Procurement limits for mass transportation authorities

(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary and subject to the conditions in subsection (b), a local transportation organization as defined in 74 Pa.C.S. § 1301 (relating to definitions) which is a recipient of Federal funds for transportation purposes is permitted, at the option of its governing board, to use the "simplified acquisition procedures" of section 31 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. § 427) for procurement up to the "simplified acquisition threshold" as that term is defined in section 4 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. § 403). (b) Conditions.-- (1) A proposed purchase of contract for an amount above the simplified acquisition threshold may not be divided into several purchases or contracts for lesser amounts in order to use the simplified acquisition procedures permitted by subsection (a). (2) In using simplified acquisition procedures, a local transportation organization shall promote competition to the maximum extent practicable. (3) The simplified acquisition procedures used by a local transportation organization shall comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulations concerning simplified acquisition procedures described in 48 CFR Ch. 1 Pt. 13.