INTERNAL / PRIVILEGED — DRAFT

Protest 013: KCM Power Vault Classification — Timeline

Issue: SKA-0247 / PCN-00142
Category: Utility Classification / Contract Interpretation
Status: Dispute Filed — AECOM Notice of Dispute (March 13, 2026)
Amount: Not quantified (Force Account tracking per SL 9727-188)

Correspondence Log

Date Document Direction Subject
2025-10-17 Skanska LTR 257 Skanska → WSDOT Requests WSDOT-Initiated Change for KCM power vault relocation
2025-10-30 WSDOT SL 9727-188 WSDOT → Skanska Will determine classification. Track under Force Account.
2025-12-11 WSDOT SL 9727-217 WSDOT → Skanska Determination: vault does not qualify as Major Underground Utility
2025-12-23 Skanska LTR 303 Skanska → WSDOT Requests reconsideration of utility classification
2026-01-08 WSDOT SL 9727-235 WSDOT → Skanska Reaffirms: not a Major Underground Utility or Service Line
2026-01-22 Skanska LTR 327 Skanska → WSDOT Notice of Protest 013. Supplemental to follow.
2026-01-26 WSDOT SL 9727-250 WSDOT → Skanska Acknowledges protest. Supplement anticipated by February 9.
2026-02-09 Skanska LTR 345 Skanska → WSDOT Supplemental protest: KCM refused to direct Skanska. “Property improvement” not defined in Contract.
2026-02-18 Meeting WSDOT / KCM / Skanska KCM Vault Coordination Meeting. All parties agreed raise-to-grade with traffic-rated lid is simplest approach. KCM subsequently raised safety concerns and has not responded.
2026-03-02 WSDOT SL 9727-285 WSDOT → Skanska Denies protest. Cites GP 1-07.17(9).4 Item 3 (no CO for inaccuracies in non-Major Utility info), GP 1-07.16(1) (protect improvements legally on ROW), RFP 2.16.3.5.6 (vault must meet Heavy Duty standards or be relocated).
2026-03-13 AECOM Notice of Dispute AECOM → Skanska Formal notice of dispute per Section 1-04.5(1). AECOM intends to refer to DRB. Requests Skanska transmit to WSDOT by March 16. Full reservation of rights.
2026-03-16 Skanska LTR 378 Skanska → WSDOT Response to SL-285 + AECOM Dispute Notice + 3 proposed resolution paths. Filed on last day of 14-day dispute window. Argues omission vs. inaccuracy; challenges KCM’s legal authorization for ROW. Resolution paths: (1) FA conversion per Section 1-09.6, (2) WSDOT-Initiated Change per Section 1-04.4(1), (3) Cost Responsibility Determination per Section 1-07.17(10).

Key Contract Provisions

ProvisionRole
GP 1-07.17(9)Major Underground Utility definition — WSDOT determined vault does not qualify
GP 1-07.17(9).4 Item 3WSDOT primary basis — bars CO for “inaccuracies” in non-Major Utility info; Skanska argues omission is not inaccuracy
GP 1-07.16(1)WSDOT secondary basis — protect improvements “legally on the ROW”; Skanska challenges KCM’s legal authorization
RFP 2.16.3.5.6WSDOT secondary basis — vault must meet Heavy Duty standards or be relocated; Skanska argues covers WSDOT infrastructure only
Section 1-09.6Skanska Resolution Path 1 — Force Account conversion basis
Section 1-04.4(1)Skanska Resolution Path 2 — OIC for undisclosed site condition
Section 1-07.17(10)Skanska Resolution Path 3 — Cost responsibility determination
Section 1-04.5(1)Dispute filing basis — AECOM Notice of Dispute invokes this section

Open Items

#ItemPriorityStatus
1WSDOT response to LTR 378 — due March 30, 2026; assigned JS; must address (a) dispute acknowledgment, (b) resolution proposals, (c) omission vs. inaccuracy argumentHIGHOPEN
2Verify KCM legal authorization for ROW occupancy — permit, franchise agreement, or easement; required to sustain GP 1-07.16(1) defenseMEDIUMOPEN
3Follow up on February 18 coordination meeting — KCM raised safety concerns post-meeting; KCM response status unknownMEDIUMOPEN