To amend sections 9.48, 125.04, 307.86, 505.10, 505.37, 505.376, 511.12, 515.01, 731.14, 971.07, and 3313.46 and to enact section 307.862 of the Revised Code to allow a county contracting authority to use competitive sealed proposals instead of competitive sealed bidding when doing so would be advantageous to the county, to modify provisions concerning a county contracting authority's purchase of certain insurance policies or health care plans, to extend the current county and township joint purchasing authority to other political subdivisions and exempt county participants from competitive bidding requirements, to authorize boards of education to forgo the second newspaper publication of bid advertisement in lieu of an internet web site posting, and to change notice requirements for other local government purposes.
SECTION 1. That sections 9.48, 125.04, 307.86, 505.10, 505.37, 505.376, 511.12, 515.01, 731.14, 971.07, and 3313.46 be amended and section 307.862 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 9.48. (A) As used in this section, "political subdivision" has the same meaning as in section 2744.01 of the Revised Code and includes a county hospital as defined in section 339.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) A county or township political subdivision may do any of
the following:
(1) Permit one or more other
counties or townships political
subdivisions to participate in contracts into which it
has entered
for the acquisition of equipment, materials,
supplies, or
services, and may charge such participating
counties or townships
political subdivisions a reasonable fee to cover any additional
costs
incurred as a result of their participation;
(2) Participate in a joint purchasing program operated by or
through
a
national or state association of political subdivisions
in which the
purchasing county or township political subdivision
is eligible for membership.
(3) Participate in contract offerings from the federal
government that are available to a county or township political
subdivision including, but not limited to, contract offerings from
the general services administration.
(B)(C) Acquisition by a
county or township political
subdivision of equipment, material, supplies, or
services, through
participation in a contract of another
county or township
political subdivision or participation in an association program
under division (A)(B)(1) or (2) of this
section, is exempt from
any
competitive selection requirements otherwise required by law,
if
the contract in which it is participating was awarded pursuant
to a publicly solicited request for a proposal or a competitive
selection procedure of another political subdivision within this
state or in another state. Acquisition by a county or township
political subdivision of equipment, materials, supplies, or
services pursuant to division (A)(B)(3) of this section is exempt
from any competitive selection requirements otherwise required by
law.
No county or township political subdivision shall acquire
equipment, materials, supplies, or
services by participating in a
contract under this section if it has
received bids for such
acquisition, unless its participation
enables it to make the
acquisition upon the same terms,
conditions, and specifications at
a lower price.
(C)(D) A county or township political subdivision that is
eligible to participate in a joint purchasing program operated by
or through a national or state association of political
subdivisions in which the purchasing county or township political
subdivision is eligible for membership may purchase supplies or
services
from another party, including another political
subdivision, instead of
through participation in contracts
authorized by division (A)(B)(2) of
this section if the county or
township political subdivision can purchase those
supplies or
services from the other party upon equivalent terms,
conditions,
and specifications but at a lower price than it can
through those
contracts. Purchases that a county or township political
subdivision
makes under this division are exempt from any
competitive
selection procedures otherwise required by law. A
county or township political subdivision that makes any purchase
under this division shall
maintain sufficient information
regarding the
purchase to verify that the
county or township it
satisfied the conditions for making a
purchase under this
division. Nothing in this division restricts any action
taken by a
county or township political subdivision
as authorized by division
(A)(B)(1) of this section.
(E) The authorization granted to a municipal corporation under this section shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the powers and authority granted by state law, the Ohio Constitution, and the provisions of a municipal charter, ordinance, or resolution.
Sec. 125.04. (A) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, the department of administrative services shall determine what supplies and services are purchased by or for state agencies. Whenever the department of administrative services makes any change or addition to the lists of supplies and services that it determines to purchase for state agencies, it shall provide a list to the agencies of the changes or additions and indicate when the department will be prepared to furnish each item listed. Except for the requirements of division (B) of section 125.11 of the Revised Code, sections 125.04 to 125.08 and 125.09 to 125.15 of the Revised Code do not apply to or affect the educational institutions of the state. The department shall not include the bureau of workers' compensation in the lists of supplies, equipment, and services purchased and furnished by the department.
Nothing in this division precludes the bureau from entering into a contract with the department for the department to perform services relative to supplies, equipment, and services contained in this division for the bureau.
(B)(1) As used in this division:
(a) "Emergency medical service organization" has the same meaning as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.
(b) "Political subdivision" means any county, township, municipal corporation, school district, conservancy district, township park district, park district created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, regional transit authority, regional airport authority, regional water and sewer district, or port authority. "Political subdivision" also includes any other political subdivision described in the Revised Code that has been approved by the department to participate in the department's contracts under this division.
(c) "Private fire company" has the same meaning as in section 9.60 of the Revised Code.
(2) Subject to division (C) of this section, the department of administrative services may permit a political subdivision, county board of elections, private fire company, or private, nonprofit emergency medical service organization to participate in contracts into which the department has entered for the purchase of supplies and services. The department may charge the entity a reasonable fee to cover the administrative costs the department incurs as a result of participation by the entity in such a purchase contract.
A political subdivision desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a certified copy of an ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority or governing board of the political subdivision. The resolution or ordinance shall request that the political subdivision be authorized to participate in such contracts and shall agree that the political subdivision will be bound by such terms and conditions as the department prescribes and that it will directly pay the vendor under each purchase contract. A board of elections desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the purchasing authority a written request for inclusion in the program. A private fire company or private, nonprofit emergency medical service organization desiring to participate in such purchase contracts shall file with the department a written request for inclusion in the program signed by the chief officer of the company or organization. A request for inclusion shall include an agreement to be bound by such terms and conditions as the department prescribes and to make direct payments to the vendor under each purchase contract.
The department shall include in its annual report an estimate of the cost it incurs by permitting political subdivisions, county boards of elections, private fire companies, and private, nonprofit emergency medical service organizations to participate in contracts pursuant to this division. The department may require such entities to file a report with the department, as often as it finds necessary, stating how many such contracts the entities participated in within a specified period of time, and any other information the department requires.
(3) Purchases made by a political subdivision or a county board of elections under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. No political subdivision shall make any purchase under this division when bids have been received for such purchase by the subdivision, unless such purchase can be made upon the same terms, conditions, and specifications at a lower price under this division.
(C) A political subdivision as defined in division (B) of
this
section or a county board of elections may purchase supplies
or services
from another party, including a political
subdivision, instead of
through participation in contracts
described in division (B) of
this section if the political
subdivision or county board of elections can purchase those
supplies or services from the other party upon equivalent terms,
conditions, and specifications but at a lower price than it can
through those contracts. Purchases that a political subdivision or
county board of elections
makes under this division are exempt
from any competitive
selection procedures otherwise required by
law. A political
subdivision or county board of elections that
makes any purchase under this division shall
maintain sufficient
information regarding the
purchase to verify that the
political
subdivision or county board of elections satisfied the conditions
for making a
purchase under this division. Nothing in this
division restricts any action
taken by a county or township
as
authorized by division (A)(B)(1) of section 9.48 of the Revised
Code.
(D) This section does not apply to supplies or services required by the legislative or judicial branches, the capitol square review and advisory board, the adjutant general, to supplies or services purchased by a state agency directly as provided in division (A) or (E) of section 125.05 of the Revised Code, to purchases of supplies or services for the emergency management agency as provided in section 125.023 of the Revised Code, or to purchases of supplies or services for the department of rehabilitation and correction in its operation of the program for the employment of prisoners established under section 5145.16 of the Revised Code that shall be made pursuant to rules adopted by the director of administrative services and the director of rehabilitation and correction in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The rules may provide for the exemption of the program for the employment of prisoners from the requirements of division (A) of this section.
Sec. 307.86. Anything to be purchased, leased, leased with an option or agreement to purchase, or constructed, including, but not limited to, any product, structure, construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, repair, or service, except the services of an accountant, architect, attorney at law, physician, professional engineer, construction project manager, consultant, surveyor, or appraiser, by or on behalf of the county or contracting authority, as defined in section 307.92 of the Revised Code, at a cost in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars, except as otherwise provided in division (D) of section 713.23 and in sections 9.48, 125.04, 125.60 to 125.6012, 307.022, 307.041, 307.861, 339.05, 340.03, 340.033, 4115.31 to 4115.35, 5119.16, 5513.01, 5543.19, 5713.01, and 6137.05 of the Revised Code, shall be obtained through competitive bidding. However, competitive bidding is not required when any of the following applies:
(A) The board of county commissioners, by a unanimous vote of its members, makes a determination that a real and present emergency exists, and that determination and the reasons for it are entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the board, when either of the following applies:
(1) The estimated cost is less than fifty thousand dollars.
(2) There is actual physical disaster to structures, radio communications equipment, or computers.
For purposes of this division, "unanimous vote" means all three members of a board of county commissioners when all three members are present, or two members of the board if only two members, constituting a quorum, are present.
Whenever a contract of purchase, lease, or construction is exempted from competitive bidding under division (A)(1) of this section because the estimated cost is less than fifty thousand dollars, but the estimated cost is twenty-five thousand dollars or more, the county or contracting authority shall solicit informal estimates from no fewer than three persons who could perform the contract, before awarding the contract. With regard to each such contract, the county or contracting authority shall maintain a record of such estimates, including the name of each person from whom an estimate is solicited. The county or contracting authority shall maintain the record for the longer of at least one year after the contract is awarded or the amount of time the federal government requires.
(B)(1) The purchase consists of supplies or a replacement or supplemental part or parts for a product or equipment owned or leased by the county, and the only source of supply for the supplies, part, or parts is limited to a single supplier.
(2) The purchase consists of services related to information technology, such as programming services, that are proprietary or limited to a single source.
(C) The purchase is from the federal government, the state, another county or contracting authority of another county, or a board of education, township, or municipal corporation.
(D) The purchase is made by a county department of job and family services under section 329.04 of the Revised Code and consists of family services duties or workforce development activities or is made by a county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities under section 5126.05 of the Revised Code and consists of program services, such as direct and ancillary client services, child care, case management services, residential services, and family resource services.
(E) The purchase consists of criminal justice services, social services programs, family services, or workforce development activities by the board of county commissioners from nonprofit corporations or associations under programs funded by the federal government or by state grants.
(F) The purchase consists of any form of an insurance
policy
or contract authorized to be issued under Title XXXIX of
the
Revised Code or any form of health care plan
authorized to be
issued under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code, or any
combination
of such policies,
contracts, or plans, or services that the
contracting
authority is authorized
to purchase, and the
contracting authority
does all of the
following:
(1) Determines that compliance with the requirements of this section would increase, rather than decrease, the cost of the purchase;
(2) Employs a competent consultant to assist the
contracting
authority in procuring appropriate coverages at the
best and
lowest prices;
(3) Requests issuers of
the policies, contracts, or
plans, or
services
to
submit proposals to the contracting authority, in a
form
prescribed by the contracting authority, setting forth the
coverage and cost of
the policies, contracts, or plans, or
services as the
contracting authority desires to purchase;
(4)(3) Negotiates with
the issuers for the purpose of
purchasing
the policies, contracts, or plans, or services at the
best and
lowest price
reasonably possible.
(G) The purchase consists of computer hardware, software, or consulting services that are necessary to implement a computerized case management automation project administered by the Ohio prosecuting attorneys association and funded by a grant from the federal government.
(H) Child care services are purchased for provision to county employees.
(I)(1) Property, including land, buildings, and other real property, is leased for offices, storage, parking, or other purposes, and all of the following apply:
(a) The contracting authority is authorized by the Revised Code to lease the property.
(b) The contracting authority develops requests for proposals for leasing the property, specifying the criteria that will be considered prior to leasing the property, including the desired size and geographic location of the property.
(c) The contracting authority receives responses from prospective lessors with property meeting the criteria specified in the requests for proposals by giving notice in a manner substantially similar to the procedures established for giving notice under section 307.87 of the Revised Code.
(d) The contracting authority negotiates with the prospective lessors to obtain a lease at the best and lowest price reasonably possible considering the fair market value of the property and any relocation and operational costs that may be incurred during the period the lease is in effect.
(2) The contracting authority may use the services of a real estate appraiser to obtain advice, consultations, or other recommendations regarding the lease of property under this division.
(J) The purchase is made pursuant to section 5139.34 or sections 5139.41 to 5139.46 of the Revised Code and is of programs or services that provide case management, treatment, or prevention services to any felony or misdemeanant delinquent, unruly youth, or status offender under the supervision of the juvenile court, including, but not limited to, community residential care, day treatment, services to children in their home, or electronic monitoring.
(K) The purchase is made by a public children services agency pursuant to section 307.92 or 5153.16 of the Revised Code and consists of family services, programs, or ancillary services that provide case management, prevention, or treatment services for children at risk of being or alleged to be abused, neglected, or dependent children.
(L) The purchase is to obtain the services of emergency medical service organizations under a contract made by the board of county commissioners pursuant to section 307.05 of the Revised Code with a joint emergency medical services district.
(M) The county contracting authority determines that the use of competitive sealed proposals would be advantageous to the county and the contracting authority complies with section 307.862 of the Revised Code.
Any issuer of policies, contracts, or plans, or services
listed in
division (F) of this section and any prospective lessor
under
division (I) of
this section may have the issuer's or
prospective
lessor's
name and address, or the name and address
of
an agent,
placed on a special
notification list to be kept by the
contracting authority, by
sending the contracting authority
that
name and address. The
contracting authority shall send
notice to
all persons listed on
the special notification list.
Notices shall
state the deadline
and place for submitting
proposals. The
contracting authority
shall mail the notices at
least six weeks
prior to the deadline
set by the contracting
authority for
submitting proposals.
Every five years the
contracting authority
may review this list
and remove any person
from the list after
mailing the person
notification of
that
action.
Any contracting authority that negotiates a contract under
division (F) of this section shall request proposals and
renegotiate negotiate with issuers in accordance with that
division at
least
every three years from the date of the signing
of such a
contract, unless the parties agree upon terms for
extensions or renewals of the contract. Such extension or renewal
periods shall not exceed six years from the date the initial
contract is signed.
Any consultant employed pursuant to division (F) of this
section and any real estate appraiser employed pursuant to
division (I) of
this section shall disclose any fees or
compensation received from any
source in connection with that
employment.
Sec. 307.862. (A) When a county contracting authority uses competitive sealed proposals pursuant to section 307.86 of the Revised Code, the county contracting authority shall do all of the following:
(1) Develop factors and criteria to evaluate each proposal, specify the relative importance of each factor or criterion in writing, and describe the evaluation procedures the contracting authority shall follow when awarding a contract to an offeror.
(2) Solicit competitive sealed proposals through a request for proposals;
(3) Include, at a minimum, all of the information described in division (B) of this section in the request for proposals;
(4) Give notice of the request for proposals in the same manner that notice must be given for competitive bidding pursuant to section 307.87 of the Revised Code;
(5) Open proposals that the contracting authority receives in a manner that prevents the disclosure of contents of competing offers to competing offerors;
(6) Rank each proposal using the factors and criteria the contracting authority develops pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section;
(7) If necessary, conduct discussions with offerors for the purpose of ensuring full understanding of, and responsiveness to, the requirements specified in the request for proposals, and accord fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion with offerors to provide any clarification, correction, or revision of proposals;
(8) If the contracting authority determines that discussions described in division (A)(7) of this section are necessary, avoid disclosing any information derived from proposals submitted by competing offerors during those discussions;
(9) Negotiate with the offeror who submits the proposal that the contracting authority determines is the most advantageous to the county based on the rankings performed by the contracting authority pursuant to division (A)(6) of this section and including any adjustment to those rankings based on discussions conducted pursuant to division (A)(7) of this section;
(10) Conduct negotiations with only one offeror at a time;
(11) Except as provided in division (F) of this section, award a contract in accordance with division (E) of this section.
(B) A contracting authority shall include, at a minimum, all of the following information in the contracting authority's request for proposals:
(1) The name and address of the department, office, institution, board, or commission that is requesting to purchase supplies, services, or both;
(2) Instructions for offerors to follow when submitting proposals;
(3) Instructions governing communications between an offeror and the contracting authority, including, but not limited to, the name, title, and telephone number of the person to whom questions concerning the request for proposals should be directed;
(4) A description of the scope of work that the contracting authority requests an offeror to perform or supplies the contracting authority plans to purchase;
(5) To the extent possible, a description of the performance criteria the contracting authority shall require an offeror to satisfy, including but not limited to, the quantity of the supplies, services, or both, to be purchased; the requirements the contracting authority shall follow for inspection and acceptance of the supplies, services, or both; and the delivery schedule for each such supply or service;
(6) The factors and criteria the contracting authority shall consider in evaluating proposals received;
(7) Any terms and conditions that the contracting authority is required by law to include in the contract the contracting authority awards, including any requirement for a bond and the amount required for that bond;
(8) The date and time by which, and the place to which an offeror must deliver the offeror's proposal to the contracting authority in order to be considered for the contract;
(9) A list of any documents that the contracting authority incorporates by reference in the request for proposals, provided that the contracting authority specifies in the request for proposals that the documents are readily available to all offerors and the location where an offeror may obtain those documents;
(10) A statement that includes all of the following information:
(a) That the contracting authority reserves the right to reject any proposal in which the offeror takes exception to the terms and conditions of the request for proposals; fails to meet the terms and conditions of the request for proposals, including but not limited to, the standards, specifications, and requirements specified in the request for proposals; or submits prices that the contracting authority considers to be excessive, compared to existing market conditions, or determines exceed the available funds of the contracting authority;
(b) That the contracting authority reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposal that the county contracting authority has determined, using the factors and criteria the contracting authority develops pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section, would not be in the best interest of the county;
(c) That the contracting authority may conduct discussions with offerors who submit proposals for the purpose of clarifications or corrections regarding a proposal to ensure full understanding of, and responsiveness to, the requirements specified in the request for proposals.
(11) Information concerning any potential partial or multiple party awards that the contracting authority may include in the contract, and a description of the supplies, services, or both that may be subject to a partial award or multiple awards;
(12) Any additional information the contracting authority considers necessary for its purposes in determining to whom to award the contract.
(C) In order to ensure fair and impartial evaluation, proposals and any documents or other records related to a subsequent negotiation for a final contract that would otherwise be available for public inspection and copying under section 149.43 of the Revised Code shall not be available until after the award of the contract.
(D) An offeror may withdraw the offeror's proposal at any time prior to the award of a contract. A contracting authority may terminate negotiations with an offeror at any time during the negotiation process if the offeror fails to provide the necessary information for negotiations in a timely manner or fails to negotiate in good faith. If the contracting authority terminates negotiations with an offeror, the contracting authority shall negotiate with the offeror whose proposal is ranked the next most advantageous to the county according to the factors and criteria developed pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section.
(E) A county contracting authority may award a contract to the offeror whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous to the county, taking into consideration the evaluation factors and criteria developed pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section and set forth in the request for proposals. A contracting authority may award a contract in whole or in part to one or more offerors. The contracting authority shall include a written statement in the contract file stating the basis on which the award is made.
The contracting authority shall send a written notice to the offeror to whom it wishes to award the contract and shall make that notice available to the public. Within a reasonable time period after the award is made, the contracting authority shall notify all other offerors that the contract has been awarded to another offeror.
(F) A contracting authority may cancel or reissue a request for proposals if any of the following apply:
(1) The supplies or services offered through all of the proposals submitted to the contracting authority are not in compliance with the requirements, specifications, and terms and conditions set forth in the request for proposals;
(2) The prices submitted by the offerors are excessive compared to existing market conditions or exceed the available funds of the contracting authority;
(3) The contracting authority determines that award of a contract would not be in the best interest of the county.
(G) A county contracting authority shall not use competitive sealed proposals for contracts for construction, design, demolition, alteration, repair, or reconstruction of a building, highway, drainage system, water system, road, street, alley, sewer, ditch, sewage disposal plant, waterworks, and all other structures or works of any nature by a county contracting authority.
Sec. 505.10. (A) The board of township trustees may accept, on behalf of the township, the donation by bequest, devise, deed of gift, or otherwise, of any real or personal property for any township use. When the township has property, including motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, and tools, which the board, by resolution, finds is not needed for public use, is obsolete, or is unfit for the use for which it was acquired, the board may sell and convey that property or otherwise dispose of it in accordance with this section. Except as otherwise provided in sections 505.08, 505.101, and 505.102 of the Revised Code, the sale or other disposition of unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use property shall be made in accordance with one of the following:
(1) If the fair market value of
property to be sold
is,
in
the opinion of the board, in excess of two thousand five
hundred
dollars, the
sale shall be by public auction or by sealed bid to
the highest bidder. The
board
shall publish notice of the time,
place, and
manner of the
sale
once a week for three two weeks in a
newspaper
published, or of
general circulation, in the township,
the
last
of
those
publications to be at least five days
before
the
date of
sale, and
shall post a typewritten or printed
notice
of
the time,
place, and
manner of the sale in the office of
the
board
for at least ten
days
prior to the sale. The board may
also cause
notice to be inserted in trade papers or other
publications
designated by it or to be distributed by electronic
means,
including posting the notice on the board's internet web
site. If
the board posts the notice on its web site, it may
eliminate the
second notice otherwise required to be published in
a newspaper
published or of general circulation in the township,
provided
that the first notice published in such newspaper meets
all of
the following requirements:
(a) It is published at least two weeks before the sale of the property.
(b) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the board's internet web site.
(c) It includes the internet address of the board's internet web site.
(d) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the board's internet web site.
If the board conducts the sale of the property by sealed bid, the form of the bid shall be as prescribed by the board, and each bid shall contain the name of the person submitting it. Bids received shall be opened and tabulated at the time stated in the published and posted notices. The property shall be sold to the highest bidder, except that the board may reject all bids and hold another sale, by public auction or sealed bid, in the manner prescribed by this section.
(2) If the fair market value of property to be sold is, in the opinion of the board, two thousand five hundred dollars or less, the board may do either of the following:
(a) Sell the property by private sale, without advertisement or public notification;
(b) Donate the property to an eligible nonprofit organization that is located in this state and is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 501(a) and (c)(3). Before donating any property under this division, the board shall adopt a resolution expressing its intent to make unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use township property available to these organizations. The resolution shall include guidelines and procedures the board considers to be necessary to implement the donation program and shall indicate whether the township will conduct the donation program or the board will contract with a representative to conduct it. If a representative is known when the resolution is adopted, the resolution shall provide contact information such as the representative's name, address, and telephone number.
The resolution shall include within its procedures a requirement that any nonprofit organization desiring to obtain donated property under this division shall submit a written notice to the board or its representative. The written notice shall include evidence that the organization is a nonprofit organization that is located in this state and is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 501(a) and (c)(3); a description of the organization's primary purpose; a description of the type or types of property the organization needs; and the name, address, and telephone number of a person designated by the organization's governing board to receive donated property and to serve as its agent.
After adoption of the resolution, the board shall publish, in
a newspaper of general circulation in the township, notice of its
intent to donate unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use township
property to eligible nonprofit organizations. The notice shall
include a summary of the information provided in the resolution
and shall be published at least twice. The second and any
subsequent notice shall be published not less than ten nor more
than twenty days after the previous notice. A similar notice also
shall be posted continually in the board's office, and, if the
township maintains a web site on the internet, the notice shall be
posted continually at that web site. The board may
also cause
notice to be inserted in trade papers or other
publications
designated by it or to be distributed by electronic
means,
including posting the notice on the board's internet web
site. If
the board posts the notice on its web site, it may
eliminate the
second notice otherwise required to be published in
a newspaper
of general circulation in the township,
provided that the first
notice published in such newspaper meets
all of the following
requirements:
(i) It is published at least two weeks before the donation of the property.
(ii) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the board's internet web site.
(iii) It includes the internet address of the board's internet web site.
(iv) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the board's internet web site.
The board or its representatives shall maintain a list of all nonprofit organizations that notify the board or its representative of their desire to obtain donated property under this division and that the board or its representative determines to be eligible, in accordance with the requirements set forth in this section and in the donation program's guidelines and procedures, to receive donated property.
The board or its representative also shall maintain a list of all township property the board finds to be unneeded, obsolete, or unfit for use and to be available for donation under this division. The list shall be posted continually in a conspicuous location in the board's office, and, if the township maintains a web site on the internet, the list shall be posted continually at that web site. An item of property on the list shall be donated to the eligible nonprofit organization that first declares to the board or its representative its desire to obtain the item unless the board previously has established, by resolution, a list of eligible nonprofit organizations that shall be given priority with respect to the item's donation. Priority may be given on the basis that the purposes of a nonprofit organization have a direct relationship to specific public purposes of programs provided or administered by the board. A resolution giving priority to certain nonprofit organizations with respect to the donation of an item of property shall specify the reasons why the organizations are given that priority.
(3) If the board finds, by resolution, that the township has motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools which are not needed or are unfit for public use, and the board wishes to sell the motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools to the person or firm from which it proposes to purchase other motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools, the board may offer to sell the motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools to that person or firm, and to have the selling price credited to the person or firm against the purchase price of other motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools.
(4) If the board advertises for bids for the sale of new motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools to the township, it may include in the same advertisement a notice of the willingness of the board to accept bids for the purchase of township-owned motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools which are obsolete or not needed for public use, and to have the amount of those bids subtracted from the selling price of the new motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, or tools, as a means of determining the lowest responsible bidder.
(5) When a township has title to real property, the board of township trustees, by resolution, may authorize the transfer and conveyance of that property to any other political subdivision of the state upon such terms as are agreed to between the board and the legislative authority of that political subdivision.
(6) When a township has title to real property and the board of township trustees wishes to sell or otherwise transfer the property, the board, upon a unanimous vote of its members and by resolution, may authorize the transfer and conveyance of that real property to any person upon whatever terms are agreed to between the board and that person.
(7) If the board of township trustees determines that township personal property is not needed for public use, or is obsolete or unfit for the use for which it was acquired, and that the property has no value, the board may discard or salvage that property.
(B) When the board has offered property at public auction under this section and has not received an acceptable offer, the board, by resolution, may enter into a contract, without advertising or bidding, for the sale of that property. The resolution shall specify a minimum acceptable price and the minimum acceptable terms for the contract. The minimum acceptable price shall not be lower than the minimum price established for the public auction.
(C) Members of the board shall consult with the Ohio ethics commission and comply with the provisions of Chapters 102. and 2921. of the Revised Code, with respect to any sale or donation under division (A)(2) of this section to a nonprofit organization of which a township trustee, any member of the township trustee's family, or any business associate of the township trustee is a trustee, officer, board member, or employee.
(D) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in division (A) or (B) of this section and regardless of the property's value, the board may sell personal property, including motor vehicles, road machinery, equipment, tools, or supplies, which is not needed for public use, is obsolete, or is unfit for the use for which it was acquired, by internet auction. The board shall adopt, during each calendar year, a resolution expressing its intent to sell that property by internet auction. The resolution shall include a description of how the auctions will be conducted and shall specify the number of days for bidding on the property, which shall be no less than fifteen days, including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The resolution shall indicate whether the township will conduct the auction or the board will contract with a representative to conduct the auction and shall establish the general terms and conditions of sale. If a representative is known when the resolution is adopted, the resolution shall provide contact information such as the representative's name, address, and telephone number.
After adoption of the resolution, the board shall
publish, in
a newspaper of general circulation in the township, notice of its
intent to sell unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use township
personal
property by internet auction. The notice shall include a
summary
of the information provided in the resolution and shall be
published at least twice. The second and any subsequent notice
shall be published not less than ten nor more than twenty days
after the previous notice. A similar
notice also shall be posted
continually throughout the calendar year in a conspicuous place in
the
board's office, and, if the township maintains a web site on
the
internet, the notice shall be posted continually throughout
the
calendar year at that web site. The board may
also cause
notice to be inserted in trade papers or other
publications
designated by it or to be distributed by electronic
means,
including posting the notice on the board's internet web
site. If
the board posts the notice on its web site, it may
eliminate the
second notice otherwise required to be published in
a newspaper
of general circulation in the township,
provided that the first
notice published in such newspaper meets
all of the following
requirements:
(1) It is published at least two weeks before the internet auction begins.
(2) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the board's internet web site.
(3) It includes the internet address of the board's internet web site.
(4) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the board's internet web site.
When property is to be sold by internet auction, the board or its representative may establish a minimum price that will be accepted for specific items and may establish any other terms and conditions for the particular sale, including requirements for pick-up or delivery, method of payment, and sales tax. This type of information shall be provided on the internet at the time of the auction and may be provided before that time upon request after the terms and conditions have been determined by the board or its representative.
Sec. 505.37. (A) The board of township trustees may establish all necessary rules to guard against the occurrence of fires and to protect the property and lives of the citizens against damage and accidents, and may, with the approval of the specifications by the prosecuting attorney or, if the township has adopted limited home rule government under Chapter 504. of the Revised Code, with the approval of the specifications by the township's law director, purchase, lease, lease with an option to purchase, or otherwise provide any fire apparatus, mechanical resuscitators, or other equipment, appliances, materials, fire hydrants, and water supply for fire-fighting purposes that seems advisable to the board. The board shall provide for the care and maintenance of fire equipment, and, for these purposes, may purchase, lease, lease with an option to purchase, or construct and maintain necessary buildings, and it may establish and maintain lines of fire-alarm communications within the limits of the township. The board may employ one or more persons to maintain and operate fire-fighting equipment, or it may enter into an agreement with a volunteer fire company for the use and operation of fire-fighting equipment. The board may compensate the members of a volunteer fire company on any basis and in any amount that it considers equitable.
When the estimated cost to purchase fire apparatus,
mechanical resuscitators, other equipment, appliances, materials,
fire hydrants, buildings, or fire-alarm communications equipment
or services exceeds fifty thousand dollars, the contract shall be
let by competitive bidding. When competitive bidding is required,
the board shall advertise once a week for not less than two nor
more than four
consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general
circulation within the
township. The board may
also cause
notice to be inserted in trade papers or other
publications
designated by it or to be distributed by electronic
means,
including posting the notice on the board's internet web
site. If
the board posts the notice on its web site, it may
eliminate the
second notice otherwise required to be published in
a newspaper
of general circulation within the township,
provided that the
first notice published in such newspaper meets
all of the
following requirements:
(1) It is published at least two weeks before the opening of bids.
(2) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the board's internet web site.
(3) It includes the internet address of the board's internet web site.
(4) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the board's internet web site.
The advertisement shall include the time, date, and place where the clerk of the township, or the clerk's designee, will read bids publicly. The time, date, and place of bid openings may be extended to a later date by the board of township trustees, provided that written or oral notice of the change shall be given to all persons who have received or requested specifications not later than ninety-six hours prior to the original time and date fixed for the opening. The board may reject all the bids or accept the lowest and best bid, provided that the successful bidder meets the requirements of section 153.54 of the Revised Code when the contract is for the construction, demolition, alteration, repair, or reconstruction of an improvement.
(B) The boards of township trustees of any two or more townships, or the legislative authorities of any two or more political subdivisions, or any combination of these, may, through joint action, unite in the joint purchase, lease, lease with an option to purchase, maintenance, use, and operation of fire-fighting equipment, or for any other purpose designated in sections 505.37 to 505.42 of the Revised Code, and may prorate the expense of the joint action on any terms that are mutually agreed upon.
(C) The board of township trustees of any township may, by resolution, whenever it is expedient and necessary to guard against the occurrence of fires or to protect the property and lives of the citizens against damages resulting from their occurrence, create a fire district of any portions of the township that it considers necessary. The board may purchase, lease, lease with an option to purchase, or otherwise provide any fire apparatus, appliances, materials, fire hydrants, and water supply for fire-fighting purposes, or may contract for the fire protection for the fire district as provided in section 9.60 of the Revised Code. The fire district so created shall be given a separate name by which it shall be known.
Additional unincorporated territory of the township may be added to a fire district upon the board's adoption of a resolution authorizing the addition. A municipal corporation that is within or adjoining the township may be added to a fire district upon the board's adoption of a resolution authorizing the addition and the municipal legislative authority's adoption of a resolution or ordinance requesting the addition of the municipal corporation to the fire district.
If the township fire district imposes a tax, additional unincorporated territory of the township or a municipal corporation that is within or adjoining the township shall become part of the fire district only after all of the following have occurred:
(1) Adoption by the board of township trustees of a resolution approving the expansion of the territorial limits of the district and, if the resolution proposes to add a municipal corporation, adoption by the municipal legislative authority of a resolution or ordinance requesting the addition of the municipal corporation to the district;
(2) Adoption by the board of township trustees of a resolution recommending the extension of the tax to the additional territory;
(3) Approval of the tax by the electors of the territory proposed for addition to the district.
Each resolution of the board adopted under division (C)(2) of this section shall state the name of the fire district, a description of the territory to be added, and the rate and termination date of the tax, which shall be the rate and termination date of the tax currently in effect in the fire district.
The board of trustees shall certify each resolution adopted under division (C)(2) of this section to the board of elections in accordance with section 5705.19 of the Revised Code. The election required under division (C)(3) of this section shall be held, canvassed, and certified in the manner provided for the submission of tax levies under section 5705.25 of the Revised Code, except that the question appearing on the ballot shall read:
"Shall the territory within ........................ (description of the proposed territory to be added) be added to ........................ (name) fire district, and a property tax at a rate of taxation not exceeding ...... (here insert tax rate) be in effect for .......... (here insert the number of years the tax is to be in effect or "a continuing period of time," as applicable)?"
If the question is approved by at least a majority of the electors voting on it, the joinder shall be effective as of the first day of July of the year following approval, and on that date, the township fire district tax shall be extended to the taxable property within the territory that has been added. If the territory that has been added is a municipal corporation and if it had adopted a tax levy for fire purposes, the levy is terminated on the effective date of the joinder.
Any municipal corporation may withdraw from a township fire district created under division (C) of this section by the adoption by the municipal legislative authority of a resolution or ordinance ordering withdrawal. On the first day of July of the year following the adoption of the resolution or ordinance of withdrawal, the municipal corporation withdrawing ceases to be a part of the district, and the power of the fire district to levy a tax upon taxable property in the withdrawing municipal corporation terminates, except that the fire district shall continue to levy and collect taxes for the payment of indebtedness within the territory of the fire district as it was composed at the time the indebtedness was incurred.
Upon the withdrawal of any municipal corporation from a township fire district created under division (C) of this section, the county auditor shall ascertain, apportion, and order a division of the funds on hand, moneys and taxes in the process of collection except for taxes levied for the payment of indebtedness, credits, and real and personal property, either in money or in kind, on the basis of the valuation of the respective tax duplicates of the withdrawing municipal corporation and the remaining territory of the fire district.
A board of township trustees may remove unincorporated territory of the township from the fire district upon the adoption of a resolution authorizing the removal. On the first day of July of the year following the adoption of the resolution, the unincorporated township territory described in the resolution ceases to be a part of the district, and the power of the fire district to levy a tax upon taxable property in that territory terminates, except that the fire district shall continue to levy and collect taxes for the payment of indebtedness within the territory of the fire district as it was composed at the time the indebtedness was incurred.
(D) The board of township trustees of any township, the board of fire district trustees of a fire district created under section 505.371 of the Revised Code, or the legislative authority of any municipal corporation may purchase, lease, or lease with an option to purchase the necessary fire-fighting equipment, buildings, and sites for the township, fire district, or municipal corporation and issue securities for that purpose with maximum maturities as provided in section 133.20 of the Revised Code. The board of township trustees, board of fire district trustees, or legislative authority may also construct any buildings necessary to house fire-fighting equipment and issue securities for that purpose with maximum maturities as provided in section 133.20 of the Revised Code.
The board of township trustees, board of fire district trustees, or legislative authority may issue the securities of the township, fire district, or municipal corporation, signed by the board or designated officer of the municipal corporation and attested by the signature of the township fiscal officer, fire district clerk, or municipal clerk, covering any deferred payments and payable at the times provided, which securities shall bear interest not to exceed the rate determined as provided in section 9.95 of the Revised Code, and shall not be subject to Chapter 133. of the Revised Code. The legislation authorizing the issuance of the securities shall provide for levying and collecting annually by taxation, amounts sufficient to pay the interest on and principal of the securities. The securities shall be offered for sale on the open market or given to the vendor or contractor if no sale is made.
Section 505.40 of the Revised Code does not apply to any securities issued, or any lease with an option to purchase entered into, in accordance with this division.
(E) A board of township trustees of any township or a board of fire district trustees of a fire district created under section 505.371 of the Revised Code may purchase a policy or policies of liability insurance for the officers, employees, and appointees of the fire department, fire district, or joint fire district governed by the board that includes personal injury liability coverage as to the civil liability of those officers, employees, and appointees for false arrest, detention, or imprisonment, malicious prosecution, libel, slander, defamation or other violation of the right of privacy, wrongful entry or eviction, or other invasion of the right of private occupancy, arising out of the performance of their duties.
When a board of township trustees cannot, by deed of gift or by purchase and upon terms it considers reasonable, procure land for a township fire station that is needed in order to respond in reasonable time to a fire or medical emergency, the board may appropriate land for that purpose under sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code. If it is necessary to acquire additional adjacent land for enlarging or improving the fire station, the board may purchase, appropriate, or accept a deed of gift for the land for these purposes.
(F) As used in this division, "emergency medical service organization" has the same meaning as in section 4766.01 of the Revised Code.
A board of township trustees, by adoption of an appropriate resolution, may choose to have the Ohio medical transportation board license any emergency medical service organization it operates. If the board adopts such a resolution, Chapter 4766. of the Revised Code, except for sections 4766.06 and 4766.99 of the Revised Code, applies to the organization. All rules adopted under the applicable sections of that chapter also apply to the organization. A board of township trustees, by adoption of an appropriate resolution, may remove its emergency medical service organization from the jurisdiction of the Ohio medical transportation board.
Sec. 505.376. When any expenditure of a fire and ambulance
district,
other than for the compensation of district employees,
exceeds fifty thousand
dollars, the contract for the
expenditure
shall be in writing and made with
the lowest and best
bidder after
advertising once a week for not less than two nor more than four
consecutive
weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the
district.
The board of trustees of a fire and ambulance
district
may
also cause notice to be inserted in trade papers or
other
publications designated by it or to be distributed by
electronic
means, including posting the notice on the board's
internet web
site. If the board posts the notice on its web site,
it may
eliminate the second notice otherwise required to be
published in
a newspaper of general circulation within the
district,
provided
that the first notice published in such
newspaper meets
all of
the following requirements:
(A) It is published at least two weeks before the opening of bids.
(B) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the board's internet web site.
(C) It includes the internet address of the board's internet web site.
(D) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the board's internet web site.
The bids shall be opened and shall be publicly read by the clerk of the district, or the clerk's designee, at the time, date, and place specified in the advertisement to bidders or the specifications. The time, date, and place of bid openings may be extended to a later date by the board of trustees of the district, provided that written or oral notice of the change shall be given to all persons who have received or requested specifications no later than ninety-six hours prior to the original time and date fixed for the opening.
Each bid on any contract shall contain the full name of every person interested in the bid. If the bid is for a contract for the construction, demolition, alteration, repair, or reconstruction of an improvement, it shall meet the requirements of section 153.54 of the Revised Code. If the bid is for any other contract, it shall be accompanied by a sufficient bond or certified check, cashier's check, or money order on a solvent bank or savings and loan association that, if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of it will be properly secured. If the bid for work embraces both labor and material, it shall be separately stated, with the price of the labor and the material. The board may reject any and all bids. The contract shall be between the district and the bidder, and the district shall pay the contract price in cash. When a bonus is offered for completion of a contract prior to a specified date, the board may exact a prorated penalty in like sum for each day of delay beyond the specified date. When there is reason to believe there is collusion or combination among bidders, the bids of those concerned shall be rejected.
Sec. 511.12. The board of township trustees may prepare plans and specifications and make contracts for the construction and erection of a memorial building, monument, statue, or memorial, for the purposes specified and within the amount authorized by section 511.08 of the Revised Code. If the total estimated cost of the construction and erection exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars, the contract shall be let by competitive bidding. If the estimated cost is twenty-five thousand dollars or less, competitive bidding may be required at the board's discretion. In making contracts under this section, the board shall be governed as follows:
(A) Contracts for construction when competitive bidding is required shall be based upon detailed plans, specifications, forms of bids, and estimates of cost, adopted by the board.
(B) Contracts shall be made in writing upon concurrence of
a
majority of the members of the board, and shall be signed by at
least two of the members and by the contractor. If competitive
bidding is required, no contract shall be made or signed until an
advertisement has been placed in two newspapers a newspaper,
published or of
general circulation in the township, for a period
of thirty days at least twice. The board may
also cause notice to
be inserted in trade papers or other
publications designated by
it or to be distributed by electronic
means, including posting
the notice on the board's internet web
site. If the board posts
the notice on its web site, it may
eliminate the second notice
otherwise required to be published in
a newspaper published or of
general circulation in the township,
provided that the first
notice published in such newspaper meets
all of the following
requirements:
(1) It is published at least two weeks before the opening of bids.
(2) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the board's internet web site.
(3) It includes the internet address of the board's internet web site.
(4) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the board's internet web site.
(C) No contract shall be let by competitive bidding except to the lowest and best bidder, who shall meet the requirements of section 153.54 of the Revised Code.
(D) When, in the opinion of the board, it becomes necessary in the prosecution of such work to make alterations or modifications in any contract, the alterations or modifications shall be made only by order of the board, and that order shall be of no effect until the price to be paid for the work or materials under the altered or modified contract has been agreed upon in writing and signed by the contractor and at least two members of the board.
(E) No contract or alteration or modification of it shall be valid unless made in the manner provided in this section.
Sec. 515.01. The board of township trustees may provide artificial lights for any road, highway, public place, or building under its supervision or control, or for any territory within the township and outside the boundaries of any municipal corporation, when the board determines that the public safety or welfare requires that the road, highway, public place, building, or territory shall be lighted. The lighting may be procured either by the township installing a lighting system or by contracting with any person or corporation to furnish lights.
If lights are furnished under contract, the contract may provide that the equipment employed may be owned by the township or by the person or corporation supplying the lights.
If the board determines to procure lighting by contract and the total estimated cost of the contract exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars, the board shall prepare plans and specifications for the lighting equipment and shall, for two weeks, advertise for bids for furnishing the lighting equipment, either by posting the advertisement in three conspicuous places in the township or by publication of the advertisement once a week, for two consecutive weeks, in a newspaper of general circulation in the township. Any such contract for lighting shall be made with the lowest and best bidder.
The board may also cause notice to be inserted in trade papers or other publications designated by it or to be distributed by electronic means, including posting the notice on the board's internet web site. If the board posts the notice on its web site, it may eliminate the second notice otherwise required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the township, provided that the first notice published in such newspaper meets all of the following requirements:
(A) It is published at least two weeks before the opening of bids.
(B) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the board's internet web site.
(C) It includes the internet address of the board's internet web site.
(D) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the board's internet web site.
No lighting contract awarded by the board shall be made to cover a period of more than twenty years. The cost of installing and operating any lighting system or any light furnished under contract shall be paid from the general fund of the township treasury.
Sec. 731.14. All contracts made by the legislative
authority
of a village shall be executed in the name of the
village and
signed on its behalf by the mayor and clerk. Except
where the
contract is for equipment, services, materials, or
supplies to be
purchased under division (D) of section 713.23 or
section 125.04
or 5513.01 of the Revised Code, available from a
qualified
nonprofit agency pursuant to sections 4115.31 to
4115.35 of the
Revised Code, or required to be purchased from a qualified
nonprofit agency under sections 125.60 to 125.6012 of the Revised
Code, when any expenditure, other than the
compensation of persons
employed in the village, exceeds twenty-five
thousand
dollars,
such contracts shall be in writing and made with the
lowest and
best bidder after advertising once a week for not less than two
nor more than four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general
circulation within the village. The legislative authority may
also cause notice to be inserted in trade papers or other
publications designated by it or to be distributed by electronic
means, including posting the notice on the legislative authority's
internet web
site. If the legislative authority posts the notice
on its web site, it may
eliminate the second notice otherwise
required to be published in
a newspaper of general circulation
within the village,
provided that the first notice published in
such newspaper meets
all of the following requirements:
(A) It is published at least two weeks before the opening of bids.
(B) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the legislative authority's internet web site.
(C) It includes the internet address of the legislative authority's internet web site.
(D) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the legislative authority's internet web site.
The bids shall be opened and shall be publicly read by the clerk of the village or a person designated by the clerk at the time, date, and place specified in the advertisement to bidders or specifications. The time, date, and place of bid openings may be extended to a later date by the legislative authority of the village, provided that written or oral notice of the change shall be given to all persons who have received or requested specifications no later than ninety-six hours prior to the original time and date fixed for the opening. This section does not apply to those villages that have provided for the appointment of a village administrator under section 735.271 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 971.07. (A) If either person owner fails to build or
maintain in good repair the
portion of a partition fence assigned
to him the owner under section 971.04
of the Revised Code, the
board of township trustees, upon the
application of the aggrieved
person owner, shall award the contract to
the lowest responsible
bidder agreeing to furnish the labor and
material, and build such
fence according to the specifications
proposed by the board, after
advertising for bids once a week for
three two consecutive weeks
in a newspaper of general circulation in
the county in which the
township is situated.
The board may also cause notice to be inserted in trade papers or other publications designated by it or to be distributed by electronic means, including posting the notice on the board's internet web site. If the board posts the notice on its web site, it may eliminate the second notice otherwise required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, provided that the first notice published in such newspaper meets all of the following requirements:
(1) It is published at least two weeks before the opening of bids.
(2) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the board's internet web site.
(3) It includes the internet address of the board's internet web site.
(4) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the board's internet web site.
(B) If no bids are received from responsible bidders as provided in this section, the trustees shall procure labor and materials at prevailing rates and cause such fence to be constructed.
(C) No person shall obstruct or interfere with anyone lawfully engaged in construction of a partition fence or in the performance of any other act described in this section.
Sec. 3313.46. (A) In addition to any other law governing the bidding for contracts by the board of education of any school district, when any such board determines to build, repair, enlarge, improve, or demolish any school building, the cost of which will exceed twenty-five thousand dollars, except in cases of urgent necessity, or for the security and protection of school property, and except as otherwise provided in division (D) of section 713.23 and in section 125.04 of the Revised Code, all of the following shall apply:
(1) The board shall cause to be prepared the plans, specifications, and related information as required in divisions (A), (B), and (D) of section 153.01 of the Revised Code unless the board determines that other information is sufficient to inform any bidders of the board's requirements. However, if the board determines that such other information is sufficient for bidding a project, the board shall not engage in the construction of any such project involving the practice of professional engineering, professional surveying, or architecture, for which plans, specifications, and estimates have not been made by, and the construction thereof inspected by, a licensed professional engineer, licensed professional surveyor, or registered architect.
(2) The board shall advertise for bids once each week for a
period of
at least not less than two
consecutive weeks in a
newspaper of general circulation in the district
prior to before
the date specified by the board
for
receiving bids. The board may
also cause notice to be inserted in trade papers or other
publications designated by it or to be distributed by electronic
means, including posting the notice on the board's internet web
site. If the board posts the notice on its web site, it may
eliminate the second notice otherwise required to be published in
a newspaper of general circulation within the school district,
provided that the first notice published in such newspaper meets
all of the following requirements:
(a) It is published at least two weeks before the opening of bids.
(b) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the board of education's internet web site.
(c) It includes the internet address of the board's internet web site.
(d) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the board's internet web site.
(3) Unless the board extends the time for the opening of bids they shall be opened at the time and place specified by the board in the advertisement for the bids.
(4) Each bid shall contain the name of every person interested therein. Each bid shall meet the requirements of section 153.54 of the Revised Code.
(5) When both labor and materials are embraced in the work bid for, the board may require that each be separately stated in the bid, with the price thereof, or may require that bids be submitted without such separation.
(6) None but the lowest responsible bid shall be accepted. The board may reject all the bids, or accept any bid for both labor and material for such improvement or repair, which is the lowest in the aggregate. In all other respects, the award of contracts for improvement or repair, but not for purchases made under section 3327.08 of the Revised Code, shall be pursuant to section 153.12 of the Revised Code.
(7) The contract shall be between the board and the bidders. The board shall pay the contract price for the work pursuant to sections 153.13 and 153.14 of the Revised Code. The board shall approve and retain the estimates referred to in section 153.13 of the Revised Code and make them available to the auditor of state upon request.
(8) When two or more bids are equal, in the whole, or in any part thereof, and are lower than any others, either may be accepted, but in no case shall the work be divided between such bidders.
(9) When there is reason to believe there is collusion or combination among the bidders, or any number of them, the bids of those concerned therein shall be rejected.
(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to the board of education of any school district in any of the following situations:
(1) The acquisition of educational materials used in teaching.
(2) If the board determines and declares by resolution adopted by two-thirds of all its members that any item is available and can be acquired only from a single source.
(3) If the board declares by resolution adopted by two-thirds of all its members that division (A) of this section does not apply to any installation, modification, or remodeling involved in any energy conservation measure undertaken through an installment payment contract under section 3313.372 of the Revised Code or undertaken pursuant to division (G) of section 133.06 of the Revised Code.
(4) The acquisition of computer software for instructional purposes and computer hardware for instructional purposes pursuant to division (B)(4) of section 3313.37 of the Revised Code.
(C) No resolution adopted pursuant to division (B)(2) or (3) of this section shall have any effect on whether sections 153.12 to 153.14 and 153.54 of the Revised Code apply to the board of education of any school district with regard to any item.
SECTION 2. That existing sections 9.48, 125.04, 307.86, 505.10, 505.37, 505.376, 511.12, 515.01, 731.14, 971.07, and 3313.46 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. Section 505.10 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Sub. H.B. 204 and Sub. H.B. 323 of the 125th General Assembly. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the composite is the resulting version of the section in effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in this act.