Chapter 3.72
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS – APPRENTICE REQUIREMENTS
Sections:
3.72.020 Minimum apprentice labor hours required for public work.
3.72.040 CAP Utilization Plan.
3.72.050 Exceptions and waivers.
3.72.010 Definitions.
Where used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meaning and construction set forth herein:
A. “Apprentice” means an apprentice as defined by RCW 39.04.310.
B. “Bid” refers to an offer as defined by RCW 39.26.010.
C. “Contractor” means a person, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or joint venture entering into a contract with the county to construct a public work.
D. “Contractor apprenticeship program (CAP)” refers to the requirements of this chapter and any administrative regulations applicable thereto.
E. “CAP coordinator” refers to the person designated by the county executive to administer and coordinate the CAP.
F. “CAP Utilization Plan” refers to the description of how the contractor will meet or exceed apprentice labor hours as required by this chapter and RCW 39.04.320.
G. “Cost estimate” shall mean the anticipated cost of a public work project, based upon the expected costs of materials, supplies, equipment, and labor, but excluding taxes and contingency funds.
H. “Labor hours” is defined by RCW 39.04.310 and shall include additional hours worked as a result of a contract or project adjustment or pursuant to an agreed-upon change order.
I. “Minimum apprentice labor hours” refers to labor hours actually worked on a public works project by apprentices expressed as a percentage of total labor hours.
J. “Notice to proceed” refers to the written authorization to the contractor under the public work contract to commence work.
K. “Public work” refers to all publicly funded construction projects that constitute a public work as defined in RCW 39.04.010 with a cost estimate of $1,000,000 or more.
L. “Registered apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship training program that is approved or recognized by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.
M. “Subcontractor” means a person, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or joint venture that has contracted with the contractor to perform all or part of the work to construct a public work by a contractor. (Ord. 2023-077 Exh. A; Ord. 2022-091 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-079 Exh. A).
3.72.020 Minimum apprentice labor hours required for public work.
Apprentices shall be utilized on the construction of all public work in accordance with this chapter, except when requirements of this chapter conflict with funding agreements in place. The minimum percentage of apprentice labor hours by project shall be:
A. For a total cost estimate of less than $1,000,000 there shall be no requirement;
B. For public work projects advertised for bid on or after July 1, 2024, with a total cost estimate of $1,000,000 or more, no less than 15 percent of the labor hours shall be performed by apprentices. (Ord. 2023-077 Exh. A; Ord. 2022-091 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-079 Exh. A).
3.72.030 Administration.
Apprentices shall be utilized on the construction of all public work in accordance with this chapter, except when requirements of this chapter conflict with funding agreements in place, and when emergencies are present as referenced in WCC 3.72.090.
A. Apprenticeship Program Goal. All contractors and subcontractors constructing or involved with the construction of public works, and all service providers involved with the construction of a public work, shall ensure that the total labor hours threshold are performed by apprentices and meet all requirements of this chapter.
B. Bid and Contract Requirements. Bid and contracts for public work construction projects subject to this chapter shall include provisions detailing the apprentice labor requirements. Bids and contracts shall not be intentionally underestimated or fragmented to avoid the requirements of this chapter.
C. Submission of CAP Utilization Plan. All contractors shall submit a CAP Utilization Plan and shall meet with the CAP coordinator to review said CAP Utilization Plan prior to being issued a notice to proceed. Failure to submit a CAP Utilization Plan may be grounds for the county to withhold remittance of a progress payment until such plan is received from the responsible contractor. A meeting with the CAP coordinator prior to issuance of a notice to proceed shall be excused with administrative approval only when the CAP coordinator is unavailable to meet prior to the scheduled date for issuance of the notice to proceed and the CAP coordinator has reviewed the contractor’s plan.
D. Bid specifications for construction projects that are subject to minimum apprentice labor hours requirements shall include a responsible bidder criterion that allows the purchasing manager to find a bidder nonresponsive if the bidder fails to meet the requirements under WCC 3.72.020 and RCW 39.04.320. (Ord. 2023-077 Exh. A; Ord. 2022-091 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-079 Exh. A).
3.72.040 CAP Utilization Plan.
Unless waived, contractors shall submit a CAP Utilization Plan when the cost estimate of a public work meets thresholds established in WCC 3.72.020.
A. The CAP Utilization Plan shall be approved by the CAP coordinator and meet the following requirements:
1. Shall be submitted on forms prepared or approved by the CAP coordinator.
2. Shall specify the plan to meet or exceed the total labor hours threshold for each trade or craft.
3. Shall include a description of how the contractor will satisfy the CAP utilization goal on the particular public work project and include a summary of outreach and recruitment procedures to hire apprentices to work on the project.
4. Shall be reviewed on a monthly basis for compliance through the electronic system developed by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.
5. Contractors may submit an amended CAP Utilization Plan if changed conditions or circumstances affect the method or schedule of the contractor’s previously submitted plan to meet the apprenticeship program goal.
6. Failure to meet minimum apprentice labor hour requirements or targets outlined in the approved CAP Utilization Plan may be deemed a breach of contract under WCC 3.72.080 and RCW 39.04.320.
B. The contractor shall be responsible for meeting the CAP utilization goal requirements of the contract, including all amendments and change orders thereto, and shall be responsible for overall compliance for all hours worked by subcontractors. To the extent practical, the contractor shall recruit apprentices from multiple trades or crafts. Apprentices utilized in accordance with this chapter must be approved or recognized by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.
C. Prior to final project acceptance, a final report of apprenticeship labor hours will be reviewed through the electronic system developed by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. (Ord. 2023-077 Exh. A; Ord. 2022-091 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-079 Exh. A).
3.72.050 Exceptions and waivers.
At any time prior to acceptance of bids or proposals on construction projects covered by this chapter, or at any time during the term of a covered contract, the county may reduce or waive the apprentice labor hour goals upon determination by the CAP coordinator that at least two of the below conditions are met and documented:
A. The contractor has demonstrated that it has utilized best efforts to meet the 15 percent apprentice labor hour requirement but remains unable to fulfill the goal;
B. In order to meet the requirement, the contractor will be forced to displace members of its workforce;
C. The contractor or agency has demonstrated that it has contacted multiple state registered apprenticeship programs, yet an insufficient number of apprentices are available to meet the CAP utilization requirements;
D. The reasonable and necessary requirements of the contract render apprentice utilization infeasible at the required levels;
E. There exists a disproportionately high ratio of material costs to labor hours, which does not make feasible the required minimum level of apprentice participation;
F. The contractor or the agency has demonstrated that meeting the requirements would significantly delay an urgent public work project; or
G. For other reasons deemed appropriate by the county executive, and not inconsistent with the purpose and goals of this chapter. (Ord. 2023-077 Exh. A; Ord. 2022-091 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-079 Exh. A).
3.72.060 Monitoring.
The county shall monitor the actual use of apprentices in construction projects subject to this chapter. Such monitoring shall include identifying individual apprentices by name and Washington State apprenticeship registration number; reviewing documents provided by the contractor showing total apprentice labor hours; and assessing whether the contractor has complied with the apprenticeship requirement established in its contract. (Ord. 2023-077 Exh. A; Ord. 2022-091 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-079 Exh. A).
3.72.070 Reporting.
The county executive shall report to the county council annually upon the use of apprentices for public work projects. The report shall include, to the extent it is available:
A. The percentage of labor hours actually worked by apprentices on each project and the total number of labor hours on each project;
B. The number of apprentices by contractor broken down by trade and craft category;
C. All exceptions and waivers granted under WCC 3.72.050 as well as any contractors who have violated the requirements in this chapter; and
D. Recommendations for maintaining, enhancing, or otherwise amending the existing minimum apprentice labor hours required for public work under WCC 3.72.020 and the exceptions and waivers under WCC 3.72.050. (Ord. 2023-077 Exh. A; Ord. 2022-091 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-079 Exh. A).
3.72.080 Remedies.
In addition to RCW 39.04.320(4c), failure by a contractor to comply with established apprenticeship requirements, unless otherwise waived or excused in writing by the county executive or CAP coordinator pursuant to WCC 3.72.050, shall be deemed a breach of contract for which the county shall be entitled to all remedies allowed by law and under the contract. Failure to comply with the apprenticeship requirements may also be considered evidence bearing on a contractor’s qualification for award of future contracts with the county. Contractors who are found to knowingly violate the requirements under this chapter twice shall be deemed ineligible to bid for county projects for at least one year and added to a list maintained by the CAP coordinator. (Ord. 2023-077 Exh. A; Ord. 2022-091 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-079 Exh. A).
3.72.090 Emergencies.
This chapter shall not apply on public work projects affected by local, state, or federally declared emergency event. (Ord. 2023-077 Exh. A; Ord. 2022-091 Exh. A; Ord. 2019-079 Exh. A).
3.72.100 Severability.
The provisions of this chapter shall be effective in all cases unless otherwise provided by federal or state law. The provisions of this chapter are separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or other portion of this chapter or the invalidity of the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this chapter or the validity of the application to other persons or circumstances. (Ord. 2023-077 Exh. A; Ord. 2022-091 Exh. A).