What can a governing body do if no bids are received after properly advertising on two occasions?

When a governing body properly advertises for bids on two occasions and receives no responses, the law allows them to enter into a negotiated contract. This approach provides a practical solution in situations where the bidding process does not yield any bidders, thus enabling the project to move forward rather than being stalled indefinitely.

Entering into a negotiated contract typically requires a majority vote of the governing body, which ensures that the decision has some level of democratic backing. This mechanism is essential in maintaining the balance between public interest and the need to complete necessary projects when the market does not respond to standard procurement processes.

The other options, while they may seem feasible, do not align with the legal framework that governs the bidding process in this scenario. Restarting the bidding process might not be effective if the circumstances that led to no bids remain unchanged. Submitting the issue to the voters may not be a practical step for operational matters normally handled by the governing body. Developing alternatives by reassessing project needs could be part of long-term planning but does not directly address the immediate concern of moving forward with a contract in the absence of bids. Thus, negotiating a contract with a majority vote is the most viable and legally supported option available in this situation.