Starke County now has a responsible bidder law on the books. The county commissioners adopted the measure Monday evening following a brief public hearing. It sets clear and objective criteria contractors must meet in order to be eligible to bid on public works construction projects.
They include proof of licensure to do work in the state, disclosure of any federal or state law violations, tax liens or delinquencies, description of the project management team’s qualification and experience, proof of participation in construction apprenticeship training programs and assurance the workers’ employment status will be properly classified.
Prospective bidders must also show proof of an employee drug testing plan as required by state law and proof of any required professional licenses. They must also list any projects of similar size or scope that they’ve completed and provide proof of adequate surety coverage.
Representatives of the Indiana-Illinois-Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting say defining “responsible bidder” ensures all contractors are able to compete on a level playing field. Such policies also protect employees from exploitation and ultimately lead to greater taxpayer value.
