How to sell to Florida counties

Florida has 67 counties, many of them large, fast-growing buyers. No general law requires Florida counties to competitively bid goods and services. Counties set their own purchasing rules by ordinance, and the old county bid statute was repealed in 1971 (Attorney General Opinion 78-122). State law does set rules for construction, bonds, retainage, prompt payment, consultant selection and vendor certifications. Florida has no state prevailing wage law.

At a glance

Who buys

Each county is governed by an elected board of county commissioners, which approves contracts at public meetings. Most counties have a county administrator and a procurement division that runs solicitations. Rules differ by county charter and ordinance.

The state purchasing rules in chapter 287, Part I, apply to state agencies, not counties, except the consultant selection law in section 287.055 (Attorney General Opinions 78-122 and 77-22).

Goods and services

There is no statewide small-purchase, quote or formal bid threshold for county goods and services. Each county sets these in its purchasing ordinance (Attorney General Opinion 78-122).

Many county ordinances borrow the state purchasing categories. As of the 2026 statutes, they are (Florida Statutes 287.017):

These amounts bind state agencies. For counties, they serve as triggers in the consultant selection law (section 287.055).

Construction and public works

Threshold. Counties must competitively award construction projects estimated over $300,000, or $75,000 for electrical work, to a licensed contractor. Both amounts are indexed to the Engineering News-Record Building Cost Index from Jan. 1, 2009, and the adjusted figures are not published in the statute (Florida Statutes 255.20(1)). The estimate includes a 20% overhead factor. Exceptions include emergencies, repair and maintenance, and in-house work after a 21-day notice process (section 255.20(1)(c)).

Bid security. We found no general statute on county bid security. The county ordinance or solicitation sets it.

Bonds. Public construction requires a combined payment and performance bond equal to 100% of the contract price. A county may exempt contracts of $200,000 or less. Cash, a certified check and similar alternatives are allowed, and a county can't require a particular surety or agent (Florida Statutes 255.05).

Retainage. See Getting paid below.

Notice and award

Notice. Construction projects over $200,000 up to $500,000 are advertised at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 21 days before bid opening. Projects over $500,000 need at least 30 days. Either way, notice runs at least 5 days before any pre-bid meeting (Florida Statutes 255.0525(2)). Goods and services notice follows county ordinance.

Award. Price-based construction bids go to the "lowest qualified and responsive bidder." Publicly advertised RFPs and RFQs are allowed, and the county may reject all bids (Florida Statutes 255.20(1)). Goods and services awards follow county ordinance.

Prevailing wage

Florida has no state prevailing wage law. It was repealed in 1979 (U.S. Department of Labor). Federally funded projects may still carry Davis-Bacon wage rates; check the solicitation.

Getting paid

Construction. Under the Local Government Prompt Payment Act, payment is due 20 business days after the invoice is stamped received, or 25 business days if an agent must approve it. Late interest is 2% per month or the contract rate, whichever is greater (Florida Statutes 218.735).

Goods and services. Payment is due 45 days after the date set in section 218.73. Interest is 1% per month, starting 30 days after the due date (Florida Statutes 218.74). See prompt payment.

Retainage. Retainage is capped at 5% of each progress payment on construction contracts over $200,000, and the county may reduce or release it at any time (Florida Statutes 255.078). The punch list is due within 30 days after substantial completion (45 days on projects of $10 million or more). The balance, including retainage, is paid within 20 business days after that, less 150% of the cost to finish the listed items (Florida Statutes 218.735).

Cooperative purchasing and state contracts

County purchases under state purchasing contracts are exempt from competitive solicitation requirements (Florida Statutes 287.042(2)(a)). Piggybacking on other local contracts is set by county ordinance. See cooperative purchasing.

Preferences and required certifications

• Local preference. On state-funded construction, a county may not exclude contractors for lacking a local office, local hires or local tax history, and the solicitation must say so (Florida Statutes 255.0991).
• Reciprocal preference. The state out-of-state preference for personal property does not apply to counties (Florida Statutes 287.084(1)(c)).

Public entity crimes, foreign country of concern and veteran preference rules were not confirmed for counties; check the solicitation.

Architects and engineers

The Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act covers counties. It applies when basic construction cost exceeds Category Five ($325,000) or a planning or study fee exceeds Category Two ($35,000). The county evaluates at least 3 firms, ranks the top 3 on qualifications and negotiates a fee with them in order (Florida Statutes 287.055, 287.017). See qualifications-based selection.

Recent changes

• July 1, 2025: County contracts entered or renewed from this date must allow termination if the company is placed on the Israel boycott list (Florida Statutes 287.135).

Practical tips for Florida

• Read the county purchasing ordinance first. State law sets no goods and services threshold.
• Enroll in E-Verify before bidding, and collect affidavits from every subcontractor.
• Ask for the current indexed construction threshold. The $300,000 figure in the statute is adjusted for construction costs.
• Check Florida counties for each county's bid platform, contacts and agendas.