R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-13.1-10: Procurement of toll facilities.

Without limiting any right of the department to award contracts under any other law, the department shall have the right to procure toll facilities through contracts aggregating the services of design, engineering, construction, finance, operations, maintenance, or any combination of the foregoing. Notwithstanding any requirement of law to the contrary, the department may award such contracts on the basis of competitive negotiation in accordance with § 37-2-19. Such contracts may include availability payments or any other compensation structure determined appropriate by the department to further the objectives of this chapter.