Infrastructure financing: contract selection.

Existing law requires the governmental agency soliciting proposals and entering into agreements with private entities for the studying, planning, design, developing, financing, construction, maintenance, rebuilding, improvement, repair, or operation, or any combination thereof, by private entities for fee-producing infrastructure projects to ensure that the contractor is selected pursuant to a competitive negotiation process, which must use as the primary selection criteria, the demonstrated competence and qualifications for the studying, planning, design, developing, financing, construction, maintenance, rebuilding, improvement, repair, or operation, or any combination thereof, of the facility. This bill would instead require the governmental agency to use as a primary selection criterion, the demonstrated competence and qualifications of the private entity to perform the services required under the agreement, including prior experience in performing similar services.