820                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 391

15.6—Oath of Office. An oath of office in such form as the com-
mission shall prescribe shall be taken, subscribed, and filed with the
commission by the executive director and by each officer appointed by
him not later than fifteen days after the appointment.

15.7—Bond. Each officer shall give such bond and in such form
and amount as the commission may require, for which the commis-
sion shall pay the premium.

15.8—Prohibited Activities.

(a) No commissioner, officer or employee shall:

1.   Be financially interested, either directly or indirectly, in any
contract, sale, purchase, lease, or transfer of real or personal prop-
erty to which the commission is a party;

2.   Solicit or accept money or any other thing of value in addition
to the compensation or expense paid him by the commission for
services performed within the scope of his official duties;

3.  Offer money or any thing of value for or in consideration of
obtaining an appointment, promotion, or privilege in his employment
with the commission.

(b) Any officer or employee who willfully violates any of the pro-
visions of this section shall forfeit his office or employment.

(c)  Any contract or agreement knowingly made in contravention
of this section is void.

(d)  Officers and employees of the commission shall be subject, in
addition to the provisions of this section, to such criminal and civil
sanctions for misconduct in office as may be imposed by Federal law
and the law of the signatory state in which such misconduct occurs.

15.9—Purchasing. Contracts for the construction, reconstruction
or improvement of any facility when the expenditure required ex-
ceeds ten thousand dollars, and contracts for the purchase of serv-
ices, supplies, equipment, and materials when the expenditure re-
quired exceeds five thousand dollars shall be advertised and let upon
sealed bids to the lowest responsible bidder. Notice requesting such
bids shall be published in a manner reasonably likely to attract
prospective bidders, which publication shall be made at least thirty
days before bids are received and in at least two newspapers of gen-
eral circulation in the basin. The commission may reject any and
all bids and readvertise in its discretion. If after rejecting bids the
commission determines and resolves that in its opinion the supplies,
equipment, and materials may be purchased at a lower price in the
open market, the commission may give each responsible bidder an
opportunity to negotiate a price and may proceed to purchase the
supplies, equipment, and materials in the open market at a nego-
tiated price which is lower than the lowest rejected bid of a re-
sponsible bidder, without further observance of the provisions re-
quiring bids or notice. The commission shall adopt rules and regu-
lations to provide for purchasing from the lowest responsible bidder
when sealed bids, notice, and publication are not required by this
section. The commission may suspend and waive the provisions of
this section requiring competitive bids whenever:

1. The purchase is to be made from or the contract to be made
with the Federal or any state government or any agency or political