Section 41-16-24

Advertisement for and solicitation of bids; bids to be sealed; opening of bids; bids, etc., to be retained and to be open to public inspection; contracts not to be split to avoid requirements of article; certain partial contracts declared void.

(a) The Purchasing Agent shall advertise for sealed bids on all purchases in excess of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) by posting notice thereof on a bulletin board maintained outside the office door or by publication of notice thereof, one time, in a newspaper published in Montgomery County, Alabama, or in any other manner, for such lengths of time as the Purchasing Agent may determine. The Purchasing Agent shall also solicit sealed bids by sending notice by mail to all Alabama persons, firms, or corporations who have filed a request in writing that they be listed for solicitation on bids for the particular items set forth in the request and the other persons, firms, or corporations the Purchasing Agent deems necessary to insure competition. If any person, firm, or corporation whose name is listed fails to respond to any solicitation for bids after the receipt of three solicitations, the listing may be cancelled by the Purchasing Agent.

(b) All bids shall be sealed when received, shall be opened in public at the hour stated in the notice, and all original bids together with all documents pertaining to the award of the contract shall be retained and made a part of the permanent file or records and shall be open to public inspection.

(c) If the purchase or contract will involve an amount of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) or less, the Purchasing Agent may make the purchases or contracts either upon the basis of sealed bids or in the open market.

(d) No purchase or contract involving an amount in excess of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) shall be divided into parts involving amounts of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) or less for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of this article. All such partial contracts involving seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) or less shall be void.

(Acts 1957, No. 343, p. 452, §6; Acts 1961, No. 870, p. 1365; Acts 1976, No. 751, p. 1032, §4; Acts 1983, No. 83-773, p. 1414, §1; Acts 1989, No. 89-687, p. 1351, §2; Acts 1994, No. 94-207, p. 270, §1.)