3252

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 715

YEAR. THE REPORT SHALL CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE
COMMISSIONERS AND BE EXECUTED IN A MANNER THAT GIVES THE CITIZENS
OF THE COUNTY AN INTELLIGENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE REVENUES AND
EXPENDITURES OF THE COUNTY. THE MANAGEMENT LETTER AND REPORT
SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AND COPIES SHALL BE MADE
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT OR BELOW COST. THE AUDITOR SHALL
PREPARE A SUMMARY OF THE REPORT WHICH SHALL BE PUBLISHED IN AT
LEAST 1 COUNTY NEWSPAPER WITHIN A MONTH AFTER THE REPORT IS
RECEIVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS.

5-304. ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.

UPON RECOMMENDATION BY THE AUDITOR, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MAY REQUIRE THE USE OF ANY SYSTEM OF BOOKKEEPING OR ACCOUNTING BY
THE OFFICIALS SUBJECT TO AN AUDIT UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.

TITLE 6. CONTRACTS AND PURCHASING.

SUBTITLE 1. CONTRACTS.

6-101. COMPETITIVE BIDDING.

(A)  EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS TITLE, CONTRACTS
FOR THE PURCHASE BY THE COUNTY OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES INVOLVING
$5,000 OR MORE SHALL BE BY FORMAL BIDDING PROCEDURES AND THE
CONTRACT SHALL BE AWARDED AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE
COMMISSIONERS TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER MEETING
SPECIFICATIONS. A CONTRACT MAY NOT BE SUBDIVIDED TO AVOID THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.

(B)  THE COMMISSIONERS SHALL INVITE PROPOSALS FOR ALL
CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION BY PUBLISHING A NOTICE IN AT
LEAST 2 COUNTY NEWSPAPERS FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. THE NOTICE
SHALL STATE THAT IN NOT LESS THAN 3 WEEKS THE COMMISSIONERS WILL
MEET IN PUBLIC SESSION TO RECEIVE BIDS FOR THE DESCRIBED PURCHASE
OR CONTRACT, STATE THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE MEETING, AND RESERVE
THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS.

(C)  IN DETERMINING THE "LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER", IN
ADDITION TO CONSIDERING PRICE, THE COMMISSIONERS OR THE OFFICIAL
AUTHORIZED TO CONTRACT FOR THE COUNTY SHALL CONSIDER:

(1)  THE ABILITY, CAPACITY, AND SKILL OF THE BIDDER TO
PERFORM THE CONTRACT OR PROVIDE THE SERVICE REQUIRED;

(2)  WHETHER THE BIDDER CAN PERFORM THE CONTRACT OR
PROVIDE THE SERVICE PROMPTLY, OR WITHIN THE TIME SPECIFIED,
WITHOUT DELAY OR INTERFERENCE;

(3)  THE CHARACTER, INTEGRITY, REPUTATION, JUDGMENT,
EXPERIENCE, AND EFFICIENCY OF THE BIDDER;

(4)  THE QUALITY OF PERFORMANCE OF PREVIOUS CONTRACTS
OR SERVICES;