ARTICLE 21.5. Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District [20355. - 20355.7.]

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC 21.5.

in effect

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 20355. Section 20355.

The provisions of this article shall apply to contracts by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District, as provided for in Part 16 (commencing with Section 105000) of Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 20355.1. Section 20355.1.

(a) The purchase of all supplies, equipment, and materials, when the expenditure required exceeds seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000), shall be by contract let to the lowest responsible bidder, or, in the district’s discretion, to the responsible bidder who submitted a proposal that provides the best value to the district on the basis of the factors identified in the solicitation. “Best value” means the overall combination of quality, price, and other elements of a proposal that, when considered together, provide the greatest overall benefit in response to the requirements described in the solicitation documents. (b) To the extent practicable, the district shall obtain a minimum of three quotations, either written or oral, that permit prices and terms to be compared whenever the expected expenditure required for the purchase of supplies, equipment, or materials exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), but does not exceed seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000). (c) The construction of facilities and works when the expenditure required exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000) shall be by contract let to the lowest responsible bidder. (d) Notice requesting bids shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation. This publication shall be made at least 10 days before the bids are received. The district may reject any and all bids and readvertise in its discretion.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 20355.2. Section 20355.2.

If after rejecting bids the district determines that the supplies, equipment, and materials may be purchased at a lower price in the open market, the district may proceed to purchase the supplies, equipment, and materials in the open market without further observance of the provisions requiring contracts, bids, or notice.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 20355.3. Section 20355.3.

In case of an emergency, the board may, by resolution passed by a two-thirds vote of all its members, declare and determine that public interest and necessity demand the immediate expenditure of public money to safeguard life, health, or property, and thereupon proceed to expend or enter into a contract involving the expenditure of any sum needed in 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).

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 20355.4. Section 20355.4.

(a) Upon determining that immediate remedial measures are necessary to avert or alleviate damage to property of the district or to repair or restore damaged or destroyed property of the district in order to ensure that the facilities of the district are available to serve the transportation needs of the general public, and upon determining that available remedial measures, including procurement in compliance with Sections 20355, 20355.1, 20355.2, and 20355.3 are inadequate, the general manager may authorize the expenditure of money previously appropriated specifically by the board for the direct purchases of goods and services, without observance of the provisions of those sections. (b) The general manager shall, after any such expenditure, submit to the board a full report explaining the necessity for the action.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 20355.5. Section 20355.5.

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.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 20355.6. Section 20355.6.

Notwithstanding Section 20355.1, and upon a finding by two-thirds of all members of the board that the proposed purchase in compliance with Sections 20355.1 and 20355.2 does not constitute a method of procurement adequate for the operation of district facilities or equipment, the board may direct the procurement of prototype equipment or modifications in an amount sufficient to conduct and evaluate operational testing without further observance of any provisions requiring contracts, bids, or notice.

Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 20355.7. Section 20355.7.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing board of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District may direct the purchase of (1) electronic equipment, including, but not limited to, computers, telecommunications equipment, fare collection equipment, radio and microwave equipment, and other related electronic equipment and apparatus used in rail transit operations; and (2) specialized rail transit equipment, including, but not limited to, rail cars, by competitive negotiation upon a finding by two-thirds of all members of the board that the purchase of that equipment in compliance with provisions of this code generally applicable to the purchase does not constitute a method of procurement adequate for the district’s needs. This section does not apply to contracts for construction or for the procurement of any product available in substantial quantities to the general public. (b) Competitive negotiation, for the purposes of this section, shall include, as a minimum, all of the following elements: (1) A request for proposal shall be prepared and submitted to an adequate number of qualified sources, as determined by the district in its discretion, to permit reasonable competition consistent with the nature and requirements of the procurement. In addition, notice of the request for proposal shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation, which publication shall be made at least 10 days before the proposals are received. The district shall make reasonable efforts 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 proposal is received. (2) The request for proposal shall identify significant evaluation factors, including price, and their relative importance. (3) The district shall provide reasonable procedures for technical evaluation of the proposals received, identification of qualified sources, and selection for contract award. (4) The award shall be made to the qualified bidder whose proposal will be most advantageous to the district with price and other factors considered. If the 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. (c) The board may reject any and all proposals and request new proposals at its discretion. (d) 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 proposal shall be filed with the district within 10 calendar days after the request for proposal is first advertised in accordance with subdivision (b). 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, 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. (e) 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.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026