(1) Any second-class city or any town may construct any public works, as defined in RCW 39.04.010, by contract or day labor without calling for bids therefor whenever the estimated cost of the work or improvement, including cost of materials, supplies and equipment will not exceed the sum of forty-five thousand dollars, or sixty thousand dollars after January 1, 2010, if more than one craft or trade is involved with the public works, or thirty thousand dollars, or forty thousand dollars after January 1, 2010, if a single craft or trade is involved with the public works or the public works project is street signalization or street lighting. A public works project means a complete project. The restrictions in this subsection do not permit the division of the project into units of work or classes of work to avoid the restriction on work that may be performed by day labor on a single project.

     Whenever the cost of the public work or improvement, including materials, supplies and equipment, will exceed these figures, the same shall be done by contract. All such contracts shall be let at public bidding upon publication of notice calling for sealed bids upon the work. The notice shall be published in the official newspaper, or a newspaper of general circulation most likely to bring responsive bids, at least thirteen days prior to the last date upon which bids will be received. The notice shall generally state the nature of the work to be done that plans and specifications therefor shall then be on file in the city or town hall for public inspections, and require that bids be sealed and filed with the council or commission within the time specified therein. Each bid shall be accompanied by a bid proposal deposit in the form of a cashier's check, postal money order, or surety bond to the council or commission for a sum of not less than five percent of the amount of the bid, and no bid shall be considered unless accompanied by such bid proposal deposit. The council or commission of the city or town shall let the contract to the lowest responsible bidder or shall have power by resolution to reject any or all bids and to make further calls for bids in the same manner as the original call.

     When the contract is let then all bid proposal deposits shall be returned to the bidders except that of the successful bidder which shall be retained until a contract is entered into and a bond to perform the work furnished, with surety satisfactory to the council or commission, in accordance with RCW 39.08.030. If the bidder fails to enter into the contract in accordance with his or her bid and furnish a bond within ten days from the date at which he or she is notified that he or she is the successful bidder, the check or postal money order and the amount thereof shall be forfeited to the council or commission or the council or commission shall recover the amount of the surety bond. A low bidder who claims error and fails to enter into a contract is prohibited from bidding on the same project if a second or subsequent call for bids is made for the project.

     If no bid is received on the first call the council or commission may readvertise and make a second call, or may enter into a contract without any further call or may purchase the supplies, material or equipment and perform the work or improvement by day labor.

     (2) The allocation of public works projects to be performed by city or town employees shall not be subject to a collective bargaining agreement.

     (3) In lieu of the procedures of subsection (1) of this section, a second-class city or a town may let contracts using the small works roster process provided in RCW 39.04.155.

     Whenever possible, the city or town shall invite at least one proposal from a minority or woman contractor who shall otherwise qualify under this section.

     (4) The form required by RCW 43.09.205 shall be to account and record costs of public works in excess of five thousand dollars that are not let by contract.

     (5) The cost of a separate public works project shall be the costs of the materials, equipment, supplies, and labor on that construction project.

     (6) Any purchase of supplies, material, or equipment, except for public work or improvement, where the cost thereof exceeds seven thousand five hundred dollars shall be made upon call for bids.

     (7) Bids shall be called annually and at a time and in the manner prescribed by ordinance for the publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town of all notices or newspaper publications required by law. The contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.

     (8) For advertisement and formal sealed bidding to be dispensed with as to purchases with an estimated value of fifteen thousand dollars or less, the council or commission must authorize by resolution, use of the uniform procedure provided in RCW 39.04.190.

     (9) The city or town legislative authority may waive the competitive bidding requirements of this section pursuant to RCW 39.04.280 if an exemption contained within that section applies to the purchase or public work.

     (10) This section does not apply to performance-based contracts, as defined in RCW 39.35A.020(4), that are negotiated under chapter 39.35A RCW.

     (11) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any second class city or any town from allowing for preferential purchase of products made from recycled materials or products that may be recycled or reused.

[2002 c 94 § 2; 2000 c 138 § 204; 1998 c 278 § 3; 1996 c 18 § 2. Prior: 1994 c 273 § 9; 1994 c 81 § 18; 1993 c 198 § 10; 1989 c 431 § 56; 1988 c 168 § 3; 1987 c 120 § 2; prior: 1985 c 469 § 24; 1985 c 219 § 2; 1985 c 169 § 7; 1979 ex.s. c 89 § 2; 1977 ex.s. c 41 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 74 § 2; 1965 c 114 § 1; 1965 c 7 § 35.23.352; prior: 1957 c 121 § 1; 1951 c 211 § 1; prior: (i) 1907 c 241 § 52; RRS § 9055. (ii) 1915 c 184 § 31; RRS § 9145. (iii) 1947 c 151 § 1; 1890 p 209 § 166; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 9185.]

NOTES:

     Purpose -- Part headings not law -- 2000 c 138: See notes following RCW 39.04.155.

     Severability -- 1989 c 431: See RCW 70.95.901.

Competitive bidding violations by municipal officer, penalties: RCW 39.30.020.

Subcontractors to be identified by bidder, when: RCW 39.30.060.