SECTIONS 20230-20234 - California Statutes

PUBLIC CONTRACT CODE

SECTION 20230-20234

20230. The provisions of this article shall apply to contracts by
the Southern California Rapid Transit District, as provided for in
Part 3 (commencing with Section 30000) of Division 10 of the Public
Utilities Code.

20231.5. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the award of
purchase contracts by the Southern California Rapid Transit District
under competitive bid procedures may not be feasible for products and
materials which are undergoing rapid technological changes or for
the introduction of new technologies into district operations, and
that in these circumstances it is in the public interest to consider
the broadest possible range of competing products and materials
available, fitness of purpose, manufacturer's warranty, and other
similar factors in addition to price in the award of these contracts.
(b) This section applies only to the purchase by the district of
computers, telecommunications equipment, fare collection equipment,
microwave equipment, and other related electronic equipment and
apparatus, and of rail cars. This section does not apply to contracts
for construction or for the procurement of any product available in
substantial quantities to the general public.
(c) The board may, after a finding by a two-thirds vote that a
particular procurement qualifies under subdivision (b), direct that
the procurement be conducted through competitive negotiation under
this section. For purposes of this section, competitive negotiation
includes, but is not limited to, all of the following requirements:
(1) The request for proposals shall be prepared and submitted to
an adequate number of qualified sources, as determined by the board,
to permit reasonable competition consistent with the nature and
requirements of the procurement. In addition, notice of the request
for proposals shall be published at least twice in a newspaper of
general circulation, at least 10 days before the date for receipt of
the proposals. The board shall make every effort to generate the
maximum feasible number of proposals from qualified sources and shall
make a finding to that effect before proceeding to negotiate if only
a single response to the request for proposals is received.
(2) The request for proposals shall identify all significant
evaluation factors, including price, and their relative importance.
(3) The board shall provide reasonable procedures for technical
evaluation of the proposals received, identification of qualified
sources, and selection for contract award.
(4) Award shall be made to the qualified proposer whose proposal
will be most advantageous to the district, with price and all other
factors considered. If award is not made to the bidder whose proposal
contains the lowest price, the board shall make a finding setting
forth the basis for the award.
(d) The board may reject any and all proposals and request new
proposals, at its discretion.
(e) Upon making an award to a qualified proposer, the board, upon
request, shall make available to all other proposers and to the
public, an analysis of the award which provides the basis for the
selection of that particular qualified proposal.
(f) A person who submits, or who plans to submit, a proposal may
protest any acquisition conducted in accordance with this section as
follows:
(1) Protests based on the content of the request for proposals
shall be filed with the district within 10 calendar days after the
request for proposals is first advertised in accordance with
subdivision (c). The district shall issue a written decision on the
protest prior to the opening of proposals. A protest may be renewed
by refiling the protest with the district within 15 calendar days
after the mailing of the notice of the recommended award.
(2) Any bidder may protest the recommended award on any ground not
based upon the content of the request for proposals by filing a
protest with the district within 15 calendar days after the mailing
of the notice of the recommended award.
(3) Any protest shall contain a full and complete written
statement specifying in detail the grounds of the protest and the
facts supporting the protest. Protestors shall have an opportunity to
appear and be heard before the board prior to the opening of
proposals in the case of protests based on the content of the request
for proposals, or prior to final award in the case of protests based
on other grounds or the renewal of protests based on the content of
the request for proposals.
(g) Provisions in any contract concerning women and minority
business enterprises, which provisions are in accordance with the
request for proposals, shall not be subject to negotiation with the
successful bidder.

20232. If, after rejecting bids, the board determines and declares
by a vote of two-thirds of all its members that in its opinion the
supplies, equipment and materials may be purchased at a lower price
in the open market, the board may proceed to purchase the supplies,
equipment and materials in the open market without further observance
of the provisions requiring contracts, bids, or notice.

20233. In case of an emergency, the board may, by resolution passed
by a vote of two-thirds of all its members, declare and determine
that public interest and necessity demand the immediate expenditure
of public money to safeguard life, health, property, or the public
welfare, and thereupon proceed to expend or enter into a contract
involving the expenditure of any sum needed to respond to the
emergency without observance of the provisions requiring contracts,
bids, or notice. If notice for bids to let contracts will not be
given, the board shall also comply with Chapter 2.5 (commencing with
Section 22050).

20234. All bids for construction work shall be presented under
sealed cover and shall be accompanied by one of the following forms
of bidder's security:
(a) Cash.
(b) A cashier's check made payable to the district.
(c) A certified check made payable to the district.
(d) A bidder's bond executed by an admitted surety insurer, made
payable to the district.
Upon an award to the lowest bidder, the security of an
unsuccessful bidder shall be returned in a reasonable period of time,
but in no event shall that security be held by the district beyond
60 days from the time the award is made.