Wisconsin Public Works Payment and Performance Bond (Little Miller Act)
What it is & who requires it
Prime contractors on Wisconsin state or local public-improvement/public-works contracts above the statutory threshold.
Obligee: Wisconsin public entities (the governmental unit awarding the contract). Citation: Wis. Stat. 779.14(1m) (Act 213; thresholds in (c)/(d), penalty in (e); biennial indexing in (1s)).
Bond amount
Penalty not less than the contract price. A payment and performance bond is required when the contract price exceeds $369,000 for a State of Wisconsin contract, or exceeds $148,000 for a local public-works contract (town, city, village, county, school district) — both thresholds as adjusted biennially under Wis. Stat. 779.14(1s). Lower tiers carry only direct-payment provisions, not a full bond.
How to get it
This bond is individually underwritten, so it is not issued instantly. Request a quote and a licensed producer follows up to walk you through it.
Request a bond quote
Tell us about the bond and the project. A licensed producer follows up — these bonds are individually underwritten, so they are not issued instantly.
Term & renewal
Term: Project duration
Renewal: N/A (project-specific)
Filing
Filed with the Wisconsin state or local public entity that awards the contract, and it runs for the project’s duration. Required under Wis. Stat. 779.14(1m); on state contracts the Department of Administration may allow an equal-or-greater bond, an irrevocable letter of credit, or an escrow account instead, and certain transportation-facility work is carved out.
Source
Verified against the obligee source (last checked 2026-06-06).
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Frequently asked questions
- Who requires the Wisconsin Public Works Payment and Performance Bond (Little Miller Act)?
- It’s required by Wisconsin public entities (the governmental unit awarding the contract) (Wis. Stat. 779.14(1m) (Act 213; thresholds in (c)/(d), penalty in (e); biennial indexing in (1s))). Prime contractors on Wisconsin state or local public-improvement/public-works contracts above the statutory threshold.
- How much is the Wisconsin Public Works Payment and Performance Bond (Little Miller Act)?
- Penalty not less than the contract price. A payment and performance bond is required when the contract price exceeds $369,000 for a State of Wisconsin contract, or exceeds $148,000 for a local public-works contract (town, city, village, county, school district) — both thresholds as adjusted biennially under Wis. Stat. 779.14(1s). Lower tiers carry only direct-payment provisions, not a full bond.
- How do I get the Wisconsin Public Works Payment and Performance Bond (Little Miller Act)?
- This bond is individually underwritten, so it is not issued instantly. Request a quote and a licensed producer follows up to walk you through it.
- What is the term?
- Project duration Renewal: N/A (project-specific)
- Is this bond insurance for me?
- No. It protects the obligee and the public — not you. If a valid claim is paid, you repay the surety.
- How is this requirement verified?
- We verify it against the obligee’s primary source (last checked 2026-06-06); the source link is on this page.
