Section 20323.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the award of purchase contracts by the Sacramento Regional 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, vendor financing, performance reliability, standardization, life-cycle costs, delivery timetables, support logistics, and other similar factors in addition to price in the award of these contracts.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Regional Transit District may direct the purchase of (1) computers, telecommunications equipment, fare collection equipment, microwave equipment, and other related electronic equipment and apparatus; (2) specialized rail transit equipment, including, but not limited to, rail cars; and (3) electric powered transit vehicles, by competitive negotiation upon a finding by two-thirds vote of all members of the board of the district 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. Competitive negotiations may also be used for the purchase of replacement radio equipment, if the initial purchase of the radio equipment was done by competitive bidding. 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) Competitive negotiation, for the purposes of this section includes, but is not limited to, all of the following requirements:

(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 date for receipt of the proposals. The district 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 proposal is received.

(2) The request for proposal shall identify all 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) Prior to making an award, the district shall prepare a price analysis and shall find that the final negotiated price is fair and reasonable based upon comparable procurements in the marketplace.

(5) Award shall be made to the qualified proposer whose proposal will be most advantageous to the district with price and other factors considered. If award is not made to the proposer whose proposal contains the lowest price, the board shall make a finding setting forth the basis for the award.

(d) The district may reject any and all proposals and issue a new request for proposals at its discretion.

(e) Upon making an award to a qualified proposer, the district, 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 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. Protesters 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.

(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 250, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.)