§9-14-23. Bonds for contracts; failure of successful bidders to execute contracts; rejection of all bids; negotiation of contract.

(a) The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources shall require and set appropriate bonds (but in no event in an amount less than $50,000.00 per $1,000,000.00 or fraction thereof of the construction, equipping and furnishing cost of the facility leased) for all park concession contracts in an amount deemed sufficient to fully protect the interest of the state for the faithful performance of the terms of said contracts and for the payment of all moneys which may become due to the state by virtue of the provisions of such contracts.

(b) A failure by a successful bidder on any concession contract to execute same to the commissioner within 20 days of receipt thereof and within the same time limit to provide the state with all required bonds together with such evidence of insurance as is required under the terms of the contract may, at the option of the commissioner, be treated as a refusal to execute; and, upon such determination by the Commissioner, all rights of the successful bidder shall terminate, and any and all moneys or considerations paid into the state shall be forfeited.

(c) If the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, after receipt of all bids on a concession contract, deems that the acceptance of any bid would not be in the best interest of the state, he may reject all bids. He may thereafter negotiate a concession contract; provided, that said negotiated contract must give better terms to the state than any of the rejected bids.

(Acts 1971, No. 2440, p. 3900, §6; Acts 1975, No. 1208, p. 2521, §1.)