1. Validity of contracts. A contract in which one of the parties to the contract is an owner or operator of a petroleum underground storage tank, for goods or services which may be payable or reimbursable from the fund, is invalid unless and until the administrator has approved the contract as fair and equitable to the tank owner or operator, and found that the contract terms are within the range of usual and customary rates for similar or equivalent goods or services within the state, and found that the goods or services are necessary for the owner or operator to comply with fund or regulatory standards. An owner or operator may appoint the administrator as an agent for the purposes of negotiating contracts with suppliers of goods or services compensable by the fund. The administrator may select another contractor for goods or services other than the one offered by the owner or operator, if the scope of the proposed work or actual work of the offered contractor does not reflect the quality of workmanship required, or the costs are determined to be excessive.
2. Contract approval. In the course of review and approval of a contract pursuant to this section, the administrator may require an owner or operator to obtain and submit three bids, provided that the administrator coordinates bid submission with the department. The administrator may require specific terms and conditions in a contract subject to approval.
The board shall have authority to contract for site cleanup reports. The board's responsibility for site cleanup reports is limited to those site cleanup reports subject to approval by the department of natural resources and required in connection with the remediation of a release which is eligible for benefits under section 455G.9. The site cleanup report shall address existing and available remedial technologies and the costs associated with the use of each technology. The board shall not have the authority to affect a contract which has been given written approval under this section.
3. Exclusive contracts. The administrator may enter into a contract or an exclusive contract with the supplier of goods or services required by a class of tank owners or operators in connection with an expense payable or reimbursable from the fund, to supply a specified good or service for a gross maximum price, fixed rate, on an exclusive basis, or subject to another contract term or condition reasonably calculated to obtain goods or services for the fund or for tank owners and operators at a reasonable cost. A contract may provide for direct payment from the fund to a supplier.
The administrator may retain, subject to board approval, an independent person to assist in the review of work required in connection with a release or tank system for which fund benefits are sought, and to establish prevailing cost of goods and services needed. Nothing in this section is intended to preempt the regulatory authority of the department.
4. Prior approval by administrator. Unless emergency conditions exist, a contractor performing services pursuant to this section shall have the budget for the work approved by the administrator prior to commencement of the work. No expense incurred which is above the budgeted amount shall be paid unless the administrator approves such expense prior to its being incurred. All invoices or bills shall be submitted with appropriate documentation as deemed necessary by the board, no later than thirty days after the work has been performed. Neither the board nor an owner or operator is responsible for payment for work incurred which has not been previously approved by the board.
90 Acts, ch 1235, § 40; 91 Acts, ch 252, §31, 32
Referred to in § 455G.4, 455G.9
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