§ 41-7-813 — Construction of irrigation works; cost estimates; advertisement for bids; contracts

Before any district shall enter into any contract for the
construction, building, alteration, extension, or improvement of
any irrigation works, power plant or system, or any part or
section thereof for the use of the district, or for the purchase
of any materials, machinery, or apparatus, such district shall
cause estimates of the cost thereof to be made by some competent
engineer or engineers and if such estimated cost shall exceed
the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) no such contract
shall be entered into for a price, cost or consideration
exceeding such estimate nor without advertising for sealed bids.
Prior to such advertisement, plans and specifications for the
proposed construction work or materials shall be prepared and
filed at the principal office or place of business of the
district. Such advertisement shall be inserted for three (3)
consecutive issues, with not less than twenty (20) days
intervening between the first and last publication dates, in one
(1) or more newspapers of general circulation in the district
and, in the discretion of the board of directors of the
district, in such additional newspapers or trade or technical
periodicals as may be selected by the board in order to give
proper notice of the receiving of bids. Such advertisement shall
designate the nature of the construction work proposed to be
done or materials proposed to be purchased; that the plans and
specifications therefor may be inspected at the office of the
district, giving the location thereof, and shall designate the
time within which bids shall be filed and the date, hour and
place the same shall be opened. The board of directors of the
district, with the assistance of the state engineer, whose duty
it shall be to supervise such lettings, may let the contract for
such work or materials to the lowest responsible bidder, or, in
the sole discretion of the board, all bids tendered may be
rejected and readvertisement for bids made in the manner, form
and time in this section provided. No such contract shall be
valid nor shall any money of the district be expended thereunder
unless advertisement and letting shall have been had as in this
section provided. Such contract shall provide that wherever
possible workmen who are citizens of Wyoming shall be employed
by the contractor. All provisions of W.S. 16-6-112 through 16-6-
115, with reference to contractor's bonds, shall be applicable
and effective as to any contract let pursuant to the provisions
of this act; provided further, that if all or a portion of the
cost of the proposed works is to be met by grant of labor or a
grant in aid from a federal or state agency, the rules and
regulations of which agency provide that work shall not be done
by contract, the board may proceed with the necessary
construction or other work without first complying with any of
the foregoing provisions of this section.