Projects

1. Major Projects require specific enumeration in the state capital budget and can be funded from any combination of bonds or cash. New construction costing $1,000,000 or more; building maintenance, repair, and renovation; site improvements; and site utilities maintenance, repair, and renovation costing $3,000,000 or more require specific enumeration. Board of Regents and State Building Commission approvals are required.
2. Minor Projects are categorically enumerated in the state capital budget and can be funded from any combination of bonds or cash. Building maintenance, repair, and renovation; site improvements; and site utilities maintenance, repair, and renovation costing more than $3,000,000 and less than $7,400,000 can be processed under the Minor Projects Program. Board of Regents and State Building Commission approvals are required.
3. All Agency Projects are categorically enumerated in the state capital budget and can be funded from any combination of bonds or cash. New construction costing between $300,000 and $1,000,000; building maintenance, repair, and renovation; site improvements; and site utilities maintenance, repair, and renovation costing less than $3,000,000 can be processed under the All Agency Projects Program. Board of Regents and State Building Commission approvals are required.
4. Instructional Space Projects are categorically enumerated in the state capital budget and can be funded from any combination of bonds or cash. These remodeling projects costing less than $7,400,000 focus on maintaining and upgrading the classrooms and instructional laboratories space and technology. Board of Regents and State Building Commission approvals are required.
5. Small Projects are categorically enumerated in the state capital budget as a subset of the All Agency Projects enumeration and can be funded from any combination of bonds or cash. These maintenance, repair, and renovation projects cost less than $300,000. Board of Regents and State Building Commission approvals are not required, approval authority has been delegated to the Division of Facilities Development.

The matrix below illustrates various policy and procedural references governing state construction projects, including State Statutes and Division of Facilities Development and Management (DFDM) publications. The intent is to provide a thumbnail reference for all construction projects, regardless of funding source or budget level. This simplified reference tool intentionally shows the narrowest interpretation/path of least resistance and is not intended to replace the source or reference documentation. Users should familiarize themselves with the following publications to understand the nuances and finer details of state construction projects:

• Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 16
• DFDM's “Capital Budget Manual” (current edition)
• DFDM's “Small Projects Guideline”
• DFDM's "Small Projects Simplified (Bidding) Procedures"

Construction¹ Project Decision Matrix

 STATE PROJECT REQUIRED

DELEGATION 
POSSIBLE

ROUTINE STATE PROJECT and PROCESS

 Cautionary Notes

1. Can request delegation through the Small Projects Program. Solicited bids are acceptable, advertised bids are optional. Construction contract optional or limited trades² work. Limited trades (replacement in kind) work can be accomplished through a purchase order.
2. Can request delegation through the Small Projects Program. Solicited bids are acceptable, advertised bids are optional. Construction contract required.
3. New construction, utility expansion/extension, and significant remodeling >$1M require enumeration and Major Project Request. Maintenance, repair, renovation, and minor remodeling <$3M do not require enumeration and should be handled through the All Agency Projects Program.
4. Effective January 1, 2017, the administration of state prevailing wage on state building projects will transition from the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to the Department of Administration/Division of Facilities Development and Management (DOA/DFDM). Prevailing hours of labor will be determined by Wis. Stats. 16.856(1)(e) and prevailing wage rates will be as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor 40 U.S.C. 3142 for publication in the applicable project bidding documents. For projects bidding after January 1, 2017, new prevailing hours of labor and prevailing wage rates will be required on applicable projects; and will require using new front end bidding document templates and a new form to request prevailing wage rate determinations from DOA/DFDM.
5. DFDM construction "simplified bid" is not the same as procurement "simplified bid". DFDM recommends using their construction contract (or similar document) and soliciting at least three bids or proposals for projects costing between $25-50K.

Footnotes

1. ""Construction work" includes all labor and materials used in the framing or assembling of component parts in the erection, installation, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, conversion, razing, demolition or removal of any appliance, device, equipment, building, structure or facility." - Wisconsin Statutes § 16.87(1)(a)
2. ""Limited trades work" means the repair or replacement of existing equipment or building components with equipment or components of the same kind, if the work is not dependent upon the design services of an architect or engineer, and does not alter or affect the performance of any building system, structure, exterior walls, roof or exits, or the fire protection or sanitation of the building. "Limited trades work" includes decorative and surface material changes within a building and minor preventive maintenance to ancillary facilities such as drives, sidewalks, and fences.” - Wisconsin Statutes § 16.70(7)