All officers of the state of Idaho, the separate counties, cities, towns, villages or school districts within the state of Idaho, all boards or trustees thereof or other persons required by the statutes of the state of Idaho to advertise for bids on contracts for the construction, repair or improvement of public works, public buildings, public places or other work, shall make written plans and specifications of such work to be performed or materials furnished, and such plans and specifications shall be available for all interested and prospective bidders therefor, providing that such bidders may be required to make a reasonable deposit upon obtaining a copy of such plans and specifications; all plans and specifications for said contracts or materials shall state, among other things pertinent to the work to be performed or materials furnished, the number, size, kind and quality of materials and service required for such contract, and such plans and specifications shall not specify or provide the use of any articles of a specific brand or mark, or any patented apparatus or appliances when other materials are available for such purpose and when such requirements would prevent competitive bidding on the part of dealers or contractors in other articles or materials of equivalent value, utility or merit. The design-build method of construction may be employed by public officials in contracts for the construction, repair, or improvement of public works, public buildings, public places or other work. For purposes of this section, a design-build contract is a contract between a public entity and a nongovernmental party in which the nongovernmental party contracting with the public entity agrees to both design and build a structure, roadway or other item specified in the contract. In any action which shall arise under this section, the court may assess a civil penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) to be paid by the public entity.