LB 565

This bill establishes the Public Water and Natural Resources Project Contracting Act, which provides Nebraska's Department of Natural Resources with alternative contracting methods for water and natural resources infrastructure projects. The Act authorizes the use of modern project delivery methods including design-build contracts, construction manager-general contractor arrangements, progressive design-build, and public-private partnerships, moving beyond traditional bid-build approaches. These alternative contracting methods allow the department to select contractors based on best value or qualifications rather than solely on lowest bid price, and enable early contractor involvement in project design and planning phases. The flexibility provided by these contracting options is intended to improve project delivery efficiency, cost management, and outcomes for public water and natural resources projects regardless of their funding source.