Public contracts: bids: "or equal" materials or service.

Existing law prohibits, except in specified circumstances, a state agency, political subdivision, municipal corporation, district, or public officer responsible for letting a public works contract from drafting bid specifications for that contract in a manner that limits the bidding to any one concern or product, unless the specification is followed by the words "or equal." Existing law requires that these bid specifications provide a period of time prior to or after, or prior to and after, the award of the contract to allow the contractor to submit data that demonstrates that a concern or product to be provided under the contract is equal to the concern or product identified in the bid specification. This bill would prohibit these bid specifications from requiring a bidder to provide submission of data substantiating a request for a substitution of "an equal" item prior to the bid or proposal submission deadline.