Nevada has 16 counties plus Carson City, a consolidated municipality. Counties buy goods and services under the Local Government Purchasing Act (NRS chapter 332), which defines "local government" to include counties (NRS 332.015). Public works follow NRS chapter 338, and construction bonds are in NRS chapter 339. The thresholds are statewide, so county codes mostly add detail below $50,000.
At a glance
| Topic | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who buys | Board of County Commissioners as governing body; larger counties have purchasing departments | NRS 332.025 |
| Goods and services | $50,000-$100,000: two or more responses; over $100,000: advertised | NRS 332.063, 332.065 |
| Construction | Over $100,000: advertised bids; $25,000-$100,000: three licensed contractors | NRS 338.143, 338.1444 |
| Notice | Goods: 7 days in newspaper or online; public works: qualified county newspaper | NRS 332.045; 338.143 |
| Award | Lowest responsive and responsible bidder; "best bid" on public works over $250,000 | NRS 332.065; 338.143 |
| Bid security | Not set in NRS 332; public works not confirmed; check the solicitation | NRS 332 |
| Bonds | Public works over $100,000: 50% performance and 50% payment | NRS 339.025 |
| Prevailing wage | Public works over $100,000 | NRS 338.020, 338.080 |
| Retainage | 5% until 50% complete, then reduced or released | NRS 338.515 |
| Prompt payment | Public works progress payments within 30 days | NRS 338.515 |
| Cooperative purchasing | Other governments' and cooperative contracts allowed, except licensed contractor work | NRS 332.195 |
| Preferences and certifications | 5% public works preference over $250,000; Israel boycott certification over $100,000 | NRS 338.1389; 332.065 |
| Architects and engineers | Qualifications-based selection; not for projects of $35,000 or less | NRS 625.530 |
Who buys
Each county is governed by an elected Board of County Commissioners, its governing body under NRS 332.025. The board awards contracts. NRS 338.010 also defines "local government" to include counties for public works. Larger counties have a purchasing department.
Counties of 100,000 or more residents must report on contracts of $100,000 or less with local emerging small businesses (NRS 332.201).
Goods and services
| Estimated contract | Rule |
|---|---|
| Under $50,000 | No statewide rule found; check county policy |
| $50,000 to $100,000 | Solicit responses from at least two capable vendors, if available; advertising optional; award on price meeting minimum requirements (NRS 332.063) |
| Over $100,000 | Advertising required; invitation to bid goes to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder (NRS 332.065) |
The governing body may exempt some purchases from competitive solicitation, including professional services, perishable goods, insurance, computer hardware and software, library materials and certain GSA goods (NRS 332.115). The county may require performance, payment or other bonds on goods and services contracts (NRS 332.105).
Construction and public works
| Estimated project | Rule |
|---|---|
| $25,000 or less | Solicit a bid from at least one licensed contractor, or do the work itself (NRS 338.1442, 338.1444) |
| Over $25,000 to $100,000 | Solicit bids from at least three properly licensed contractors, or do the work itself (NRS 338.1444) |
| Over $100,000 | Advertise for bids in a qualified newspaper; no splitting (NRS 338.143) |
Design-build and construction manager at risk projects are exempt from NRS 338.143 and follow NRS 338.1711 to 338.173.
Bid security. We did not confirm a statewide bid security rule for county public works. Check the solicitation.
Bonds. Public works contracts over $100,000 for new construction, repair or reconstruction need a performance bond and a payment bond, each at least 50% of the contract amount, from a surety authorized in Nevada (NRS 339.025).
Retainage. See Getting paid below.
Notice and award
Goods and services. For contracts over $100,000, the county advertises at least once in a newspaper qualified under NRS chapter 238 with general circulation in the county, at least 7 days before opening. Instead, it may post the notice every day for at least 7 days on its website or an online solicitation site (NRS 332.045). The award goes to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, considering price, conformance to specifications, qualifications, past performance, delivery schedule and, for goods, total cost of ownership. Other methods, such as an RFP, are awarded on the stated minimum requirements and evaluation method (NRS 332.065).
Bid protests. A protest under NRS 332 needs a protest bond of the lesser of 25% of the protester's response or $250,000 (NRS 332.068). See bid protest.
Public works. Projects over $100,000 are advertised in a qualified newspaper published in the county, or one of general circulation in the county if none is published there, with plans available for inspection (NRS 338.143). We did not confirm a minimum advertising period. The award goes to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. On works over $250,000, it goes to the "best bid," which can include the 5% preference (NRS 338.143 and 338.1389).
Prevailing wage
Nevada prevailing wage law covers public works contracts of public bodies, including counties, over $100,000. Contracts estimated under $100,000 are exempt, and projects may not be split to avoid the law (NRS 338.020 and 338.080, per the Labor Commissioner's June 2021 handbook).
Apprentices must perform 10% of labor hours on vertical construction and 3% on horizontal construction (NRS 338.01165, amended 2023 and 2025).
Getting paid
On public works, the county pays progress payments within 30 days after it receives the progress bill (NRS 338.515).
Retainage. The county may hold retainage of 5% of each progress payment until the project is 50% complete. After that, it may release all retainage or cap it at 2.5% (5% if NRS 338.525 withholding applies). Withheld amounts earn interest, paid quarterly (NRS 338.515).
We did not confirm a county prompt payment rule for goods and services. Check the contract.
Cooperative purchasing and state contracts
A county may contract under another government's solicitation (with the vendor's consent), a State of Nevada or other state contract, or a cooperative purchasing organization's contract. This is not allowed when any of the work requires a Nevada contractor's license under NRS 624 (NRS 332.195). See cooperative purchasing.
Preferences and required certifications
- Public works preference. On works over $250,000, contractors with a State Contractors' Board certificate of eligibility get a 5% bidder's preference. Eligibility is based on Nevada taxes paid, at least $5,000 a year for 60 months, and the bidder files an affidavit within 2 hours after opening (NRS 338.1389).
- Goods and services. NRS 332 has no general in-state preference. It does have a recycled-products preference on bids over $100,000 (NRS 332.066).
- Israel boycott. Contracts over $100,000 need a written certification that the company is not boycotting Israel (NRS 332.065).
- Collusion. Collusion before award is prohibited (NRS 332.810 and 332.820).
- Disqualification. NRS 338.017, amended in 2025, sets grounds for disqualifying public works bidders.
County E-Verify and Iran divestment rules were not confirmed. Check the solicitation.
Architects and engineers
The state and its political subdivisions, including counties, must select engineers, land surveyors and architects based on competence and qualifications, not competitive fees, and then negotiate a fair fee (NRS 625.530). A holder of the public works preference certificate gets 5% weight. The rule does not apply to projects of $35,000 or less or to maintenance. See qualifications-based selection.
Recent changes
- 2023 and 2025: Apprentice utilization rules in NRS 338.01165 amended.
- 2025: Bidder disqualification rules in NRS 338.017 amended.
- 2025: NRS 332.215 (Commission to Study Governmental Purchasing) amended. The NRS 332 dollar thresholds were unchanged as of the April 2026 revision.
Practical tips for Nevada
- Get on cooperative contracts; counties can join them instead of bidding goods and services.
- Watch county websites and online solicitation sites, which can replace newspaper ads for goods.
- Hold a Nevada contractor's license for public works; cooperative contracts cannot be used for that work.
- Apply for the certificate of eligibility if you bid public works over $250,000.
- Check Nevada counties for each county's bid platform, contacts and agendas.
Questions
What are the bid thresholds for Nevada counties?
For goods and services, $50,000 to $100,000 needs responses from two or more capable vendors if available (NRS 332.063). Over $100,000 is advertised and, for an invitation to bid, awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder (NRS 332.065). Below $50,000 there is no statewide rule; check county policy.
How are Nevada county bids advertised?
For goods and services over $100,000, at least once in a qualified newspaper at least 7 days before opening, or posted every day for at least 7 days on the county's website or an online solicitation site (NRS 332.045). Public works over $100,000 are advertised in a qualified newspaper in the county (NRS 338.143).
How are small Nevada county public works bid?
For $100,000 or less, the county solicits bids from at least three licensed contractors over $25,000, or at least one at $25,000 or less, or does the work itself (NRS 338.1442 and 338.1444).
What bonds do Nevada county public works need?
Performance and payment bonds, each at least 50% of the contract, on public works over $100,000, from a surety authorized in Nevada (NRS 339.025).
Does prevailing wage apply to Nevada county projects?
Yes, on public works over $100,000. Contracts estimated under $100,000 are exempt, and projects may not be split to avoid it (NRS 338.020 and 338.080, per the Labor Commissioner's handbook).
Can Nevada counties use cooperative contracts?
Yes. A county may contract under another government's solicitation, the State of Nevada's or another state's contract, or a cooperative purchasing organization's, but not for work needing a Nevada contractor's license (NRS 332.195).
What certification do Nevada counties require on large contracts?
For contracts over $100,000, a written certification that the company is not engaged in, and will not engage in, a boycott of Israel (NRS 332.065).
Sources
- NRS chapter 332, Local Government Purchasing Act (332.015, 332.025, 332.045, 332.063, 332.065, 332.066, 332.068, 332.105, 332.115, 332.195, 332.201, 332.810, 332.820; Rev. 4/15/2026)
- NRS chapter 338, Public Works (338.010 definitions; 338.01165 apprentices; 338.017 disqualification)
- NRS 338.143 (advertising and award of public works over $100,000) (secondary: public.law copy of NRS)
- NRS 338.1444 (public works of $100,000 or less: bids from licensed contractors) (secondary: public.law copy of NRS)
- NRS 338.1442 (public works of $100,000 or less: contract or do the work itself) (secondary: public.law copy of NRS)
- NRS 338.1389 (5% bidder's preference on public works over $250,000) (secondary: public.law copy of NRS)
- NRS 338.515 (progress payments and retainage) (secondary: public.law copy of NRS)
- NRS 339.025 (performance and payment bonds) (secondary: public.law copy of NRS)
- Nevada Labor Commissioner, Prevailing Wage Handbook (June 2021; NRS 338.020 and 338.080)
- NRS 625.530 (selection of engineers, surveyors and architects) (secondary: public.law copy of NRS)