Good news from Sacramento for Sonoma Valley Hospital

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed SB 1699, the legislation that will save the Sonoma Valley Hospital about 35 percent of its construction costs for the new renovation.
The bill, by State Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa), authorizes the Sonoma Valley Health Care District (SVHCD) to use design-build contracting for the construction of buildings and improvements directly related to a hospital or other health facility, according to the standards and requirements of the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act of 1983.
The design-bid-build method, in which local officials invite bids for construction projects and then award contracts to the lowest responsible bidder is the traditional approach required for public works construction. Private companies often use more efficient design-build method for construction projects.
Under the design-build model, a single contract covers the design and construction of a project with a single company or consortium that acts as both the project designer and builder. The design-build entity arranges all architectural, engineering and construction services, and is responsible for delivering the project at a guaranteed price and schedule based upon performance criteria set by the public agency.
“The design-build method can be faster, and therefore cheaper, than the design-bid-build method,” Wiggins said in a prepared statement, “but it requires a higher level of sophistication since design and construction may occur simultaneously. District hospitals throughout the state are faced with higher construction costs than private hospitals, because state law prevents district hospitals from the use of the design-build process and forces them to use the design-bid-build process.”
Wiggins said her bill “extends the design-build authorization currently granted to all counties to SVHCD.” She also said the legislature may look upon her legislation as “a pilot project for later expansion of design-build authorization to all health care districts.” Norman Gilroy, whom SVH CEO Carl Gerlach has publicly praised for his efforts to get this bill passed, said, “This is a good day for Sonoma Valley Hospital. Every little bit helps in difficult times for our hospital.  Senator Wiggins’ office and hospital CEO Carl Gerlach have done a great job for the people of the Sonoma Valley. Design-build will be a valuable new tool for making the best use of the bond funds.”