A. Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, when the purchase exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars or exceeds a higher dollar amount established by the governor’s most recent and effective executive order relative to small purchase procedures, the department shall give reasonable notice through the chief purchasing agent by advertising and by either of the following:

            (1) Written notice mailed to persons who furnish the class of commodities involved.

            (2) Notice sent through an electronic interactive environment to persons who furnish the class of commodities involved.

            B. Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, such purchases shall be made only on award to the lowest responsible bidder in response to requests for bids published in the state. Requests for bids shall be published ten days or more prior to the date set for opening the bids. The published advertisement and the specifications shall fix the exact place and time for presenting and opening of the bids. The presenting and opening of the bids shall be publicly performed on that day. Bids will be publicly read whenever interested parties are present. The practice of dividing proposed or needed purchases into separate installments of less than twenty-five thousand dollars each or the higher effective amount determined by the governor’s executive order for the purpose of evading this provision is expressly prohibited.

            C. If, in the judgment of the secretary, no satisfactory bid has been received in any case, he may reject all bids. In such case, he shall advertise for new bids as provided in this Section. Until a satisfactory contract is awarded, he may authorize the purchasing agent to make such open market purchases of the commodities involved as are urgently required to meet the requirements for not more than thirty days.

            Acts 1991, No. 878, §1, eff. July 23, 1991; Acts 1997, No. 1411, §1, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 2008, No. 82, §1, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2022, No. 256, §1, June 3, 2022.