(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the secretary of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection may expedite the construction of projects by combining the design and construction elements of a project into a single contract as provided in this article.

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(b) The secretary shall promulgate procedural rules as the secretary deems to be useful or necessary to carry out the purpose of this article and to implement the intent of the Legislature in accordance with the provisions of § 29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, which must provide at a minimum:

(1) The application process for approval of a design-build project;

(2) The procedure for selecting the most qualified design-builders prior to the release of the invitation for proposals;

(3) The procedure for the preparation and contents of invitations for proposals;

(4) The procedure for preparing and submitting proposals;

(5) The procedure for evaluating proposals;

(6) The procedure for negotiations between the agency and those submitting proposals prior to the acceptance of a proposal, if any such negotiations are contemplated;

(7) The procedure for awarding and executing design-build contracts; and

(8) The procedure for acting on formal protests relating to the solicitation or award of design-build contracts.

(c) A design-build project may be let to contract only in accordance with the secretary’s procedural rules promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this article: Provided, That only contracts awarded directly by the Department of Environmental Protection may utilize the design-build delivery method authorized pursuant to the provisions of this article: Provided, however, design-build delivery projects awarded pursuant to the provisions of this article may not exceed a total aggregate value of $50 million.