Contract limit increase for bridge and road improvements advanced

Senators advanced a bill from general file April 23 that would increase the contract value for bridge and road projects in which counties must undergo a formal bidding process.

Counties currently undergo an informal bidding process if a contract is less than $60,000 for bridge and road projects and less than $10,000 for material costs. Such contracts automatically are awarded to the lowest bidder. Projects that are estimated above the allotted costs must go through a formal bidding process, which requires county board approval.

LB623, introduced by Bellevue Sen. Scott Price, would have raised the bidding threshold to $150,000 for county contracts for bridge and road repair projects and to $20,000 for material costs.

Price said the bill would adjust the threshold to reflect current inflation costs, providing counties more flexibility to perform smaller bridge and road projects in-house instead of hiring contractors through a costly formal bidding process.

A Transportation and Telecommunications Committee amendment, adopted 31-0, lowered the proposed threshold for bridge and road repair projects to $100,000.

The bill advanced to select file on a 34-0 vote.