1068                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                             [Ch. 4

IMPROVEMENT OF ANY FACILITY AND EVERY CONTRACT IN
EXCESS OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000.00) FOR THE
PURCHASE OF SERVICES, SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT AND
MATERIALS SHALL BE ADVERTISED AND LET UPON SEALED BIDS
TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. NOTICE REQUESTING
SUCH BIDS SHALL BE PUBLISHED AT LEAST TEN (10) DAYS
BEFORE BIDS ARE TO BE RECEIVED, IN A MANNER REASONABLY
LIKELY TO ATTRACT PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS. THE NOTICE
SHALL STATE THE PLACE WHERE BIDDERS MAY EXAMINE THE
SPECIFICATIONS AND OTHER CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, AND THE
TIME AND PLACE WHEN BIDS WILL BE OPENED.

(B)    EACH BIDDER ON A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION,
RECONSTRUCTION OR IMPROVEMENT OF A FACILITY SHALL
ACCOMPANY HIS BID WITH A CORPORATE SURETY BOND, OR A
CERTIFIED CHECK PAYABLE TO THE COMMISSION, FOR A
REASONABLE SUM TO BE FIXED BY THE COMMISSION, AS A
GUARANTEE THAT, IF THE CONTRACT IS AWARDED TO HIM, HE
WILL ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE COMMISSION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF HIS BID.

(C)   IN ITS DISCRETION THE COMMISSION MAY ACCEPT
OR REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS AND MAY READVERTISE, BUT
NOTHING IN THIS COMPACT SHALL PROHIBIT THE COMMISSION
FROM NEGOTIATING A LOWER PRICE WITH THE LOWEST
RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. IF ALL BIDS ARE "REJECTED, THE
COMMISSION MAY PROCURE THE WORK, SERVICES, SUPPLIES,
EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS IN SUCH MANNER AS THE
COMMISSION, PURSUANT TO RULES OR REGULATIONS
THERETOFORE ADOPTED BY IT, MAY DETERMINE; PROVIDED,
THAT IT MAY NOT PAY MORE THAN THE AMOUNT BID BY THE
LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER WHOSE BID WAS REJECTED.

(D)   PRIOR TO ENTERING INTO ANY CONTRACT IN
EXCESS OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000.00) THE
CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE A BOND WITH CORPORATE SURETY,
PAYABLE TO THE COMMISSION IN SUCH FORM AND PENAL SUM
AS THE COMMISSION MAY DETERMINE, CONDITIONED UPON THE
FAITHFUL PERFORMANCE OF THE CONTRACT IN STRICT
CONFORMITY WITH ITS TERMS, AND THE COMMISSION MAY
REQUIRE SUCH BONDS FOR CONTRACTS OF FIVE THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($5,000.00) OR LESS.

(E)     THE COMMISSION SHALL ADOPT RULES AND
REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR CONTRACTING AND PURCHASING
WHEN SEALED BIDS, NOTICE AND PUBLICATION ARE NOT
REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION AND MAY ADOPT SUCH ADDITIONAL
RULES AND REGULATIONS AS IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE TO
EFFECTUATE THIS SECTION.

(F)    THE COMMISSION MAY SUSPEND AND WAIVE THE