HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2743

875,000 to 924,999.99............................ 40,000

925,000 to 974,999.99............................ 45,000

975,000 to 1,000,000............................. 50,000

over 1,000,000.........................5% of the amount bid.

(f)  The bids shall be opened publicly at the time
specified in the notice. The Administration shall award the
contract for the work or for the supplies and materials
required for the project to the lowest responsible bidder,
unless, if permitted by law, the Administration determines
that the interests of this State will be served better by
awarding the contract to some other bidder.

(g)  (1) After the contract is awarded to the
successful bidder, the Administration shall return the
checks of the unsuccessful bidders to them.

(2) After execution of the contract and bond by
a successful bidder, the Administration shall return his
check to him.

(h) (1) Promptly after a competitively bid contract
is awarded, the successful bidder shall execute a formal
contract, to be approved as to its form, terms, and
conditions by the Administration, and execute and deliver to
the Administration a good and sufficient bond, to be
approved by the Administration, to the State of Maryland in
an amount equal at least to the amount of the contract
price. The Administration may not accept a bond unless the
obligors bind themselves to payment of all legally
enforceable debts for labor and materials incurred by the
bidder in the performance of the contracted for State
highway project.

(2) If any successful bidder fails to execute
promptly the contract and the bond for the completion of the
work as provided in the contract specifications, he forfeits
the contract and, as the case may be:

(i) The check that accompanied the bid
shall be forfeited, as liquidated damages and not as a
penalty; and

(ii) The bid bond is in default and the
surety is liable for the full amount of the damage sustained
by the Administration by reason of the bidder's failure to
execute promptly the bond for completion of the work.

(i) (1) This section does not apply to any county road
project in a county in which the Administration maintains
county roads, if:

(i) The Administration decides to
construct or improve any county road with its own forces out
of county funds, regardless of their source; and