Resources
Verifying a subcontractor’s DIR registration
A prime contractor’s project file should show that subcontractor registration was checked for the actual business performing the work. Use the DIR record and the subcontract together rather than relying only on a verbal assurance.
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General information, not legal or tax advice.
Locate the contractor through the official search
DIR’s Public Works page provides a Find Public Works Contractors tool. Match the business identity in the search record with the subcontract and proposed work. Save the result and review date as a practical control so the project team can see what was verified.
Review the whole-contract threshold
The supplied DIR guidance describes small-project registration exemptions for projects not exceeding $25,000 in specified construction work or $15,000 in maintenance. The threshold applies to the whole prime contract, not the subcontract amount. Have coverage reviewed before treating a small subcontract as exempt.
Sources: DIR - Public Works SB 854 FAQ
Check active status before the work begins
DIR’s manual describes current registration as a condition of bidding, being listed or performing public work. The registration guidance also requires use of registered subcontractors. Verify status before mobilization and keep expiration information visible in the subcontractor file.
Sources: DIR - Contractor Registration (April 2026); DIR Public Works Manual (October 2023)
Escalate a lapse instead of relying on indemnity
The supplied guidance describes penalties for higher-tier contractors using unregistered lower-tier subcontractors and says those penalties cannot be shifted through required subcontractor indemnification. Notify the responsible project manager and counsel when a lapse appears. The companion registration guide covers a contractor’s own application process.
Sources: locate the contractor through the official search
Continue with dIR public works contractor registration
Keep subcontractor verification with the job
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