Effective October 3, 2023, the construction competitive bidding threshold for certain Ohio political subdivisions including libraries, counties, and townships will increase from $50,000 to $75,000 through 2024, and will increase by 3% yearly as determined and published by the director of commerce. House Bill 33 created Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 9.17, which sets a uniform monetary threshold for competitive bidding for several types of political subdivisions.

Instead of including a numerical amount, the applicable bidding statutes will now specify that the bidding threshold will be “the amount specified in section 9.17 of the Revised Code.” ORC 9.17 provides, “(A) The amount for purposes of a provision of the Revised Code that references this section shall be as follows: (1) Beginning on the effective date of this section through calendar year 2024, seventy-five thousand dollars; (2) For each calendar year thereafter, the amount for the previous calendar year increased by three percent as determined and published by the director of commerce.”

Even though the competitive bidding threshold may be increased for a political subdivision, it is still essential to review any applicable purchasing/procurement policies and other applicable laws to determine if competitive bidding will be required for work costing less than $75,000 or for other types of purchases.

Each type of political subdivision in Ohio has its own competitive bidding threshold, and the state of Ohio has its own bidding threshold that only applies to the State and State agencies. The chart above summarizes the competitive bidding thresholds for various political subdivisions for competitive bidding. However, this chart does not capture the full statutory requirements for each political subdivision, which are not the same. Additionally, there may be exceptions to competitive bidding requirements for specific political subdivisions.

[View source.]