State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Connecticut > Title4b > Chap059 > Sec4b-24Sec. 4b-24. (Formerly Sec. 4-26c). Commissioner of Public Works' duties re state realty. Total cost basis projects. Demolitions. Disclosure of principals. Audit of contractors. In acting as the determining authority in fulfilling the needs of the various departments and agencies of state government, except the Legislative Department, and choosing the method of acquisition which shall be pursued in the open competitive market, the commissioner shall:
(1) (A) Compile and maintain comprehensive and complete inventories of all the improved and unimproved real estate available to the state by virtue of ownership or lease. The actual mechanical compilation of such inventories may be handled, at the request of the commissioner, by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management; provided such compilation shall be available to the Commissioner of Public Works at all times. Such inventory shall be used by the commissioner as the primary source for meeting state needs, and shall be shared with the review board and with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management; (B) prepare an annual inventory of improved and unimproved real estate which is owned by the state and which is unused or underutilized and study and make recommendations concerning the reuse or disposition of such real estate; (C) identify in the inventories required under subparagraphs (A) and (B), existing buildings that (i) are of historic, architectural or cultural significance, including buildings listed or eligible to be listed in the national register established under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 80 Stat. 915 (1966), 16 USC 470a and (ii) would be suitable, whether or not in need of repair, alteration or addition, to meet the public building needs of the state or to meet the needs of the public in accordance with the provisions of subsection (m) of section 4b-23.
(2) Whenever realty uses designed uniquely for state use and for periods over five years are concerned, the commissioner shall, whenever practicable, attempt to purchase, lease-purchase or construct on state-owned land. In such cases leases shall be used only when other possibilities have been eliminated as not feasible, in the opinion of the commissioner.
(3) Whenever the commissioner has established specific plans and specifications for new construction on state land or new construction for sale to the state: (A) If it appears to the commissioner that the cost of the project shall be less than five hundred thousand dollars, contracts shall be made, where practicable, through a process of sealed bidding as provided in section 4b-91 relating to projects in excess of five hundred thousand dollars; (B) if it appears to the commissioner that the space needs of the requesting agency are less than five thousand square feet, the commissioner shall, whenever practicable, carry on advertising, in accordance with the provisions of section 4b-34 relating to projects in excess of five thousand square feet, in order to allow an equal opportunity for third parties to do business with the state without regard to political affiliation, political contributions or relationships with persons in state, federal or local governmental positions.
(4) The commissioner may designate projects to be accomplished on a total cost basis for (A) new facilities to provide for the substantial space needs of a requesting agency, (B) the installation of mechanical or electrical equipment systems in existing state facilities, or (C) the demolition of any state facility that the commissioner is authorized to demolish under the general statutes. If the commissioner designates a project as a designated total cost basis project, the commissioner may enter into a single contract with a private developer which may include such project elements as site acquisition, architectural design and construction. The commissioner shall select a private developer from among the developers who are selected and recommended by the award panels established in this subdivision. All contracts for such designated projects shall be based on competitive proposals received by the commissioner, who shall give notice of such project, and specifications for the project, by advertising, at least once, in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the area in which such project is to be located. No contract which includes the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, repair or demolition of any public building for work by the state for which the total cost is estimated to be more than five hundred thousand dollars may be awarded to a person who is not prequalified for the work in accordance with section 4a-100. The commissioner shall determine all other requirements and conditions for such proposals and awards and shall have sole responsibility for all other aspects of such contracts. Such contracts shall state clearly the responsibilities of the developer to deliver a completed and acceptable product on a date certain, the maximum cost of the project and, as a separate item, the cost of site acquisition, if applicable. No such contract may be entered into by the commissioner without the prior approval of the State Properties Review Board and unless funding has been authorized pursuant to the general statutes or a public or special act.
(5) Whenever a bid is made to the commissioner for any purpose regarding the use of land or whenever any person proposes to sell or lease land to the state, the bidder or such person shall be the owner of the land, or the commissioner shall have the option to void any contract subsequently made with said bidder or third person.
(6) In all dealings with the commissioner the owner of record or beneficial owner shall be disclosed to the commissioner and the bid shall be revealed to the owner of record or beneficial owner or the commissioner shall have the option to void any contract subsequently made concerning any such dealing.
(7) After the authorization of a project under the provisions of section 4b-23, the public auditors of the state and the auditors or accountants of the Commissioner of Public Works shall have the right to audit the books of any contractor employed by the commissioner pursuant to such authorization, or of any party negotiating with the commissioner for the acquisition of land by lease or otherwise; provided, however, that any such audit shall be limited to the project authorized by the commissioner and the Properties Review Board, and provided further that in the case of a party negotiating with the commissioner, such audit may also be conducted after the negotiations have ended, if a contract is consummated with the commissioner.
(P.A. 75-425, S. 3, 57; P.A. 77-614, S. 19, 73, 610; P.A. 83-7; P.A. 84-489, S. 2, 5; P.A. 85-301, S. 8, 13; P.A. 86-251, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-496, S. 22, 110; P.A. 98-235, S. 3; P.A. 99-75, S. 2; P.A. 01-172, S. 1; P.A. 03-215, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted secretary of the office of policy and management for commissioner of finance and control and commissioner of administrative services for public works commissioner; P.A. 83-7 replaced alphabetic Subdiv. indicators with numeric Subdiv. indicators and required the commissioner to prepare an annual inventory of improved, unimproved and underutilized land owned by the state; P.A. 84-489 added requirement that commissioner identify buildings of historic, architectural or cultural significance that would be suitable for state needs; P.A. 85-301 excluded the legislative department from the commissioner's authority and made technical changes; P.A. 86-251 inserted new Subdiv. (4) concerning total cost basis projects, renumbering prior provisions as necessary; P.A. 87-496 replaced administrative services commissioner with public works commissioner; Sec. 4-26c transferred to Sec. 4b-24 in 1989; (Revisor's note: In 1997, the words "the Office of" were added editorially by the Revisors in a Subdiv. (1) reference to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 98-235 amended Subdiv. (4) to authorize commissioner to designate total cost basis projects for installation of mechanical or electrical systems in existing state facilities; P.A. 99-75 amended Subdiv. (3)(A) by substituting $500,000 for both references to $250,000; P.A. 01-172 added Subdiv. (4)(C) re demolitions, substitute "which may include such project elements" for "which includes such project elements", "for the project" for "therefor" and "acceptable product" for "acceptable facility", and insert and delete "if applicable" in various provisions; P.A. 03-215 amended Subdiv. (4) to require that private developers be selected and recommended by award panels and provide that no contract estimated to cost more than $500,000 may be awarded to a person who is not prequalified, effective October 1, 2004.
