Sec. 2. (a) A bidder desiring to submit to the department a bid for the performance of a contract the department proposes to let must apply to the department for qualification and must use for that purpose the forms prescribed and furnished by the department. All applications must be verified by the applicant.

     (b) The department shall act within thirty (30) days upon an application for qualification. Upon the receipt of an application for qualification, the department shall examine and may investigate the application and shall determine whether the applicant is competent and responsible and possesses the financial resources that satisfy this chapter.

     (c) If the applicant is found to possess the qualifications prescribed by this chapter and by the rules adopted by the department, the department shall issue a certificate of qualification, which shall be valid for the period of twenty-four (24) months, or a shorter period of time that the department prescribes, unless revoked by the department for cause. The certificate of qualification must contain a statement fixing the aggregate amount of uncompleted work that the applicant will be permitted to have at any time under a contract with the department and may also, in the discretion of the department, contain a statement limiting a bidder to the submission of bids upon a certain class or classes of work. Subject to any restrictions as to amount or class of work, the certificate of qualification authorizes its holder to bid on all work on which bids are taken by the department during the period of time specified.

     (d) A certificate of qualification may be revoked by the department only after notice to the qualified bidder and an opportunity to be heard. The notice must be in writing and must state the grounds of the proposed revocation.

As added by P.L.18-1990, SEC.219. Amended by P.L.14-2019, SEC.2.