Opinion Number

Dear Mr. Odom:

You have asked whether the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority (LAFA) may legally bid and contract for the construction of public works and the procurement of materials, supplies and services required for such construction, utilizing procedures different from the provisions of the Public Bid Law (La. R.S. 38:2211-2237) and the Louisiana Procurement Code (La. R.S. 39:1551-1755), by virtue of the express authority granted to LAFA by La. R.S. 3:266 and, more particularly, La. R.S. 3:266(14) and (21).

A fundamental rule of statutory interpretation is that the Legislature has…