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Missouri public works bidding requirements

Jurisdiction: State of Missouri
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Summary of record

Verified Jul 8, 2026
Competitive bidding threshold (public work)
More than $10,000
Governing statute
Prevailing Wage Law (RSMo Ch. 290)
Award standard
Lowest responsible bidder
Multiple-prime required?
No statewide mandate
Prevailing wage
More than $75,000
Addenda distribution
To all bidders
Compare Missouri with every state

Competitive bidding threshold

Public works projects over $10,000 are subject to a competitive bidding process; projects of $10,000 or less are exempt.1

Award standard

Contracts go to the lowest responsible bidder.

Multiple-prime contracts

Missouri 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

Missouri's Prevailing Wage Law applies to public works valued over $75,000; projects at or under $75,000 are exempt after the 2018 reform.1 Below the prevailing-wage threshold, workers receive a contracting minimum wage (120% of the local average) where an occupation has fewer than 1,000 reported hours.

A public body may not split a project into smaller pieces to stay under the $75,000 threshold.

Document distribution & addenda

Missouri DOT issues addenda to all bidders, and a major addendum can change the bid opening date.3

A major addendum may change the bid opening date.

Record of change

2018 Law

Missouri's 2018 reform exempted public works of $75,000 or less from prevailing wage; larger projects still pay it, and a project may not be split to dodge the threshold.

  1. Verified

    Added document-distribution source: Engineering Policy Guide 136.10 (Advertisement for Bid) — addenda to all bidders.

  2. Verified

    Page created and verified against the Missouri Prevailing Wage Law and the 2018 changes.

  3. Law

    HB 1729 exempted public works of $75,000 or less from prevailing wage and added the contracting minimum wage.

Sources

  1. 1. MO Dept. of Labor & Industrial Relations — Missouri Prevailing Wage Law. labor.mo.gov
  2. 2. MO Dept. of Labor & Industrial Relations — 2018 prevailing wage changes. labor.mo.gov
  3. 3. Missouri DOT (MoDOT) — Engineering Policy Guide 136.10 (Advertisement for Bid) — addenda to all bidders. epg.modot.org

Frequently asked

What is the prevailing-wage threshold for public works in Missouri?
Prevailing wage applies to public works valued over $75,000; projects at or under $75,000 are exempt after the 2018 reform, and a project may not be split to stay under the threshold.
What is the competitive bidding threshold for public works in Missouri?
Public works projects over $10,000 are subject to a competitive bidding process; projects of $10,000 or less are exempt.
Does Missouri require multiple-prime contracts?
No. Missouri has no statewide multiple-prime mandate, unlike New York (Wicks Law) or Pennsylvania (Separations Act).

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Not legal advice. This page summarizes public law from primary sources for reference. Thresholds can change; always confirm the current requirement with the governing agency before relying on it for a specific procurement.