Counties to start using Construction Business Group’s bidder database

Wisconsin county governments can soon begin using a database that a construction trade group developed to help make sure contractors bidding on public projects are on the up and up.

The Wisconsin Counties Association announced on Thursday that it has formed a partnership with the Construction Business Group to use the organization’s bidder database – a system that can help local officials learn if the low bidder on a particular project is responsible. The deal comes after the Construction Business Group established a similar relationship last fall with the Wisconsin League of Municipalities, giving that group’s more than 500 members access to the database.

“We are proud to provide Wisconsin’s county governments with a powerful tool for identifying responsible contractors through our bidder database,” said Robb Kahl, executive director of the Construction Business Group. “Creating a fair bidding landscape for contractors in Wisconsin is critical to protecting taxpayer’s investments on public projects.”

Wisconsin law generally requires that counties and other local governments award contracts for public works to lowest responsible bidders. Local officials usually have an easy time deciding which contractor offered the low bid on a given project but a much harder time knowing if that low bidder is truly responsible.

Construction Business Group has maintained its bidder database for years, using it to assemble public data on a variety of companies that perform work in Wisconsin. The system contains information on about 10,000 contractors, including their tax liens, OSHA violations, court cases and other public records.

When the trade group formed its partnership with the League of Municipalities, it also set up an evaluation form that municipalities could use to rate their experiences with individual contractors. CBG’s arrangement with the counties association will enable county officials to use the same sorts of forms.

“We are excited to offer our members a powerful tool that will enable them to make informed decisions when selecting contractors,” said Mark O’Connell, executive director of the Wisconsin Counties Association. “Selecting the wrong contractor can cost millions and cause serious safety concerns for both workers and citizens. We are pleased to partner with CBG to increase transparency in the bidding process.” Follow @natebeck9