Counties will be given more flexibility regarding bidding procedures for building construction projects, due to a decision made by a state-created subcommittee. 

The IDOT's Vertical Infrastructure Bid  Threshold Subcommittee met on August 7.  The Subcommittee recommended changing the county threshold for using the competitive quotations from $75,000 to $85,000. 

So as of January 1, 2009, counties can use whatever lawful process they choose for any building construction project costing $85,000 or less.  If it costs more than $85,000, the county can use the competitive quotation process set out in Iowa Code section 26.14.  Or a county can use the formal bidding process set out in Iowa Code section 26.7-26.10.  As before, for any project that costs more than $100,000 counties must use that formal bidding process.

The Subcommittee, which is created in the Iowa Code, makes a recommendation to the IDOT director, who has to approve any change.  But that approval is considered a formality. 

Chuck Rieken, Cass County supervisor, represents ISAC on the Subcommittee.

This change only applies to building projects. It does not affect bidding for horizontal infrastructure - roads, bridges and culverts.  Those bidding limits are set separately.