Article 56. Maintenance Districts—improvement Act Of 1911 of California Public Contract Code >> Division 2. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 56.

The provisions of this article shall apply to contracts by maintenance districts as provided for in the Improvement Act of 1911 pursuant to Division 7 (commencing with Section 5000) of the Streets and Highways Code.

All contracts shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder. The board shall advertise for two or more days in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county, inviting bids for furnishing labor, material or supplies before any contract is made therefor. The board may require such bonds as it may deem adequate from the successful bidder to secure the faithful performance of the contract and the payment of all claims for labor and materials, and may reject any and all bids. In an emergency, work found by a four-fifths vote of the board to be necessary to protect life or property from impending flood damage may be done by negotiated contract without advertising for bids therefor.

A contract for installing, maintaining and servicing a system of lights in any maintenance district shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. However, the rates to be paid shall not exceed the lawful rates applicable for the particular class of service and when necessary shall be those authorized by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California. The contract for service shall be for a period not less than three years from and after the date electric energy and service is first delivered to the maintenance district pursuant to such contract and shall be extended automatically thereafter for successive terms of one year each; provided, that the agreement may be terminated by either party upon not less than 60 days' written notice prior to the expiration date of the original term or any extended term. The board of supervisors shall reserve the right to abrogate the contract whenever service is offered to be supplied at two-thirds of the fixed contract price.

All bids for construction work shall be presented under sealed cover and shall be accompanied by one of the following forms of bidder's security:
  (a) Cash.
  (b) A cashier's check made payable to the district.
  (c) A certified check made payable to the district.
  (d) A bidder's bond executed by an admitted surety insurer, made payable to the district. Upon an award to the lowest bidder, the security of an unsuccessful bidder shall be returned in a reasonable period of time, but in no event shall that security be held by the district beyond 60 days from the time the award is made.