The State Purchase Commissioner is hereby authorized, at any time within five days from the opening of bids, to require any bidder to submit to him a financial statement, under oath, in response to a questionnaire, showing not only the financial responsibility of the bidder, but his ability to furnish the material desired, and such other pertinent and material facts as the State Purchase Commissioner may deem desirable. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act the State Purchase Commissioner is hereby authorized to prepare a standard form of questionnaire to be submitted by the bidder. If no response to the questionnaire is received by the State Purchase Commissioner within five days from the time of its mailing by said purchase commissioner, the purchase commissioner may reject the bid of any such bidder and award the bid to the next lowest responsible bidder.

L.1942, c. 176, p. 540, s. 1.