AN ACT to amend and reenact section 24-02-20 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to bid delays for construction contracts.
SB 2063 amends North Dakota Century Code section 24-02-20, which governs how bids are opened and handled for Department of Transportation construction contracts. The bill authorizes the department to delay the submission of bids and the bid opening date by up to 21 days at its discretion, and requires any rescheduled bid date to be noticed electronically in the manner prescribed by the department.
The bill also retains existing bid security requirements for construction contracts, including certified checks, cashier’s checks, or bidder’s bonds. It continues the rule that bid security for all but the three lowest responsible bidders must be returned promptly after bid opening, while the lowest bidder’s security may be held until contract award and execution, and the second- and third-lowest bidders’ security may be returned once the department determines the award recipient.
The bill makes a targeted procedural change to state procurement law for transportation construction projects by giving the Department of Transportation flexibility to postpone bid submissions and openings for up to 21 days. It does not change the underlying bid security amounts or the general framework for awarding contracts, but it does affect how and when bids are noticed, opened, and held, which may influence contractor scheduling and project administration under section 24-02-20.
The available record shows strong, unanimous support for the bill. It passed the Senate 46-0 and the House 83-0, with no recorded committee opposition or floor debate in the provided materials. The lack of dissent suggests the measure was viewed as a practical administrative update rather than a controversial policy change.
No notable points of contention are reflected in the provided transcripts or vote history. Because there were no committee discussions included, any concerns about the department’s discretion to delay bid openings, the adequacy of electronic notice, or the effect on contractors are not documented here. The bill appears to have been treated as a technical procurement adjustment requested by the Department of Transportation.