(a) All bonds of the authority shall be sold at public competitive bidding at a price of not less than par plus accrued interest to date of delivery, provided that the authority may obligate itself to deliver any given issue of bonds to the purchasers thereof within any reasonable period of time after the sale and may pay as a penalty for delay in such delivery such reasonable sums as may be agreed upon in advance in writing with the purchasers. All bonds of the authority shall be advertised and offered prior to the fixing of the interest rates thereon; and bids thereon shall be competitive as to the interest rate offered by each bidder, provided that as to any issue of bonds the authority may make rules limiting the number of divisions into which the bonds of various maturity dates may be divided and the number and percentage spreads of the different interest rates which may be bid to apply to such divisions of the bonds. The authority may require reasonable security for the performance of the contract of purchase of any successful bidder at any public competitive bidding held.

(b) Such bonds shall be dated, shall bear interest determined as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, and shall be payable as to both principal and interest in such manner as may be determined by the authority. The principal of and interest on such bonds shall be payable solely from the special fund provided in this article for such payment.

(c) Such bonds shall mature not more than 25 years from the date of such bonds. They may be made redeemable before maturity, at the option of the authority, at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the authority in the resolution providing for the issuance of the bonds.