School facilities: design-build: shade structures

The law gives school districts a streamlined option to procure multiple shade projects while retaining separate contracts for each site. It also caps certain accessibility upgrade costs for qualifying playground-integrated shade structures.

What the law does ​

• Lets governing boards authorize bundled design-build solicitations for comparable shade projects at multiple sites through December 31, 2031, when the combined value exceeds $1 million and each project is no more than $10 million.
• Requires every project selected through a bundled solicitation to have its own contract, value, scope, location, schedule, design, and construction.
• Allows districts to award bundled contracts based on lowest bid or best value.
• Caps required accessible-path-of-travel improvement costs at 20% of adjusted construction cost for qualifying pre-checked freestanding or playground-integrated shade projects.

Who it affects ​

• School districts and their governing boards.
• Students, staff, and visitors at school district, county office of education, charter school, and community college campuses.
• Design-build contractors seeking school shade-structure work.

Context ​

The bundled-procurement authority expires for new contracts after December 31, 2031, though contracts entered by then may be completed later.