What is the miller act bonding applies to federal construction above for Sealed bidding?

$150,000, per FAR 28.102-1. Sealed bidding is common on construction, where this bonding requirement attaches. Between $35,000 and $150,000 the contracting officer selects two or more alternative forms of payment protection instead. This figure was read from that source on 2026-08-04; thresholds are revised, so check the citation before relying on it in a bid.

How the government asks

What is sealed bidding in government contracting?

Sealed bidding is the FAR Part 14 procedure in which the government issues an invitation for bids, opens all bids publicly at a fixed time, and awards to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder on price alone, with no negotiation.

Also written as: sealed bid, invitation for bid, IFB, public bid opening.

The procedure is rigid by design. An invitation for bids describes the requirement precisely enough that bids can be compared on price; bids are submitted sealed; at the appointed moment they are opened in public and read aloud; and the award goes to the lowest bid that is responsive to the invitation, from a bidder the contracting officer finds responsible. FAR 14.101 sets out those steps.

The public opening is what makes sealed bidding unusual. Everyone's price becomes public, immediately, including yours. There is no discussion phase in which a shortcoming can be repaired, and no evaluation of technical approach that could rescue a high price.

Because there is no negotiation, responsiveness becomes brutal. A bid that fails to acknowledge an amendment, omits a required bid guarantee, or qualifies a term of the invitation is rejected as nonresponsive no matter how good the price is. Federal construction is where a small contractor is most likely to meet this procedure.

What this means when you bid

In sealed bidding there is no second chance. Acknowledge every amendment, include every required bond, and change nothing in the invitation's terms.

Sealed bidding: the published figures

Each figure below was read from the regulation cited beside it on 2026-08-04. Thresholds are adjusted for inflation and changed by statute — follow the citation and confirm the figure in effect on your solicitation's date before you rely on it.

Miller Act bonding applies to federal construction above: $150,000

Sealed bidding compared with the terms it gets confused with

Sealed bidding vs RFP

Sealed bidding buys on price and cannot consider technical merit; an RFP under FAR Part 15 lets the buyer weigh technical approach and past performance against price.

What RFPmeans →

Sealed bidding vs Responsive bid

Responsiveness is a property of the bid document and is judged at opening; responsibility is a property of the bidder and can be established after opening.

What Responsive bidmeans →

Where this definition comes from

Federal contracting is one of the few fields where the authoritative answer is free, public and one click away. These are the sources this page is built from — go and read them.

FAR 14.101→
Elements of sealed bidding.
FAR Part 14→
Sealed bidding.
FAR 14.301→
Responsiveness of bids.

This page explains a term in plain English and cites the authority it comes from. It is not legal advice, and the regulation governs where this page and the regulation differ.

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Sealed bidding— common questions

What is sealed bidding in government contracting?: Sealed bidding is the FAR Part 14 procedure in which the government issues an invitation for bids, opens all bids publicly at a fixed time, and awards to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder on price alone, with no negotiation.
What is the difference between Sealed bidding and RFP?: Sealed bidding buys on price and cannot consider technical merit; an RFP under FAR Part 15 lets the buyer weigh technical approach and past performance against price.
What is the difference between Sealed bidding and Responsive bid?: Responsiveness is a property of the bid document and is judged at opening; responsibility is a property of the bidder and can be established after opening.
What is the miller act bonding applies to federal construction above for Sealed bidding?: $150,000, per FAR 28.102-1. Sealed bidding is common on construction, where this bonding requirement attaches. Between $35,000 and $150,000 the contracting officer selects two or more alternative forms of payment protection instead. This figure was read from that source on 2026-08-04; thresholds are revised, so check the citation before relying on it in a bid.
Why does sealed bidding matter when you are bidding?: In sealed bidding there is no second chance. Acknowledge every amendment, include every required bond, and change nothing in the invitation's terms.

Related terms

NAICS industries where this comes up most

An editorial pointer, not a measurement. These are the codes whose work most often involves sealed bidding. Each page carries the official Census title, the SBA size standard where one is published for those exact digits, and whatever federal award history the record here holds for the code — which may be none, and says so when it is.