Law Firm News

Bid Thresholds Raised For 2020

December 2019
Number 77

According to the California Department of Education Office of Financial Accountability and Information Services, pursuant to Public Contract Code section 20111(a), the bid threshold for K-12 school districts' purchases of equipment, materials, supplies and services (except construction services)
has been adjusted to $95,200, effective January 1, 2020. The notice may be viewed here.

The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office is expected to announce a similar adjustment to the bid threshold for community college districts' purchases of equipment, materials, supplies and services (except construction services), pursuant to Public Contracts Code section 20651(a), sometime in the near future. Once released, that information will be available here.

The bid limit for construction projects remains at $15,000.



The bid thresholds for cities, counties and special districts are not affected by the bid limits discussed above.

For those school districts and other public entities that have adopted the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA), as of January 1, 2019 the force account limit is $60,000, the informal bid limit is $200,000 and the limit for awarding informal bids is up to $212,500, provided that the cost estimate was determined to be reasonable. (CNB 2018 #47).

For more information on the new bid limits or bidding in general, please contact the authors of this Client News Brief or an attorney at one of our eight offices located statewide. You can also subscribe to our podcast, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn or download our mobile app.