(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, when competitive bidding is
required, it shall be conducted generally as follows:
(1) The Commission shall cause a notice of
intent to receive bids to be published at least once in a newspaper of general
circulation in the county in which the lands, interest or project is located
and may have such notice published at least once in a newspaper of general
circulation in the City of Los Angeles, or San Francisco, or Sacramento. Such
notice shall specify the lands or interest (oil, gas or mineral lease;
easement; timber; land; etc. for sale or project (public works or consultant
contracts, oil, gas or mineral exploration, etc.) for bid, the time and place
for the receipt and opening of bids, and the availability of appropriate
approved bid packages and forms at the office of the Commission.
(2) The Commission shall at the specified
time and place publicly open or have opened the sealed bids and shall award the
highest or lowest responsible bidder, as appropriate, unless, in the opinion of
the Commission such award is not in the best interest of the State, in which
case the Commission may reject all existing bids and call for new ones or
terminate bidding.
(3) The
Commission shall have broad discretion as to whether a bidder is "responsible"
based on what it deems to be in the best interest of the State.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in the bid
instructions specifying a shorter period, and/or limiting the firm bid
requirement to a specific number of high or low bidders as appropriate, each
bid shall be a firm bid, irrevocable for a period not to exceed ninety (90)
days from the date of bid opening.
(b) Bidders shall bear all reasonable
expenses incurred by the Commission for bid processing and award including
costs of approval, advertising and environmental review, in accordance with
terms set forth in the approved bid package.
