Notwithstanding any other provision of law, counties, a city and county, and state agencies may enter into and make payment on contracts by way of electronic transmission, including, but not limited to, the issuance of solicitation documents, and the receipt of responses thereto.
Administrative ProvisionsElectronic Transmissions
Section § 1600
This law allows counties, cities, and state agencies in California to handle contracts electronically. They can send out documents asking for bids and receive responses back through electronic means, like email or online platforms.
electronic contracts counties city and county
Section § 1601
This law allows public entities to set up online systems for handling bids and related documents for public works contracts. They can accept electronic bids as long as these bids stay confidential until the deadline and are verifiable. Public entities can also receive electronic supporting materials like payment requests and schedules. If they use online submissions, they must give contractors a receipt showing the time and date of the submission, either by sending it directly or making it accessible online for viewing and printing.
(a)CA Public Contract Code § 1601(a) Any public entity may adopt methods and procedures to do any of the following:
(1)CA Public Contract Code § 1601(a)(1) Receive bids on public works or other contracts over the Internet, but only if no bid can be opened before the bid deadline and all bids can be verified as authentic.
(2)CA Public Contract Code § 1601(a)(2) Receive supporting materials submitted pursuant to a public works contract over the Internet. For purposes of this section, “supporting materials” includes, but
is not limited to, payment requests, shop drawings, schedules, notices of claims, and certified payrolls.
(b)CA Public Contract Code § 1601(b) If a public entity allows or requires bids or supporting materials to be submitted over the Internet pursuant to this section, the public entity shall provide an electronic receipt to the contractor showing the date and time the submission was received. The public entity shall provide the electronic receipt to the contractor either by immediate transmission to the contractor or by providing the contractor access to an electronic file online that contains this information and that can be viewed and printed by the contractor.
public entity online bidding electronic submissions
