When construction contracts are awarded, labor, material, and performance payment bonds may be required at the option of the Town and in all cases where the contract price exceeds the sum of $50,000. These bonds, in such instances, shall be written by an acceptable surety company licensed in South Carolina and meet the requirements for issuing such bonds in accordance with South Carolina law.
Bonds shall guarantee the performance by the bidder. The successful bidder shall provide bonds in accordance with the contract in an amount equal to or greater than 100% for contracts of $50,000 or greater. All contract bonds shall be for a period of not less than one year from the date of the final payment.
The Town reserves the right to request bonds for projects under $50,000, if it is in the best interest of the Town to do so. Such requirement will be reflected within the bidding documents.
In lieu of corporate surety, material, labor, and performance payment bonds, the successful bidder may request to post certified funds with the Town in such amounts as may be agreed upon by the Town Administrator and which funds shall be held in accordance with the terms as agreed upon between the Town and the successful bidder. Prior to approval of such request for bond alternate, a determination in writing must be made as to why the request should be granted, the overall project risk and the responsibility of the offeror which has requested such an alternate, or any other factors which may weigh heavily on granting such an approval.
Every person who has furnished labor or material to the contractor or its subcontracts for the work specified in the contract, in respect of which a payment bond is furnished under this section, and who has not been paid in full before the expiration of a period of 90 days after the day on which the last of the labor was performed by such person or material was furnished or supplied by such person for which such claim is made; shall have the right to sue on the payment bond for the amount, or the balance thereof, unpaid at the time of institution of such suit, and to prosecute such action for the sum or sums justly due such person. Any person having a direct contractual relationship with a subcontractor of the contractor, but no contractual relationship expressed or implied with the contractor furnishing such payment bond, shall have a right of action on the payment bond, upon giving written notice to the contractor within 90 days from the date on which such person did or performed the last of the labor or furnished or supplied the last of the material upon which such claim is made, stating with substantial accuracy the amount claimed and the name of the party to whom the material was furnished or supplied or for whom the labor was done or performed. Such written notice to the contractor shall be personally served or served by mailing the same by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, in an envelope addressed to the contractor at any place the contractor maintains an office or conducts its business.
Every suit instituted upon a payment bond shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction for the county or circuit in which the construction contract was to be performed, but no such suit shall be commenced after the expiration of one year after the day on which the last of the labor was performed or material was supplied by the person bringing suit. The obligee named in the bond need not be joined as a party in any such suit.