(a) The department is authorized to contract with any local government to exercise on behalf of the local government such responsibility in connection with the planning, design, acquisition, construction, operation, management, and maintenance of a project of such local government, as is now or may be hereafter vested in the local government, and to provide to the local government goods or services of the department in connection with the planning, design, acquisition, construction, operation, management, and maintenance of any project of the local government, all as the parties to the contract may determine appropriate. Any such local government is authorized by such contract to delegate to the department all or such goods or services of the department in connection with the planning, design, acquisition, construction, operation, management, and maintenance of a project as the parties may by contract determine appropriate.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of Code Section 12-5-472, any such contract shall provide that the local government shall reimburse the department for all of the costs, liabilities, and expenses of the department incurred by the department in exercising such powers or providing such goods or services; and the department shall not directly or indirectly be liable for any liability, cost, or expense incurred by such local government in the acquisition, construction, operation, management, or maintenance of a project.