(a) A district may construct or complete any building, structure, or improvement with its own forces or by contract without bidding when the cost does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

(b) All contracts for the construction or completion of any building, structure, or improvement, when the cost exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), shall be contracted for and let to the lowest responsible bidder after notice. If two or more bids are the same and the lowest, the district board may accept the one it chooses.

(c) The district shall publish a notice inviting bids for any contract for which competitive bidding is required at least one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the district at least 10 days before the time specified for receiving bids. The notice inviting bids shall set a date for opening the bids and distinctly state the work to be done.

(d) If the general manager recommends and the board of directors determines that the publication of advertisements of the notice in trade journals and papers in lieu of publication pursuant to subdivision (c) will increase the number of business enterprises receiving that notice, the board of directors may by resolution declare that those notices shall be published in trade journals and papers at least 10 days prior to the time specified for receiving bids.

(e) If plans and specifications are prepared describing the work, all bidders shall be afforded an opportunity to examine the plans and specifications, and the plans and specifications shall be attached to and become part of the contract, if one is awarded.

(f) At its discretion, the board of directors may reject any bids presented and readvertise.

(g) In the case of an emergency, the board of directors may act pursuant to Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 22050).

(h) The board of directors may, subject to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 9550) of Title 3 of Part 6 of Division 4 of the Civil Code, require the posting of those bonds it deems desirable as a condition to the filing of a bid or the letting of a contract.

(i) The district shall keep cost records of the work in the manner provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 5 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(j) As an alternate to the procedures required by this section, a district may rely on the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act, Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 22000) of Part 3 of Division 2.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 697, Sec. 51. (SB 189) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 105 of Ch. 697.)