Dollar Threshold Chart

County Purchasing Law of 1983

Public advertising & competitive bidding for purchases of $10,000 & over. CLB authorized to lower dollar amounts of competitive bidding. This act does not apply to counties with private acts if the private act provides for advertising & competitive bidding in excess of $10,000 or a lesser amount established by private act.

Any purchase costing less than $10,000 may be made without competitive bids & public advertisement, but whenever possible be based on three (3) competitive bids.

Formal Bids –

5-14-204

Informal Bids –

5-14-205

CLB authorized to lower dollar  amount:

5-14-206

CFMS of 1981

The finance committee authorizes the dollar limits for competitive bids but not to exceed amount authorized by state law for the highway & education departments or other amounts established by law.

Any purchase costing less than $10,000, may be made without competitive bids & public advertisement, but whenever possible be based on three (3) competitive informal bids/quotes.

5-21-120(a)

County Purchasing Law of 1957

If the amount of the expenditure or sale is estimated to exceed $500, sealed bids shall be solicited, unless the CLB by resolution establishes a higher amount not to exceed $10,000 (threshold for the highway department must be at least $10,000).

All purchases or sales not requiring bid solicitation may be made without competitive bids & public advertisement, but whenever possible be based on three (3) competitive bids.

Formal Bids –

5-14-108(c)(1)

Informal Bids –

5-14-108(d)(1) 

County Uniform Highway Law (CUHL)

Public advertising & competitive bidding for purchases of $25,000 & over except for repair of heavy road building machinery or other heavy equipment or emergencies.

Any purchase costing less than $25,000 may be made without competitive bids & public advertisement, but wxhenever possible be based on three (3) competitive bids.

Formal Bids –

54-7-113

Informal Bids - 

54-7-113

Education

If following the local governing body’s purchasing procedures, bid limit as provided in those procedures.

If NOT following local governing body’s purchasing procedures:

Population < 40,000, public advertising & competitive bidding for purchases of $10,000 or more, except for emergencies.

Population >= 40,000, public advertising & competitive bidding for purchases of $25,000 or more, except for emergencies.

Contracts for construction or additions of existing buildings in excess of $10,000/$25,000 made by competitive bids with at least 10 days advance public notice.

Any purchase costing less than $10,000/$25,000 (see population requirements) may be made without competitive bids & public advertisement, but whenever possible be based on three (3) informal bids/competitive quotes.

Formal Bids –

49-2-203(a)(3)(B),

49-2-203(a)(3)(B)(iii)

Informal Bids –

49-2-203(a)(3)(C)

Construction Contracts –

49-2-203(a)(3)(D)

Counties over 150,000

Competitive sealed bids or proposals for non-emergency or non-propriety purchases for $10,000 and above. These counties may retain their present competitive bidding conditions or establish different limits by private act or charter provision.

Authorized to make purchases under $10,000 without competitive bids.

12-3-1204

Counties with Centralized Purchasing Authority & Full-Time Purchasing Agent

Any county, municipality, utility district, or other local government entity with centralized purchasing authority and a full-time purchasing agent is authorized to increase, by resolution or ordinance, the formal bid threshold to an amount not to exceed $50,000, notwithstanding any charter provision, private act, or other law to the contrary.

Requires at least 3 written quotations when possible for purchases between the bid threshold and 40% of the bid threshold (or a lower amount established by the governing body).

12-3-1212

Counties with non-centralized purchasing and counties with centralized purchasing, but no full-time purchasing agent

Any county, municipality, utility district, or other local government entity with non-centralized purchsing is authorized to increase, by resolution or ordinance, the formal bid threshold to an amount not to exceed $25,000, notwithstanding any charter provision, private act, or other law to the contrary.

Requires at least 3 written quotations when possible for purchases between the bid threshold and 40% of the bid threshold (or a lower amount established by the governing body).

12-3-1212