Section 20. Work done by special order

The  commissioner  of general
  services   shall   determine   when   minor   work   of    construction,
  reconstruction,  alteration  or repair of any state building may be done
  by special order. Special orders  for  such  work  shall  be  short-form
  contracts  approved  by  the attorney general and by the comptroller. No
  work shall be done by special order in an  amount  in  excess  of  fifty
  thousand dollars and a bond shall not be required for special orders. No
  work  shall  be  done  by  special  order  unless  the  commissioner has
  presented to the comptroller evidence that he has made a diligent effort
  to obtain competition sufficient to protect the interests of  the  state
  prior  to  selecting the contractor to perform the work. Notwithstanding
  the provisions of subdivision two of section eight of this chapter, work
  done by special order  under  this  section  may  be  advertised  solely
  through the regular public notification service of the office of general
  services.  At least five days shall elapse between the first publication
  of  such  public notice and the date so specified for the public opening
  of bids.    All  payments  on  special  orders  shall  be  made  on  the
  certificate  of  the  commissioner  of  general services and audited and
  approved by the state comptroller. All special orders  shall  contain  a
  clause  that  the  special  order  shall only be deemed executory to the
  extent of the moneys available and no liability shall be incurred by the
  state beyond the moneys available for the purpose.