Colorado Public Works Bonds and the Little Miller Act
Colorado statutes and the bid documents control public works payment and performance security.
Colorado public works contracts can require performance and payment security under the state's contractor-bond statutes, often called a Little Miller Act framework. The contracting public entity and current bid documents determine what must be submitted for a specific project.
What the bonds do
A performance bond supports completion of the contract. A payment bond supports payment obligations to eligible subcontractors, laborers, and suppliers. The required form, amount, surety qualifications, and filing process come from the governing statute and solicitation.
Contractors should confirm before bidding
Read every bond provision in the invitation, instructions, contract, and special conditions. Confirm bid security, final bond forms, penal sums, power-of-attorney requirements, deadlines, and whether an alternative form of security is allowed.
Claim deadlines are legal deadlines
Subcontractors and suppliers should not rely on a general article for notice or filing deadlines. Identify the contracting entity, obtain the bond, preserve project records, and consult qualified Colorado counsel promptly about current rights and deadlines.
Before you purchase a bond
- Get the current written requirement or bond form.
- Confirm the obligee, principal name, amount, term, and filing method.
- Keep proof that the bond was accepted.
Need help placing the correct bond? Call 970-204-4553.
Official sources
- Colorado General Assembly, Colorado laws and revised statutes
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Surety bonds
Source review completed August 28, 2026. Requirements can change. Confirm the current form, amount, and filing instructions with the agency, court, or contract owner that requires the bond.