(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Nonresident bidder” means a bidder whose principal office is outside the State.
(3) “Preference” includes:
(i) a percentage preference;
(ii) an employee residency requirement; or
(iii) any other provision that favors a resident over a nonresident.
(4) “Resident bidder” means a bidder whose principal office is in the State.
(b) When a political subdivision or an instrumentality of government in the State uses competitive bidding to award a procurement contract, the political subdivision or instrumentality may give a preference to the resident bidder who submits the lowest responsive bid of any resident bidder if:
(1) the resident bidder is a responsible bidder;
(2) a responsible nonresident bidder submits the lowest responsive bid of all bidders; and
(3) the state in which the nonresident bidder’s principal office is located gives a preference to its residents.
(c) A preference under this section shall be identical to the preference that the state in which the nonresident bidder’s principal office is located gives to its residents.