(1)    As a basis for bids for public printing in classes 1, 2, 3 and 4, the department shall, before advertising for bids and after consultation with agencies, establish base prices and specifications for 2-year periods unless otherwise determined by the department, except that:

      (a)    As a basis for printing the biennial Wisconsin statutes under s. 35.18 (1) (a), the department shall, before advertising for bids and after consultation with the legislative reference bureau, establish base prices for 2-year periods and establish specifications subject to approval by the legislative reference bureau for 2-year periods.

      (b)    As a basis for printing of the Laws of Wisconsin, the department shall, before advertising for bids and after consultation with the chief of the legislative reference bureau, establish base prices for 2-year periods and establish specifications subject to approval by the chief for 2-year periods.

   (2)   The specifications shall include a provision that the contract price shall be adjusted as affected by an increase or decrease in the printers’ wage scale, providing no adjustment will take effect before 3 months of a new contract period has elapsed.

   (3)   The specifications shall include normal production schedules for completion and delivery of each class; and shall provide penalties for failure to comply with production schedules or standards of quality.

   (4)   The specifications shall provide that all work will be performed within the plant of the contract printer unless excepted by the department.

   (5)   Notwithstanding subs. (1), (3) and (4), the legislative reference bureau shall approve specifications and production schedules for the printing and binding of the Wisconsin statutes.