§4084. Purchase of supplies; machinery and equipment; emergency purchase; preference to home merchants

            A.(1)(a) All purchases of materials or supplies required by the board for the conduct, operation, maintenance, and repair of the public systems of sewerage, water, and drainage exceeding the sum of thirty thousand dollars shall be advertised and let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder who has bid according to the contract plans and specifications as advertised.

            (b) However, purchases of ten thousand dollars or more, but not more than thirty thousand dollars, shall be made by obtaining not less than three quotes by telephone, facsimile, email, or any other electronic form. If telephone quotes are received, a written confirmation of the accepted offers shall be obtained and made a part of the purchase file. If quotations lower than the accepted quotation are received, the reasons for their rejection shall be recorded in the purchase file.

            (c) No such purchases shall be made except as provided in this Part.

            (2) The advertisement required by this Section shall be in accordance with R.S. 38:2212.1(B).

            B. Contracts for materials and supplies amounting to less than ten thousand dollars shall not be advertised unless the board deems it advisable. In all cases the board may reject all bids and advertise for new bids.

            C. In the event of an emergency the executive director or the general superintendent of the board may, with the written consent of the president pro tempore of the board or the mayor of the city, contract a bill for such supplies and materials, not exceeding ten thousand dollars in amount. However, all bills so contracted shall be reported, with the reasons for the emergency, to the board at its next meeting.

            D. All contracts for repair or renewal work not executed by the regular employees of the board and exceeding ten thousand dollars in amount shall be advertised and let to the lowest responsible bidder as provided in R.S. 33:4084(A). The board shall have the same right to reject bids as provided in R.S. 33:4084(B).

            E. In the event of extreme emergencies, or an imminent extreme emergency, including but not limited to fires, storms, floods, and other disasters, whether natural or man-made, necessitating major repairs or replacement of equipment and machinery, the executive director or the general superintendent of the board may purchase the necessary machinery, equipment, and materials and furnish the necessary labor to make all necessary emergency repairs and replacements without the formality of advertising for bids. Such purchases may be made without limitation as to cost and without regard as to the designation or source of the funds collected, invested, or maintained by the board.

            Amended by Acts 1952, No. 262, §5; Acts 1972, No. 8, §1; Acts 1973, No. 120, §1; Acts 1978, No. 411, §1; Acts 1984, No. 169, §1, eff. June 25, 1984; Acts 1995, No. 468, §1; Acts 1995, No. 469, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 126, §1, eff. May 5, 1998; Acts 2005, No. 289, §1, eff. June 29, 2005; Acts 2010, No. 435, §1, eff. June 22, 2010; Acts 2020, No. 227, §1, eff. June 11, 2020.