Bid Thresholds Raised For 2026
December 10, 2025
Number 56
According to the California Department of Education’s Office of Financial Accountability and Information Services, and pursuant to Public Contract Code section 20111, subdivision (a), the bid threshold for K-12 school districts’ purchases of equipment, materials, supplies and services (except construction services) will be adjusted to $119,100, effective January 1, 2026. 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, subdivision (a), sometime in the near future. Once released, that information will be available here.
The bid limit for K-12 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 Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (UPCCAA), as reported in our 2024 Client News Brief No. 41, effective January 1, 2025 the informal bid threshold was adjusted to $75,000, the formal bid threshold is currently $220,000 and the limit for awarding informal bids is now up to $235,000, provided that the cost estimate was determined to be reasonable.
For more information on the new bid thresholds 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 and LinkedIn, or download our mobile app.
Number 56
According to the California Department of Education’s Office of Financial Accountability and Information Services, and pursuant to Public Contract Code section 20111, subdivision (a), the bid threshold for K-12 school districts’ purchases of equipment, materials, supplies and services (except construction services) will be adjusted to $119,100, effective January 1, 2026. 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, subdivision (a), sometime in the near future. Once released, that information will be available here.
The bid limit for K-12 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 Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (UPCCAA), as reported in our 2024 Client News Brief No. 41, effective January 1, 2025 the informal bid threshold was adjusted to $75,000, the formal bid threshold is currently $220,000 and the limit for awarding informal bids is now up to $235,000, provided that the cost estimate was determined to be reasonable.
For more information on the new bid thresholds 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 and LinkedIn, or download our mobile app.
As the information contained herein is necessarily general, its application to a particular set of facts and circumstances may vary. For this reason, this News Brief does not constitute legal advice. We recommend that you consult with your counsel prior to acting on the information contained herein.
