CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2237

Introduced by Assembly Member Berman

February 13, 2020

An act to amend Section 131285 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2237, as introduced, Berman. Bay area county transportation authorities: contracting.
The Bay Area County Traffic and Transportation Funding Act authorizes each of the 9 counties in the bay area to impose a 1/2 of 1% or 1% sales tax for transportation purposes, subject to voter approval. Existing law provides for the establishment of a county transportation authority in each county imposing a sales tax under these provisions, requires the development of a county transportation expenditure plan, and specifies the powers and duties of a county board of supervisors and the county transportation authority in this regard. Existing law requires each county transportation authority to award contracts for the purchase of supplies, equipment, and materials in excess of $75,000 to the lowest responsible bidder after competitive bidding, except in an emergency declared by the vote of 2/3 of the voting membership of the county transportation authority.
This bill would require each county transportation authority to award contracts for the purchase of supplies, equipment, and materials in excess of $150,000, rather than $75,000, either to the lowest responsible bidder or to the responsible bidder whose proposal provides the best value, as defined, on the basis of the factors identified in the solicitation, except in a declared emergency, as specified.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 131285 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

131285.
 Contracts (a) The county transportation authority shall, after competitive bidding, award a contract for the purchase of supplies, equipment, and materials in excess of seventy-five one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($75,000) shall be awarded ($150,000) either to the lowest responsible bidder after competitive bidding, or to the responsible bidder whose proposal provides the best value on the basis of the factors identified in the solicitation, except in an emergency declared by the vote of two-thirds of the voting membership of the county transportation authority.
(b) For purposes of this section, “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 requirements described in the solicitation documents.