(a) As provided for in this article, when the University of California determines that it can expect long-term savings through the use of life-cycle cost methodology, the use of more sustainable goods and materials, and reduced administrative costs, the lowest responsible bidder may be selected on the basis of the best value to the university. In order to implement this method of selection, the Regents of the University of California shall adopt and publish policies and guidelines for evaluating bidders that ensure that best value selections by the university are conducted in a fair and impartial manner. These policies and guidelines shall conform to the requirements of subdivisions (c) and (d) and shall be applicable to the university when using best value as the bid evaluation methodology.

(b) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Best value” means the most advantageous balance of price, quality, service, performance, and other elements, as defined by the university, achieved through methods in accordance with this section and determined by objective performance criteria that may include price, features, long-term functionality, life-cycle costs, overall sustainability, and required services.

(2) “Best value agreement” means an agreement entered into pursuant to the provisions of this section.

(3) “Best value awardee” means the lowest responsible bidder or bidders that are awarded an agreement for goods, materials, or services that was awarded through the use of best value for the bid evaluation methodology.

(4) “Best value criteria” means those criteria set forth in subdivision (d).

(5) “University” means all current campuses and locations of the University of California, including the medical centers, the national laboratories, and any future University of California campuses and locations.

(c) (1) The university shall consider all of the following when adopting policies and guidelines pursuant to subdivision (a):

(A) Price and service proposals that reduce the university’s overall operating costs.

(B) Supply and material standards that support the university’s strategic sourcing initiatives.

(C) A procedure for bid protest and resolution.

(2) The university shall award a best value agreement as follows:

(A) The university shall evaluate bidders based solely upon the best value criteria set forth in the solicitation documents. Solicitation for bids shall describe the best value criteria that the university will consider in evaluating the bidders by overall category and by specific attributes.

(B) The university shall award the agreement to the lowest responsible bidder or bidders whose bid or bids are determined by the university to be the best value in terms of price, quality, service, and performance, and that meet the university’s requirements.

(C) Bid participants that are not awarded a best value agreement shall be notified in writing at the end of the agreement award process.

(d) For the purposes of this section, the university may take into consideration any of the following best value criteria when awarding a best value agreement for goods, materials, and services:

(1) The total cost to the university of its use or consumption of goods, materials, and services.

(2) The operational cost or benefit incurred by the university as a result of a contract award.

(3) The added value to the university, as defined in the request for proposal, of vendor-added services.

(4) The quality and effectiveness of goods, materials, and services.

(5) The use of more sustainable goods and materials in the manufacturing of the goods and materials and the packaging of these products.

(6) The reliability and timeliness of delivery and installation.

(7) The terms and conditions of product warranties, maintenance, and vendor guarantees.

(8) The vendor’s quality assurance, continuous improvement, and business resumption programs and their benefit to the university.

(9) The vendor’s experience with the timely provision of goods, materials, and services.

(10) The consistency of quality and availability of the vendor’s proposed supplies, materials, and services with the university’s overall procurement program.

(11) The economic benefits to the local community, including, but not limited to, job creation or retention and the support of small and local businesses.

(e) The university shall ensure that all businesses have a fair and equitable opportunity to compete for, and participate in, the university best value bids and shall also ensure that discrimination in the award and performance of the agreement does not occur on the basis of gender, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, or any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code, or retaliation for having filed a discrimination complaint or protest in the performance of university contractual obligations.

(f) This section applies solely to the procurement of goods, materials, or services and shall not apply to construction contracts.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in this article, this article is not intended to change in any manner any guideline, criteria, procedure, or requirement of the Regents of the University of California to let any contract for goods, materials, or services to the lowest responsible bidder meeting certain specifications or to reject all bids.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 725, Sec. 1. (AB 3186) Effective January 1, 2019.)