CHAPTER 884

An Act to amend and reenact § 2-262, as amended, of the Code of Virginia,
relating to counties, cities, towns and political subdivisions seeking atd
of the Comptroller in purchasing material, equipment and on en)

Approved March 29, 1958

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 2-262, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 2-262. The boards of supervisors, or other governing bodies, of
political subdivisions, the several counties and the councils of the several
cities and towns, and the officers of counties, cities, towns and political sub-
divisions who are empowered to purchase material, equipment and supplies
of any and all kinds for local public use, may, in their discretion, seek the
aid and cooperation of the Comptroller in purchasing such material, equip-
ment and supplies, to the end that, by central purchasing, cheaper prices
may be obtained. When any such governing body of a county or political
subdivision, council of a city or town, or duly authorized officer or officers
of a county, city, town or political subdivision request the Comptroller to
obtain bids for any material, equipment and supplies, and such bids accord-
ingly have been obtained by the Division of Purchase and Printing, the
Division may award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, and such
county, city, town or political subdivision shall be bound by such contract;
the Division shall set forth in the purchase order that such material, equip-
ment and supplies be delivered to, and that the bill therefor be made out to
and forwarded to such county, city, town or political subdivision; any such
bill shall be a valid and enforceable claim against the county, city, town or
political subdivision responsible, requesting the Division to seek such bids.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, any such political subdivision
shall have the right to reject all bids without any liability unless said politi-
cal subdivision purchases the same or similar item or items upon which such
bids were taken within a period of three months thereafter from someone
other than the bidder to whom the order was awarded at the bid price.
Whenever all bids have been rejected by the political subdivision, it may
again call for bids on the same or similar items through the Division of
ures and Printing, with the approval of the Director of Purchase and

rinting.

The Comptroller shall encourage the seeking of such aid and coopera-
tion by the tender of his services by letter, and otherwise, and specially by
the dissemination of facts by letter, or otherwise, concerning the savings
of public funds which may be effected by central purchasing of material,
equipment and supplies.