New Legislation Prohibiting Use of Experience Modification Factor For Contractor Eligibility

One of the new legislative changes that goes into effect in Virginia on July 1, 2016 is a prohibition against using any experience modification factor as a condition of any bidder's or offeror's eligibility to participate in a solicitation for construction. Interestingly, while the prohibition was added to the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA), the language in the act expands application to both VPPA and non-VPPA offers to contract issued on or after July 1, 2016. As defined in the adopted bill, "experience modification factor" is defined as "a value assigned to an employer as determined by a rate service organization in accordance with its uniform experience rating plan required to be filed pursuant to subsection D of [Virginia Code Section] 38.2-1913."