17-6-325. Preference of Montana labor. Any contract to construct a project financed pursuant to this part must require all contractors to give preference to the employment of bona fide Montana residents, as defined in 18-2-401, in the performance of the work on the projects if their qualifications are substantially equal to those of nonresidents. "Substantially equal qualifications" means the qualifications of two or more persons among whom the employer cannot make a reasonable determination that the qualifications held by one person are significantly better suited for the position than the qualifications held by the other persons.