Wisconsin § 62.15 - Public works.

§ 62.15. Public works.

62.15(1) (1) Contracts; how let; exception for donated materials and labor. 62.15(1)(a) (a) All public construction, the estimated cost of which exceeds the bidding threshold under par. (c) 1. , shall be let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder; all other public construction shall be let as the council may direct. If the estimated cost of any public construction exceeds the notice threshold under par. (c) 2. but is not greater than the bidding threshold under par. (c) 1. , the board of public works shall give a class 1 notice, under ch. 985 , of the proposed construction before the contract for the construction is executed. This paragraph does not apply to public construction if the materials for the project are donated or if the labor for the project is provided by volunteers. The council may also by a vote of three-fourths of all the members-elect provide by ordinance that any class of public construction or any part thereof may be done directly by the city without submitting the same for bids. 62.15(1)(b) (b) 62.15(1)(b)1. 1. In this paragraph: 62.15(1)(b)1.a. a. “Highway” means a public way or thoroughfare, including any bridges on the public way or thoroughfare. 62.15(1)(b)1.b. b. “Public highway construction” means a public construction project involving the construction, improvement, repair, or maintenance of a highway. 62.15(1)(b)2. 2. Notwithstanding par. (a) , all public highway construction, the estimated cost of which exceeds the bidding threshold under par. (c) 3. , shall be let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder; all other public highway construction shall be let as the council may direct. Notwithstanding par. (a) , if the estimated cost of any public highway construction exceeds the notice threshold under par. (c) 4. but is not greater than the bidding threshold under par. (c) 3. , the board of public works shall give a class 1 notice, under ch. 985 , of the proposed construction before the contract for the construction is executed. This subdivision does not apply to public highway construction if the materials for the project are donated or if the labor for the project is provided by volunteers. The council may also by a vote of three-fourths of all the members-elect provide by ordinance that any class of public highway construction or any part thereof may be done directly by the city without submitting the same for bids. 62.15(1)(c) (c) Beginning on April 5, 2026, the thresholds under pars. (a) and (b) are the following: 62.15(1)(c)1. 1. For general public construction contract bidding, $50,000. 62.15(1)(c)2. 2. For general public construction contract notice, $10,000. 62.15(1)(c)3. 3. For public highway construction contract bidding, $25,000. 62.15(1)(c)4. 4. For public highway construction contract notice, $5,000. 62.15(1a) (1a) Escalator clauses. Contracts may include escalator clauses providing for additional charges for labor and materials if as a result of general inflation the rates and prices of the same to the contractor increase during performance of the contract. Such escalator provision shall be applicable to all bidders and shall not exceed 15 percent of the amount of the firm bid nor the amount of the increase paid by the contractor. Each bid on a contract that is to include an escalator provision shall be accompanied by a schedule enumerating the estimated rates and prices of items of labor and materials used in arriving at the bid. Only as to such items as are enumerated shall an increased charge be allowed the contractor. 62.15(1b) (1b) Exception as to public emergency. The provisions of sub. (1) and s.