Contracts for construction of improvements, sealed bids.

All contracts let, awarded or entered into by the district for the construction, reconstruction or acquisition or improvement of a water system or a sewer system or both or any part thereof, if the amount thereof shall exceed $1,000, shall be awarded only after public advertisement and call for sealed bids therefor, in a newspaper published in the county circulating in the district, or, if there be no such newspaper, then in a newspaper published in the state and circulating in the district, such advertisement to be published at least once at least 3 weeks before the date set for the receipt of such bids. Such advertisements for bids in addition to the other necessary and pertinent matter shall state in general terms the nature and description of the improvement or improvements to be undertaken and shall state that detailed plans and specifications for such work are on file for inspection in the office of the district clerk and copies thereof shall be furnished to any interested party upon payment of reasonable charges to reimburse the district for its expenses in providing such copies. The award shall be made to the responsible and competent bidder or bidders who shall offer to undertake the improvements at the lowest cost to the district and such bidder or bidders shall be required to file bond for the full and faithful performance of such work and the execution of any such contract in such amount as the district board shall determine, and in all other respects the letting of such construction contracts shall comply with applicable provisions of the general laws relating to the letting of public contracts. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the district from hiring or retaining such consulting engineers, attorneys, financial experts or other technicians as it shall determine, in its discretion, or from undertaking any construction work with its own resources, without any such public advertisement.