Indiana Code Title 36. Local Government § 36-1-12-3

Sec. 3. (a) The board may purchase or lease materials in the manner provided in IC 5-22 and perform any public work, by means of its own workforce, without awarding a contract whenever the cost of that public work project is estimated to be less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000).  Before a board may perform any work under this section by means of its own workforce, the political subdivision or agency must have a group of employees on its staff who are capable of performing the construction, maintenance, and repair applicable to that work.  For purposes of this subsection, the cost of a public work project includes:

(b) This subsection applies only to a municipality or a county.  The workforce of a municipality or county may perform a public work described in subsection (a) only if:

A public work project performed by a board's own workforce must be inspected and accepted as complete in the same manner as a public work project performed under a contract awarded after receiving bids.

(c) When the project involves the rental of equipment with an operator furnished by the owner, or the installation or application of materials by the supplier of the materials, the project is considered to be a public work project and subject to this chapter.  However, an annual contract may be awarded for equipment rental and materials to be installed or applied during a calendar or fiscal year if the proposed project or projects are described in the bid specifications.

(d) A board of aviation commissioners or an airport authority board may purchase or lease materials in the manner provided in IC 5-22 and perform any public work by means of its own workforce and owned or leased equipment, in the construction, maintenance, and repair of any airport roadway, runway, taxiway, or aircraft parking apron whenever the cost of that public work project is estimated to be less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000).

(e) Municipal and county hospitals must comply with this chapter for all contracts for public work that are financed in whole or in part with cumulative building fund revenue, as provided in section 1(c) of this chapter.  However, if the cost of the public work is estimated to be less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), as reflected in the board minutes, the hospital board may have the public work done without receiving bids, by purchasing the materials and performing the work by means of its own workforce and owned or leased equipment.

(f) If a public works project involves a structure, an improvement, or a facility under the control of a department (as defined in IC 4-3-19-2(2)), the department may not artificially divide the project to bring any part of the project under this section.