Section 18. Delegation.
For the public improvement projects specifically itemized in section 3(16), the Department of General Services may delegate the authority to construct, improve, equip, furnish, maintain, acquire or operate such projects to the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, at its discretion and subsequent to the aforementioned delegation, may contract with one or more of the tenant companies leasing or operating port facilities at the Port of Philadelphia for the purpose of constructing, improving, equipping, furnishing, maintaining, acquiring or operating the public improvement projects specifically itemized in section 3(16). Any project itemized in section 3(16) delegated to the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority for which the authority contracts with a tenant company for the purpose of constructing, improving, equipping, furnishing, maintaining, acquiring or operating the project shall be exempt from the first paragraph of section 1 of the act of May 1, 1913 (P.L.155, No.104), entitled "An act regulating the letting of certain contracts for the erection, construction, and alteration of public buildings," and the provisions of the act of March 3, 1978 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Steel Products Procurement Act, and any provisions of law requiring the bidding of projects.