(1) Whenever an agency of government proposes to undertake the construction of a public project reasonably expected to cost in excess of fifty thousand dollars by any means or method other than by a contract awarded by competitive bid, it shall prepare and submit a cost estimate in the same manner as other bidders; except that, for projects under the supervision of the department of transportation undertaken by such means or method, the department shall prepare and submit a cost estimate if the project is reasonably expected to exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars. Cost estimates in excess of fifty thousand dollars but less than or equal to one hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be submitted to the transportation commission on at least a quarterly basis for its review and approval. Such agency of government itself may not undertake the proposed project unless it shows the lowest cost estimate.
In preparing such cost estimate, the agency of government shall preserve a full, true,and accurate record of the cost of such project. Such records shall be kept and maintained by the responsible officer on behalf of the agency of government. To the extent the agency of government contracts with any other state or local government agency in connection with a public project, such other agency shall provide all necessary data or information to enable the agency of government to document a full, true, and accurate record of the cost of such project, which data or information shall be kept in an orderly manner by the agency of government for a period of at least six years after completion of the project. All such records shall be considered public records and shall be made available for public inspection.
State agencies shall not be required to be bonded when performing the work on apublic project.
Source: L. 81: Entire article added, p. 1257, § 1, effective July 1. L. 98: (1) amended, p. 1042, § 2, effective August 5.