Section 10340.
Cal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 10340.
in effect(a)
Except as provided by subdivision (b), a state agency shall secure at least three competitive bids or proposals for each contract.
(b)
Three competitive bids or proposals are not required in any of the following cases:
(1)
In cases of an emergency where a contract is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, or safety, or protection of state property.
(2)
When the state agency awarding the contract has advertised the contract in the California State Contracts Register and has solicited all potential contractors known to the state agency, but has received less than three bids or proposals.
(3)
(A)
The contract is with another state agency, a local governmental entity, an auxiliary organization of the California State University, an auxiliary organization of a California community college, a foundation organized to support the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, or an auxiliary organization of the Student Aid Commission established pursuant to Section 69522 of the Education Code. These contracts, however, shall not be used to circumvent the competitive bidding requirements of this article.
(B)
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), until January 1, 2020, an interagency agreement that is in effect pursuant to an amount appropriated to the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine, including a contract with the Regents of the University of California or an auxiliary organization of the California State University, may
include a subcontract not subject to any competitive bidding requirements of this article for the limited purpose of researching or developing precision medicine.
(4)
The contract meets the conditions prescribed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10348.
(5)
The contract has been awarded without advertising and calling for bids pursuant to Section 19404 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(6)
A contract entered into pursuant to Section 14838.5 of the Government Code.
(7)
A contract for the development, maintenance, administration, or use of licensing or proficiency testing examinations.
(8)
The contract is for services for the operation, maintenance, repair, or
replacement of specialized equipment at facilities of the State Water Resources Development System, as defined in Section 12931 of the Water Code, and meets the conditions established by the Department of Water Resources for those contracts.
(9)
The contract meets the conditions prescribed by the Department of Water Resources for contracts subject to Section 10295.6.
(10)
A contract entered into by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training or the Office of Emergency Services solely for the services of instructors for public safety training. For the purpose of this paragraph, “public safety training” includes, but is not limited to, training related to law enforcement, emergency medical response, emergency volunteers, and fire responders.
(11)
A contract entered into by the Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection for the purpose of providing logistical support for large-scale prescribed fire operations, including, but not limited to, meals, lodging, hired equipment, and land use agreements, or any related subcontract.
(c)
A state agency that has received less than three bids or proposals on a contract shall document, in a manner prescribed by the department, the names and addresses of the firms or individuals it solicited for bids or proposals.
References
referencesCal. Education Code - EDC § 69522.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 19404.
referencesCal. Government Code - GOV § 14838.5.
referencesCal. Water Code - WAT § 12931.
referencesCal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 10348.
referencesCal. Public Contract Code - PCC § 10295.6.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026