a. Whenever any work to be performed or any material to be furnished shall involve an expenditure of money exceeding the sum of $7,500.00 or, after June 30, 1985, the amount determined pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the commissioners shall designate the time when they will meet at their usual place of meeting to receive proposals in writing for doing the work and furnishing the material, and the commissioners shall order their clerk to give notice by advertisement, inserted in at least two newspapers printed and circulating, respectively, in two of the counties of the district, at least 10 days before the time of such meeting, of the work to be done and the material to be furnished, particular specifications of which they shall cause to be filed in their office at the time of such order. All proposals received shall be publicly opened by the commissioners or the chief administrative officer of the commission and the commissioners shall award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder. All contractors shall be required to give bond satisfactory in amount and security to the commissioners.

b. Commencing January 1, 1985, the Governor, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, shall, no later than March 1 of each odd-numbered year, adjust the threshold amount set forth in subsection a. of this section, or subsequent to 1985, the threshold amount resulting from any adjustment under this subsection, in direct proportion to the rise or fall of the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers in the New York City and Philadelphia areas, as reported by the United States Department of Labor. The Governor shall, no later than June 1 of each odd-numbered year, notify the commissioners about the adjustment. The adjustment shall become effective on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. c. Nothing in this act shall prohibit the commissioners from entering into a joint agreement pursuant to section 10 of P.L. 1971, c. 198 (C. 40A:11-10) for the purchase of work related to sewage sludge disposaL. All such agreements shall be entered into by resolution of the commissioners and shall be subject to the requirements of P.L. 1971, c. 198 (C. 40A:11-1 et seq.).

Amended by L. 1980, c. 85, s. 1, eff. Aug. 21, 1980; L. 1984, c. 220, s. 1, eff. Dec. 20, 1984; L. 1985, c. 452, s. 3, eff. Jan. 14, 1986.