Sec. 26. (a) If the board, or the court hearing an appeal, finally confirms the resolution, the board shall have published, in accordance with IC 5-3-1, a notice of the general nature of the work and of the fact that detailed plans, drawings, and specifications are on file in the office of the board.

(b) The board may advertise for and receive construction bids at any time after confirming the resolution. The board shall require each bidder to deposit with the bidder's bid a certified check or satisfactory bond by an incorporated surety company in good standing and qualified to do business in Indiana in an amount that the board determines to be at least sufficient to insure the execution of the contract for which the bid is made. Each bidder shall also file with the bidder's bid an affidavit that the bidder has not, directly or indirectly, entered into any combination, collusion, understanding, or agreement with another bidder to maintain the price of the work or contract, to prevent another bidder from bidding, or to induce a bidder to refrain from bidding on the contract or work. The affidavit must also state that the bidding is made without regard to any other bidder and without any agreement, understanding, or combination, either directly or indirectly, with any other persons concerning the bidding.

(c) If, after a contract has been let, it appears that the successful bidder is guilty of collusion, combination, understanding, or agreement, as defined in the affidavit, the successful bidder forfeits the contract and the work shall be relet by the board. The board may impose conditions upon the bidders regarding bond surety, guaranteeing the good faith and responsibility of the bidders and the faithful performance of the work according to contract, keeping the work in repair for a given length of time, or for another purpose. The board may reject any bids, but if it does reject all bids notices must be published as originally required before other bids may be received.

(d) The board may let part of the proposed work under different contracts. A contract may not be let at a bid higher than the estimate of cost of the work to be performed under the contract. However, the board may make a new estimate of the cost of the work at any time after the adoption of the resolution required by section 18 of this chapter and before the advertising for the receipt of bids for the construction of the work. If a new estimate is made, notice shall be given by publication in accordance with IC 5-3-1 naming a date when a public hearing will be held to determine the public utility of the new estimate.

(e) The contracts must expressly state that payments for all work shall be made only from the special fund derived from the proceeds of bonds authorized for this purpose. If a contract is executed for the construction of sewage works under this chapter, the validity of the contract may be questioned only in an action to enjoin the performance of the contract brought within fifteen (15) days after the date of execution. Sixteen (16) days after execution, all proceedings and orders of the board preliminary to and including the contract are valid, conclusive, and binding upon all persons and are not subject to attack.

(f) Additions or extensions to sewage works constructed under this chapter shall be built under contract entered into under this section in the same manner as the contract for the original works. The cost of additions or extensions, including additional land or rights-of-way acquired by the board, may be met by the sale of additional bonds to be issued and sold by the board and the levy of special taxes to retire the bonds as provided in this chapter.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 19-2-14-18.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.98. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.45, SEC.70; P.L.127-2017, SEC.324.