Upon the making of the preliminary assessment, the board shall prepare contracts and bid specifications, and shall bid or otherwise contract for the acquisition, construction, or installation of all the improvements as specified in the petition. In general, all contracts shall be bid in accordance with applicable state law. However, if an improvement or a portion of an improvement is to be paid for exclusively with funds provided through assessments under this chapter or by the owners or on behalf of the owners, and not from any revenues, taxes, or funds of the appointing government, the contracting for the acquisition, construction, or installation of the improvement or portion thereof shall be exempt from all laws relating to the advertising and award of construction contracts and purchase contracts, including, without limitation, Title 39 and Article 3 of Chapter 16 of Title 41, and shall be performed in the sole discretion of the board. All contracts and bids shall be contingent upon the issuance of a final assessment by the appointing government as hereinafter provided.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board may contract for and commence the acquisition, construction, or installation of one or more improvements or a portion of one or more improvements in advance of a preliminary or final assessment, provided that the contract for the acquisition, construction, or installation is exempt from laws relating to the advertising and award of construction contracts and purchase contracts under this section.