As used in this article:

(a) “Best value” means a value determined by evaluation of objective criteria that relate to price, features, functions, life-cycle costs, experience, and past performance. A best value determination may involve the selection of the lowest cost proposal meeting the interests of the district and meeting the objectives of the project.

(b) “Construction manager” means a partnership, corporation, or other legal entity that is a licensed contractor pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code and that is able to provide appropriately licensed contracting and engineering services as needed pursuant to a Construction Manager/General Contractor method contract.

(c) “Construction Manager/General Contractor method” means a project delivery method in which a construction manager is procured to provide preconstruction services during the design phase of the project and construction services during the construction phase of the project. The contract for construction services may be entered into at the same time as the contract for preconstruction services or at a later time. The execution of the design and the construction of the project may be in sequential phases or concurrent phases.

(d) “Design-build” means a project delivery process in which both the design and construction of a project are procured from a single entity.

(e) “Design-build entity” means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, or other legal entity that is able to provide appropriately licensed contracting, architectural, and engineering services as needed pursuant to a design-build contract.

(f) “District” means the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

(g) “Guaranteed maximum price” means the maximum payment amount agreed upon by the district and the design-build entity or the Construction Manager/General Contractor for the design-build entity or the Construction Manager/General Contractor to finish all remaining design, preconstruction, and construction activities sufficient to complete and close out the project.

(h) “Preconstruction services” means advice during the design phase, including, but not limited to, scheduling, pricing, and phasing to assist the district to design a more constructible project.

(i) “Progressive design-build” means a project delivery process in which both the design and construction of a project are procured from a single design-build entity that is selected through a qualifications-based selection at the earliest feasible stage of the project.

(j) “Project” means a public work necessary for the construction of a recycled water facility or infrastructure designed specifically to alleviate water shortages attributable to drought, climate change, or other environmental factors.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 275, Sec. 2. (AB 1845) Effective January 1, 2023.)