Online notice for road, bridge project bids approved

Senators passed a measure May 14 intended to give the state Department of Transportation greater flexibility when soliciting bids and constructing buildings.

LB323, sponsored by Columbus Sen. Mike Moser, requires the department to provide notice of its solicitation for bids for certain road and bridge project contracts both in a county newspaper, as is currently required, and on an official webpage.

The online notice must be published at least 20 days before the deadline for bids. Both types of notice must identify the project’s general location, and the newspaper notice must refer to the web page.

The bill also requires the department to seek the Legislature’s consent to construct a building with an estimated cost greater than an adjusted limit for capital construction projects set in state law. Previously, the department could not construct a building costing more than $100,000 without legislative approval.

LB323 passed on a vote of 49-0.