This guidebook is a reference for county commissioners, county managers, purchasing agents, public works directors, county engineers and project managers to understand the laws dictating how a local government hires and constructs (or demolishes) any government building, structure or road.
These laws help to make sure that a local government uses a fair and open competitive process for bidding out projects. A fair and open process ensures that there is not even a hint of impropriety in the selection of a contractor. A process that invites more competition increases the likelihood of a local government getting the best price for its taxpayers. Strict adherence to these procedures provides a local government with a good reputation among the construction community, which will encourage quality contractors to bid on that government’s projects.
These laws establish the minimum requirements for local governments. As always, the local government’s enabling legislation and ordinances should be consulted to ensure that there are no additional requirements to which the local government must adhere.
The guidebook is divided into six parts. Part I contains defnitions of words frequently used in this guide. Part II deals with the legal requirements that local governments must observe when undertaking any construction project other than road projects. The legal requirements that local governments must observe when contracting for road projects are explained in Part III. In Part IV, legal requirements that apply to both public works and road construction projects are addressed. Part V contains sample forms that local governments may use on construction projects. The fnal part of this guide contains excerpts from relevant portions of the Offcial Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.).
DISCLAIMER: This publication contains general information for the members of Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and the public. This information is not and should not be considered legal advice. Readers should consult with legal counsel before taking action based on the information contained in this book.
