A. Except as provided in subsection H, upon the award of any (i) public construction contract exceeding $500,000 awarded to any prime contractor; (ii) construction contract exceeding $500,000 awarded to any prime contractor requiring the performance of labor or the furnishing of materials for buildings, structures or other improvements to real property owned or leased by a public body; (iii) construction contract exceeding $500,000 in which the performance of labor or the furnishing of materials will be paid with public funds; or (iv) transportation-related projects exceeding $350,000 that are partially or wholly funded by the Commonwealth, the contractor shall furnish to the public body the following bonds:

1. A performance bond in the sum of the contract amount conditioned upon the faithful performance of the contract in strict conformity with the plans, specifications and conditions of the contract. For transportation-related projects authorized under Article 2 (§ 33.2-208 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 33.2, such bond shall be in a form and amount satisfactory to the public body.

2. A payment bond in the sum of the contract amount. The bond shall be for the protection of claimants who have and fulfill contracts to supply labor or materials to the prime contractor to whom the contract was awarded, or to any subcontractors, in furtherance of the work provided for in the contract, and shall be conditioned upon the prompt payment for all materials furnished or labor supplied or performed in the furtherance of the work. For transportation-related projects authorized under Article 2 (§ 33.2-208 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 33.2 and partially or wholly funded by the Commonwealth, such bond shall be in a form and amount satisfactory to the public body.

As used in this subdivision, "labor or materials" includes public utility services and reasonable rentals of equipment, but only for periods when the equipment rented is actually used at the site.

B. For nontransportation-related construction contracts in excess of $100,000 but less than $500,000, where the performance and payment bond requirements are waived, prospective contractors shall be prequalified for each individual project in accordance with § 2.2-4317. However, a locality may waive the requirement for prequalification of a contractor with a current Class A contractor license for contracts in excess of $100,000 but less than $300,000 upon a written determination made in advance by the local governing body that waiving the requirement is in the best interests of the locality. A locality shall not enter into more than 10 such contracts per year.

C. Each of the bonds shall be executed by one or more surety companies selected by the contractor that are authorized to do business in Virginia.

D. If the public body is the Commonwealth, or any agency or institution thereof, the bonds shall be payable to the Commonwealth of Virginia, naming also the agency or institution thereof. Bonds required for the contracts of other public bodies shall be payable to such public body.

E. Each of the bonds shall be filed with the public body that awarded the contract, or a designated office or official thereof.

F. Nothing in this section shall preclude a public body from requiring payment or performance bonds for construction contracts below $500,000 for nontransportation-related projects or $350,000 for transportation-related projects authorized under Article 2 (§ 33.2-208 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 33.2 and partially or wholly funded by the Commonwealth.

G. Nothing in this section shall preclude the contractor from requiring each subcontractor to furnish a payment bond with surety thereon in the sum of the full amount of the contract with such subcontractor conditioned upon the payment to all persons who have and fulfill contracts that are directly with the subcontractor for performing labor and furnishing materials in the prosecution of the work provided for in the subcontract.

H. The performance and payment bond requirements of subsection A for transportation-related projects that are valued in excess of $250,000 but less than $350,000 may only be waived by a public body if the bidder provides evidence, satisfactory to the public body, that a surety company has declined an application from the contractor for a performance or payment bond.

1982, c. 647, § 11-58; 1984, c. 160; 2001, c. 844; 2002, cc. 556, 643, 682; 2006, cc. 694, 925; 2011, c. 789; 2012, c. 783; 2017, c. 789.