Local Systems

Bid & Quote Thresholds

Horizontal or vertical infrastructure?


Step 1

questions

General guidance

Determine if the work is horizontal or vertical infrastructure, according to the definitions below.

Horizontal infrastructure: any publicly owned road, bridge or culvert.

Vertical infrastructure: As defined in 761 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 180.

Step 2

Determine if the work is considered “construction, reconstruction, or improvement”; or if it is considered “maintenance or repair”, using the definitions at the bottom of this page.

Note: Examples of horizontal infrastructure work considered to be “construction, reconstruction or improvements” and horizontal infrastructure work considered to be “maintenance and repair” are provided for cities and counties in the City Street Finance Report Instructions and County Annual Report Instructions, respectively.

Additional details

Horizontal infrastructure

1. Construction

A. Cities

For construction, reconstruction, or improvement work estimated to exceed the current competitive bid threshold, bid the work and follow the procedures in Iowa Code sections 26.3 through 26.13. For cities, Iowa Code 314.1(2) makes Iowa Code 26.3 through 26.13 applicable to Horizontal Construction. 2017 Iowa Acts – Senate File 438 also applies. Section 2 of the bill added Iowa Code Section 26.16, which was effective beginning April 13, 2017.

B. Counties

For construction, reconstruction, or improvement work estimated to exceed the current competitive bid threshold, bid the work and follow the procedures in Iowa Code Section 331.341. County contracts for improvements which may be paid for from the secondary road fund shall be awarded in accordance with sections 309.40 to 309.43, 310.14, 314.1, 314.2, and other applicable state law. Counties do not follow the procedures of Iowa Code Chapter 26, due to the definition in Iowa Code Section 26.2.

2. Maintenance

Maintenance or repairs, regardless of the costs; and construction, reconstruction or improvement work estimated to be less than or equal to the current bid threshold, are not subject to the bid thresholds. This work may be accomplished by competitive bids, competitive quotes, city or county forces, or informal methods in accordance with city or county policies.

Vertical infrastructure

1. Construction

If the estimated cost of the public improvement exceeds the current bid threshold, counties and cities should follow the competitive bid process in Iowa Code section 26.3 through 26.13. 2017 Iowa Acts – Senate File 438 also applies. Section 2 of the bill added Iowa Code Section 26.16, which was effective beginning April 13, 2017.

If the estimated cost of the public improvement is less than the current bid threshold, but more than the current competitive quote threshold, follow the competitive quotation process in Iowa Code 26.14 and 761 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 180.

If the estimated cost of the public improvement is less than or equal to the competitive quote threshold, the work may be accomplished by city or county forces, or by informal methods in accordance with city or county policies.

2. Maintenance

Maintenance or repairs may be performed by city or county forces and are not subject to the bid or quote thresholds, regardless of the estimated costs. However, if the work cannot be accomplished by city or county forces, the city or county must follow either the competitive bid or competitive quote process, as applicable, based on the estimated cost of the work, as described above.

Bid and Quote Thresholds

Iowa Code Section 314.1B establishes horizontal and vertical bid threshold subcommittees that meet at least every other year to adjust the bid and quote thresholds for city and county projects. These thresholds become effective on January 1 of each year listed in the table. The table below shows the currently effective and previous bid and quote thresholds.

Notes:

  1. The thresholds shown below apply to construction, reconstruction, or improvement projects. Repair or maintenance projects are not subject to these thresholds.
  2. Competitive quote procedures are not required for horizontal infrastructure.
  3. Competitive quote procedures for vertical infrastructure were not implemented until Jan 1, 2007.
Year Effective Threshold Horizontal Infrastructure Vertical Infrastructure
Cities Counties Cities or
other governmental entities
Counties
< 50,000 pop. > 50,000 pop. < 50,000 pop. > 50,000 pop.
2024 Competitive bid $65,000 $93,000 $120,000 $196,000 $196,000 $196,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $81,000 $109,000 $145,000
2023 Competitive bid $65,000 $93,000 $120,000 $196,000 $196,000 $196,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $81,000 $109,000 $145,000
2022 Competitive bid $54,000 $77,000 $100,000 Unchanged at this time
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A Unchanged at this time
2021 Competitive bid $50,000 $72,000 $93,000 Unchanged at this time
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A Unchanged at this time
2020 Competitive bid $50,000 $72,000 $93,000 Unchanged at this time
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A Unchanged at this time
2019 Competitive bid $48,000 $69,000 $89,000 $139,000 $139,000 $139,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $57,000 $77,000 $103,000
2018 Competitive bid $47,000 $67,000 $87,000 $135,000 $135,000 $135,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $55,000 $75,000 $100,000
2017 Competitive bid $47,000 $67,000 $87,000 $135,000 $135,000 $135,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $55,000 $75,000 $100,000
2015 Competitive bid $50,000 $72,000 $93,000 $135,000 $135,000 $135,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $55,000 $75,000 $100,000
2014 Competitive bid $49,000 $70,000 $91,000 $130,000 $130,000 $130,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $50,000 $72,000 $94,000
2013 Competitive bid $49,000 $70,000 $91,000 $130,000 $130,000 $130,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $50,000 $72,000 $94,000
2012 Competitive bid $47,000 $67,000 $87,000 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $48,000 $69,000 $91,000
2011 Competitive bid $47,000 $67,000 $87,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $46,000 $67,000 $88,000
2010 Competitive bid $48,000 $69,000 $90,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000
Competitive quote N/A N/A N/A $45,000 $65,000 $85,000

 

Definitions


NOT FINDING WHAT YOU NEED? WE CAN HELP.

Login  |  ©  Iowa Department of Transportation.  All rights reserved.