IFB On-Call, and As-Needed Multi-Provider Title and Escrow Services in Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties

This is an on-call, as-needed, multi-provider agreement administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for Title and Escrow services in Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties, solicited under number 05A3012. The contract will have a fixed term from July 15, 2026, through July 14, 2031, with services activated only upon issuance of a formal Service Request by the Caltrans Contract Manager. Bidders must provide unit prices for specific services including preliminary title reports, title record searches, litigation guarantees, title insurance policies, document copying, recording fees, and escrow services, with pricing structured to ensure full transparency and responsiveness. Any discrepancies between unit prices and totals will be resolved in favor of the unit price, and bids with blank unit price fields, price ranges, or unauthorized modifications will be rejected as non-responsive. The solicitation is open to multiple awardees, with award going to the two lowest responsible and responsive bidders, and a random draw used to break ties. Bidders must hold a valid Title and Escrow License from the California Department of Insurance and submit extensive certifications, including those related to civil rights, federal lobbying, debarment status, and compliance with the Darfur and Iran Contracting Acts. All awardees are required to comply with federal regulations including 49 CFR Part 26, which governs disadvantaged business enterprise participation—though no specific DBE goal applies—and 48 CFR Part 31 and 2 CFR Part 200, which define unallowable costs subject to repayment. Payment is governed by Government Code Chapter 4.5, commencing with Section 927, and Caltrans will not withhold payments from subcontractors on federally funded work. Invoices must be submitted in triplicate and include specific data points such as Agreement Number, Service Request Number, dates and location of service, right-of-way number, and title policy details, and are payable only after approval by the Caltrans Contract Manager. Records must be retained for three years after final payment, and all contractors must maintain insurance coverage for the full term of the agreement, naming Caltrans and the State of California as additional insured, with coverage including motor vehicle liability and no allowable deductible pass-through. Compliance with non-discrimination laws under Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and the ADA is mandatory and must be flowed down to all subcontractors. Small Business and Micro Business