Chap. 242.—An ACT to provide for the letting of certain contracts to which the
State of Virginia, or any department, institution or agency thereof is a party,
upon the basis of competitive bids. [S B 231]

Approved March 23, 1932

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That every
contract, except for the purchase of stone, soil, lumber, borrow pits,
gravel, sand, hay, grain, repairs and supplies for standard equipment,
and other materials bought locally from farmers and property holders ;
and in case of emergency, in excess of twenty-five hundred dollars to
which the State of Virginia, or any department, institution or agency
thereof is a party, for the construction, improvement or repair of any
building, highway, bridge, street, sidewalk, culvert, sewer, reservoir,
dam, dock, wharf, draining, dredging, excavation, grading, or other
such construction work, shall be let by the State, or such department,
institution, or agency thereof, only after advertising for bids for such
work at least ten days prior to the letting of any such contract therefor.
Such advertisement shall state the place where bidders may examine
the plans and specifications for such work, and whether such contract
will be let for a lump sum or on a cost-plus per centum or fee basis,
and the time and place where bids for such work will be opened. Each
bidder shall accompany his bid with a certified check payable to the
State treasurer for a reasonable sum to be fixed by the department,
institution, or agency, letting the contract as a guarantee that if the
contract is awarded to such bidder he will enter into contract with
such department, institution, or agency, for the work mentioned in the
bid. The contract shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder for the
particular work covered in the bid when the contract is to be let for a
lump sum, or to the responsible bidder naming the lowest per centum
or fee if the contract is to be let on a cost-plus basis; and the successful
bidder shall thereupon enter into a bond payable to the Commonwealth
of Virginia, in the sum of at least the estimated cost of the work,
which bond shall be approved by the attorney general, and conditioned
upon the faithful performance of the work in strict conformity with
the plans, specification and conditions for the same, which bond shall
be delivered to and kept on file in the office of the comptroller. The
State is authorized to reject any and all bids. In the event that all
bids are rejected, advertisement for new bids shall be made as in the
first instance. All bids filed and all contracts awarded shall be kept
on file in the office of the department, institution, or agency receiving
the bids and making the award, and shall be public records, subject to
inspection at all times.