(a)
When, in the opinion of the trustees, the work does not require the application of all of the provisions of this chapter in connection therewith, the trustees may carry out the project pursuant to this section if the estimated cost does not exceed the value of a minor capital outlay project for which, pursuant to Section 10108, the services of the Department of General Services are not required and a state agency or department is authorized to carry out its own project.
(b)
If the estimated total cost of any construction project or work carried out under this section exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000), the trustees shall solicit bids in writing and shall award the work to the lowest responsible bidder or reject all bids. The trustees may carry out work in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) under this section by day labor if the trustees deem that the award of a contract, the acceptance of bids, or the acceptance of further bids is not in the best interests of the state, but the amount of work performed by day labor under this section shall not exceed the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).