Public Act 102-1134
 
HB2870 EnrolledLRB102 14777 AWJ 20130 b

    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by
changing Sections 11-135.5-15, 11-135.5-25, and 11-135.5-35
and by adding Sections 11-135.5-7, 11-135.5-50, 11-135.5-55,
11-135.5-60, 11-135.5-65, 11-135.5-70, and 11-135.5-75 as
follows:
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-7 new)
    Sec. 11-135.5-7. Definitions. As used in this Division:
    "Design-build" means a delivery system that provides
responsibility within a single contract for the furnishing of
architecture, engineering, land surveying, and related
services as required and the labor, materials, equipment, and
other construction services for the project.
    "Design-build contract" means a contract for a public
project under this Division between a commission and a
design-build entity to furnish: architecture, engineering,
land surveying, public art or interpretive exhibits, and
related services, as required; and the labor, materials,
equipment, and other construction services for the project.
    "Design-build entity" means any individual, sole
proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation,
professional corporation, or other entity that proposes to
design and construct any public project under this Division.
    "Design professional" means any individual, sole
proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation,
professional corporation, or other entity that offers services
under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, the
Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, the Structural
Engineering Practice Act of 1989, or the Illinois Professional
Land Surveyor Act of 1989.
    "Evaluation criteria" means the requirements for the
separate phases of the selection process as defined in this
Division and may include the specialized experience, technical
qualifications and competence, capacity to perform, past
performance, experience with similar projects, assignment of
personnel to the project, and other appropriate factors.
    "Proposal" means the offer to enter into a design-build
contract as submitted by a design-build entity in accordance
with this Division.
    "Request for proposal" means the document used by the
commission to solicit proposals for a design-build contract.
    "Scope and performance criteria" means the requirements
for the commission project, including, but not limited to, the
intended usage, capacity, size, scope, quality and performance
standards, life-cycle costs, and other programmatic criteria
that are expressed in performance-oriented and quantifiable
specifications and drawings that can be reasonably inferred
and are suited to allow a design-build entity to develop a
proposal.
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-15)
    Sec. 11-135.5-15. Establishment of commission; members;
initial costs and funding.
    (a) Establishment of commission. Two or more
municipalities, at least one of which is located in whole or in
part in the county of Cook, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, or
Will and has 140,000 or more inhabitants at the time of
establishment of a regional water commission, excluding cities
of 500,000 or more inhabitants, may acquire, either by
purchase or construction, a waterworks system or a common
source of supply of water, or both, and may operate jointly a
waterworks system or a common source of supply of water, or
both, and improve and extend the same, as provided in this
Division. The municipality meeting the requirement to have
140,000 or more inhabitants as required by this paragraph must
have attained that population as of December 16, 2021 (the
effective date of Public Act 102-684) this amendatory Act of
the 102nd General Assembly.
    The corporate authorities of the municipalities desiring
to avail themselves of the provisions of this Division shall
establish a regional water commission by adopting an ordinance
determining and electing to acquire and operate jointly a
waterworks system or a common source of supply of water, or
both, as the case may be, and approving an intergovernmental
agreement among the municipalities establishing the regional
water commission. This agreement may be amended at any time
upon the adoption, by the corporate authorities of all member
municipalities, of concurring ordinances approving the
amendment to the agreement by the corporate authorities of all
member municipalities.
    (b) Addition or withdrawal of members; dissolution. The
agreement may provide for additional municipalities to join
the commission upon adoption of an ordinance by the corporate
authorities of the joining municipality and, upon such
consents, conditions, and approvals of the board of
commissioners and of existing member municipalities as shall
be provided in the agreement. The agreement shall provide the
manner and terms on which a municipality may withdraw from
membership in the commission and on which the commission may
terminate and dissolve in whole or in part.
    (c) Filing of agreement. Promptly upon entering into the
agreement or any amendment to it, a copy of such agreement or
amendment shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of
State. Promptly upon the addition or withdrawal of a
municipality, or, upon the dissolution of the commission, that
fact shall be certified by an officer of the commission to the
Secretary of State.
    (d) Development costs. A municipality whose corporate
authorities adopted an ordinance and approved an
intergovernmental agreement to acquire and operate jointly a
waterworks system or a common source of supply of water, or
both, as the case may be, under the provisions of this
Division, may from time to time pay, advance, or obligate
itself to the commission to bear a proportionate share of the
development costs, including principal and interest, of any
project proposed by the commission, including plans,
feasibility reports, and engineering, even if the project is
never constructed or water is never supplied by the commission
to such municipality.
    Whenever the corporate authorities of a municipality
determine that the municipality will pay, advance, or be
obligated for its proportionate share of development costs as
provided in this subsection, they shall adopt an ordinance
declaring their intention that the municipality will do so,
fix the maximum amount of the municipality's share of the cost
the municipality proposes to pay or that the municipality will
advance or to obligate the municipality for, and fix the
period over which it is proposed to pay the obligation (not
exceeding 10 years), and the maximum amount to be paid
annually, if such obligation is to be paid in installments.
The time of payment of any such installment obligation may be
extended for a period not exceeding 10 years from the final
maturity date of the original obligation. On and after the
date such ordinance becomes effective, the municipality shall
include an amount sufficient to pay the annual installments of
its obligation each year in the next succeeding appropriation
ordinances. The commission may require that if any such
municipality whose corporate authorities determined to pay, to
advance, or to obligate the municipality to the commission for
development costs defaults in such payments, advances, or
obligations, then the remaining municipalities whose corporate
authorities have determined to pay, to advance, or to obligate
the respective municipalities to the commission for
development costs will be required to pay for all or a portion
of the payments, advances by, or obligations of the defaulting
municipality. No prior appropriation shall be required for the
corporate authorities of a municipality to authorize the
payments, advances, or obligations herein provided for.
    Whenever the corporate authorities of a municipality have
obligated the municipality for development costs as herein
provided and after the effective date of the ordinance under
which the municipality became obligated for a specific amount
for development costs of a project and after approval of such
obligation by the commission, the commission is authorized to
borrow funds temporarily for payment of such development costs
in advance of permanent financing. The commission may from
time to time and pursuant to an appropriate ordinance or
resolution borrow money and issue its interim notes to
evidence borrowings for such purpose, including all necessary
and incidental expenses in connection therewith.
    An ordinance or resolution authorizing the issuance of
such notes shall describe the project and the development
costs to be undertaken and specify the principal amount, rate
of interest as authorized under Section 2 of the Bond
Authorization Act, and the maturity date, which shall coincide
with the due date of the obligations or the installments
thereof incurred by the respective municipalities pursuant to
this Section not, however, to exceed 10 years from date.
    Contemporaneously with the issuance of revenue bonds under
Section 11-135.5-30, all outstanding interim notes issued for
development costs of a project though they have not then
matured shall be paid, both principal and interest to date of
payment, from funds derived from the sale of revenue bonds for
the permanent financing of any such project for which interim
notes may have been issued and such interim notes shall be
surrendered and cancelled, or, in the alternative, the
commission may determine to pay such interim notes out of
receipts from other sources available to the commission,
including grants and loans.
    Whenever a member municipality has incurred development
costs for a project and has advanced funds or otherwise
obligated itself for the payment of such costs, the commission
is authorized to accept assignment of such debt instruments
and the payment obligations thereunder and to thereafter make
all necessary payments to meet such obligations out of
receipts from other sources available to the commission,
including grants and loans, or provide for credits against
amounts otherwise due to the commission from the municipality,
including interest on the amounts due.
    As used in this subsection, "development costs" means the
costs of development of a project, including debt incurred and
principal and interest payments, whether incurred by the
commission or a member municipality.
    (e) Construction and operating costs. A municipality, the
corporate authorities of which adopted an ordinance and
approved an intergovernmental agreement to acquire and operate
jointly a waterworks system or a common source of supply of
water, or both, as the case may be, under the provisions of
this Division, may from time to time pay, advance, or obligate
itself to the commission to bear a proportionate share of the
construction and operating costs of any project proposed by
the commission.
    Whenever the corporate authorities of a municipality
determine that the municipality will pay, advance, or be
obligated for its proportionate share of construction or
operating costs as above provided, they shall adopt an
ordinance declaring their intention to do so, fix the maximum
amount of the municipality's share of the cost it proposes to
pay, to advance, or to obligate itself for, and fix the period
over which it is proposed to pay the obligation, and state the
maximum amount to be paid annually, if such obligation is to be
paid in installments. On and after the date such ordinance
becomes effective, the municipality shall include an amount
sufficient to pay the annual installments of its obligation
each year in the next succeeding appropriation ordinances. The
commission may require that if any such municipality whose
corporate authorities determined that the municipality will
pay, advance, or be obligated to the commission for
construction or operating costs defaults in such payments,
advances, or obligations, then the remaining municipalities
whose corporate authorities have determined that the
municipality will pay, advance, or be obligated to the
commission for construction or operating costs will be
required to pay for all or a portion of the payments, advances
by, or obligations of the defaulting municipality. No prior
appropriation shall be required for the corporate authorities
of a municipality to authorize the payments, advances, or
obligations herein provided for.
    Whenever a municipality, through its corporate
authorities, has paid, advanced, or obligated the municipality
for development, construction, or operating costs as herein
provided, the commission may contract with the municipality,
on such terms as may be agreed, for the repayment to the
municipality by the commission of any payment or advance made
by the municipality to the commission and to charge, in
addition to all other charges and rates authorized under this
Division, such rates and charges for water sold by the
commission as shall be necessary to provide for such
repayment. In addition, any payment or advance of such costs
made by a municipality pursuant to this Section may be repaid
by the commission to the municipality: (i) from the proceeds
of revenue bonds authorized to be issued by the commission
pursuant to this Division; (ii) or, in the alternative, the
commission may determine to pay all or part of such amounts out
of receipts from other sources available to the commission,
including grants and loans; or (iii) by the commission
providing credits against amounts otherwise due to the
commission from the municipality, including interest on the
amounts due.
    Whenever a member municipality has incurred construction
and operating costs for a project and has advanced funds or
otherwise obligated itself for the payment of such costs, the
commission is authorized to accept assignment of such debt
instruments and the payment obligations thereunder and to
thereafter make all necessary payments to meet such
obligations: (i) from the proceeds of revenue bonds authorized
to be issued by the commission pursuant to this Division; (ii)
or, in the alternative, the commission may determine to pay
all or part of such amounts out of receipts from other sources
available to the commission, including grants and loans; or
(iii) by the commission providing credits against amounts
otherwise due to the commission from the municipality,
including interest on the amounts due.
    As used in this subsection, "construction and operating
costs" means the costs of construction and operation of a
project, including debt incurred and principal and interest
payments, whether incurred by the commission or a member
municipality.
    (f) Commission facilities. A waterworks system or a common
source of supply of water, or both, purchased or constructed
by the commission: (1) may be located within or without the
corporate limits of any member municipality; (2) may include,
or may consist of, without limitation, facilities for
receiving, storing, and transmitting water from any source for
supplying water to member municipalities and other purchasers
of water from the commission; and (3) may include, without
limitation, facilities that are developed, acquired,
constructed, extended, or improved by the commission that may
at any time be owned by another unit of local government if
such facilities will serve the waterworks system or provide a
common source of supply of water for the commission.
(Source: P.A. 102-684, eff. 12-16-21.)
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-25)
    Sec. 11-135.5-25. Board organization and powers.
    (a) Organization of board. A commission shall organize by
electing a chair from among its own members and shall elect
persons, who need not be commissioners, to such other offices
as shall be designated in the agreement. It shall adopt its own
bylaws, rules, and regulations and provide for its meetings.
The commission has full and complete supervision, management,
and control of the waterworks system or the common source of
supply of water, or both, as provided in the agreement and
ordinances for acquiring and operating the same, and in their
maintenance, operation, and extension. The board of
commissioners shall determine the general policy of the
commission, shall approve the annual budget, shall make all
appropriations (which may include appropriations made at any
time in addition to those made in any annual appropriation
document), shall approve all contracts for the purchase or
sale of water, shall adopt ordinances or resolutions providing
for the issuance of bonds or notes by the commission, shall
adopt its bylaws, rules, and regulations, and shall have such
other powers and duties as may be prescribed in the agreement.
Such agreement may further specify the voting and approval
requirements for actions regarding the commission's powers and
duties, including those powers and actions of the commission
which shall be authorized only upon votes of greater than a
majority of all commissioners or only upon consents of the
corporate authorities of a certain number of member
municipalities, or both.
    The agreement may provide for the establishment of a
technical advisory committee to consist of a municipal
employee member from each member municipality as designated by
ordinance or other official action, from time to time by the
corporate authorities of the member municipality, and having
the qualifications as prescribed in the agreement, and also
may provide for such functions and duties of the committee as
will support the efficient administration and operation of the
commission.
    The board of commissioners may establish other committees
from time to time, consisting of either members of the board or
members who are municipal employees from each member
municipality, in order to support the efficient administration
and operation of the commission.
    (b) Water contracts to acquire water supply. A commission
may contract to acquire a supply of water on such terms and
conditions as it finds in the best interests of the commission
for a period not exceeding 101 years. The term of the water
supply contract may, at the end of the initial or extended
term, be extended by an amendment, renewal, or revision beyond
101 years by further agreement of the parties. A commission
may contract with any person, corporation, political
subdivision, municipal corporation, or other governmental or
non-governmental entity for a supply of water, and any such
political subdivision, municipal corporation, or other
governmental entity is authorized to enter into such a
contract with the commission. A commission may accept from a
municipality that is a member of the commission the assignment
of a contract to acquire a supply of water and to accept and
perform the duties and obligations and make all payments
required pursuant to such assigned contract.
    A contract made by or assigned to a commission for a supply
of water may contain provisions whereby the commission is
obligated to pay for such supply of water without setoff or
counterclaim and irrespective of whether such supply of water
is ever furnished, made available, or delivered to the
commission or whether any project for the supply of water
contemplated by the contract is completed, operable, or
operating and notwithstanding any suspension, interruption,
interference, reduction, or curtailment of the supply of water
from such project.
    No prior appropriation shall be required before entering
into or accepting assignment of such contract, and no
appropriation shall be required to authorize payments to be
made under the terms of the contract, notwithstanding any
provision of this Code to the contrary. The contract shall not
be a debt within the meaning of any statutory or
constitutional limitations.
    (c) Water contracts to provide water supply to members.
The commission is authorized to contract with the
municipalities which established the commission, and with
other municipalities that have become members pursuant to the
process established in the intergovernmental agreement, for a
supply of water to those municipalities, for a period not
exceeding 101 years, and those municipalities are authorized
to enter into such contracts with the commission. The term of
the water supply contract may, at the end of the initial or
extended term, be extended by an amendment, renewal, or
revision beyond 101 years by further agreement of the parties.
    Any such contract made by a commission and any such
municipalities to supply water may contain provisions whereby
the purchasing municipality is obligated to pay for such
supply of water without setoff or counterclaim and
irrespective of whether such supply of water is ever
furnished, made available, or delivered to the purchasing
municipality or whether any project for the supply of water
contemplated by any such contract is completed, operable, or
operating and notwithstanding any suspension, interruption,
interference, reduction, or curtailment of the supply of water
from such project. Any such contract may provide that if one or
more of the other purchasers' defaults in the payment of its
obligations under the contract or similar contract made with
the supplier of the water, the remaining purchasers party to
such contract or such similar contract shall be required to
pay for all or a portion of the obligations of the defaulting
purchaser. Each municipality that enters into such a contract
shall be obligated and have the duty to include an amount
sufficient to pay the annual amount of its obligation each
year in the next succeeding appropriation ordinances. No prior
appropriation shall be required for a municipality to
authorize the payments, advances, or obligations provided for
in such contracts or this subsection.
    (d) Water contracts to provide water supply to nonmembers
and extend system. A commission may supply water to and
contract with a person, corporation, political subdivision,
municipal corporation, or other governmental or
non-governmental entity, in addition to the municipalities
which have formed the commission and other municipalities that
have become members pursuant to the process established in the
intergovernmental agreement, and to construct water
transmission and distribution lines within a radius of 25
miles outside the corporate limits of member municipalities
for the purpose of furnishing water to any additional entities
which contract with the commission for a supply of water, upon
such payment, terms, and conditions as may be mutually agreed
upon. Any such contract shall be a continuing, valid, and
binding obligation of the purchaser for such period of years,
not to exceed 40, as may be provided in such contract.
    Any such contract entered into to supply water to a
municipal corporation or political subdivision shall provide
that the payments to be made thereunder shall be from the
revenues to be derived by such municipality or political
subdivision from the operation of the waterworks system or
combined waterworks and sewer system of such municipality or
political subdivision or from receipts from other sources
available to the municipality or political subdivision,
including grants and loans. Any such contract made by a
commission and a purchaser that is such a municipal
corporation or political subdivision to supply water may
contain provisions whereby the purchaser is obligated to pay
for such supply of water without setoff or counterclaim and
irrespective of whether such supply of water is ever
furnished, made available, or delivered to the purchaser or
whether any project for the supply of water contemplated by
any such contract is completed, operable, or operating and
notwithstanding any suspension, interruption, interference,
reduction, or curtailment of the supply of water from such
project. The contract may provide that, if one or more of the
other purchasers defaults in the payment of its obligations
under such contract or similar contract made with the supplier
of the water, the remaining purchasers party to such contract
or such similar contract shall be required to pay for all or a
portion of the obligations of the defaulting purchaser. Each
municipal corporation or political subdivision that enters
into such a contract shall be obligated and have the duty to
include an amount sufficient to pay the annual amount of its
obligation each year in the next succeeding appropriation
ordinances. No prior appropriation shall be required for a
municipality or political subdivision to authorize the
payments, advances, or obligations provided for in such
contracts or this subsection. Any such contract shall not be a
debt within the meaning of any statutory or constitutional
limitations.
    (e) Additional powers. In addition to any other powers set
forth in this Division and in the agreement, a commission has
the following powers:
        (1) The power to enter into intergovernmental police
    assistance agreements with any municipality or county.
        (2) The power to enter into intergovernmental
    agreements with any unit of local government or other
    governmental entity in order to carry out the purposes for
    which the commission was formed.
(Source: P.A. 102-684, eff. 12-16-21.)
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-35)
    Sec. 11-135.5-35. Revenues; rates; costs; construction
contracts.
    (a) Revenue fund. Whenever bonds are issued under this
Division, the revenue received from the operation of the
properties under the control of the commission shall be set
aside as collected and deposited in a separate fund to be used
only (1) in paying the cost of the operation and maintenance of
those properties, (2) in providing an adequate depreciation
fund, (3) in paying the principal of and interest upon the
revenue bonds issued by the commission, as provided by this
Division, (4) to comply with the covenants of the ordinance or
resolution, or the master trust indenture or any applicable
supplemental trust indenture or both, authorizing the issuance
of such bonds, and (5) to carry out the corporate purposes and
powers of the commission.
    (b) Rates and charges for waterworks system. If the
commission has charge of the operation of a complete
waterworks system, including the distribution mains, the
commission shall establish rates and charges for water and the
use of commission waterworks system facilities, which shall be
sufficient at all times to pay the cost of operation and
maintenance, to provide an adequate depreciation fund, to pay
the principal of and interest upon all revenue bonds issued as
provided by this Division, to comply with the covenants of the
ordinance or resolution, or the master trust indenture or any
applicable supplemental trust indenture or both, authorizing
the issuance of such bonds, and to carry out the corporate
purposes and powers of the commission. Charges and rates shall
be established, revised, and maintained by ordinance and
become payable as the commission may determine by ordinance.
    (c) Rates and charges for water source of supply. If the
commission has charge of the operation of a common source of
supply of water, the municipalities represented by the
commission shall contract with the commission for water. These
municipalities shall establish such charges and rates for
water supplied by them to consumers as will be sufficient at
all times (1) to pay the cost of operation and maintenance of
the respective waterworks systems (or combined waterworks and
sewerage systems) of the municipalities, (2) to provide an
adequate depreciation fund therefor, (3) to pay the principal
of and interest on all revenue bonds of the municipalities
payable from the revenues of the waterworks system (or
combined waterworks and sewerage system), and (4) to pay the
charges and rates established by the commission for the sale
of water by the commission to, and the use of commission
waterworks system facilities by, those municipalities. The
commission shall establish such charges and rates for water
supplied to those municipalities and the use of commission
waterworks system facilities as will be sufficient at all
times (1) to pay the cost of operation and maintenance of the
common source of supply of water, (2) to provide an adequate
depreciation fund therefor, (3) to pay the principal of and
interest on the revenue bonds issued by the commission, (4) to
comply with the covenants of the ordinance or resolution, or
the master trust indenture or any applicable supplemental
trust indenture or both, authorizing the issuance of such
bonds, and (5) to carry out the corporate purposes and powers
of the commission, under the provisions of this Division.
Contracts entered into between the commission and the
specified municipalities shall include covenants for the
establishment of rates and charges as provided in this
Section.
    (d) Pension costs. Contributions to a retirement fund or
other pension alternative authorized by the Illinois Pension
Code, including, without limitation, the Illinois Municipal
Retirement Fund, by commissions created under this Division
which have been included under the retirement fund or other
pension alternative shall be considered a cost of operation
and maintenance for the purposes of this Section.
    (e) Enforcement of obligations. An owner A holder of a
bond or of any of its coupons issued under this Division, a
trustee under a master trust indenture or supplemental trust
indenture or both with respect to the bonds issued under this
Division, or both the owner and trustee may, in a civil action,
mandamus action, or other proceeding, may enforce and compel
performance of all duties required by this Division to be
performed by such a commission or by any of the
municipalities, including the making of rates and charges, the
collecting of sufficient revenue, and the application thereof,
as provided in this Division.
    (f) Construction contracts. All or any portion of a
waterworks system or other public improvement of such a
commission, when the expense thereof will exceed the greater
of (i) $25,000 or (ii) the amount of expense above which a work
or public improvement by a municipality must be let to the
lowest responsible bidder after advertising for bids under
Section 8-9-1 of this Code, shall be constructed, maintained,
or repaired either: (1) by a contract let to the lowest
responsible bidder after advertising for bids, in the manner
prescribed by the commission's bylaws, rules, and regulations
and by the vote required as established in the
intergovernmental agreement pursuant to Section 11-135.5-25;
or (2) without advertising for bids, if authorized by a vote of
greater than a majority of all the commissioners as
established in the intergovernmental agreement pursuant to
Section 11-135.5-25. The commission's bylaws, rules, and
regulations shall provide for an alternative procedure for
emergency procurement if an emergency makes it impracticable
to follow the procedures in this subsection.
    (g) Alternative project delivery. A commission may use
alternative project delivery methods if the commission
determines it to be in the commission's best interest for a
particular project. An alternative project delivery method may
include, without limitation, design-build or
construction-manager-at-risk. All notices for the procurement
of goods, services, or work to be provided pursuant to an
alternate delivery method shall include all requirements for
the goods, services, or work to be procured. All awards of
contracts or agreements for the procurement of goods,
services, or work to be provided pursuant to an alternate
delivery method shall be made on the basis of demonstrated
competence and qualifications and with due regard for the
principles of competitive selection. As part of an alternate
project delivery procurement process, prior to submission of
proposals, the commission may conduct meetings and exchange
confidential information with proposers to promote
understanding of the request for proposals, review alternative
design concepts, or discuss other issues related to the
procurement.
    As used in this subsection:
    "Construction-manager-at-risk" means a delivery method in
which the party proposing to be the construction manager
commits to be responsible for performance of certain
preconstruction services and, if the parties reach agreement
on key terms, becomes responsible for construction of the
project.
    "Design-build" means a delivery method that provides
responsibility within a single contract for furnishing the
architectural, engineering, land-surveying, and related
services for the project, as well as the labor, materials,
equipment, and other construction services for the project.
    (h) Procurement goals and requirements. A commission may
establish goals or requirements for the procurement of goods
and services and for construction contracts to promote and
encourage the continuing economic development of (i)
businesses that are owned and operated by minorities, women,
persons with disabilities, or veterans; (ii) businesses that
are located within the territory of one or more of the
municipalities that are members of the commission; (iii)
businesses that employ persons who reside in the territory of
one or more of the municipalities that are members of the
commission; (iv) businesses that are located within the
territory of a municipality having more than 2,000,000
inhabitants in which a portion of the commission's waterworks
system or other commission improvement is located; or (v)
businesses that employ persons who reside in the territory of
a municipality having more than 2,000,000 inhabitants in which
a portion of the commission's waterworks system or other
commission improvement is located.
    A commission may also establish other goals or
requirements that result in the award to a responsible bidder
other than the lowest responsible bidder if the commission
determines that the award is in the commission's best
interests, notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (f).
Goals or requirements that are set by a commission that result
in a preference being applied to a bidder or proposer, who has
met those goals or requirements, in a commission's process for
awarding construction contracts and for the procurement of
goods and services must comply with the constitutional
standards applicable to the preferences.
    (i) Contract assignment. A member municipality may enter
into a contract for any portion of a waterworks system or other
public improvement of a commission pursuant to a contracting
method that is consistent with the requirements applicable to
the municipality and generally consistent with the principles
in subsection (f) or (g). The commission may accept assignment
of such a contract and of payment obligations under that
contract.
    (j) (g) Project labor agreement. In connection with a
contract by a commission for the construction of all or any
portion of a waterworks system or other public improvement of
the commission, the commission must enter into a project labor
agreement with the applicable local building trades council
prior to the commencement of any and all construction,
building, renovation, demolition, or any material change to
the structure or land.
(Source: P.A. 102-684, eff. 12-16-21.)
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-50 new)
    Sec. 11-135.5-50. Solicitation of proposals.
    (a) A commission may enter into design-build contracts. In
addition to the requirements set forth in its local
ordinances, when the commission elects to use the design-build
delivery method, it must issue a notice of intent to receive
proposals for the project at least 14 days before issuing the
request for the proposal. The commission must publish the
advance notice in the manner prescribed by ordinance, which
shall include posting the advance notice online on its
website. The commission may publish the notice in construction
industry publications or post the notice on construction
industry websites. A brief description of the proposed
procurement must be included in the notice. The commission
must provide a copy of the request for proposal to any party
requesting a copy.
    (b) The request for proposal shall be prepared for each
project and must contain, without limitation, the following
information:
        (1) The name of the commission.
        (2) A preliminary schedule for the completion of the
    contract.
        (3) The proposed budget for the project, the source of
    funds, and the currently available funds at the time the
    request for proposal is submitted.
        (4) Prequalification criteria for design-build
    entities wishing to submit proposals. The Commission shall
    include, at a minimum, its normal prequalification,
    licensing, registration, and other requirements; however,
    nothing precludes the use of additional prequalification
    criteria by the commission.
        (5) Material requirements of the contract, including,
    but not limited to, the proposed terms and conditions,
    required performance and payment bonds, and insurance.
        (6) The performance criteria.
        (7) The evaluation criteria for each phase of the
    solicitation. Price may not be used as a factor in the
    evaluation of Phase I proposals.
        (8) The number of entities that will be considered for
    the technical and cost evaluation phase.
    (c) The commission may include any other relevant
information that it chooses to supply. The design-build entity
shall be entitled to rely upon the accuracy of this
documentation in the development of its proposal.
    (d) The date that proposals are due must be at least 21
calendar days after the date of the issuance of the request for
proposal. If the cost of the project is estimated to exceed
$12,000,000, then the proposal due date must be at least 28
calendar days after the date of the issuance of the request for
proposal. The commission shall include in the request for
proposal a minimum of 30 days to develop the Phase II
submissions after the selection of entities from the Phase I
evaluation is completed.
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-55 new)
    Sec. 11-135.5-55. Development of scope and performance
criteria.
    (a) The commission shall develop, with the assistance of a
licensed design professional or public art designer, a request
for proposal, which shall include scope and performance
criteria. The scope and performance criteria must be in
sufficient detail and contain adequate information to
reasonably apprise the qualified design-build entities of the
commission's overall programmatic needs and goals, including
criteria and preliminary design plans, general budget
parameters, schedule, and delivery requirements.
    (b) Each request for proposal shall also include a
description of the level of design to be provided in the
proposals. This description must include the scope and type of
renderings, drawings, and specifications that, at a minimum,
will be required by the commission to be produced by the
design-build entities.
    (c) The scope and performance criteria shall be prepared
by a design professional or public art designer who is an
employee of the commission, or the commission may contract
with an independent design professional or public art designer
selected under the Local Government Professional Services
Selection Act to provide these services.
    (d) The design professional or public art designer that
prepares the scope and performance criteria is prohibited from
participating in any design-build entity proposal for the
project.
    (e) The design-build contract may be conditioned upon
subsequent refinements in scope and price and may allow the
commission to make modifications in the project scope without
invalidating the design-build contract.
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-60 new)
    Sec. 11-135.5-60. Procedures for selection.
    (a) The commission must use a two-phase procedure for the
selection of the successful design-build entity. Phase I of
the procedure will evaluate and shortlist the design-build
entities based on qualifications, and Phase II will evaluate
the technical and cost proposals.
    (b) The commission shall include in the request for
proposal the evaluating factors to be used in Phase I. These
factors are in addition to any prequalification requirements
of design-build entities that the commission has set forth.
Each request for proposal shall establish the relative
importance assigned to each evaluation factor and subfactor,
including any weighting of criteria to be employed by the
commission. The commission must maintain a record of the
evaluation scoring to be disclosed in event of a protest
regarding the solicitation.
    The commission shall include the following criteria in
every Phase I evaluation of design-build entities: (i)
experience of personnel; (ii) successful experience with
similar project types; (iii) financial capability; (iv)
timeliness of past performance; (v) experience with similarly
sized projects; (vi) successful reference checks of the firm;
and (vii) commitment to assign personnel for the duration of
the project and qualifications of the entity's consultants.
    The commission may include any additional relevant
criteria in Phase I that it deems necessary for a proper
qualification review. The commission may not consider any
design-build entity for evaluation or award if the entity has
any pecuniary interest in the project or has other
relationships or circumstances, including, but not limited to,
long-term leasehold, mutual performance, or development
contracts with the commission, that may give the design-build
entity a financial or tangible advantage over other
design-build entities in the preparation, evaluation, or
performance of the design-build contract or that create the
appearance of impropriety.
    Upon completion of the qualifications evaluation, the
commission shall create a shortlist of the most highly
qualified design-build entities. The commission, in its
discretion, is not required to shortlist the maximum number of
entities as identified for Phase II evaluation, provided that
no less than 2 design-build entities nor more than 6 are
selected to submit Phase II proposals. The commission shall
notify the entities selected for the shortlist in writing.
This notification shall commence the period for the
preparation of the Phase II technical and cost evaluations.
The commission must allow sufficient time for the shortlist
entities to prepare their Phase II submittals considering the
scope and detail requested by the commission.
    (c) The commission shall include in the request for
proposal the evaluating factors to be used in the technical
and cost submission components of Phase II. Each request for
proposal shall establish, for both the technical and cost
submission components of Phase II, the relative importance
assigned to each evaluation factor and subfactor, including
any weighting of criteria to be employed by the commission.
The commission must maintain a record of the evaluation
scoring to be disclosed in event of a protest regarding the
solicitation.
    The commission shall include the following criteria in
every Phase II technical evaluation of design-build entities:
(i) compliance with objectives of the project; (ii) compliance
of proposed services to the request for proposal requirements;
(iii) quality of products or materials proposed; (iv) quality
of design parameters; (v) design concepts; (vi) innovation in
meeting the scope and performance criteria; and (vii)
constructability of the proposed project. The commission may
include any additional relevant technical evaluation factors
it deems necessary for proper selection.
    The commission shall include the following criteria in
every Phase II cost evaluation: the total project cost; the
construction costs; and the time of completion. The commission
may include any additional relevant technical evaluation
factors it deems necessary for proper selection. The total
project cost criteria weighting factor shall not exceed 30%.
    The commission shall directly employ or retain a licensed
design professional or a public art designer to evaluate the
technical and cost submissions to determine if the technical
submissions are in accordance with generally accepted industry
standards.
    Upon completion of the technical submissions and cost
submissions evaluation, the commission may award the
design-build contract to the highest overall ranked entity.
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-65 new)
    Sec. 11-135.5-65. Small projects. In any case where the
total overall cost of the project is estimated to be less than
$12,000,000, the commission may combine the two-phase
procedure for selection described in Section 11-135.5-60 into
one combined step, provided that all the requirements of
evaluation are performed in accordance with Section
11-135.5-60.
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-70 new)
    Sec. 11-135.5-70. Submission of proposals. Proposals must
be properly identified and sealed. Proposals may not be
reviewed until after the deadline for submission has passed as
set forth in the request for proposals. All design-build
entities submitting proposals shall be disclosed after the
deadline for submission, and all design-build entities who are
selected for Phase II evaluation shall also be disclosed at
the time of that determination.
    Proposals shall include a bid bond in the form and
security as designated in the request for proposals. Proposals
shall also contain a separate sealed envelope with the cost
information within the overall proposal submission. Proposals
shall include a list of all design professionals, public art
designers, and other entities to which any work may be
subcontracted during the performance of the contract.
    Proposals must meet all material requirements of the
request for proposal or they may be rejected as
non-responsive. The commission has the right to reject any and
all proposals.
    The drawings and specifications of the proposal may remain
the property of the design-build entity.
    The commission shall review the proposals for compliance
with the performance criteria and evaluation factors.
    Proposals may be withdrawn prior to evaluation for any
cause. After evaluation begins by the commission, clear and
convincing evidence of error is required for withdrawal.
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-75 new)
    Sec. 11-135.5-75. Award; performance. The commission may
award the contract to the highest overall ranked entity.
Notice of award shall be made in writing. Unsuccessful
entities shall also be notified in writing. The commission may
not request a best and final offer after the receipt of
proposals. The commission may negotiate with the selected
design-build entity after award but prior to contract
execution for the purpose of securing better terms than
originally proposed, provided that the salient features of the
request for proposal are not diminished.
    A design-build entity and associated design professionals
shall conduct themselves in accordance with the relevant laws
of this State and the related provisions of the Illinois
Administrative Code.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.