bureau or agency thereof, or derived

9-30  from private or other sources. The term includes the University

9-31  and Community College System of Nevada, but does not include

9-32  the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, local governments as

9-33  defined in NRS 354.474, conservation districts and irrigation

9-34  districts.

9-35      Sec. 22.  1.  Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter

9-36  and chapter 338 of NRS to the contrary, a using agency may enter

9-37  into a performance contract with a qualified service company for

9-38  the purchase and installation of an operating cost-savings

9-39  measure to reduce costs related to energy, water and the disposal

9-40  of waste, and related labor costs. Such a performance contract

9-41  may be in the form of an installment payment contract or a lease-

9-42  purchase contract. Any operating cost-savings measures put into

9-43  place as a result of a performance contract must comply with all

9-44  applicable building codes.

10-1      2.  The State Public Works Board shall determine those

10-2  companies that satisfy the requirements of qualified service

10-3  companies for the purposes of sections 16 to 29, inclusive, of this

10-4  act. In making such a determination, the State Public Works

10-5  Board shall enlist the assistance of the staffs of the Office of

10-6  Energy within the Office of the Governor, the Buildings and

10-7  Grounds Division of the Department of Administration and the

10-8  Purchasing Division. The State Public Works Board shall prepare

10-9  and issue a request for qualifications to not less than three

10-10  potential qualified service companies.

10-11     3.  In sending out a request for qualifications, the State Public

10-12  Works Board:

10-13     (a) Shall attempt to identify at least one potential qualified

10-14  service company located within this state; and

10-15     (b) May consider whether and to what extent the companies to

10-16  which the request for qualifications will be sent will use local

10-17  contractors.

10-18     4.  The State Public Works Board shall use objective criteria

10-19  to determine those companies that satisfy the requirements of

10-20  qualified service companies. The objective criteria for evaluation

10-21  must include the following areas as substantive factors to assess

10-22  the capability of such companies:

10-23     (a) Design;

10-24     (b) Engineering;

10-25     (c) Installation;

10-26     (d) Maintenance and repairs associated with performance

10-27  contracts;

10-28     (e) Experience in conversions to different sources of energy or

10-29  fuel and other services related to operating cost-savings measures

10-30  provided that is done in association with a comprehensive energy,

10-31  water or waste disposal cost-savings retrofit;

10-32     (f) Monitoring projects after the projects are installed;

10-33     (g) Data collection and reporting of savings;

10-34     (h) Overall project experience and qualifications;

10-35     (i) Management capability;

10-36     (j) Ability to access long-term financing;

10-37     (k) Experience with projects of similar size and scope; and

10-38     (l) Such other factors determined by the State Public Works

10-39  Board to be relevant and appropriate to the ability of a company to

10-40  perform the project.

10-41  In determining whether a company satisfies the requirements of a

10-42  qualified service company, the State Public Works Board shall

10-43  also consider the financial health of the company as evidenced by

10-44  its financial statements and ratings and whether the company

10-45  holds the appropriate licenses required for the design, engineering

11-1  and construction which would be completed pursuant to a

11-2  performance contract.

11-3      5.  The State Public Works Board shall compile a list of those

11-4  companies that it determines satisfy the requirements of qualified

11-5  service companies. The Purchasing Division shall work directly

11-6  with any using agency interested in entering into a performance

11-7  contract, using the list of qualified service companies compiled by

11-8  the State Public Works Board. The Purchasing Division, in

11-9  conjunction with the using agency, shall coordinate an

11-10  opportunity for each such appropriate qualified service company

11-11  to:

11-12     (a) Perform a preliminary and comprehensive audit and

11-13  assessment of all potential operating cost-savings measures that

11-14  might be implemented within the buildings of the using agency,

11-15  including any operating cost-savings measures specifically

11-16  requested by the using agency; and

11-17     (b) Submit a proposal and make a related presentation to the

11-18  using agency for all such  operating cost-savings measures that

11-19  the qualified service company determines would be practicable to

11-20  implement.

11-21  Based on such proposals and presentations, the using agency may

11-22  select the qualified service company that the using agency believes

11-23  is the most responsive to the needs of the using agency and may,

11-24  under the direction of the Purchasing Division, enter into a

11-25  performance contract with that qualified service company.

11-26     6.  A qualified service company selected by a using agency

11-27  pursuant to subsection 5 shall prepare a financial-grade

11-28  operational audit. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection,

11-29  the audit prepared by the qualified service company becomes,

11-30  upon acceptance, a part of the final performance contract and the

11-31  costs incurred by the qualified service company in preparing the

11-32  audit shall be deemed to be part of the performance contract. If,

11-33  after the audit is prepared, the using agency decides not to execute

11-34  the performance contract, the using agency shall pay the qualified

11-35  service company that prepared the audit the costs incurred by the

11-36  qualified service company in preparing the audit, if the

11-37  Legislature has specifically appropriated money for that purpose.

11-38  An appropriation by the Legislature for the purchase and

11-39  installation of an operating cost-savings measure creates no

11-40  presumption that the using agency for which the money was

11-41  appropriated is required to enter into such a contract.

11-42     7.  If the staff of a using agency does not possess sufficient

11-43  technical expertise to review and select appropriate operating cost-

11-44  savings measures in coordination with a qualified service

11-45  company, the Purchasing Division, upon the request of the using

12-1  agency, shall procure sufficient funding from the qualified service

12-2  company, through negotiation, to retain the professional services

12-3  of a third-party consultant with the requisite technical expertise.

12-4  Such a third-party consultant must be certified by the Association

12-5  of Energy Engineers as a “Certified Energy Manager” or hold

12-6  similar credentials from a comparable nationally recognized

12-7  organization. A third-party consultant retained pursuant to this

12-8  subsection shall work on behalf of the using agency in

12-9  coordination with the qualified service company.

12-10     Sec. 23.  1.  A performance contract may be financed

12-11  through a person other than the qualified service company.

12-12     2.  A performance contract may be structured as:

12-13     (a) A performance contract that guarantees operating cost

12-14  savings, which includes, without limitation, the design and

12-15  installation of equipment, the operation and maintenance, if

12-16  applicable, of any of the operating cost-savings measures and the

12-17  guaranteed annual savings which must meet or exceed the total

12-18  annual contract payments to be made by the using agency,

12-19  including any financing charges to be incurred by the using

12-20  agency over the life of the performance contract. The using

12-21  agency may require that these savings be verified annually or over

12-22  a sufficient period that demonstrates savings.

12-23     (b) A shared-savings contract which includes provisions

12-24  mutually agreed upon by the using agency and qualified service

12-25  company as to the negotiated rate of payments based upon

12-26  operating cost savings and a stipulated maximum consumption

12-27  level of energy or water, or both energy and water, over the life of

12-28  the contract.

12-29     Sec. 24.  1.  Notwithstanding any provision of sections 16 to

12-30  29, inclusive, of this act to the contrary, a performance contract

12-31  entered into pursuant to sections 16 to 29, inclusive, of this act

12-32  does not create a debt for the purposes of Section 3 of Article 9 of

12-33  the Nevada Constitution.

12-34     2.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the term of a

12-35  performance contract may extend beyond the biennium in which

12-36  the contract is executed, provided that the performance contract

12-37  contains a provision which states that all obligations of the State

12-38  under the performance contract are extinguished at the end of any

12-39  fiscal year if the Legislature fails to provide an appropriation to

12-40  the using agency for the ensuing fiscal year for payments to be

12-41  made under the performance contract. If the Legislature fails to

12-42  appropriate money to a using agency for a performance contract,

12-43  there is no remedy against the State, except that if a security

12-44  interest in any property was created pursuant to the performance

12-45  contract, the holder of such a security interest may enforce the

13-1  security interest against that property. The term of a performance

13-2  contract must not exceed 20 years.

13-3      3.  The length of a performance contract may reflect the

13-4  useful life of the operating cost-savings measure being installed or

13-5  purchased under the performance contract.

13-6      Sec. 25.  1.  A performance contract must provide that all

13-7  payments, other than any obligations that become due if the

13-8  contract is terminated before the contract the expires, must be

13-9  made over time.

13-10     2.  A performance contract may provide for payments over a

13-11  period not to exceed the deadlines in the performance contract

13-12  from the date of the final installation of the operating cost-savings

13-13  measures.

13-14     Sec. 26.  If a performance contract entered into pursuant to

13-15  sections 16 to 29, inclusive, of this act requires the employment of

13-16  skilled mechanics, skilled workmen, semiskilled mechanics,

13-17  semiskilled workmen or unskilled labor to perform the

13-18  performance contract, the performance contract must include a

13-19  provision relating to the prevailing wage as required pursuant to

13-20  NRS 338.020 to 338.090, inclusive.

13-21     Sec. 27.  1.  During the term of a performance contract, the

13-22  qualified service company shall monitor the reductions in energy

13-23  or water consumption and other operating cost savings

13-24  attributable to the operating cost-savings measure purchased or

13-25  installed under the performance contract, and shall, at least once

13-26  a year or at such other intervals specified in the performance

13-27  contract, prepare and provide a report to the using agency

13-28  documenting the performance of the operating cost-savings

13-29  measures.

13-30     2.  A qualified service company and the using agency may

13-31  agree to make modifications in the calculation of savings based

13-32  on:

13-33     (a) Subsequent material changes to the baseline consumption

13-34  of energy or water identified at the beginning of the term of the

13-35  performance contract.

13-36     (b) A change in utility rates.

13-37     (c) A change in the number of days in the billing cycle of a

13-38  utility.

13-39     (d) A change in the total square footage of the building.

13-40     (e) A change in the operational schedule, and any

13-41  corresponding change in the occupancy and indoor temperature,

13-42  of the building.

13-43     (f) A material change in the weather.

13-44     (g) A material change in the amount of equipment or lighting

13-45  used at the building.

14-1      (h) Any other change which reasonably would be expected to

14-2  modify the use of energy or the cost of energy.

14-3      Sec. 28.  A qualified service company shall provide to the

14-4  Office of Energy within the Office of the Governor information

14-5  concerning each performance contract which the qualified service

14-6  company enters into pursuant to sections 16 to 29, inclusive, of

14-7  this act, including, without limitation, the name of the project, the

14-8  using agency for which the project is being carried out and the

14-9  expected operating cost savings. The Office of Energy may report

14-10  any energy savings realized as a result of such performance

14-11  contracts to the United States Department of Energy pursuant to

14-12  42 U.S.C. § 13385.

14-13     Sec. 29.  A performance contract may include appropriate

14-14  financial mechanisms determined to be necessary to guarantee

14-15  that operating cost savings are realized by the using agency if the

14-16  actual cost savings do not meet the predicted cost savings.

14-17     Sec. 29.3.  NRS 338.1385 is hereby amended to read as

14-18  follows:

14-19     338.1385  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7

14-20  and NRS 338.1906 , [and 338.1907,] this state, or a local

14-21  government that awards a contract for the construction, alteration or

14-22  repair of a public work in accordance with paragraph (a) of

14-23  subsection 1 of NRS 338.1373, or a public officer, public employee

14-24  or other person responsible for awarding a contract for the

14-25  construction, alteration or repair of a public work who represents the

14-26  State or the local government, shall not:

14-27     (a) Commence such a project for which the estimated cost

14-28  exceeds $100,000 unless it advertises in a newspaper of general

14-29  circulation in this state for bids for the project; or

14-30     (b) Divide such a project into separate portions to avoid the

14-31  requirements of paragraph (a).

14-32     2.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, a public body

14-33  that maintains a list of properly licensed contractors who are

14-34  interested in receiving offers to bid on public works projects for

14-35  which the estimated cost is more than $25,000 but less than

14-36  $100,000 shall solicit bids from not more than three of the

14-37  contractors on the list for a contract of that value for the

14-38  construction, alteration or repair of a public work. The public body

14-39  shall select contractors from the list in such a manner as to afford

14-40  each contractor an equal opportunity to bid on a public works

14-41  project. A properly licensed contractor must submit a written

14-42  request annually to the public body to remain on the list. Offers for

14-43  bids which are made pursuant to this subsection must be sent by

14-44  certified mail.

15-1      3.  Each advertisement for bids must include a provision that

15-2  sets forth:

15-3      (a) The requirement that a contractor must be qualified pursuant

15-4  to NRS 338.1379 to bid on the contract or must be exempt from

15-5  meeting such qualifications pursuant to NRS 338.1383; and

15-6      (b) The period during which an application to qualify as a bidder

15-7  on the contract must be submitted.

15-8      4.  Approved plans and specifications for the bids must be on

15-9  file at a place and time stated in the advertisement for the inspection

15-10  of all persons desiring to bid thereon and for other interested

15-11  persons. Contracts for the project must be awarded on the basis of

15-12  bids received.

15-13     5.  Any bids received in response to an advertisement for bids

15-14  may be rejected if the person responsible for awarding the contract

15-15  determines that:

15-16     (a) The bidder is not a qualified bidder pursuant to NRS

15-17  338.1379, unless the bidder is exempt from meeting such

15-18  qualifications pursuant to NRS 338.1383;

15-19     (b) The bidder is not responsive;

15-20     (c) The quality of the services, materials, equipment or labor

15-21  offered does not conform to the approved plan or specifications; or

15-22     (d) The public interest would be served by such a rejection.

15-23     6.  Before the State or a local government may commence a

15-24  project subject to the provisions of this section, based upon a

15-25  determination that the public interest would be served by rejecting

15-26  any bids received in response to an advertisement for bids, it shall

15-27  prepare and make available for public inspection a written statement

15-28  containing:

15-29     (a) A list of all persons, including supervisors, whom the State

15-30  or the local government intends to assign to the project, together

15-31  with their classifications and an estimate of the direct and indirect

15-32  costs of their labor;

15-33     (b) A list of all equipment that the State or the local government

15-34  intends to use on the project, together with an estimate of the

15-35  number of hours each item of equipment will be used and the hourly

15-36  cost to use each item of equipment;

15-37     (c) An estimate of the cost of administrative support for the

15-38  persons assigned to the project;

15-39     (d) An estimate of the total cost of the project; and

15-40     (e) An estimate of the amount of money the State or the local

15-41  government expects to save by rejecting the bids and performing the

15-42  project itself.

15-43     7.  This section does not apply to:

15-44     (a) Any utility subject to the provisions of chapter 318 or 710 of

15-45  NRS;

16-1      (b) Any work of construction, reconstruction, improvement and

16-2  maintenance of highways subject to NRS 408.323 or 408.327;

16-3      (c) Normal maintenance of the property of a school district;

16-4      (d) The Las Vegas Valley Water District created pursuant to

16-5  chapter 167, Statutes of Nevada 1947, the Moapa Valley Water

16-6  District created pursuant to chapter 477, Statutes of Nevada 1983 or

16-7  the Virgin Valley Water District created pursuant to chapter 100,

16-8  Statutes of Nevada 1993; or

16-9      (e) The design and construction of a public work for which a

16-10  public body contracts with a design-build team pursuant to NRS

16-11  338.1711 to 338.1727.

16-12     Sec. 29.5. NRS 338.143 is hereby amended to read as follows:

16-13     338.143  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6 ,

16-14  [and NRS 338.1907,] a local government that awards a contract for

16-15  the construction, alteration or repair of a public work in accordance

16-16  with paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of NRS 338.1373, or a public

16-17  officer, public employee or other person responsible for awarding a

16-18  contract for the construction, alteration or repair of a public work

16-19  who represents that local government, shall not:

16-20     (a) Commence such a project for which the estimated cost

16-21  exceeds $100,000 unless it advertises in a newspaper of general

16-22  circulation in this state for bids for the project; or

16-23     (b) Divide such a project into separate portions to avoid the

16-24  requirements of paragraph (a).

16-25     2.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, a local

16-26  government that maintains a list of properly licensed contractors

16-27  who are interested in receiving offers to bid on public works

16-28  projects for which the estimated cost is more than $25,000 but less

16-29  than $100,000 shall solicit bids from not more than three of the

16-30  contractors on the list for a contract of that value for the

16-31  construction, alteration or repair of a public work. The local

16-32  government shall select contractors from the list in such a manner as

16-33  to afford each contractor an equal opportunity to bid on a public

16-34  works project. A properly licensed contractor must submit a written

16-35  request annually to the local government to remain on the list.

16-36  Offers for bids which are made pursuant to this subsection must be

16-37  sent by certified mail.

16-38     3.  Approved plans and specifications for the bids must be on

16-39  file at a place and time stated in the advertisement for the inspection

16-40  of all persons desiring to bid thereon and for other interested

16-41  persons. Contracts for the project must be awarded on the basis of

16-42  bids received.

16-43     4.  Any bids received in response to an advertisement for bids

16-44  may be rejected if the person responsible for awarding the contract

16-45  determines that:

17-1      (a) The bidder is not responsive or responsible;

17-2      (b) The quality of the services, materials, equipment or labor

17-3  offered does not conform to the approved plan or specifications; or

17-4      (c) The public interest would be served by such a rejection.

17-5      5.  Before a local government may commence a project subject

17-6  to the provisions of this section, based upon a determination that the

17-7  public interest would be served by rejecting any bids received in

17-8  response to an advertisement for bids, it shall prepare and make

17-9  available for public inspection a written statement containing:

17-10     (a) A list of all persons, including supervisors, whom the local

17-11  government intends to assign to the project, together with their

17-12  classifications and an estimate of the direct and indirect costs of

17-13  their labor;

17-14     (b) A list of all equipment that the local government intends to

17-15  use on the project, together with an estimate of the number of hours

17-16  each item of equipment will be used and the hourly cost to use each

17-17  item of equipment;

17-18     (c) An estimate of the cost of administrative support for the

17-19  persons assigned to the project;

17-20     (d) An estimate of the total cost of the project; and

17-21     (e) An estimate of the amount of money the local government

17-22  expects to save by rejecting the bids and performing the project

17-23  itself.

17-24     6.  This section does not apply to:

17-25     (a) Any utility subject to the provisions of chapter 318 or 710 of

17-26  NRS;

17-27     (b) Any work of construction, reconstruction, improvement and

17-28  maintenance of highways subject to NRS 408.323 or 408.327;

17-29     (c) Normal maintenance of the property of a school district;

17-30     (d) The Las Vegas Valley Water District created pursuant to

17-31  chapter 167, Statutes of Nevada 1947, the Moapa Valley Water

17-32  District created pursuant to chapter 477, Statutes of Nevada 1983 or

17-33  the Virgin Valley Water District created pursuant to chapter 100,

17-34  Statutes of Nevada 1993; or

17-35     (e) The design and construction of a public work for which a

17-36  public body contracts with a design-build team pursuant to NRS

17-37  338.1711 to 338.1727, inclusive.

17-38     Sec. 29.7. NRS 338.1907 is hereby repealed.

17-39     Sec. 30.  1.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

17-40     2.  Sections 29.3 and 29.5 of this act expire by limitation on

17-41  May 1, 2013.

 

18-1  TEXT OF REPEALED SECTION

 

18-2      338.1907  Retrofitting of local governmental buildings for

18-3  energy efficiency: Duties of energy retrofit coordinators and

18-4  local governments; procedures for requesting and approving

18-5  proposals; projects exempt from certain procedural

18-6  requirements.

18-7      1.  The governing body of a local government may designate

18-8  one or more energy retrofit coordinators for the buildings occupied

18-9  by the local government.

18-10     2.  If such a coordinator is designated, upon request by or

18-11  consultation with an officer or employee of the local government

18-12  who is responsible for the budget of a department, board,

18-13  commission or other entity of the local government, the coordinator

18-14  may request the approval of the governing body to advertise a

18-15  request for proposals to retrofit a building, or any portion thereof,

18-16  that is occupied by the department, board, commission or other

18-17  entity, to make the use of energy in the building, or portion thereof,

18-18  more efficient.

18-19     3.  Upon approval of the governing body, the coordinator shall

18-20  prepare a request for proposals for the retrofitting of one or more

18-21  buildings, or any portion thereof, which includes:

18-22     (a) The name and location of the coordinator;

18-23     (b) A brief description of the requirements for the initial audit of

18-24  the use of energy and the retrofitting;

18-25     (c) Where and how specifications of the requirements for the

18-26  initial audit of the use of energy and the retrofitting may be

18-27  obtained;

18-28     (d) The date and time not later than which proposals must be

18-29  received by the coordinator; and

18-30     (e) The date and time when responses will be opened.

18-31     4.  The request for proposals must be published in at least one

18-32  newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the local

18-33  government is located.

18-34     5.  After receiving the proposals but before making a decision

18-35  on the proposals, the coordinator shall consider:

18-36     (a) The best interests of the local government;

18-37     (b) The experience and financial stability of the persons

18-38  submitting the proposals;

18-39     (c) Whether the proposals conform with the terms of the request

18-40  for proposals;

19-1      (d) The prices of the proposals; and

19-2      (e) Any other factor disclosed in the request for proposals.

19-3      6.  The coordinator shall determine the relative weight of each

19-4  factor before a request for proposals is advertised. The weight of

19-5  each factor must not be disclosed before the date proposals are

19-6  required to be submitted to the coordinator.

19-7      7.  After reviewing the proposals, if the coordinator determines

19-8  that sufficient energy could be saved to justify retrofitting the

19-9  building or buildings, or portion thereof, the coordinator shall select

19-10  the best proposal and request the approval of the governing body to

19-11  award the contract. The request for approval must include the

19-12  proposed method of financing the audit and retrofit, which may

19-13  include an installment contract, a shared savings contract or any

19-14  other contract for a reasonable financing arrangement. Such a

19-15  contract may commit the local government to make payments

19-16  beyond the fiscal year in which the contract is executed or beyond

19-17  the terms of office of the governing body, or both.

19-18     8.  Before approving a retrofit pursuant to this section, the

19-19  governing body shall evaluate any projects that would utilize shared

19-20  savings as a method of payment or any method of financing that

19-21  would commit the local government to make payments beyond the

19-22  fiscal year in which the contract is executed or beyond the terms of

19-23  office of the governing body to ensure that:

19-24     (a) The amount of energy to be saved will likely justify the cost

19-25  of the retrofit; and

19-26     (b) The local government is likely to continue to occupy the

19-27  building for the entire period required to recoup the cost of the

19-28  retrofit in energy savings.

19-29     9.  Upon approval of the governing body, the coordinator shall

19-30  execute the contract and notify each officer or employee who is

19-31  responsible for the budget of a department, board, commission or

19-32  other entity which occupies a portion of a building that will be

19-33  retrofitted of the amount of money it will be required to pay

19-34  annually for its portion of the retrofit.

19-35     10.  NRS 338.1385 and 338.143 do not apply to a project for

19-36  which a request for proposals is advertised and the contract is

19-37  awarded pursuant to the provisions of this section.

 

19-38  H