Section 1475-G. Construction contracts

1. The authority shall let contracts
  for  construction  in  the  same  manner,  so  far as practicable, as is
  provided by law for  contracts  of  the  city,  except  that  where  the
  estimated  expense  of a contract does not exceed five thousand dollars,
  such contract may be entered into without  public  letting.  Nothing  in
  this  section  shall be construed to limit the power of the authority to
  do any construction directly by the officers, agents  and  employees  of
  the authority.
    2.  For  the  purposes of article fifteen-A of the executive law only,
  the authority shall be deemed a state agency as that  term  is  used  in
  such  article,  and all contracts for procurement, design, construction,
  services and materials  shall  be  deemed  state  contracts  within  the
  meaning of that term as set forth in such article.