NC S814

Clarifies that bidders may not be prequalified for public construction projects except when a governmental entity uses specific construction methods authorized in G.S. 143-128(a1)(1) through (3) and adopts an objective prequalification policy.

Requires prequalification policies to be uniform, transparent, and allow all qualifying bidders to participate; criteria must be rationally related to construction work, include scoring values and minimum scores, not require prior project awards, and permit submission of similar-scope project experience.

Establishes mandatory protest procedures for denied bidders that must be completed before bid opening and allows sufficient time for subsequently prequalified bidders to submit bids.

Prohibits prequalification for qualification-based services, design-builders, construction managers at risk, and public-private partnerships.

Requires construction managers at risk to follow the prequalification process in G.S. 143-135.8 and mandates that public entities conclude construction management at risk delivery is in the project's best interest before using it, effective October 1, 2014.