Iowa public works bidding requirements
Summary of record
- Competitive bidding threshold (public work)
- Tiered (Iowa Code Ch. 26)
- Governing statute
- Iowa Code Chapter 26
- Award standard
- Lowest responsible bidder
- Multiple-prime required?
- No statewide mandate
- Prevailing wage
- None (state level)
- Addenda distribution
- To all bidders
Competitive bidding threshold
Public improvements are bid under Iowa Code Chapter 26, which sets tiered thresholds that vary by project type (horizontal vs. vertical) and by city population.1 The Iowa Department of Transportation updates the bid and quote thresholds periodically.
Because the thresholds are tiered and periodically adjusted, confirm the current figure for the project type with the Iowa DOT.
Award standard
Contracts go to the lowest responsible bidder.
Multiple-prime contracts
Iowa has no statewide multiple-prime mandate. Unlike New York's Wicks Law or Pennsylvania's Separations Act, a single general contract is permitted.
Prevailing wage
Iowa has no state prevailing-wage law. Federal Davis-Bacon rates apply only to federally funded work.
Document distribution & addenda
Iowa DOT §1101 defines an addendum as a pre-bid revision that governs over all other contract documents, and §1102 makes a bid irregular unless the bidder acknowledges every addendum.3
Record of change
Iowa's bidding thresholds are tiered by project type and city population under Iowa Code Chapter 26, and updated periodically by the Iowa DOT. Iowa has no state prevailing wage.
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Verified
Added document-distribution source: Standard Specifications §1101 (Addendum) and §1102 (Bidding).
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Verified
Page created and verified against Iowa Code Chapter 26 and the Iowa DOT bid/quote thresholds; no state prevailing wage confirmed.
Sources
- 1. Iowa Legislature — Iowa Code Chapter 26 (public construction bidding). legis.iowa.gov
- 2. Iowa Dept. of Transportation — Bid and quote thresholds. iowadot.gov
- 3. Iowa DOT — Standard Specifications §1101 (Addendum) and §1102 (Bidding). ia.iowadot.gov
Frequently asked
- What is the competitive bidding threshold for public works in Iowa?
- It's tiered under Iowa Code Chapter 26 — thresholds vary by project type (horizontal vs. vertical) and city population, and are updated periodically by the Iowa DOT.
- Does Iowa require prevailing wages on public works?
- No. Iowa has no state prevailing-wage law; federal Davis-Bacon applies only to federally funded work.
- Does Iowa require multiple-prime contracts?
- No. Iowa has no statewide multiple-prime mandate, unlike New York (Wicks Law) or Pennsylvania (Separations Act).
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