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Is a public school district required to have a contractor provide a performance bond? The amount of the work is $993,00

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We are a school district in Colorado and we had hired a local contractor to install HVAC upgrades to three of our schools. Are we required to have a performance bond from him? The total am ount of the job bid is $993,000. Would a retainage fee of 5% be a better option?

3 replies

May 28, 2020
For a Colorado public project that large, payment and performance bonds will almost certainly be a requirement. CRS 38-26-105(1) states that school districts who contract for improvements, alterations, repairs, public works, etc. will need to require bonds when the job exceeds $50,000. So, requiring your contractor to provide bonds is standard. Using retainage can be an additional tool to make sure the job gets done and done right. But, that's not a replacement for bonds. Plus, retainage is capped at 5% of the contract price for Colorado public projects - so the protection that can provide is pretty limited. Still, it's common for public projects to both feature bonds and retainage. For more discussion on CO bonds and retainage on public projects, these resources below should be useful: - Colorado Bond Claim Guide and FAQs - Colorado Retainage Guide and FAQs
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Feb 27, 2023

Whether a performance bond is required for the HVAC upgrade project depends on the terms of the contract between your school district and the local contractor. Performance bonds are typically required for public construction projects to protect the interests of the project owner (in this case, your school district) in case the contractor fails to perform or meet the contractual obligations. Therefore, it is a common practice for public entities to require contractors to obtain a performance bond before the commencement of the project. In Colorado, performance bonds are required for public works projects exceeding $150,000 in value. However, there may be exemptions or alternatives available based on the project's specific circumstances. Besides this I must say that I am a technical college student and not long ago I did some writing on this topic with the help of free essays about ethical dilemma; I mean a lot of information I got from here. Therefore, I would recommend reviewing the terms of your contract with the local contractor and consulting with legal counsel to determine if a performance bond is required or if there are any alternatives available. A retainage fee of 5% is another option to protect the school district's interest in case the contractor fails to perform or meet the contractual obligations. Retainage is a percentage of the contract price that is withheld by the project owner until the work is complete, and it serves as a form of security for the project owner. However, retainage may not be as effective as a performance bond in protecting the school district's interest since the contractor's assets may be subject to other claims or liens that could affect the ability to recover the retainage. In summary, whether a performance bond or retainage fee is the better option depends on the specific circumstances of your project, the terms of your contract, and legal requirements. I would recommend consulting with legal counsel to determine the best option for your school district. 

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