Responsible Bidding

Responsible bidding is the idea that public construction projects paid for by taxpayer money such as schools, libraries, and water treatment plants not always automatically be awarded to the lowest bidder. The public body undertaking the project should retain some discretion to award the project to the lowest "responsible bidder."

The responsible bidding concept takes steps to help protect communities from low bidders who may not be all they are cracked up to be.

A community can help assure that it hires only responsible companies by passing a "Responsible Bidder Ordinance." A Responsible Bidder Ordinance is a resolution adopted into a public body's procurement codes that specifies certain criteria that a contractor must meet in order to be eligible to perform work on behalf of that community.

So, you might ask what makes a responsible bidder, and why a public body would ever want to pass on the lowest bid. The answer has to do with ethics and the chance for them to hire the safest, most qualified company available to perform the work on behalf of the taxpayers.

Simple things like assuring that their contractors have the proper business registrations, show past compliance with environmental, labor and safety laws, relevant insurance coverage, prevailing wage compliance, and apprenticeship and training participation can go a long way in assuring the financial and structural success of all their projects.

It's a similar concept to buying almost anything. When you purchase a car, do you simply go to the lot and find the cheapest one there and drive it home? Not likely. And why not? Most likely becuase you feel the cheapest make of car might not perform the way you would like your car to, and will probably let you down in the long run.

Finding a company to build your town's next middle school or pave the newest State Highway works the same way. There are companies out there willing to do the work for bargain-basement prices, but they may not always deliver what they promise and may let your community down.

Because in the long run, the responsible contractor is going to provide more value than the contractor who is cutting corners in the areas of training, labor, or safety. Much like that cheap car that you passed on for a well-engineered model, it may have cost a bit more, but in the long run, you will get better performance and end up with a better product.

Responsible Bidder on the Radio

Click below to listen to our responsible bidder radio ads

Download our Responsible Bidder Brochure Here
This is a 2-page brochure format summary of responsible bidding and the importance of a responsible bidder ordinance.

Download our complete Responsible Bidder Ordinance Information Packet Here
This is a 32-page .pdf document that outlines the complete Responsible Bidder story, including a full explanation of the responsible bidding concept and why it is important, sample ordinance language, case law relevant to responsible bidder, information about Apprenticeship and Training Programs, examples of Responsible Bidder Ordinances, and letters of endorsement from elected officials for Responsible Bidder Ordinances.

Click the links below for specific sections and documents from our Responsible Bidder Ordinance Information Packet
All of these can be found in the complete document above, but this is a good place to get right to what you need.

I) Introduction

II) Sample Ordinance Language

III) Relevant Case Law

IV) Information on Public Act 093-0642

V) Training and Apprentice Info

VI) Examples of Responsible Bidder Ordinances

Projects like these roads and bridges should be bid fairly and awarded to capable, responsible, law-abiding contractors. After all, they are working on behalf of taxpaying citizens.

VII) Letters of Responsible Bidder Endorsement from Elected Officials