(a) The department may establish an electronic bidding system for highway construction and maintenance contracts.
(b) The system must permit a qualified vendor to electronically submit a bid, including any contract, signature, or verification of a guaranty check by a financial institution.
(c) That part of Section 223.004(a) requiring a bid to be opened at a public hearing of the commission does not apply to an electronically submitted bid. A copy of each electronically submitted bid shall be publicly posted within 48 hours after bids are opened.
(d) After the electronic bidding system is established, the department shall take the actions necessary to recover the department's costs of manually processing bids from a person who does not submit an electronic bid.