(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to enable school districts to use cost-effective options for building and modernizing school facilities. The Legislature has recognized the merits of the best value procurement method process in the past by authorizing its use for projects undertaken by the University of California.

(b) The Legislature also finds and declares that school districts using the best value procurement method require a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each participant in the best value process. As reflected in the University of California report to the Legislature, the benefits of a best value procurement method include a reduction in contract delays, change orders, and claims producing a savings in both contract costs and administration.

Terms Used In California Public Contract Code 20119

  • Best value: means a procurement process whereby the selected bidder may be selected on the basis of objective criteria for evaluating the qualifications of bidders with the resulting selection representing the best combination of price and qualifications. See California Public Contract Code 20119.1
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Project: means the specific requirements and work to be accomplished by the job order contractor in connection with an individual job order. See California Public Contract Code 20919.21
  • School district: means the Los Angeles Unified School District. See California Public Contract Code 20119.1

(c) The Legislature further finds and declares that the best value procurement method has provided the benefits of more qualified contractors applying and an open dialogue on project approach, according to the Los Angeles Unified School District‘s final report to the Legislature from November 2019, titled “Los Angeles Unified School District, Final Report on Best Value Procurement Method.”

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide an optional, alternative procedure for bidding and building school construction projects.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 46, Sec. 1. (AB 1981) Effective January 1, 2021. Repealed as of January 1, 2026, pursuant to Section 20119.7.)