HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                      3253

(5)  THE PREVIOUS AND CURRENT COMPLIANCE BY THE BIDDER
WITH LAWS AND ORDINANCES RELATING TO THE CONTRACT OR SERVICE;

(6)  WHETHER THE BIDDER IS IN ARREARS TO THE COUNTY ON
ANY DEBT OR CONTRACT, IS IN DEFAULT ON ANY SURETY TO THE COUNTY,
OR IS DELINQUENT AS TO ANY TAXES OR ASSESSMENTS; AND

(7)  ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE A BEARING ON
THE DECISION TO AWARD THE CONTRACT.

(D) IF A CONTRACT IS NOT AWARDED TO THE LOWEST BIDDER IN
PRICE, THE REASONS FOR THE DECISION SHALL BE STATED IN THE
MINUTES OF THE MEETING AT WHICH THE CONTRACT IS AWARDED.

6-102. EXCEPTIONS TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING.

THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF CONTRACTS MAY BE AWARDED WITHOUT
COMPLYING WITH THE BIDDING PROCEDURES OTHERWISE REQUIRED UNDER
THIS SUBTITLE:

(1)  PURCHASES OR CONTRACTS INVOLVING LESS THAN
$5,000;

(2)  PURCHASES OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH ONE SOURCE;

(3)  CONTRACTS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS THOSE
OF ATTORNEYS, PHYSICIANS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, ACCOUNTANTS,
CONSULTANTS, AND OTHERS POSSESSING A SIMILAR HIGH DEGREE OF
TECHNICAL SKILL AND EXPERTISE, PROVIDED THAT TO THE EXTENT
APPROPRIATE FOR THE PARTICULAR SERVICE TO BE PROVIDED, AN ATTEMPT
IS MADE TO SECURE COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR THESE SERVICES;

(4)  PURCHASES OR CONTRACTS MADE WHEN THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS DETERMINE THAT AN EMERGENCY EXISTS, PROVIDED THAT
THE COMMISSIONERS PUBLISH AN EXPLANATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE THE EMERGENCY IN AT LEAST 2 COUNTY
NEWSPAPERS; AND

(5)  PURCHASES BASED ON STATE, COUNTY, OR MUNICIPAL
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED BY A LEGAL COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

6-103. MULTIYEAR CONTRACTS.

WHEN IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE COUNTY TO DO SO, THE COUNTY
MAY CONTRACT TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES FOR PERIODS OF MORE
THAN 1 YEAR IF:

(1)  FUNDS FOR THE TOTAL COST OF THE CONTRACT ARE
AVAILABLE AT THE TIME THE CONTRACT IS EXECUTED; OR

(2)  A CONTRACT REQUIRING THE PAYMENT OF FUNDS FROM
APPROPRIATIONS    OF MORE THAN 1 FISCAL YEAR IS APPROVED BY
RESOLUTION OF    THE COMMISSIONERS, AND IS NOT FOR MORE THAN A
3-YEAR TERM.