PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 38

Article 25 - County Commissioners

3.

(a) (1) The county commissioners of each county in this State, in addition to,
but not in substitution of, the powers which have been or may be granted them, have the
following express powers.

To provide for competitive bidding for any county work and the making
and awarding of contracts for the purchase of materials and supplies in excess of $15,000
and to require bonds in connection with the work or contracts, regardless of the amount,
whenever the County Commissioners consider it proper to require a bond; and if no bids
are submitted in response to any request for bids, to place the order in a manner that the
County Commissioners consider appropriate.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection are not applicable in
Somerset County with regard solely to contracting for the services of an architectural
and/or engineering firm for design and/or consultation purposes. With regard to
contracting for other county work these provisions are applicable.

(3) The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection are not applicable in
Frederick County with regard solely to contracting for the services of an architectural,
engineering, or consultant firm for design or consultation purposes. In Frederick County,
contracts for architectural and engineering services costing more than $15,000, shall be
awarded on a competitive basis which shall consist of either sealed competitive bids or
competitive negotiation. "Competitive negotiation" means a process that includes the
submission of written technical and price proposals from two or more sources and a
written evaluation of those proposals in accordance with evaluation criteria.

(4) The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection are not applicable in
Charles County with regard to contracting for any professional services.

(1-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to paragraphs
(2) and (3) of this subsection, in Somerset County the County Commissioners may enter
into lease-purchase agreements and related financing agreements to obtain personal or
real property for any public purpose in the County;

(2) The County Commissioners may enter into a lease purchase agreement
under this subsection only after advertising for bids in at least 2 newspapers of general
circulation in the County.

(3) A multiyear lease purchase agreement or related financing agreement
shall be subject to cancellation by the County Commissioners at the end of a fiscal year if
sufficient money is not appropriated to fund the agreement in the subsequent year.

(L-2) (1) IN CALVERT COUNTY, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MAY CHARGE A FEE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF TAX EXEMPT PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS.

(2) THE BOARD SHALL DEDICATE THE PROCEEDS OF THE FEE TO THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND OF THE COUNTY.

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