(a) Notwithstanding the advertising and bidding provisions of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of this code and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10100) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, a state agency may award a contract for construction, including the erection, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any state structure, building, road, or other state improvement of any kind that has an estimated value of greater than five thousand dollars ($5,000) but less than the cost limit, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 10105 of the Public Contract Code, to a certified small business, including a microbusiness, or to a disabled veteran business enterprise, as long as the agency obtains written bid submittals from two or more certified small businesses, including microbusinesses, or from two or more disabled veteran business enterprises.

(b) In implementing subdivision (a), state agencies shall consider a responsive offer timely received from a responsible certified small business, including a microbusiness, or from a disabled veteran business enterprise.

(c) If the estimated cost to the state is less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the public work construction project, a state agency shall obtain at least two written bid submittals from responsible contractors whenever there is reason to believe a response from a single source is not a fair and reasonable price.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 62, Sec. 120. Effective January 1, 2004.)