(A) Except for any person providing professional design services of a research or training nature, any person rendering professional design services to a public authority or to a design-build firm, including a criteria architect or engineer and person performing architect or engineer of record services, shall have and maintain, or be covered by, during the period the services are rendered, a professional liability insurance policy or policies with a company or companies that are authorized to do business in this state and that afford professional liability coverage for the professional design services rendered. The insurance shall be in an amount considered sufficient by the public authority. At the public authority’s discretion, the design-build firm shall carry contractor’s professional liability insurance and any other insurance the public authority considers appropriate.

(B) The requirement for professional liability insurance set forth in division (A) of this section may be waived by the public authority for good cause, or the public authority may allow the person providing the professional design services to provide other assurances of financial responsibility.

(C) Before construction begins pursuant to a contract for design-build services with a design-build firm, the design-build firm shall provide a surety bond to the public authority in accordance with rules adopted by the executive director of the Ohio facilities construction commission under Chapter 119 of the Revised Code.