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PUBLIC LAW 105-178—JUNE 9, 1998 112 STAT. 231 or local transportation agency of design-build contracting; and (B) establish the procedures to be followed by a State transportation department or local transportation agency for obtaining the Secretary's approval of the use of designbuild contracting by the department or agency. (d) EFFECT ON EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM.—Nothing in this sec- 23 USC 112 note, tion or the amendments made by this section affects the authority to carry out, or any project carried out under, any experimental program concerning design-build contracting that is being carried out by the Secretary as of the date of enactment of this Act. (e) EFFECTIVE DATE FOR AMENDMENTS.— 23 USC 112 note. (1) IN GENERAL.— The amendments made by this section take effect 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (2) TRANSITION PROVISION. — (A) IN GENERAL.—During the period before issuance of the regulations under subsection (c), the Secretary may approve, in accordance with an experimental program described in subsection (d), design-build contracts to be awarded using any process permitted by applicable State and local law; except that final design under any such contract shall not commence before compliance with section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332). (B) PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS. — The Secretary may approve design-build contracts awarded before the date of enactment of this Act. (C) DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACT DEFINED.—In this paragraph, the term "design-build contract" means an agreement that provides for design and construction of a project by a contractor, regardless of whether the agreement is in the form of a design-build contract, a franchise agreement, or any other form of contract approved by the Secretary. (f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 23 USC 112 note. (1) IN GENERAL.— Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of design-build contracting procedures. (2) CONTENTS.— The report shall contain— (A) an assessment of the effect of design-build contracting on project quality, project cost, and timeliness of project delivery; (B) recommendations on the appropriate level of design for design-build procurements; (C) an assessment of the impact of design-build contracting on small businesses; (D) assessment of the subjectivity used in design-build contracting; and (E) such recommendations concerning design-build contracting procedures as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. SEC. 1308. MAJOR INVESTMENT STUDY INTEGRATION. The Secretary shall eliminate the major investment study set forth in section 450.318 of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, as a separate requirement, and promulgate regulations to integrate 59-194 0-98 -9:QL3Partl
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