Q&A: Bids and public meetings

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From LAK Publications:

Q: Is it a violation of the Open Door Law if quotes and bids are not opened in a public meeting?

A contractor even started work before the redevelopment commission awarded him the project that evening.

In another previous meeting, the SRC was talking about a quote. The contractor said the quote was based on normal circumstances, but he would be willing to work with the SRC. No quotes or bids were opened at that public meeting either. 

A: Under normal purchasing processes, the bids are opened at a public meeting. See IC 5-22.

I’d ask the SRC under what statute was the project at issue bid under. You can then look at the statute and see whether it appears they followed the statute and can ask questions about any deviation from that process.

Contact Steve Key, HSPA executive director and general counsel, with media law questions at skey@hspa.com or (317) 624-4427.