Sec. 4. (a) This section applies whenever the cost of a public work project will be at least one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000).

(b) The board must comply with the following procedure:

(1) The board shall prepare general plans and specifications describing the kind of public work required, but shall avoid specifications which might unduly limit competition. If the project involves the resurfacing (as defined by IC 8-14-2-1) of a road, street, or bridge, the specifications must show how the weight or volume of the materials will be accurately measured and verified.

(2) The board shall file the plans and specifications in a place reasonably accessible to the public, which shall be specified in the notice required by subdivision (3).

(3) Upon the filing of the plans and specifications, the board shall publish notice in accordance with IC 5-3-1 calling for sealed proposals for the public work needed. If the board receives electronic bids as set forth in subsection (d), the board shall also provide electronic access to the notice of the bid solicitation through the computer gateway administered under IC 4-13.1-2-2(a)(5) by the office of technology.

(4) The notice must specify the place where the plans and specifications are on file and the date fixed for receiving bids.

(5) The period of time between the date of the first publication and the date of receiving bids shall be governed by the size of the contemplated project in the discretion of the board. The period of time between the date of the first publication and receiving bids may not be more than:

(A) six (6) weeks if the estimated cost of the public works project is less than twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000); and

(B) ten (10) weeks if the estimated cost of the public works project is at least twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000).

(6) The board shall require the bidder to submit a financial statement, a statement of experience, a proposed plan or plans for performing the public work, and the equipment that the bidder has available for the performance of the public work. The statement shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the state board of accounts.

(7) The board may not require a bidder to submit a bid before the meeting at which bids are to be received. The meeting for receiving bids must be open to the public. All bids received shall be opened publicly and read aloud at the time and place designated and not before. Notwithstanding any other law, bids may be opened after the time designated if both of the following apply:

(A) The board makes a written determination that it is in the best interest of the board to delay the opening.

(B) The day, time, and place of the rescheduled opening are announced at the day, time, and place of the originally scheduled opening.

(8) Except as provided in subsection (c), the board shall:

(A) award the contract for public work or improvements to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder; or

(B) reject all bids submitted.

(9) If the board awards the contract to a bidder other than the lowest bidder, the board must state in the minutes or memoranda, at the time the award is made, the factors used to determine which bidder is the lowest responsible and responsive bidder and to justify the award. The board shall keep a copy of the minutes or memoranda available for public inspection.

(10) In determining whether a bidder is responsive, the board may consider the following factors:

(A) Whether the bidder has submitted a bid or quote that conforms in all material respects to the specifications.

(B) Whether the bidder has submitted a bid that complies specifically with the invitation to bid and the instructions to bidders.

(C) Whether the bidder has complied with all applicable statutes, ordinances, resolutions, or rules pertaining to the award of a public contract.

(11) In determining whether a bidder is a responsible bidder, the board may consider the following factors:

(A) The ability and capacity of the bidder to perform the work.

(B) The integrity, character, and reputation of the bidder.

(C) The competence and experience of the bidder.

(12) The board shall require the bidder to submit an affidavit:

(A) that the bidder has not entered into a combination or agreement:

(i) relative to the price to be bid by a person;

(ii) to prevent a person from bidding; or

(iii) to induce a person to refrain from bidding; and

(B) that the bidder's bid is made without reference to any other bid.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b)(8), a county may award sand, gravel, asphalt paving materials, or crushed stone contracts to more than one (1) responsible and responsive bidder if the specifications allow for bids to be based upon service to specific geographic areas and the contracts are awarded by geographic area. The geographic areas do not need to be described in the specifications.

(d) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a board may receive electronic bids for the public work if:

(1) the solicitation for bids indicates the procedure for transmitting the electronic bid to the board; and

(2) the board receives the bid on a facsimile machine or system with a security feature that protects the content of an electronic bid with the same degree of protection as the content of a bid that is not transmitted by a facsimile machine.

(e) A board may select a vendor to provide an electronic platform to accommodate the electronic bidding process.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: 5-16-1 part; Part new.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.57, SEC.38. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.56, SEC.4; P.L.329-1985, SEC.17; P.L.213-1986, SEC.4; P.L.252-1993, SEC.3; P.L.82-1995, SEC.15; P.L.22-2001, SEC.1; P.L.169-2006, SEC.48; P.L.113-2010, SEC.108; P.L.139-2011, SEC.6; P.L.172-2011, SEC.139; P.L.6-2012, SEC.241; P.L.17-2012, SEC.2; P.L.67-2012, SEC.2; P.L.43-2019, SEC.2; P.L.164-2019, SEC.5.