California Code, Education Code - EDC § 81700

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to enable community college districts to use safe and cost-effective options for building and modernizing community college facilities.  The Legislature has recognized the merits of the design-build procurement process in the past by authorizing its use for projects undertaken by the University of California, specified local government projects, including school districts, and state office buildings.

(b) The Legislature also finds and declares that community college districts using a design-build contract require a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each participant in the design-build process.  The benefits of a design-build contract project delivery system include accelerated completion of the projects, cost containment, reduction of construction complexity, and reduced exposure to risk for the community college district.  The Legislature also finds that the cost-effective benefits to the community college districts are achieved by shifting the liability and risk for cost containment and project completion to the design-build entity.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide an optional, alternative procedure for bidding and building community college construction projects.

(d) In addition, it is the intent of the Legislature that the full scope of design, construction, and equipment awarded to a design-build entity under this chapter shall be authorized in a single funding phase.  The funding phase may be authorized concurrently with, or separately from, the phase that authorizes the creation of the performance criteria and concept drawings.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature that design-build procurement as authorized by this chapter shall not be construed to extend, limit, or change in any manner the legal responsibility of public agencies and contractors to comply with existing laws.

(f) In addition, it is the intent of the Legislature that design-build procurement does not replace or eliminate competitive bidding.