1. To perform any work or construct any superstructure under this chapter wherein an expenditure of $100,000 or more may be necessary, the board of county highway commissioners shall cause definite plans of such work or superstructure to be made, estimates of the amount of work to be done and the probable cost thereof, together with a copy of the specifications thereof.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, upon receipt of the plans, estimates and specifications for a project for which the estimated cost is $100,000 or more, the board of county highway commissioners shall advertise for bids and let contracts in the manner prescribed by chapter 332 or 338 of NRS, as applicable.

3. In a county whose population is less than 45,000, if the estimated cost of a project is $100,000 or more but less than $250,000, the board of county highway commissioners may hold a hearing to determine, by majority vote of the board, if the project can be performed by county employees or through the employment of day labor under the supervision of the board and by the use of its own machinery, tools and other equipment without advertising for bids and letting contracts pursuant to subsection 2. Notice for such a hearing must be provided not less than 15 days before the date of the hearing and must be published pursuant to the provisions of NRS 238.010 to 238.080, inclusive. The board shall provide, in the notice and at least 15 days before the hearing at the office of the board and at the place of the hearing, the following information, without limitation:

(a) A list of:

(1) All county employees, if any, including supervisors, who will perform the work, including, without limitation, the classification of each employee and an estimate of the direct and indirect costs of the labor;

(2) The number of day laborers, if any, that will be employed to perform the work; and

(3) All machinery, tools and other equipment of the county to be used on the project.

(b) An estimate of:

(1) The direct and indirect costs of the labor of the county employees who will perform the work, if any;

(2) The direct and indirect costs of the labor of any day laborers who will be employed to perform the work pursuant to chapter 338 of NRS;

(3) The cost of any administrative support that will be required for the performance of the work;

(4) The total cost of the project, including, without limitation, the fair market value or, if available, the actual cost of all materials, supplies, equipment and labor necessary for the project; and

(5) The amount of savings to be realized by having county employees or day laborers perform the work.

4. In cases of emergency the board of county highway commissioners may let contracts for repairs in the manner prescribed by chapter 332 of NRS.

5. Nothing in this section shall prevent any county from opening, building, improving or repairing any public road or highway in the county through the work of county employees or the employment of day labor, under the supervision of the board of county highway commissioners and by the use of its own machinery, tools and other equipment, without letting contracts to the lowest responsible bidder, if the probable cost of the work does not exceed $100,000.

[2:111:1866; A 1911, 357; 1913, 268; 1919 RL § 3005; NCL § 5393] + [3:Art. 5:257:1913; 1919 RL p. 2904; NCL § 5381] — (NRS A 1963, 168; 1967, 1240; 2013, 1984)