48-922. Bids; bond; award of contract

A. Bids shall be submitted accompanied by a bond payable to the district, for an amount not less than ten per cent of the aggregate proposal. Alternative bids may be accompanied by one bond at least equal to ten per cent of the amount of the highest proposal submitted.

B. The board of directors shall, in open session, open, examine and publicly declare the bids, and may reject any or all when deemed for the public good, and shall reject all bids other than the lowest and best bid of a responsible bidder. The board may award the contract for the work or improvement to the lowest and best responsible bidder at the price named in his bid, upon motion, noted in its minutes, and upon a majority vote of its members.

C. When the resolution of intention to make the improvement and the resolution ordering the work has provided for alternative plans and specifications, and the notice has invited separate bids in accordance with alternative plans and specifications, the board of directors shall not award the contract for the improvement until fifteen days after the bids have been opened, examined and declared. If within such period the owners of a majority of the frontage of property fronting on the proposed improvement, or, when the cost of the improvement has been made chargeable upon an assessment district, the owners of a majority of the frontage of property contained within the limits of the assessment district, in writing require that the proposed improvement be constructed in accordance with any particular one of the alternative plans and specifications, then the board of directors shall so determine and require, and shall award the contract to the lowest and best responsible bidder. If no such written requirement is filed, then the board of directors shall determine which of the alternative plans and specifications shall be adopted, considering the cost and efficiency thereof, and shall award the contract accordingly.