On this page...
General Guidance
Step 1. 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.
Back to topHorizontal 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.
Back to topVertical 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.
Back to topBid & 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.
- The thresholds shown below apply to construction, reconstruction, or improvement projects. Repair or maintenance projects are not subject to these thresholds.
- Competitive quote procedures are not required for horizontal infrastructure.
- Competitive quote procedures for vertical infrastructure were not implemented until Jan 1, 2007.
| Horizontal Infrastructure | Vertical Infrastructure | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Effective | Threshold | Cities | Counties | Cities or other governmental entities | Counties | ||
| < 50,000 pop. | < 50,000 pop. | > 50,000 pop. | < 50,000 pop. | > 50,000 pop. | |||
| 2025 | Competitive bid | $62,000 | $89,000 | $115,000 | $206,000 | $206,000 | $206,000 |
| Competitive quote | N/A | N/A | N/A | $82,000 | $114,000 | $153,000 | |
| 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
- Construction, reconstruction, or improvement: For horizontal infrastructure, these terms are as defined in 761 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 178. For vertical infrastructure, these terms are encompassed by the term, “public improvement”, as defined in Iowa Code section 26.2.
- Repair or maintenance: For horizontal infrastructure, these terms are as defined in 761 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 178. For vertical infrastructure, these terms are defined in Iowa Code section 26.2 and 761 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 180.
- Competitive bid threshold: The maximum estimated total cost of a road, bridge, culvert, or other public improvement project for which a public advertisement and bid letting is not required.
- Competitive quote threshold: The maximum estimated total cost of a public improvement project, other than a road, bridge or culvert project, for which the competitive quotation process is not required. The competitive quotation process is prescribed by 761 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 180.
- Governmental entities: As defined in Iowa Code section 26.2 and 761 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 180.
- Horizontal infrastructure: Any publicly owned road, bridge or culvert.
- Public improvement: As defined in Iowa Code section 26.2 and 761 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 180.
- Vertical infrastructure: As defined in 761 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 180.