Criteria for use

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, the board is hereby authorized to institute an alternative project delivery program whereby construction management at-risk or building design-build procurement processes may be utilized on public projects pursuant to this act. This authorization for construction management at-risk and building design-build procurement shall be for the sole and exclusive use of planning, acquiring, designing, building, equipping, altering, repairing, improving or demolishing any structure or appurtenance thereto, including facilities, utilities or other improvements to any real property, but shall not include highways, roads, bridges, dams or related structures or stand-alone parking lots. (b) The board may only approve those projects or programs for which the use of alternative project delivery procurement process is appropriate. In making such determination, the board may consider the following factors: (1) The likelihood that the alternative project delivery method of procurement selected will serve the public interest by providing substantial savings of time or money over the traditional design-bid-build delivery process. (2) The ability to overlap design and construction phases is required to meet the needs of the end user. (3) The use of an accelerated schedule is required to make repairs resulting from an emergency situation. (4) The project presents significant phasing or technical complexities, or both, requiring the use of an integrated team of designers and constructors to solve project challenges during the design or preconstruction phase. (5) The use of an alternative project delivery method will not encourage favoritism in awarding the public contract or substantially diminish competition for the public contract. (c) When a request is made for alternative delivery procurement by the board, the board shall publish a notice in the official county newspaper that the board will be holding a public meeting with the opportunity for comment on such request. Notice shall be published at least 15 days prior to the hearing. (d) If the board finds that the project does not qualify for the alternative project delivery methods included under this act, then the construction services for such project shall be obtained pursuant to statute or to the procedures permitted by law.