(1) Except in cases of emergency and except for ordinary current repair work necessary from day to day, all material purchased for and all work done in, on or for any dry dock, dredge, boat, scow or other appliance to be built, owned or operated by the Port of Portland, when the purchase is made or the work is done by construction, alteration or general overhauling, shall be purchased or done by or under contract. Such contracts shall be let to the lowest competent and responsible bidder, after due advertisement for bids, in the manner usual and customary in the letting of contracts by public bidding, and under regulations prescribed by the port.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section or any other provision of law, the port may let a contract for the construction of a dry dock to the lowest competent and responsible bidder who submits a bid to construct the dry dock within the port, if:

(a) The bid of such bidder does not exceed by more than 10 percent the lowest bid for construction of the dry dock elsewhere; and

(b) In the opinion of the board, the public good will in any way be served thereby. [Amended by 1961 c.11 § 1; 1971 c.728 § 121; 1977 c.361 § 1]