Pub. Contract Code, § 21572

Any improvement or unit of work, except as provided in this article, estimated to cost in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000), shall be done by contract and let to the lowest responsible bidder in the manner provided in this article. The board of directors of the agency shall advertise by three insertions in a daily newspaper of general circulation or two insertions in a weekly newspaper of general circulation published in the agency, inviting sealed proposals for the construction of the work before any contract shall be made, and may let by contract separately any part of the work. The board shall require the successful bidder to file with the board good and sufficient bonds to be approved by the board, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the contract, and upon the payment of the claims for labor and material, the bonds to contain the terms and conditions set forth in Title 3 (commencing with Section 9000) of Part 6 of Division 4 of the Civil Code, and to be subject to the provisions of that title. The board shall also have the right to reject any and all bids, and readvertise for new bids, or by a two-thirds vote may elect to undertake the work by force account. In the event no proposals are received pursuant to advertisement, or where the estimated cost of such work does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), the board of directors by unanimous vote of all members present may without advertising for bids have the work done by force account. In case of an emergency, if notice for bids to let contracts will not be given, the board shall comply with Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 22050). The agency may purchase in the open market without advertisement for bids, materials and supplies for use in any work either under contract or by force account.