Ark. Code Ann. § 14-164-419: Contract requirements

(a) All services provided by a qualified efficiency engineer in completing a performance-based efficiency project pursuant to a qualified efficiency contract, including, but not limited to, the procurement of any goods and services in connection with the performance-based efficiency project, shall be considered professional services under § 19-11-801 et seq.

(b) An issuer's engagement of a qualified efficiency engineering company and execution of a qualified efficiency contract in favor of a qualified efficiency engineering company shall be subject to § 19-11-801 et seq., but shall be exempt from all competitive bidding statutes, including, but not limited to, § 14-43-601 et seq., § 14-47-101 et seq., § 14-48-101 et seq., § 14-54-301 et seq., § 14-54-401 et seq., § 14-58-301 et seq., § 14-141-101 et seq., the General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law, § 19-4-101 et seq., § 19-11-101 et seq., § 22-1-201 et seq., the Building Authority Division Act, § 22-2-101 et seq., § 22-3-202 et seq., § 22-4-101 et seq., § 22-5-101 et seq., § 22-6-101 et seq., § 22-7-101 et seq., § 22-8-101 et seq., and § 22-9-101 et seq.