Contracts for the construction, reconstruction or improvement of any facility when the expenditure required exceeds $10,000.00 and contracts for the purchase of services, supplies, equipment and materials when the expenditure required exceeds $2,500.00 shall be advertised and let upon sealed bids to the lowest responsible bidder. Notice requesting such bids shall be published in a manner reasonably likely to attract prospective bidders, which publication shall be made at least 10 days before bids are received and in at least 2 newspapers of general circulation in the basin. The commission may reject any and all bids and readvertise in its discretion. If after rejecting bids the commission determines and resolves that in its opinion the supplies, equipment and materials may be purchased at a lower price in the open market, the commission may give each responsible bidder an opportunity to negotiate a price and may proceed to purchase the supplies, equipment and materials in the open market at a negotiated price which is lower than the lowest rejected bid of a responsible bidder, without further observance of the provisions requiring bids or notice. The commission shall adopt rules and regulations to provide for purchasing from the lowest responsible bidder when sealed bids, notice and publication are not required by this section. The commission may suspend and waive the provisions of this section requiring competitive bids whenever:

(1) the purchase is to be made from or the contract to be made with the Federal or any State Government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or pursuant to any open end bulk purchase contract of any of them;

(2) the public exigency requires the immediate delivery of the articles or performance of the service;

(3) only 1 source of supply is available;

(4) the equipment to be purchased is of a technical nature and the procurement thereof without advertising is necessary in order to assure standardization of equipment and interchangeability of parts in the public interest; or

(5) services are to be provided of a specialized or professional nature.

L.1961, c. 13, p. 82, s. 14.9.