(1) Whenever an agency of local government proposes to undertake the construction of a state-funded public project, by any means or method other than by a contract awarded by competitive bid, it shall prepare and submit a cost estimate in the same manner as other bidders. Such agency of government itself may not undertake the proposed state-funded public project unless it shows the lowest and most responsive cost estimate.
(2) Agencies of local government shall not be required to be bonded when performing the work on a state-funded public project.