Glossary of Terms

A commitment of budgeted funds that is typically recorded when processing a purchase requisition for goods and services. A preencumbrance can be converted into an encumbrance once a purchase order has been generated from the requisition.

Statements of the methods for achieving goals and objectives. Strategies guide the near-term work and activities that an agency undertakes to achieve specific goals and objectives.

Business must be: A for-profit business. A small business according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Eligible owner(s) must: Be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident. Own at least 51% of the business. Control managerial and day-to-day operations. Be female, African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian-Pacific American, or Subcontinent Asian American. (Other individuals may be found to be socially and economically disadvantaged on a case-by-case basis.) Have personal net worth of less than $1.32 M.

Capital projects that cost $5 million or more, or projects that meet the following criteria: have particularly costly elements, are undertaken on a tight design budget or short design schedule, have significant policy implications to a program, or involve state of the art technology.

Converting expenditures that occurred for only part of a biennium into the amount needed for a full biennium of implementation.

An analysis in which consequences of the investment are measured in or converted to economic terms and qualitative benefits.

A fund classification used to account for the state’s ongoing organizations and activities that are similar to those often found in the private sector. These funds are considered self-supporting in that the services rendered by them are financed through user charges or on a cost reimbursement basis. There are two types of proprietary funds: enterprise funds and internal service funds.

Revenue received which has not been appropriated by the Legislature. The Governor has the authority to approve the allotment of such money within the guidelines of the intent in which they were received and the statutory guidelines of RCW 43.79.270.

Future state describes the ideal, “desired state” of high-functioning systems after the transformation is complete.

A common grouping of expenditures made on the basis of homogenous activity, goods or services purchased, or type of resource to be used. Applies to the character of the article purchased or service obtained (rather than the purpose).

The high-level categoried that describe major business workflows that were included on the Readiness Spreadsheet (e.g., Accounts Receivable (A/R), Accounts Payable (A/P), Contracting, Recruiting, etc.).

Includes an allowance for uncertainty in scoping and pricing additional services, covers variability in estimating reimbursables, includes design fees for owner directed changes and includes design fees for changes during construction that are beyond the scope of basic services and are not a result of errors or omissions by the A/E. The total amount for design services contingency ranges from 5 to 10 percent of total consultant services cost depending on the complexity of the project.

This is the phase or process prior to beginning the contract life cycle when purchasers seek authority, approval or assistance with a procurement or purchase. Typically includes scope, estimated cost, funding source, timeline, proposed solution.

The cost to test and balance designed heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, including water flows, at the completion of construction.

Revenues that meet the appropriate recognition criteria of the fund type involved, but are not realized until a subsequent accounting period. Also refers to Accrual Basis and Modified Accrual Basis.

A written authorization provided to a contractor approving a change from the original plans, specifications, or other contract documents, as well as a change in the cost. With the proper signatures, a change order is considered a legal document.

The first party to the construction contract, who pays the contractor (the second party) for the construction work; also, the party who owns the rights to the land upon which the work is done and who, therefore, owns the work; also, the client of a designer, a construction manager, a project manager, or a development manager.

Electronic tool hosted on DES website to locate/access master contracts via web contract portal pages.

An integration containing AFRS accounting values. 

The EIB is a standard Workday template developed by the One Washington team that will enable agencies to prepare a bulk data upload for simple inbound integrations. The EIB replaces the current ‘Financial Toolbox’ and the TALS import template.

Key performance indicator (KPI) is a measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives. Organizations use KPIs to evaluate their success at reaching targets.

Proposals that cover a wide range of financial contracts that call for the development or use of space by state agencies through a contractual arrangement with a developer or financing entity. The sale of debt obligations, Certificates of Participation (COPs) through the State Treasurer may be involved, or financing may be offered by a private developer. Title to the property involved may transfer to the state either upon exercise of an option or at the termination of the contract.

The soliciting agency’s written response to a Complaint.

Projects that maintain and preserve existing state facilities and assets, and do not significantly change the program use of a facility. Examples would include roof replacement and exterior renovation, utility system upgrade, and repairing streets and parking lots.

A party to a subcontract who does trade work for a contractor (the other party), which work included under the prime contract between the same contractor and an owner; one who is defined as a subcontractor by the prime contract.

A fee is a charge, fixed by law, for the benefit of a service or to cover the cost of a regulatory program or the costs of administering a program for which the fee payer benefits. For example, professional license fees which cover the cost of administering and regulating that category of professions are fees. Other charges that are categorized as fees include tolls and tuition. Fees must be authorized in statute. The Legislature may set the rates in statute or authorize a state agency to set rates using administrative procedures

A lease project for any facility over 20,000 square feet.

A two-year fiscal period. The Washington state biennium runs from July 1 of an odd-numbered year to June 30 of the next oddnumbered year

Identifies financial responsibility & management for business units. It typically includes a multiple level hierarchy to an agency wide view.

Written notification from a vendor raising issues or concerns about the evaluation and selection process of a solicitation for which the ASB has been announced.