Public contracts: Department of Water Resources.

Existing law provides that specified contracts entered into by any state agency for goods, services, or other specified activities, whether awarded through competitive bidding or not, are void unless and until approved by the Department of General Services, and approval shall be denied if the contract does not meet the required specifications of the bidding process. That law exempts certain transactions and contracts from that law, as specified. Existing law requires state agencies to secure at least 3 competitive bids for each contract and exempts specified contracts from this requirement. This bill would make those laws inapplicable to any contract entered into by the Department of Water Resources for the acquisition, sale, or transmission of power, or for related services, as specified. This bill would authorize the Department of Water Resources to award contracts for the acquisition of specialized equipment for facilities of the State Water Resources Development System, and would require the Department of Water Resources, in collaboration with the Department of General Services, to establish the conditions under which a contract in excess of $25,000 is awarded without the competitive bidding process, as specified. This bill would include in the list of exempt contracts that do not require 3 competitive bids, contracts for services for the operation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of specialized equipment at facilities of the State Water Resources Development System and other specified contracts entered into by the Department of Water Resources, as provided. This bill would require the Department of Water Resources to be governed by the laws regarding contracting for goods and services by state agencies, as prescribed.