Surety Bonds Explained

History of Contract Bond Laws

By law, nearly all public construction work projects in America require surety bonds. It is interesting to review the laws requiring surety bonds to guarantee public contracts.

In 1894, Congress passed the Heard Act to protect federal projects from contractor default and protect subcontractors from nonpayment by contractors. The Miller Act supplanted the Heard Act in 1935 and was recodified in 2002, requiring bid, performance, and payment bonds on all public projects above $150,000 and payment protection for contracts between $30,000 and $150,000. Most states have similar legislation; these statutes are known as Little Miller Acts. The bond threshold varies from state to state. ²

An Assessment of Character

Despite being difficult to assess, a person's character is often the most critical factor when evaluating a principal and its indemnitors. A surety will be hesitant to issue a bond without forming a positive view of the company owner's good character, even if the capital and capacity for completing a project are there.

In this evaluation, the intent is to determine whether a company and its leaders have demonstrated a strong track record of fulfilling their contractual obligations and will look to the principal's reputation, project success, and operational integrity, such as promptly paying its suppliers, as confirmation. The surety will also expect ready access to a principal's accounting books, records, and other information, so demonstrating characteristics such as communication, trustworthiness, and honesty will be critical.

The following are some common topics for discussion at a meeting with your surety.

• Review the timeliness of payments to subs and suppliers on an individual project.
• Do you have past judgments or liens?
• What kind of reputation do you have within the construction industry?

An Assessment of Capacity

When a surety evaluates capacity, the principal's past track record is reviewed along with current capabilities to complete their projects. To do this, they will want to determine both skills and resources, evaluating specific factors such as equipment and tools, support and leadership staff, crew, best practices, and relevant project experience similar in size, scope, and complexity.

Although a surety will look for trends demonstrating that previously completed projects were both well managed and profitable, they will be especially eager to learn how the principal addressed complex issues or challenges that may have occurred in previous jobs, how those were addressed, and what the outcome was for the job in terms of profitability and how the company fulfilled its required work under that contract. Underwriters know that in construction, every contractor encounters unanticipated challenges; that is the nature of construction. They want to learn how a contractor dealt with those challenges to better understand both their capabilities and their commitment to honor their obligations.

The following are some common questions related to capacity.

• How do you view your company's knowledge, technical skills, equipment, and personnel? How does that prepare you to successfully complete this project or the larger work program you are pursuing? What are the most significant challenges your company faces right now (for example, hiring labor, costs, or timing of acquiring necessary commodities or equipment)?
• Please review your estimating and project management team and help us understand how you will be able to perform all the projects you currently have on hand and the new work you intend to pursue while your current backlog is being built?
• How do you review the work your company is performing to make sure it is being built to ensure you will earn your anticipated profit, or walk us through how and how frequently do you review your work in progress?

An Assessment of Capital

An analysis of current and future capital helps ensure a principal has the financial resources to complete a project and fulfill its contractual obligations. You can expect a surety to evaluate cash on hand, assets, and current lines of credit.

The following are some common questions related to capital assessment.

• Does your company have financial statements and job schedules prepared by a reputable contractor-oriented certified public accountant firm?
• Is your company able to operate with sufficient liquidity to cash flow your projects without constant reliance on a bank line of credit?
• As you pursue a larger backlog, you must demonstrate the ability to cash flow your projects comfortably.

Even after a bond is issued, the surety will continue to monitor these three evaluation factors using financial statements, project status reports, and regular meetings. Although this process for obtaining a bond can be rigorous, the stringency of these underwriting standards is not constant but instead will become more or less stringent depending on the financial and operational performance of the contractor, as well as changes in the surety market cycles.

For example, one can expect strict underwriting, increased premiums, and limited capacity during a hard market where losses sureties are paying for other companies who have defaulted, causing them to become more strict in their underwriting. In contrast, a soft market will accompany a period of relaxed underwriting, reduced premiums, excess capacity, and increased competition among sureties. Understanding these cycles is essential for any player in the construction industry.

Communication Is Key

Commit to communicating regularly and transparently with your surety broker, providing them with timely and accurate financial statements; the best brokers become trusted advisers to their clients. They will help you share news, both good news and the challenges you may encounter, in a way that builds trust and has the best chance to develop a long-term, mutually profitable relationship.

• Evaluate your broker. Ensure your broker is asking "powerful" questions, taking the time to listen, and keeping your surety underwriter informed.

Utilize Your Broker as a Resource

When finalizing a business plan, share a draft with your broker and, when finalized, spend some time going over that with your underwriter. Both your broker and underwriter may have valuable insights to share that help develop a stronger plan.

• Evaluate your broker. A good broker will review the terms and conditions of each contract, highlighting areas of concern and, when applicable, provide recommendations for negotiation.

Highlight Company Strengths

Don't presume the surety solely relies on financial results and projections to evaluate risk. Instead, underwriters look at the whole picture, paying careful attention to organizational strength, risk practices, company sophistication, and continuity plans. Sureties certainly evaluate a company's track record of successful performance, but they can also buy into a growth plan so long as it is properly presented to them.

• Evaluate your broker. Is your broker spending significant time understanding your business and presenting your company's past performance and future plans in a way that best positions you to obtain surety support?

Ask Questions

Surety relationships are a two‐way street. Don't be afraid to ask about a surety's business plan, financial results, and changes in risk appetite.

• Evaluate your broker. Ask your broker if it might make sense to establish a backup surety relationship. If changes outside your control impact a surety's ability to be responsive, having a broker with an active backup strategy will likely prevent disruption to your business.

Understand the Surety's Credit Model

Financial statements are vital to any business that grants credit, and sureties are no exception. With the help of your broker, you and your accountants can understand how a surety analyzes financial information and which factors they find most critical. Doing so will help you hit specific benchmarks and emphasize crucial points when reporting projections and results.

• Evaluate your broker. A broker that isn't regularly analyzing and discussing your work-in-progress schedule is missing an opportunity to maximize your surety credit and grow your program.

Measure Your Broker's Value

The cost of using the wrong broker is more than you might think. Wielding a competitive advantage will require a well-positioned broker who specializes in construction and continuously thinks about your business the way you do.

• Evaluate your broker. Expect more than merely good service and look for a broker who can add to your bottom line. Is your broker a trusted business adviser or merely the person you call to get a bid or final bond?