Copyright© 1999 by School Services of California, Inc.
Ask SSC. . .
Bid Limit for Equipment, Materials and Supplies
Q. Could you tell me what the bid limit is in 1999 for the purchase of equipment, materials, and supplies? I know that it started out at $50,000 years ago and is adjusted every year for inflation.
A. You are right. The bid limit (e.g., the amount at or over which you must go to formal bid) for equipment, materials, and supplies for the 1999 calendar year is $53,900. Public Contract Code Section 20111 was amended in 1997 to increase the bid limit to $50,000, and this amount is to be adjusted annually by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Unfortunately, the inflation factor is not calculated the same as the revenue limit COLA, so each year the factor must be separately computed and published by the California Department of Education. The bid limit is adjusted effective January 1 of each year - thus, a new limit will be set January 1, 2000. The new bid limit is posted to the Department's website address at (www.cde.ca.gov/ftpbranch/sbsdiv/advisory) each January.
-- Christy White, CPA