SB 1268: Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: competitive bidding: emergency equipment rental.

(a)As used in this section:

(1)CalFire means the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

(2)Emergency equipment rental agreement or EERA means a preincident equipment rental agreement entered into by CalFire and a private vendor that becomes binding after dispatch.

(b)Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 10340, an emergency equipment rental agreement is subject to the requirement of subdivision (a) of Section 10340 to secure at least three competitive bids or proposals for a contract.

(c)A prospective vendor for an EERA shall offer rental rates and terms to provide his or her own equipment to the state in the event of a fire or other emergency.

(d)The term of an EERA entered into on or after January 1, 2017, shall be for a 3-year period that commences on May 1. A vendor shall update his or her rental rates by May 1 of each year during the term of the agreement.

(e)Because the equipment needs of the state and the availability of vendor-offered equipment during an emergency incident cannot be determined in advance, there shall be no guarantee by the state of any actual rental of vendor-offered equipment, nor shall any vendor be required to furnish offered equipment under the EERA.

(f)CalFire employees, their family members, or any associate thereof participating in any financial venture with CalFire employees shall not participate in emergency equipment rental procurement.

(g)The department shall conduct the competitive bidding process on behalf of CalFire. The department shall ensure compliance with the Small Business Procurement and Contract Act (Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 14835) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) and the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program (Article 6 (commencing with Section 999) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code) for all prospective vendors claiming a preference.

(h)After all offers have been received, the department shall compile vendor lists of each bid item listing the low bidder first and each next highest bidder in succession, taking into account the bid preferences allowed under existing law.

(i)There shall be a separate bid item list for each size, type, and configuration of offered equipment. The department shall provide CalFire with copies of the completed lists.

(j)Any substitution, addition, or deletion of vendor-offered equipment shall be approved by the department prior to rental by the state.

(k)CalFire shall inspect vendor equipment, provide safety training for equipment operators, hire vendors from the department lists, provide adequate supervision of hired equipment, and process vendor invoices in a timely manner.

(l)When the need for rental equipment arises, CalFire shall contact vendors with an applicable EERA in succession, beginning with the low bidder and continuing on with each next highest bidder.

(m)CalFire shall conduct all hiring of emergency equipment vendors at a single centralized location, from which vendors may be subsequently dispatched. If CalFire determines it to be feasible, the hiring pursuant to this subdivision shall be at a emergency command center located in Sacramento. Nothing in this subdivision precludes CalFire from dispatching vendors from another location if CalFire maintains a single point of hire for all vendors.

(n)CalFire shall develop and implement an employee code of conduct with the following minimum requirements:

(1)CalFire shall develop a zero-tolerance policy for state employees who harass vendors or their personnel.

(2)CalFire shall develop a zero-tolerance policy for state employees accepting gratuities from vendors, or exhibiting favoritism towards vendors.