(a) The department shall enter into contracts with counties under this article, and shall be bound by the rates, terms, and conditions negotiated by the negotiator.
(b) In implementing this article, the department may enter into contracts for the provision of essential administrative and other services.
(c) Contracts under this article may be on a nonbid basis and shall be exempt from the provisions of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of the Public Contract Code.