Section 41-16-54

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; when purchases or contracts may be made in open market; contracts not to be split to avoid requirements of article; certain partial contracts declared void.

(a) All proposed purchases in excess of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) shall be advertised by posting notice thereof on a bulletin board maintained outside the purchasing office and in any other manner and for any length of time as may be determined. Sealed bids shall also be solicited by sending notice by mail to all persons, firms, or corporations who have filed a request in writing that they be listed for solicitation on bids for the particular items that are set forth in the request. 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.

(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 for a period of seven years from the date the bids are opened 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 purchases or contracts may be made 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 1967, Ex. Sess., No. 217, p. 259, §6; Acts 1975, No. 1136, §2; Acts 1988, No. 88-540, p. 838, §1; Acts 1989, No. 89-687, p. 1351, §4; Acts 1994, No. 94-207, p. 270, §1; Acts 1995, No. 95-630, p. 1334, §1.)