All work of any character whatever performed by the board under the authority of this act, except as hereinafter provided, in connection with any State public flood control works and improvements, involving an expenditure of more than a base amount of eighteen thousand five hundred dollars subject to adjustment under section 10.1,¹ shall be performed under written contract let by the board to the lowest responsible bidder after due advertisement as prescribed by the board; except, however, that the board may, with the approval of the Governor, enter into contracts or agreements, without advertisement, with any person, corporation or municipality, covering the removal or relocation of gas, water, and telephone, telegraph, electric light, and electric power lines, highways, railroads, or other facilities, and providing therein for said removal or relocation by the person, corporation or municipality owning such facility. The board may, with the approval of the Governor, acquire any necessary easements and rights-of-way and may pay all costs and damages necessary, arising from and incidental to said removal or relocation. Payment shall be made from the General Fund Appropriations for Flood Control Projects.

The board may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of all property, real, personal or mixed, acquired under the provisions of this act, not needed by the Commonwealth for reservoir or flood control purposes, subject to the approval of the Governor. The moneys received through such sale, lease or other disposition shall accrue to the General Fund.

Every contract for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, improvement or maintenance of public works shall comply with the provisions of the act of March 3, 1978 (P.L. 6, No. 3),² known as the “Steel Products Procurement Act.”