Such specifications shall be drawn so as to permit the letting of separate and independent contracts for each of the above three subdivisions of work. Within the above three subdivisions of work, any equipment, apparatus and/or installations which shall be designed to service the entire combined occupancy structure shall be included within the school portion of the work or let as separate and independent contracts even if physically located within the non-school portion of the work. Except as otherwise provided by the public housing law, the provisions of which shall apply when the developer is the New York city housing authority, every developer or general contractor undertaking the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or improvement of any such combined occupancy structure pursuant to or in furtherance of the provisions of this article shall let separate contracts to the lowest responsible bidder for the three subdivisions of the above specified work to persons, firms or corporations approved by the chairman of the fund as being qualified, responsible and reliable bidders engaged in these classes of work. All such qualified bidders engaged in the above specified work shall be entitled to bid and to receive, upon request, a copy of the plans and specifications. All such bids shall be submitted to the fund and shall be opened publicly at a stated time and place.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 458