18-1-203. Form of security. (1) (a) In all cases under 18-1-202(1), the bidder, offeror, or tenderer shall accompany any bid with either:

(i) lawful money of the United States;

(ii) a cashier's check, certified check, bank money order, or bank draft, in any case drawn and issued by a federally chartered or state-chartered bank insured by the federal deposit insurance corporation; or

(iii) a bid bond, guaranty bond, or surety bond executed by a surety corporation authorized to do business in the state of Montana. If a financial guaranty bond or surety bond is provided to secure the purchase of indebtedness, the long-term indebtedness of the company executing the financial guaranty bond or surety bond must carry an investment grade rating of one or more nationally recognized independent rating agencies.

(b) The public authority soliciting or advertising for bids may not require that a bid bond, guaranty bond, or surety bond provided for in subsection (1)(a)(iii) be furnished by a particular surety company or by a particular insurance producer for a surety company.

(2) The money or, in lieu of money, the bank instruments or bid bonds, financial guaranty bonds, or surety bonds must be payable directly to the public authority soliciting or advertising for bids.