A. A central purchasing office, when procuring used items of tangible personal property the estimated cost of which exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000), shall request bids as though the items were new, adding specifications that permit used items under conditions to be outlined in the bid specifications, including but not limited to requiring a written warranty for at least ninety days after date of delivery and an independent “certificate of working order” by a qualified mechanic or appraiser.

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B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this section, the purchasing office for a county may purchase, at public or private auctions conducted by established, recognized commercial auction companies, used heavy equipment, having an estimated cost that exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000), for use in construction and maintenance of county streets, roads and highways, subject to the following provisions:

(1)     the commercial auction company shall have been in business for at least three years preceding the date of purchase and shall conduct at least five auctions annually;

(2)     the value of each piece of equipment shall be appraised prior to the auction by a qualified disinterested appraiser retained and paid by the county, who shall make a written appraisal report stating the basis for the appraisal, including the age, condition and comparable sales, and stating that the appraiser has exercised his independent judgment without prior understanding or agreement with any person as to a target value or range of value;

(3)     an independent “certificate of working condition” shall be obtained prior to the auction from a qualified mechanic who shall have made a detailed inspection of each major working or major functional part and certified the working condition of each; and

(4)     the price paid, including all auction fees and buyer’s surcharges, shall not exceed the appraised value.