How to sell to Colorado counties

Colorado has 64 counties, including the consolidated city-counties of Denver and Broomfield. State law does not set one bid threshold for county purchases of goods and services; each county's procurement policy does. State statutes do cover specific county contracts: highway work, contractor bonds, retainage and resident-bidder preference. Home rule counties operate under their own charters, so read the county's policy before you bid.

At a glance

Who buys

Most counties are run by an elected Board of County Commissioners, which contracts and awards (C.R.S. 43-2-209 for highway work). Larger counties have a procurement or purchasing division that runs solicitations and posts them on a county website or bid platform. Denver and Broomfield are consolidated city-counties, and some counties, such as Weld and Pitkin, have home rule charters. How each charter changes purchasing rules is not confirmed; read the county's own code.

Goods and services

We found no statewide bid threshold, quote rule or small-purchase limit for county goods and services. Counties set these in their own policies. Two examples:

Jefferson County (Procurement Procedures, revised April 2026):

Jefferson County awards to the responsive, responsible supplier offering best value. Protests are due within seven business days of the notice of intent to award. Federally funded purchases use lower thresholds.

Custer County (Purchasing Policy, 2026):

For county supplies, commissioners may not buy from an out-of-state supplier when an in-state supplier can furnish the same item at no greater delivered net cost (C.R.S. 30-11-110).

Construction and public works

Highway work. When a board of county commissioners contracts out county highway work, it must (C.R.S. 43-2-209):

• Solicit sealed proposals.
• Advertise for at least 10 days before letting, in a legal newspaper in the county or by posting at the courthouse.
• Advertise in a newspaper when the contract reaches $50,000, the county bond threshold.
• Award to the lowest responsible bidder. The board may reject any bid, and emergencies are excepted.

Buildings and other construction. We found no statewide county bid threshold. County policy governs. Construction contracts for state-funded public projects are awarded by competitive sealed bidding, except in emergencies or when no acceptable bids come in (C.R.S. 29-1-704).

Bid security. No statewide county rule was found. Projects funded by the Division of Local Government (DOLA) require a bid guaranty of at least 5% as a grant condition (DOLA Instructions to Bidders).

Bonds. On county public works contracts over $50,000, the contractor files a bond with a penal sum of at least half the contract amount. It covers faithful performance and payment for labor, materials and supplies. A certified or cashier's check may be accepted instead. No payment is made on the contract until the bond is filed (C.R.S. 38-26-106).

Retainage. See Getting paid below.

Notice and award

Statewide notice and award rules exist only for county highway contracts: 10 days' notice and award to the lowest responsible bidder (C.R.S. 43-2-209). For other purchases, county policy sets the advertising period, the award standard and protest rules. Watch the county's bid website and commissioners' agendas.

Prevailing wage

Colorado's state prevailing wage law (C.R.S. 24-92-201 et seq.) covers state projects of $500,000 or more. It does not apply to counties or other political subdivisions (CDLE INFO #13). Some counties have their own policy. Adams County, for example, applies prevailing wage to contracts of $250,000 or more approved on or after Sept. 1, 2024, using state rate schedules (Adams County Prevailing Wage Policy). Federally funded work may carry Davis-Bacon wages; check the solicitation.

Getting paid

Counties are "public entities" under Colorado's construction payment law (C.R.S. 24-91-102). On construction contracts over $150,000 (C.R.S. 24-91-103):

• The county pays at least 95% of completed work each month, so retainage is capped at 5%.
• Retainage is held until final acceptance; earlier release is possible with the surety's consent.
• The contractor pays subcontractors within 7 days of receiving payment. Late payments to subs accrue interest at the contract rate or 15% a year, whichever is higher.

Final settlement follows within 60 days of completion and acceptance (C.R.S. 24-91-103, referring to C.R.S. 38-26-107). We did not confirm a county prompt payment rule for goods and services; check the contract terms.

Cooperative purchasing and state contracts

Colorado governments may cooperate or contract with each other to provide any function each is authorized to perform (C.R.S. 29-1-203). Express authority for counties to buy from state price agreements or piggyback on other contracts was not confirmed. Many county policies allow cooperative purchasing; check the county's policy.

Preferences and required certifications

• Reciprocal resident-bidder preference. On public projects awarded by counties, including home rule counties, and political subdivision highway and bridge work over $50,000, a nonresident bidder from a state with a home-state preference gets a comparable disadvantage. It does not apply to projects receiving federal money (C.R.S. 24-103-908).
• In-state supplies. Commissioners must buy county supplies in-state when the delivered net cost is no greater (C.R.S. 30-11-110).
• E-Verify. SB21-199 repealed the earlier requirement that political subdivisions obtain E-Verify certifications from contractors (SB21-199). The effective date of that repeal for contracts was not confirmed.
• Boycott or Iran certifications. None found for county contracts; check the solicitation.

Architects and engineers

Colorado's qualifications-based selection law (C.R.S. 24-30-1401 et seq.) applies to state agencies and state higher education institutions. Its definition of "state" does not include counties (C.R.S. 24-30-1402). We found no state mandate for county architect and engineer selection, so county policy governs.

Recent changes

• Sept. 1, 2024: Adams County began applying its own prevailing wage policy to contracts of $250,000 or more (Adams County Prevailing Wage Policy). This is a county rule, not state law.
• April 2026: Jefferson County revised its procurement procedures, with formal bids or RFPs over $100,000 (Jefferson County Procurement Procedures).

Practical tips for Colorado

• Read the county's purchasing policy first. Thresholds range widely, from $25,000 in Custer County to $100,000 in Jefferson County.
• Line up a bond for public works over $50,000. It must cover at least half the contract (C.R.S. 38-26-106).
• Don't assume state prevailing wage. It does not apply to counties, but county policies and federal funds can add wage rules.
• Check Colorado counties for each county's bid platform, contacts and agendas.