53 Pa. Stat. § 14201
Before the erection, construction, extension, alteration, or improvement of the wharves, piers, bulkheads, docks, slips, basins, or harbor structures, in and upon or about the property owned by said cities, the director shall prepare full and minute plans and specifications for such work, and advertise for proposals for doing such work under said plans and according to such specifications, in the same manner as is prescribed by law for obtaining proposals and letting contracts for public works in said cities: Provided, That in an emergency the director is authorized, without advertising for bids, to undertake and complete any work of construction or repairs the cost of which shall not, in any particular case, exceed one thousand dollars.
53 P.S. § 14201