(a) The Legislature finds and declares that (1) because of the highly specialized and unique nature of all rail transit equipment, (2) because of products and materials which are undergoing rapid technological changes, and (3) for the introduction of new technological changes into the operations of the commission, it may be in the public interest to consider, in addition to price, factors such as vendor financing, performance reliability, standardization, life-cycle costs, delivery timetables, support logistics, and the broadest possible range of competing products and materials available, fitness of purchase, manufacturer’s warranty, and similar factors in the award of contracts for these vehicles and equipment.

(b) This section applies only to the purchase by the commission of (1) specialized rail transit equipment, including rail cars, and (2) computers, telecommunications equipment, fare collections equipment, microwave equipment, and other related electronic equipment and apparatus. 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) The commission may, after finding by a two-thirds vote of all of its members that a particular procurement qualifies under subdivision (b), direct that the procurement be conducted through competitive negotiation under this section. For purposes of this section, competitive negotiation includes, but is not limited to, all of the following requirements:

(1) The request for proposals shall be prepared and submitted to an adequate number of qualified sources, as determined by the commission, to permit reasonable competition consistent with the nature and requirement of the procurement.

(2) Notice of the request for proposals shall be published at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation, at least 10 days before the date for receipt of the proposals.

(3) The commission 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 proposals is received.

(4) The request for proposals shall identify all significant evaluation factors, including price, and their relative importance.

(5) The commission shall provide reasonable procedures for technical evaluation of the proposals received, identification of qualified sources, and selection for contract award.

(6) Award shall be made to the qualified proposer whose proposal will be most advantageous to the commission with price and all other factors considered.

(7) If award is not made to the bidder whose proposal contains the lowest price, the commission shall make a finding setting forth the basis for the award.

(d) The commission, at its discretion, may reject any and all proposals and request new proposals.

(e) 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 commission within 10 calendar days after the request for proposals is first advertised in accordance with subdivision (c). The commission shall issue a written decision on the protest prior to opening of proposals. A protest may be renewed by refiling the protest with the commission 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 commission 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. Protestors shall have an opportunity to appear and be heard before the commission 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.

(f) 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. 1990, Ch. 591, Sec. 4.)