Avoiding Procurement Delays: When Piggy Back Contracts Are the Right Choice
Municipal leaders know that infrastructure work rarely fits neatly into a schedule. Sewer failures, stormwater issues, pipe collapses, and capacity problems can develop quickly. When this happens, traditional procurement often slows progress at the worst possible time. Preparing bid packages, issuing RFPs, reviewing submittals, answering contractor questions, and working through selection processes takes weeks or even months. That delay can mean ongoing service disruptions, rising costs, and increasing pressure on public works teams.
Piggy back contracts give agencies a proven alternative. By leveraging an existing competitively bid contract, cities can move forward with work immediately while maintaining compliance with state procurement requirements. For sewer and water utilities that need to respond quickly, piggy back contracts help eliminate unnecessary bottlenecks and allow projects to start without delay.
Why Traditional Procurement Slows Down Project Timelines
Public agencies are required to follow strict procurement rules designed to protect transparency, competition, and responsible spending. While these processes are essential, they can also create unavoidable delays.
A typical procurement cycle requires the city to:
- Scope and document project requirements
- Prepare and publish RFPs
- Answer questions from vendors
- Receive and evaluate bids
- Verify qualifications and references
- Award the contract based on cost and value
Each step takes time. Even a minor sewer inspection or rehabilitation project can take eight to twelve weeks before a contractor is authorized to begin work. This challenge becomes more complicated when planning for next year’s budget because long bid cycles make it difficult for cities to predict pricing or timing.
Piggy back contracts simplify this process by allowing a city to adopt an existing competitively bid contract that already includes defined pricing, service scopes, and contractor qualifications. The time saved is often significant, especially for recurring or urgent work.
How Piggy Back Contracts Help Cities Avoid Delays
Piggy back contracts are ideal for agencies that need an efficient and compliant path forward. These contracts allow municipalities to use terms established by another public agency, which means the hard work is already done. There is no need to build new bid documents or run a full competitive procurement process.
Key advantages include:
- A faster project start
- Immediate access to qualified contractors
- Predictable pricing structures
- Reduced administrative workload
- Verified compliance based on the original bid
For infrastructure projects involving sewer system inspection, manhole rehabilitation, leak detection, or technology driven assessment services, access to an existing contract means a city can mobilize work teams immediately. Municipalities can also plan more effectively because costs are already documented. This helps with next year’s budgeting and supports long term asset management strategies.
If your city is evaluating sewer condition assessment or rehabilitation programs, explore our Assessment Services and Rehabilitation Solutions to see how piggyback eligible contracts can support your infrastructure goals.
When Piggy Back Contracts Are the Right Choice
Piggy back contracts are not only a convenience. In certain situations, they are the smartest path forward for both operational and financial reasons. Below are scenarios where piggy back contracts make the most sense.
1. When the project is time sensitive
Emergency repairs, inflow and infiltration issues, and sewer blockages require rapid response. Every day spent waiting for a procurement cycle increases risk. Piggy back contracts allow immediate mobilization.
2. When the scope of work fits an existing competitively bid contract
If the project aligns with services already defined by another agency, there is no need to reinvent the process. The contract can be adopted directly.
3. When administrative staff are overloaded
City teams often juggle planning, capital improvements, grant work, and daily operations. Piggybacking reduces workload by eliminating most procurement tasks.
4. When long range planning requires predictable pricing
Piggy back contracts include set or structured pricing. This gives cities stronger cost forecasting and smoother budget planning for the coming fiscal year.
5. When experienced and specialized contractors are required
For specialized services such as robotic CCTV inspection, sonar profiling, or trenchless rehabilitation, piggybacking ensures access to prequalified contractors who already meet performance and safety standards.
To learn more about how these specialized services support municipal systems, visit our Sewer System Inspection page.
Best Practices for Using Piggy Back Contracts
Although this procurement method is efficient, cities should follow several best practices to ensure compliance and transparency.
Recommended steps include:
• Verify that the originating contract was competitively bid
• Confirm that your state allows piggybacking for this type of work
• Review pricing and scope to ensure they match your project’s needs
• Maintain documentation for auditing and reporting
• Communicate clearly with stakeholders and governing boards
Following these simple steps allows agencies to adopt piggy back contracts confidently and effectively.
Contact EWSG to Learn More
Piggybacking does more than accelerate individual projects. It creates consistency. When the same contractor is engaged across multiple years, data management improves, reporting becomes standardized, and infrastructure assessments gain continuity. This leads to more accurate capital planning and better prioritization.
Cities using piggy back contracts gain better visibility into system conditions and long term rehabilitation needs. If your municipality is ready to simplify planning and move projects forward faster, contact the EWSG team today to discuss piggyback ready solutions tailored to your infrastructure goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are piggy back contracts legal?
Yes. Most states allow piggy back contracts as long as the original contract was competitively bid and the procurement method is permitted by state statutes.
Do piggy back contracts limit competition?
Competition occurs during the original bid process. Piggybacking does not remove competition. It simply allows cities to benefit from a competitive process that has already taken place.
Can piggy back contracts be used for sewer and water infrastructure projects?
Absolutely. Many municipalities rely on piggybacking for sewer inspections, pipeline rehabilitation, manhole assessments, and related infrastructure work.
