How to sell to Louisiana parishes

Louisiana has 64 parishes, which serve as its counties. Parishes buy under the Public Bid Law, La. R.S. 38:2211 and following, which applies to all "public entities," including cities and school boards. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Public Bid Law FAQ (revised August 2026) is the main plain-language guide. Home rule charters may add local rules, which were not reviewed here.

At a glance

Who buys

Each parish is governed by a police jury or, in home rule parishes, a parish council and parish president (Legislative Auditor FAQ). Larger parishes have purchasing departments. The Public Bid Law applies to parishes as public entities (La. R.S. 38:2211 and following).

Goods and services

Sources: La. R.S. 38:2212.1(A)(1); Legislative Auditor FAQ.

Police and fire vehicles and apparatus up to $70,000 per vehicle are exempt (La. R.S. 38:2212.1(A)(2)(a)). Whether professional services fall outside the Public Bid Law was not confirmed here.

Construction and public works

• Contract limit: $250,000 in statute, adjusted each year by the consumer price index starting Feb. 1, 2025 (La. R.S. 38:2212(C)(1); Act 111 of 2020). The limit is $260,000 effective Feb. 1, 2026 (Legislative Auditor FAQ).
• Below the limit: no bid is required. The auditor recommends an RFP or at least three bids. A parish may use its own forces, but materials still follow the supplies rules (Legislative Auditor FAQ).
• Special limits: projects using inmate labor, $75,000; certain levee projects, $1.5 million (La. R.S. 38:2212(C)(2), (3)).
• Bid security: a bid security or bid bond is a required part of the bid (La. R.S. 38:2212(B)(2)). The percentage was not confirmed; check the notice.
• Bonds: performance and payment bond rules were not confirmed; check the solicitation.
• Parish bid forms: in East Baton Rouge and Jefferson parishes, required bid forms must be submitted before opening (La. R.S. 38:2212(B)(3)(b)).

Notice and award

Public works: the notice to bidders runs in the official journal once a week for three different weeks. The first ad is at least 25 days before opening and not on a weekend or holiday. Bid documents stay available until 24 hours before opening (La. R.S. 38:2212(G)). The award goes to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, and the parish must award or reject within 45 calendar days of opening (La. R.S. 38:2212(A), 38:2215).

Materials and supplies: advertised twice, the first ad at least 15 days before opening (La. R.S. 38:2212.1(B)(1), 38:2214). The award goes to the lowest responsible bidder; bids may be rejected for just cause (La. R.S. 38:2214(B)).

Electronic bids: public entities must offer a uniform, secure electronic bidding option. Police jury parishes under 20,000 people are exempt. Electronic bidding does not replace newspaper ads (La. R.S. 38:2212(E); Legislative Auditor FAQ).

A statewide RFP option for parishes was not confirmed.

Prevailing wage

Louisiana has no state prevailing wage law; it was repealed in 1988 (U.S. Department of Labor). Federally funded work may still require Davis-Bacon wages.

Getting paid

Retainage and prompt payment rules for parishes were not confirmed. Check the contract for payment and retainage terms.

Cooperative purchasing and state contracts

• State contracts: purchases under cooperative purchasing agreements on state contracts are exempt from bidding (La. R.S. 38:2212.1(F)).
• GSA schedules: allowed if the item isn't cheaper on state contract and a Louisiana licensed dealer is used (La. R.S. 38:2212.1(E)).
• Piggybacking: a parish may buy from another political subdivision's properly bid contract within one year of opening, up to twice the original amount, from the same vendor at the same price (La. R.S. 38:321.1, per Legislative Auditor FAQ).
• Group purchasing organizations: qualified organizations may sell without bidding when cheaper than state contract, with prices binding for at least 3 months (Legislative Auditor FAQ).

See cooperative purchasing.

Preferences and required certifications

Louisiana products preference, reciprocal preference, E-Verify, Israel boycott and non-collusion requirements for parishes were not confirmed. Check the solicitation.

Architects and engineers

Parish rules for selecting architects and engineers were not confirmed. Check the solicitation.

Recent changes

• Feb. 1, 2025: The public works contract limit began adjusting yearly for inflation (Act 111 of 2020; La. R.S. 38:2212(C)(1)).
• Feb. 1, 2026: The contract limit rose to $260,000 (Legislative Auditor FAQ).

Practical tips for Louisiana

• Check the current contract limit each February; it now changes yearly.
• Ask about cooperative and piggyback contracts; parishes can buy from them without a new bid.
• Watch police jury or parish council agendas and the official journal for bids and awards.
• Check Louisiana parishes for each parish's bid platform, contacts and agendas.