Article 53. Fire Protection Districts of California Public Contract Code >> Division 2. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 53.
The provisions of this article shall apply to contracts by
fire protection districts as provided for in the Fire Protection
District Law pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 13000)
of the Health and Safety Code.
When a district board determines that it is in the public
interest, a district may contract with any other public agency for
fire protection services, rescue services, emergency medical
services, hazardous material emergency response services, ambulance
services, and any other emergency services for the protection of
lives and property.
(a) A district board may contract for special services.
These contracts shall be with persons specially trained, experienced,
expert, and competent to perform the special services. The special
services shall be limited to the fields of accounting,
administration, ambulance, architecture, custodial, economics,
engineering, finance, insurance, labor relations, law, maintenance,
mechanics, medicine, planning, science, technology, and other
services which are incidental to the operation of the district.
(b) In the case of a district which has a final budget in excess
of one million dollars ($1,000,000), the district shall follow the
contracting and purchasing procedures which apply to the county
government of its principal county or the procedures in subdivision
(c).
(c) In the case of a district which has a final budget less than
one million dollars ($1,000,000), the district shall follow the
procedures of this subdivision.
(1) When the expenditure required for the service contract exceeds
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), it shall be contracted for
and let to the lowest responsible bidder. If two or more bids are the
same and the lowest, the district board may accept the one it
chooses.
(2) The notice inviting bids shall set a date for the opening of
bids. The first publication or posting of the notice shall be at
least 10 days before the date of opening the bids. Notice shall be
published at least twice, at least five days apart, in a newspaper of
general circulation in the district, or if there is none, it shall
be posted in at least three public places in the district. The notice
shall distinctly state the service to be performed.
(3) The district board may reject any bids. If the district board
rejects all bids, it may either readvertise or adopt a resolution, by
two-thirds vote, declaring that the service can be performed more
economically by the district's employees or obtained at a lower price
in the open market. Upon adoption of the resolution, the district
board may undertake the service contract without further complying
with this section.
(4) If no bids are received, the district board may undertake the
service contract without further complying with this section.
(5) In the case of an emergency, the district board shall respond
to the emergency pursuant to Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section
22050) if notice for bids to let contracts will not be given.
(a) All contracts for the construction or completion of any
building, structure, or improvement, when the expenditure required
for the work exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), shall be
contracted for and let to the lowest responsible bidder after notice.
If two or more bids are the same and the lowest, the district board
may accept the one it chooses.
(b) The notice inviting bids shall set a date for the opening of
bids. The first publication or posting of the notice shall be at
least 10 days before the date of opening the bids. Notice shall be
published at least twice, not less than five days apart, in a
newspaper of general circulation in the district, or if there is
none, it shall be posted in at least three public places in the
district. The notice shall distinctly state the work to be done.
(c) In its discretion, the district board may reject any bids
presented and readvertise.
(d) In the case of an emergency, the district board may act
pursuant to Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 22050).
(e) The district board may, subject to the provisions of Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 9550) of Title 3 of Part 6 of Division 4 of
the Civil Code, require the posting of those bonds it deems
desirable as a condition to the filing of a bid or the letting of a
contract.
(f) Cost records of the work shall be kept in the manner provided
in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 5 of Title 1
of the Government Code.