Changes to the Small Works Roster

Washington’s Small Works Roster laws have changed July 1 (Second Substitute Senate Bill 5268). These changes make it easier for small businesses and public agencies to use the small works roster to contract small public works projects.

The law:

Updated the existing small works roster requirements
Updates "small business" and "state agency" definitions
Creates a statewide small works roster
Established a new public works small business enterprise certification
Aligned financial thresholds throughout the state
Added a direct contracting option
Allowed agencies to either waive or reduce retainage bonds for projects $5,000 or more

What do I need to do now (construction firms)?

Join the statewide small works roster through the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) - DES made the switch July 1.
Register in WEBS — Washington’s Electronic Business Solution — and self-certify if you are a small, mini, or micro business.
Get certified with the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) now, if you are a minority- or women-owned business.
Get the new Public Works Small Business Enterprise (PWSBE) certification.
Subscribe to DES’ Public Works Business Diversity Updates

What do I need to do now (public agencies)?

Sample templates for public agencies

The following templates are samples of how to address statewide changes to small works contracting effective July 1, 2024.

Agencies with public works authority who choose to use these sample bidding templates must review and change them to meet their own requirements and business processes.

Small Works Roster $150,000-$350,000
- Construction Manual (General Conditions and Instructions to Bidders) - Last updated July 18, 2024
- Bid Form: SWR 150-350K - Last updated July 1, 2024
- Contract: SWR 150-350K - Last updated July 1, 2024
Direct Negotiate
- Bid Form: SWR Direct Negotiate - Last updated July 1, 2024
- Contract: SWR Direct Negotiate - Last updated July 1, 2024
- SWR: Direct Contract/Negotiate Instructions - Last updated July 18, 2024
- SWR: Invitation to Direct Contract/Negotiate - Last updated July 1, 2024

Port and irrigation districts

Effective July 1, 2023, the small works roster allowable limit for ports and irrigation districts was changed to $350,000 to match small works limits across the state.

Agencies joining the statewide roster

Participate with the statewide roster.

Agencies with independent rosters

If you are a state or local agency with public works authority and do not plan to switch to the statewide roster, you must prepare your independent roster to:

Integrate OMWBE certification data
Follow DES rules on rotation, outreach, and data collection once published
Set up demographic data collection
Send an annual notice to your paper of record, and conduct outreach to OMWBE certified businesses

Attend a training

Date and time	Event	Location
Jul. 2024	Digging into Public Works Fundamentals	Pullman, WA
Sept. 6, 2024 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.	L&I Contractors Day	Lynnwood, WA
Oct. 11, 2024 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.	L&I Contractors Day	Spokane, WA
Dec. 13, 2024 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.	L&I Contractors Day	Bremerton, WA

Or, request a speaker to come to your meeting.

Statewide implementation

DES is working with other state and local agencies and community partners to implement these changes.

New state public works small business enterprises certification

OMWBE launched a new race- and gender-neutral certification for Public Works Small Business Enterprises (PWSBE). We encourage all eligible minority- or women-owned businesses to start the certification process now.

Statewide small works roster

The Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) will update its existing statewide small works roster to meet new state requirements, including the ability to filter by location and specialty.

DES moved to the MRSC roster July 1.

Agency rule updates

State agencies updated the following rules:

DES: Public works rules (WAC 200-330)
OMWBE: Public Works Small Business Enterprise rules (WAC 326-20-087)
Department of Labor & Industries: Filing of statements of intent to pay prevailing wages and affidavits of wages paid for contracts under two thousand five hundred dollars rules (WAC 296-127-050)