An authority created pursuant to this chapter must comply with § 11-35-5320. When procuring the construction, maintenance, and repair of bridges, highways, and roads, an authority must use the same procurement methods and apply the same procurement requirements used by and applied to the South Carolina Department of Transportation in the construction, maintenance, and repair of bridges, highways, and roads including the provisions of § 12-27-1320 except that when applying § 12-27-1320, the contracting entity may meet the expenditures standards of § 12-27-1320 by either direct or indirect contracts. For purposes of this provision, "contracting entity" includes a governmental body and a private entity with which a governmental body contracts for the construction, maintenance, and repair of bridges, highways, and roads.