1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, Cecil County shall obtain the following by a competitively bid contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder:

   1. (1) the building or repair of a bridge; and
   2. (2) the purchase or lease of bridge construction equipment or machinery.

2. (b)

   1. (1) The governing body of Cecil County shall advertise for bids on a contract under subsection (a) of this section in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county.

   2. (2) The advertisement shall:

      1. (i) appear at least once;
      2. (ii) appear at least 1 week, but not more than 30 days, before the final date for submitting bids;
      3. (iii) if the contract relates to building or repair of a bridge, specify the location where the bridge is to be built or repaired;
      4. (iv) include a description of the goods or services required under the contract;
      5. (v) state that sealed bids for goods or services will be received until the date designated in the advertisement; and
      6. (vi) designate a date for the opening of the bids.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to an expenditure that:

      1. (i) is $10,000 or less; or
      2. (ii) the governing body of Cecil County by a recorded majority vote taken at a public meeting declares to be an emergency expenditure.

   2. (2) For an expenditure under this subsection, the governing body may determine:

      1. (i) the manner of providing for the expenditure; and
      2. (ii) if the building or repair is by contract, the manner in which the contract is awarded.

4. (d)

   1. (1) A contract entered into in violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is void, unless:

      1. (i) a court determines in a judicial action that all parties acted in good faith; and
      2. (ii) the parties have substantially complied with the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

   2. (2) If a contract is void under this subsection, the governing body of Cecil County shall compensate the contractor for costs actually incurred if the contractor:

      1. (i) acted in good faith;
      2. (ii) did not directly contribute to the violation; and
      3. (iii) did not know of the violation.
5. (e) A person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

Added by Acts 2013, c. 119, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2013.