When to Get Contractor's Registration Number

SHB 2010 (bidder responsibility) requires that before a public agency awards a public works project, they must verify that the bidder has a Washington State contractor's registration number issued by the Department of Labor and Industries. The registration must have been effective as of the bid submittal deadline, but an agency does not need to check that each bidder has the number before they submit a bid. It is only after bid opening and prior to award that the agency must check to make sure that the bidder not only has a current contractor registration number, but had one in effect as of the bid submittal deadline. it is against the law for an unregistered contractor to submit a bid.

There are other mandatory bidder responsibility criteria that public agencies must also check prior to award of a public works contract. SHB 2010 became effective on July 22, 2007 and is thus the law now.