Immediately upon consummation of the sale of the bond issue, the county government shall proceed to enter into a contract or contracts for the required improvements with the owner or operator of the local water distribution system chosen to install the improvements or the owner's or operator's agents. Such contract or contracts shall contain the provisions required by § 569 of this title and shall be substantially in accordance with the proposal or suggested contracts originally submitted by the petitioners in accordance with § 553 of this title. The contract or contracts need not be let upon a competitive bid basis. The county government may, in its discretion, request a statement of financial condition, or such other evidence of financial responsibility as it shall deem appropriate, from the owner or operator of said local water distribution system or the owner's or operator's agents.