1. (a) The secretary of transportation is hereby authorized to implement electronic submission of sealed bids as a procurement process accessible by highway construction contractors and other qualified contractors for highway projects. Prior to implementing such procurement process, the secretary of transportation shall adopt any policies and procedures which are necessary for the acceptance of sealed bids by electronic on-line submission.

   The secretary of transportation may adopt any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

2. (b) The secretary of transportation shall not acquire any goods or services through any process of reverse auctioning.
3. (c) As used in this section, "sealed bids" may include a procurement process following procedures approved by the secretary of transportation in which bids are received electronically over the internet.

L. 2001, ch. 212, § 2; May 31.