Md. Code, Local Government § 12–532

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, Cecil County shall

obtain the following by competitively bid contract awarded to the lowest responsive

and responsible bidder:

(1) the building or repair of a road; and

(2) the purchase or lease of road or construction equipment or

machinery.

(b) (1) The governing body of Cecil County shall advertise for bids on a

contract under subsection (a) of this section in at least one newspaper of general

circulation in the county.

(2) The advertisement shall:

(i) appear at least once;

(ii) appear at least 1 week, but not more than 30 days, before

the final date for submitting bids;

(iii) if the contract relates to building or repairing a road, set

forth the place where the road is to be built or repaired;

(iv) include a description of the goods or services required

under the contract;

(v) state that sealed bids for goods or services will be received

until the date designated in the advertisement; and

(vi) designate a date for the opening of the bids.

(c) (1) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to an

expenditure that:

(i) is $10,000 or less; or

(ii) the governing body of Cecil County by a recorded majority

vote taken at a public meeting declares to be an emergency expenditure.

(2) For an expenditure under this subsection, the governing body

may determine:

(i) the manner of providing for the expenditure; and

(ii) if the building or repair is by contract, the manner in which

the contract is awarded.

(d) (1) A contract entered into in violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this

section is void, unless:

(i) a court determines in a judicial action that all parties acted

in good faith; and

(ii) the parties have substantially complied with the provisions

of subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

(2) If a contract is void under this subsection, the governing body of

Cecil County shall compensate the contractor for costs actually incurred if the

contractor:

(i) acted in good faith;

(ii) did not directly contribute to the violation; and

(iii) did not know of the violation.

(e) A person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor

and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.