SECTION 1. "Subsection (b) of Section 1 of chapter 30B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following clause:

(3_) a contract for the maintenance, inspection, improvement, or repair of a water tank, tower, standpipe or any facility or structure for water storage for public water supply or fire protection.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, a governmental body may enter into a contract for the  maintenance, inspection, improvement, or repair  of a water tank, tower, standpipe or any facility or structure for water storage for public water supply or fire protection without said contract being subject to the competitive bid process as set forth in sections thirty-eight A1/2 to thirty-eight O, inclusive, of chapter seven, section thirty-nine M of chapter thirty, or sections forty-four A to forty-four J, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and forty-nine."

For the purposes of this act, "governmental body" shall be defined as any city, town, county, water district, fire district, authority or state agency located within the commonwealth; provided further that the term “governmental body” shall not mean the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA).

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.