The Dane County Department of Public Works requires all contractors and subcontractors to be pre-qualified as a Best Value Contractor (BVC) prior to bid due date. Subcontractors must become pre-qualified ten (10) days prior to commencing work under any Dane County Public Works Contract. Potential subcontractors are urged to become pre-qualified as early as possible.
The County values high-quality workmanship, safety, and reliability. Becoming a Best Value Contractor allows businesses to:
Before you begin your Best Value Contractor (BVC) application, make sure you read the information contained on this page in its entirety. Submitting a complete and accurate application helps avoid delays and ensures your eligibility to bid.
If your work falls under an apprenticeable trade, you must be listed as a Wisconsin Trade Trainer with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Apprenticable trades include:
Contractors performing work that does not fall under an apprenticeable trade may be exempt from the Wisconsin Trade Trainer requirement.
Contact the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards at (608) 266-3131 or visit their website for information on how to obtain documentation that your trade is considered non-apprenticable. This documentation should be uploaded in the BVC application (Step 2) when applying for Exempt Status.
Companies listed on the BVC registry are only authorized to perform work within the specific trade areas for which they are registered and approved as Wisconsin Trade Trainers. For example, a contractor registered only for Sheet Metal Work may not self-perform Roofing work unless they are also registered for Roofing.
Performing outside your approved scope may result in compliance violations, contract enforcement actions, or removal from the BVC list.
Before bidding or performing work on any Dane County Public Works project, all contractors and subcontractors must be pre-qualified as a Best Value Contractor (BVC).
BVC applies to:
Early pre-qualification is strongly recommended to avoid delays or disqualification.
Before you begin your Best Value Contractor (BVC) application, make sure you have the following information and documents ready. Submitting a complete and accurate application helps avoid delays and ensures your eligibility to bid.
In addition, you’ll be asked to upload documentation if any of these apply to your firm within the past 3 years:
Orders or judgments related to:
Please notify the Dane County Department of Public Works within 15 days of any changes to your business or operations that are relevant to the prequalification process. Failure to do so could result in suspension, revocation of your pre-qualification, debarment from county contracts for up to three (3) years, and / or other sanctions under the law.
To update your existing BVC Status, contact us at (608) 267-0119 or at Public.Works@DaneCounty.gov
Once approved, your BVC certification is valid for three years. Keep your information current as incomplete or outdated info can lead to suspension from future contracts.
Dane County reviews all Best Value Contracting (BVC) applications carefully to ensure vendors meet our standards for quality, safety, and workforce practices. Applications may be denied for a variety of reasons, typically falling into one of these categories:
What You Can Do Next:
You are welcome to reapply after resolving the issues noted in your denial letter. Before resubmitting, please:
Taking the time to address the issues before reapplying helps avoid delays and increases your chances of approval.
Still Need Help?
We encourage you to reach out! Contact: (608) 267-0119 or Public.Works@DaneCounty.gov
