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Tennessee public works bidding requirements

Jurisdiction: State of Tennessee
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Summary of record

Verified Jul 8, 2026
Competitive bidding threshold (public work)
More than $25,000 (state agencies)
Governing statute
TCA §12-4-101
Award standard
Lowest responsible bidder
Multiple-prime required?
No statewide mandate
Prevailing wage
Highway work only (>$50,000)
Addenda distribution
To all prospective bidders
Compare Tennessee with every state

Competitive bidding threshold

State agencies must competitively bid construction over $25,000 under TCA §12-4-101.1 Local governments set their own limits by charter — commonly informal quotes around $10,000 and formal sealed bids above $25,000 to $50,000.

Award standard

Contracts go to the lowest responsible bidder.1

Multiple-prime contracts

Tennessee 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

Tennessee has no general state prevailing-wage law. Its Prevailing Wage Act covers only state highway, road, and bridge construction over $50,000, with rates set by the Prevailing Wage Commission.2

Document distribution & addenda

Tennessee DOT §102 requires the Department to issue addenda to all prospective bidders, delivered before bid opening and posted on Bid Express.4

Record of change

2026 Law

Tennessee's prevailing wage reaches only highway, road, and bridge work over $50,000 — there is no general building prevailing wage. In April 2026, HB 2541 / SB 2229 extended coverage to non-state highway contracts funded by federal or state highway funds.

  1. Verified

    Added document-distribution source: Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction §102 (addendum to all prospective bidders).

  2. Verified

    Page created and verified against TCA §12-4-101 and the Tennessee Prevailing Wage Act for highway construction.

  3. Law

    HB 2541 / SB 2229 extend highway prevailing wage to non-state contracts funded by federal or state highway funds.

Sources

  1. 1. Tennessee Code — TCA §12-4-101 (public contracts; competitive bidding). law.justia.com
  2. 2. TN Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development — Prevailing wage (state highway construction). tn.gov
  3. 3. UT County Technical Assistance Service — Local government construction projects. ctas.tennessee.edu
  4. 4. Tennessee DOT (TDOT) — Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction §102 (addendum to all prospective bidders). www.tn.gov

Frequently asked

What is the competitive bidding threshold for public works in Tennessee?
State agencies must competitively bid construction over $25,000 (TCA §12-4-101). Local governments set their own limits by charter.
Does Tennessee require prevailing wages on public works?
Only on state highway, road, and bridge construction over $50,000 — Tennessee has no general building prevailing wage. In April 2026 coverage extended to federally or state-highway-funded non-state contracts.
Does Tennessee require multiple-prime contracts?
No. Tennessee 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.