§41-16-21. Contracts for which competitive bidding not required generally.

(a) Competitive bids shall not be required for utility services where no competition exists or where rates are fixed by law or ordinance, and the competitive bidding requirements of this article shall not apply to: The purchase of insurance by the state; contracts for the securing of services of attorneys, physicians, architects, teachers, artists, appraisers, engineers, or other individuals possessing a high degree of professional skill where the personality of the individual plays a decisive part; contracts of employment in the regular civil service of the state; purchases of alcoholic beverages only by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; purchases and contracts for repair of equipment used in the construction and maintenance of highways by the State Department of Transportation; purchases of products made or manufactured by the blind or visually handicapped under the direction or supervision of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind in accordance with Sections 21-2-1 through 21-2-4; purchases of maps or photographs purchased from any federal agency; contractual services and purchases of personal property, which by their very nature are impossible of award by competitive bidding; barter transactions by the Department of Corrections; and purchases, contracts, or repairs by the Alabama State Port Authority when it is deemed by the Director of the Alabama State Port Authority and the Secretary-Treasurer of the Alabama State Port Authority that the purchases, contracts, or repairs are impractical of award by competitive bidding due to the exigencies of time or interference with the flow of commerce. The Director of the Alabama State Port Authority and the Secretary-Treasurer of the Alabama State Port Authority shall place a sworn statement in writing in the permanent file or records setting out the emergency or exigency relied upon and the necessity for negotiation instead of proceeding by competitive bidding in that particular instance, and the sworn statement shall be open to public inspection. A copy of the sworn statement shall be furnished forthwith to the Governor and Attorney General.

(b) All educational and eleemosynary institutions governed by a board of trustees or other similar governing body and the Alabama State Port Authority shall be exempt from this article which relate to the powers, duties, authority, restrictions, and limitations conferred or imposed upon the Department of Finance, Division of Purchasing. The educational and eleemosynary institutions, the Alabama State Port Authority, and the other state agencies exempted from this article shall let by free and open competitive bidding on sealed bids to the lowest responsible bidder all contracts of whatever nature for labor, services or work or for the purchase or lease of materials, equipment, supplies, or other personal property involving fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or more. The institutions, departments, and agencies shall establish and maintain purchasing facilities as may be necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this article by complying with the requirements for competitive bidding in the operation and management of each institution, department, or agency.

(c) Contracts entered into in violation of this article shall be void.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as repealing Sections 9-2-106 and 9-2-107.

(Acts 1957, No. 343, p. 452, §2; Acts 1961, No. 870, p. 1365; Acts 1969, No. 1053, p. 1973, §§1, 2; Acts 1976, No. 751, p. 1032, §2; Acts 1985, No. 85-689, p. 1106; Acts 1990, No. 90-631, p. 1156, §1; Acts 1994, No. 94-207, p. 270, §1; Act 2001-956, p. 817, §3; Act 2014-175, §1.)