Opinion ID: 2552490
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Claims against the WWDC and Prior

Text: [¶ 28] Citing provisions of 7 C.F.R. § 1942.18, Whitlock claims that matters relating to bidding and the selection process were vested solely in the JPB and not the WWDC or Prior. None of those provisions, Whitlock asserts, authorizes the WWDC, or Prior acting at the behest of the WWDC, to withhold concurrence based upon the WWDC's own independent determination of the lowest responsible bidder. [¶ 29] Whitlock's claim that the JPB was solely authorized to select or reject a bidder ignores subsection (e)(2) of 7 C.F.R. § 1942.18, which provides in essence that no contract has full force and effect until it has been approved by the FmHA or its successor agency (the RUS in this case). The section further provides that the agency is responsible for approving construction contracts. Consistent with these provisions, the Wyoming Public Works Act expressly recognizes that any public works contracts in Wyoming which are funded in part by a federal agency are subject to federal law. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 16-6-108 (LexisNexis 2001). Thus, pursuant to federal and state law, the RUS had the authority to approve or reject a bidder, and that authority was not vested solely in the JPB as Whitlock contends. [¶ 30] Whitlock's claim also ignores Wyoming law which gives the WWDC the authority and the obligation to review bids on the project and to concur or not concur in JPB action. As pointed out by the WWDC and acknowledged by Whitlock, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 41-2-114(d) (LexisNexis 2001) authorizes the WWDC to withhold funds on a water project when it is determined that the project is not in the public interest. Section 41-2-118(a)(xiii) (LexisNexis 2001) further authorizes the WWDC to represent the State's interests in negotiation and construction of water projects. Pursuant to these sections, the WWDC was obligated not to concur in the award to Whitlock if it believed that award did not serve the interests of the public or the State. [¶ 31] Additionally, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 16-1-303(f) (LexisNexis 2001) of the Wyoming Joint Powers Act, which establishes the state drinking water revolving loan account applicable to public water supplies in Wyoming (including the municipal water line at issue here), requires the WWDC to evaluate engineering designs and studies and provide technical and administrative management of contracts for projects involving public water supplies. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 16-6-119 (LexisNexis 2001) (Public Works and Contracts) further provides that every state board, commission or agency (including the WWDC) is authorized to determine qualifications and responsibilities for bidders on contracts for public projects. Given these provisions, it was clearly the legislature's intent that the WWDC be actively and directly involved in reviewing bids, determining responsible bidders, and withholding funds when necessary in order to ensure that projects involving the public water supply serve the best interests of the public and the State of Wyoming. To adopt Whitlock's argument that the WWDC has no authority to concur or not concur in contract awards of this nature would be contrary to legislative intent as reflected in the above statutes and would be to divest the WWDC of any meaningful ability to influence public contracts and protect the public interest.