Section 57-75-9 - Action by authority on behalf of state; cooperation of public agencies with authority; contracts by authority or public agency(1) The authority is hereby designated and empowered to act on behalf of the state in submitting a siting proposal for any project eligible for assistance under this act. The authority is empowered to take all steps appropriate or necessary to effect the siting, development, and operation of the project within the state, including the negotiation of a fee-in-lieu. If the state is selected as the preferred site for the project, the authority is hereby designated and empowered to act on behalf of the state and to represent the state in the planning, financing, development, construction and operation of the project or any facility related to the project, with the concurrence of the affected public agency. The authority may take affirmative steps to coordinate fully all aspects of the submission of a siting proposal for the project and, if the state is selected as the preferred site, to coordinate fully, with the concurrence of the affected public agency, the development of the project or any facility related to the project with private business, the United States government and other public agencies. All public agencies are encouraged to cooperate to the fullest extent possible to effectuate the duties of the authority; however, the development of the project or any facility related to the project by the authority may be done only with the concurrence of the affected public agency.(2)(a) Contracts, by the authority or a public agency, including, but not limited to, design and construction contracts, for the acquisition, purchase, construction or installation of a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1 or any facility related to the project shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 31-7-13 if: (i) The authority finds and records such finding on its minutes, that because of availability or the particular nature of a project, it would not be in the public interest or would less effectively achieve the purposes of this chapter to enter into such contracts on the basis of Section 31-7-13; and(ii) The enterprise that is involved in the project concurs in such finding.(b) When the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection are met: (i) The requirements of Section 31-7-13 shall not apply to such contracts; and(ii) The contracts may be entered into on the basis of negotiation.(c) The enterprise involved with the project may, upon approval of the authority, negotiate such contracts in the name of the authority.(d) The provisions of this subsection (2) shall not apply to contracts by the authority for excavation, fill dirt and compaction for the preparation of the site of a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1 and such contracts may be entered into pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.(3)(a) Contracts by the authority for excavation, fill dirt and compaction for the preparation of the site of a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 31-7-13 and the following procedure shall be followed in the award of such contracts: (i) The authority shall advertise for a period of time to be set by the authority, but in no event less than one (1) business day, the date, time and place of a meeting with the authority to receive specifications on a request for proposals on excavation, fill dirt and compaction for the preparation of the site of the project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1.(ii) The authority shall set the minimum qualifications necessary to be considered for award of the contract and the advertisement shall set forth such minimum qualifications.(iii) Following the meeting the authority shall, in its discretion, select one or more of the qualified contractors with whom to negotiate or award the contract. The decision of the authority concerning the selection of the contractor shall be final.(b) Contracts by the authority or a public agency for site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, wastewater or for public works for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii)shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 31-7-13 and the following procedure shall be followed in the award of such contracts: (i) The authority or the public agency shall advertise for a period of time to be set by the authority or the public agency, but in no event less than one (1) nor more than five (5) calendar days, the date, time and place of a meeting with the authority or the public agency to receive specifications on the preparation of the site of the project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii).(ii) The authority or the public agency shall set the minimum qualifications necessary to be considered for award of the contract and the advertisement shall set forth such minimum qualifications.(iii) Following the meeting the authority or the public agency shall, in its discretion, select one or more of the qualified contractors with whom to negotiate or award the contract. The decision of the authority or the public agency concerning the selection of the contractor shall be final.(c) Contracts by a public agency for site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, infrastructure, roads or for public works for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiii), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxx), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii)or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxiii) may be exempt from the provisions of Section 31-7-13 and the following procedure shall be followed in the award of contracts: (i) The public agency shall advertise for a period of time to be set by the public agency, but in no event less than one (1) nor more than five (5) calendar days, the date, time and place of a meeting with the public agency to receive specifications on site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, infrastructure, roads or for public works related to the project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiii), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxx), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii)or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxiii).(ii) The public agency shall set the minimum qualifications necessary to be considered for award of the contract and the advertisement shall set forth such minimum qualifications.(iii) Following the meeting the public agency shall, in its discretion, which discretion may include participation by an enterprise involved in the project, select one or more of the qualified contractors with whom to negotiate or award the contract. The decision of the public agency concerning selection of the contractor shall be final.(4)(a) Contracts, by the authority or a public agency, including, but not limited to, design and construction contracts, for the acquisition, purchase, construction or installation of a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxvi), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxvii), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxviii), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxx), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii)or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxiii), and any contracts by the authority or a public agency for site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, infrastructure, roads or for other public facilities related to any such project shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 31-7-13 if: (i) The authority finds and records such finding on its minutes, that because of availability or the particular nature of a project, it would not be in the public interest or would less effectively achieve the purposes of this chapter to enter into such contracts on the basis of Section 31-7-13; and(ii) The enterprise that is involved in the project concurs in such finding.(b) When the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection are met: (i) The requirements of Section 31-7-13 shall not apply to such contracts; and(ii) The contracts may be entered into on the basis of negotiation with the authority or such public agency, and the authority or such public agency may, as part of such negotiations, further negotiate and require the level of participation by the enterprise involved in the project in the negotiation of such contracts.(c) Contracts by the authority or a public agency for site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, infrastructure, roads or for other public facilities related to a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii), shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 65-1-85, and the authority or public agency is authorized to use any method for design and/or construction procurement and contracting. With respect to any such contract that is anticipated to be federally funded, in whole or in part, the authority or public agency may nonetheless comply with the provisions of Section 65-1-85 for purposes of compliance with any applicable federal funding requirements.(d) The decision of the authority or the public agency concerning selection of the contractor shall be final.(e) The company shall make commercially reasonable efforts to place out for bid, such that Mississippi Contractors and Mississippi Disadvantaged Business Enterprises ("DBEs") shall have an equal opportunity to respond to such bid, any contract by the company which (i) is subject to tax pursuant to Mississippi Code Section 27-65-21 (i.e., contracts for constructing, building, erecting, grading, excavating, etc.), and (ii) will be paid, or payment thereunder by the company will be reimbursed, using any portion of the grant proceeds or funds provided by the authority to the company in accordance with this agreement. In carrying out such efforts, in order to increase the pool of qualified DBE bidders, the company will request that successful prime contract bidders include in their response a commitment to (a) participate in and/or host forums that highlight subcontract bidding opportunities for DBEs; and (b) work with various trade associations and the Mississippi Development Authority to promote increased participation from DBEs. With respect to awarding any contract placed out for bid, the company shall be allowed to award such contract in the company's sole discretion (e.g., based upon optimization of quality, cost and efficiency or on any other basis as the company may see fit). MDA agrees that it will offer to eligible contractor DBEs that have an opportunity to work on the project assistance through its Minority Surety Bond Guaranty Program.(5) The Department of Employment Security is authorized to provide to the authority any information received, obtained or produced, or findings or determinations made thereby, with respect to any jobs created or maintained for a project that has been certified by the authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f).Laws, 1989, ch. 534, § 5; Laws, 2000, 2nd Ex Sess, ch. 1, § 43; Laws, 2000, 3rd Ex Sess, ch. 1, § 7; Laws, 2007, ch. 303, § 2; Laws, 2007, 1st Ex Sess, ch. 1, § 2; Laws, 2008, 1st Ex Sess, ch. 45, § 2; Laws, 2010, ch. 301, § 2; Laws, 2010, ch. 405, § 2, eff. 3/17/2010.Amended by Laws, 2024EX2, ch. 3, SB 2001,§ 2, eff. 1/30/2024.Amended by Laws, 2024EX1, ch. 1, HB 1,§ 2, eff. 1/22/2024.Amended by Laws, 2022EX1, ch. 1, HB 1,§ 2, eff. 11/17/2022.Amended by Laws, 2016EX1, ch. 1, HB 1,§ 2, eff. 2/8/2016.Amended by Laws, 2013EX1, ch. 1, HB 1,§ 2, eff. 4/28/2013.