Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided by this chapter and IC 16-33-4-10, if the estimated cost of a public works project is at least one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000), the division shall award a contract for the project based on competitive bids.

(b) If the estimated cost of a public works project is at least one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000), the division shall develop contract documents for a public works contract and keep the contract documents on file in its offices so that they may be inspected by contractors and members of the public.

(c) The division shall advertise for bids under section 8 of this chapter. The director shall award a contract under IC 4-13.6-6.

(d) A contractor shall submit under oath a financial statement as a part of the bid. The director may waive filing of the financial statement.

(e) After bids are opened but before a contract is awarded, the director may require a contractor to submit a statement of the contractor's experience, a proposed plan of performing the work, and a listing of the equipment that is available to the contractor for performance of the work.

(f) The statements required by this section shall be submitted on forms approved by the state board of accounts. The forms shall be based, so far as applicable, on standard questionnaires and financial statements for contractors used in investigating the qualifications of contractors on public construction work.

(g) The division shall reject the bid of a contractor if:

(1) the estimated cost of the public works project is one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more and the contractor is not qualified under chapter 4 of this article;

(2) the estimated cost of the public works project is less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) and the director makes a written determination, based upon information provided under subsections (d) and (e), that the contractor is not qualified to perform the public works contract;

(3) the contractor has failed to perform a previous contract with the state satisfactorily and has submitted the bid during a period of suspension imposed by the director (the failure of the contractor to perform a contract satisfactorily must be based upon a written determination by the director);

(4) the contractor has not complied with a rule adopted under this article and the rule specifies that failure to comply with it is a ground for rejection of a bid; or

(5) the contractor has not complied with any requirement under section 2.5 of this chapter.

(h) The division shall keep a record of all bids. The state board of accounts shall approve the form of this record, and the record must include at least the following information:

(1) The name of each contractor.

(2) The amount bid by each contractor.

(3) The name of the contractor making the lowest bid.

(4) The name of the contractor to whom the contract was awarded.

(5) The reason the contract was awarded to a contractor other than the lowest bidder, if applicable.

(6) Purchase order numbers.

As added by P.L.24-1985, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.14-1986, SEC.8; P.L.26-1989, SEC.10; P.L.336-1989(ss), SEC.9; P.L.2-1992, SEC.34; P.L.2-1993, SEC.35; P.L.12-2002, SEC.3; P.L.172-2011, SEC.4.