(a) (1) Whenever it becomes necessary in the judgment of the secretary of administration or in any case when the construction cost of a project for the construction of a building or for major repairs or improvements to a building for a state agency is expected to exceed the amount specified in paragraph (2), the secretary of administration shall convene a negotiating committee. The state building advisory commission shall prepare a list of at least three but not more than five firms that are, in the opinion of the state building advisory commission, qualified to serve as project architect, engineer or land surveyor for the project. Such list shall be submitted to the negotiating committee, without any recommendation of preference or other recommendation.

(2) The construction cost threshold to convene a negotiating committee as provided by paragraph (1) shall be $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2024. For fiscal year 2025, and all fiscal years thereafter, the threshold to convene a negotiating committee shall be the threshold amount for the immediately preceding fiscal year increased by an amount equal to the percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States department of labor during the immediately preceding fiscal year rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount.

(b) The secretary of administration may combine two or more separate projects for the construction of buildings or for major repairs or improvements to buildings for state agencies, for the purpose of procuring architectural, engineering or land surveying services for all such projects from a single firm. In each case, the combined projects shall be construed to be a single project for all purposes under the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 75-1250 through 75-1267, and amendments thereto.

(c) (1) This section shall not apply to any repetitive project with a standard plan that was originally designed by the secretary of administration or an agency architect pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-1254(a)(2) and (3), and amendments thereto. In such a case, the secretary of administration or the agency architect may provide architectural services for the repetitive project.

(2) “Repetitive project” means a project that uses the same standard design as was used for a project constructed previously, including, but not limited to, sub-area shops and salt domes of the department of transportation and showers and toilet buildings of the Kansas department of wildlife and parks. The plans for the project may be modified as required for current codes, operational needs or cost control. The total floor area of the project may be increased by an area of not more than 25% of the floor area of the originally constructed project, except that not more than 25% of the linear feet of the exterior and interior walls may be moved for such increase. A project shall not be considered to be repetitive if it has been over four years between the substantial completion of the last project using the design plans and the appropriation of funds for the proposed project.