Government Code section 93029
(a)
For purposes of this section, “work” means the erection, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any public structure, building, road, or other public improvement of any kind.(b)
For any work done by agency personnel, the estimated cost of the work shall not exceed an amount equal to the threshold set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 22032 of the Public Contract Code, except under the following circumstances:(1)
The work consists of environmental preservation or habitat management.(2)
The work consists of maintenance work as defined in Section 22002 of the Public Contract Code.(3)
The work consists of emergency work.(c)
With the approval of the board, and in accordance with a board policy that has been adopted in an open meeting, any work not performed by agency personnel and estimated by the engineer to cost in excess of an amount equal to the threshold set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 22032 of the Public Contract Code shall be done by contract and shall comply with the following formal competitive bidding process:(1)
All contracts shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder or bidders in the manner provided in this section. The board shall first determine whether the contract shall be let as a single unit for the whole of the work, or shall be divided into severable parts, or both, according to the best interests of the agency.(2)
The board shall call for bids and advertise the call by posting the notice on applicable internet websites, as appropriate, or by three insertions in a daily newspaper of general circulation or by two insertions in a weekly newspaper of general circulation printed and published within the service area of the agency inviting sealed proposals for the construction or performance of the work before any contract is made. The call for bids shall state whether the work is to be performed as a unit for the whole of the work, or shall be divided into severable specific parts, or both, as stated in the call. The board may let the work by single contract or it may divide the work into severable parts by separate contracts, as stated in the call, according to the best interests of the agency.(3)
The board shall require the successful bidder or bidders to file with the board good and sufficient bonds to be approved by the board conditioned upon the faithful performance of the contract and upon the payment of their claims for labor and material, the bonds to contain the terms and conditions set forth in Title 3 (commencing with Section 9000) of Part 6 of Division 4 of the Civil Code and to be subject to that title.(4)
The board may reject any bid. If all proposals are rejected or no proposals are received pursuant to advertisement, or the work consists of maintenance work, environmental preservation or habitat management, or emergency work, the board may, without advertising for bids, have the work done by force account.(d)
In case of an emergency, if notice for bids to let contracts for work will not be given, the board shall comply with Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 22050) of Part 3 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.
Source:
Section 93029, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=93029. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
