Seattle Construction Bids: Complete Market Guide 2025

Seattle's construction market ranks among the nation's most robust, driven by technology sector growth, transit expansion, and infrastructure investment throughout the Puget Sound. The metro area's $20 billion annual construction spend creates exceptional opportunities for contractors.

Seattle Market Stats

$20B

Annual Spend

6.5%

CAGR

$54B

Sound Transit Program

200+

Bid Sources

Market Dynamics

Technology Sector

Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Google drive commercial demand. South Lake Union, Bellevue, Redmond see continuous development.

Transit Expansion

Sound Transit's $54B expansion—one of the largest transit construction programs in U.S. history, extending through 2040+.

Housing Demand

Seattle's housing shortage drives multi-family construction throughout the region despite market fluctuations.

Climate Resilience

Washington's climate commitments drive green building requirements and infrastructure adaptation projects.

Finding Seattle Construction Bids

City of Seattle

seattle.gov/purchasing | $55K+ formal bidding | Utilities, transportation, parks, buildings

King County

kingcounty.gov/procurement | $50K+ competitive | Metro transit, wastewater, roads, parks

Sound Transit

soundtransit.org/business | East Link, Lynnwood Link, Federal Way Link, West Seattle/Ballard Link, Stride BRT

WSDOT

wsdot.wa.gov/business | Highways, bridges, ferries | SR 520, I-405 express lanes, fish passage projects

Port of Seattle

portseattle.org/business | SEA airport, maritime terminals | Airport expansion, terminal modernization

Washington State Requirements

Registration

• L&I contractor registration
• UBI number required
• $12K minimum bond
• Workers' comp required

Prevailing Wage

• ALL public works
• No size threshold
• Weekly certified payroll
• Intent affidavits required

Small Business Programs

• State Small Business
• Seattle WMBE
• King County SCS
• OMWBE certification

Key Difference

Washington prevailing wages apply to ALL public projects regardless of size—one of the most comprehensive requirements nationally.

Seattle Bidding Strategies

Navigate Labor Agreements

• PLAs common on large projects
• Community Workforce Agreements
• 15%+ apprenticeship requirements
• Local hire preferences

Account for Weather

• Rain season October-May
• Plan covered work during wet months
• Schedule concrete for dry windows
• Budget for weather delays

Find Seattle Construction Bids Automatically

ConstructionBids.ai aggregates Seattle-area opportunities from 200+ sources—City of Seattle, King County, Sound Transit, WSDOT, Port of Seattle, and 40+ municipalities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How competitive is Seattle bidding?

Highly competitive. Public works: 6-12 bidders; Sound Transit major contracts may exceed 15.

What makes Washington prevailing wage different?

Applies to ALL public works regardless of size—no threshold. Factor into all public project estimates.

Are PLAs common in Seattle?

Yes. Many large public projects require PLAs or Community Workforce Agreements.