(1)(a) The department, in consultation with affected public agencies, shall develop and issue guidelines for administering this chapter for public agencies. The purpose of the guidelines is to define a procedure and method for employing and verifying activities necessary for certification to at least the LEED silver standard for major facility projects.

(b) The department and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall amend their fee schedules for architectural and engineering services to accommodate the requirements in the design of major facility projects under this chapter.

(c) The department and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall procure architecture and engineering services consistent with chapter 39.80 RCW.

(d) Major facility projects designed to meet standards identified in this chapter must include building commissioning as a critical cost-saving part of the construction process. This process includes input from the project design and construction teams and the project ownership representatives.

(e) As provided in the request for proposals for construction services, the operating agency shall hold a preproposal conference for prospective bidders to discuss compliance with and achievement of standards identified in this chapter for prospective respondents.

(2) The department shall create a high-performance buildings advisory committee comprised of representatives from the design and construction industry involved in public works contracting, personnel from the affected public agencies responsible for overseeing public works projects, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, and others at the department's discretion to provide advice on implementing this chapter. Among other duties, the advisory committee shall make recommendations regarding an education and training process and an ongoing evaluation or feedback process to help the department implement this chapter.

(3) The department and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to implement this section.

Findings—Purpose—Part headings not law—2006 c 263: See notes following RCW 28A.150.230.