California Public Contract Code (PCC) requires UC to competitively and publicly bid the purchase of goods and/or services that exceed $100,000 per annual year unless a statutory exception applies and that exception is documented in writing. This requirement for bidding also applies purchases made to support research from sponsored funds. The exceptions to the competitive bid requirement are interpreted narrowly and will rarely apply to ordinary goods and/or services.
Naming a contractor on a SPO proposal and award does not mean that supplier can perform the work without bidding out the requirements for ordinary goods and services ≥ $100,000 in an annual year. If goods and/or services need to be competitively bid, please contact your Buyer as early as possible about soliciting a Request for Proposal (RFP). An RFP may be issued prior to funding approval and may be made subject to the availability of funding.
Alternatively, identifying the type of goods or services by specifications and performance on the grant proposal rather than naming suppliers will allow researchers more flexibility after funding award to select the best supplier and comply with state contract code. Researchers may then work with their assigned buyer in Supply Chain Management to develop, solicit and advertise Request for Proposals. The researcher (and the evaluation team) may then evaluate and select a supplier according to the most advantageous balance of price, quality, service, performance and other elements as pre-defined by the researcher.
