Opinion No. 39-3194
June 27, 1939
TO: Mr. C. E. Needham, President, New Mexico School of Mines, Socorro, New Mexico.
{*72} In your letter dated June 26, you inquire whether in the printing of bulletins by the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources compliance is required with Chapter 233, New Mexico Session Laws of 1939, the so-called public purchases act.
I doubt seriously if bulletins of the type mentioned in your letter were contemplated to be covered by the 1939 act. Your situation is, however, specifically covered by Chapter 168, New Mexico Session Laws of 1937, relating to the letting of contracts for printing and printed supplies by the State of New Mexico and the political subdivisions thereof.
The 1937 act is a special act covering specifically the purchase of printing and printed supplies, whereas the 1939 act is a general act applying to goods generally and no mention is therein made specifically of printing.
In view of the foregoing I believe that all that is required of you is that you comply with the provisions of Chapter 168, Laws of 1937. A call for bids would, however, be a safe practice, at least as a matter of policy.
By: FRED J. FEDERICI,
Asst. Atty. Gen.