Except as provided otherwise in this chapter, every acquisition of goods in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) for any state agency shall be made by or under the supervision of the department. However, the state agency may specify the quality of the goods to be acquired. If the department determines that the quality specified by the agency is inconsistent with the statewide standards established by the director under Section 10307, it shall change the request to make it consistent with the standards, and it shall notify the state agency, within a reasonable time, before a contract is issued. If the agency is of the opinion the interests of the state would not be served by the acquisition of goods of a lesser quality or different than that specified by the agency, the
agency may request a hearing before the department and the department shall determine which goods will best serve the interests of the state, whereupon the department shall issue a contract for the goods specified by the department.