Bidding Thresholds and Procurement Requirements

06/15/2026

Goods and Services Less Than $100,000

Competition is not required under CSU policy for goods and non-information technology services valued at less than $100,000. However, Procurement is required to establish and document that the proposed pricing is fair and reasonable, before the purchase may be processed.

Procurement shall obtain additional price quotations from other responsible suppliers to validate the proposed pricing. The quotations received and the basis for the fair-and-reasonable determination shall be documented in the procurement file. If additional quotations cannot be obtained, Procurement shall document the reason and obtain the required approval before proceeding.

Procurement shall ensure that the purchase provides best value to the University and complies with all applicable CSU and CSUSB procurement requirements.

Goods and Services From $100,000 Through $250,000

Requisitions for goods and non-information technology services with an estimated value from $100,000 through $250,000 require informal, non-advertised competition.

Procurement shall coordinate with the requesting department to develop, a written scope of work or specifications describing the requirements and characteristics necessary for the goods or services to be responsive.

Procurement shall obtain responses from at least three responsible suppliers. Responses may be written or verbal; however, verbal quotations must be documented. If fewer than three responses are received, Procurement shall document the suppliers contacted, the outreach performed, and the efforts made to obtain the required responses.

Award shall be made to the proposal that provides the most value-effective solution to the University’s requirements. If the award is not made to the lowest-priced responsive proposal, Procurement shall document the value-based justification for the award.

Requests for exceptions to competition shall be evaluated in accordance with the CSU Limits on Competition Policy and applicable CSUSB procedures.

Goods and Services Greater Than $250,000

Requisitions for goods and non-information technology services with an estimated value greater than $250,000 require a formal solicitation process, unless an authorized exception to competition applies.

Procurement shall coordinate with the requesting department to develop the specifications or scope of work and shall administer the formal solicitation. Formal solicitations shall be publicly advertised in accordance with applicable CSU and CSUSB requirements, including posting through the California State Contracts Register and PlanetBids when required.

The issuance and evaluation of solicitations shall be administered by to ensure that all suppliers receive consistent information, including the applicable terms and conditions, and that responses are evaluated on an equal basis.

Formal solicitations may use an Invitation for Bid, Request for Proposal, Request for Quotation, or another approved solicitation method. The solicitation shall identify the evaluation process and selection criteria.

An evaluation team may be established when appropriate. All evaluation-team members shall complete the required Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement before reviewing supplier responses.

Requests for exceptions to competition shall be evaluated in accordance with the CSU Limits on Competition Policy and applicable CSUSB procedures.

Information Technology Resources Goods and Services

ITR Goods and Services Less Than $100,000

Competition is not required under CSU policy for Information Technology Resources goods and services valued at less than $100,000. However, Procurement is required to establish and document that the proposed pricing is fair and reasonable before the purchase may be processed.

All applicable information-security, privacy, accessibility, technology, and risk-management requirements must be addressed before the purchase is approved.

ITR Goods and Services From $100,000 Through $1,000,000

Requisitions for ITR goods and services, including IT consulting, with an estimated value from $100,000 through $1,000,000 require informal, non-advertised competition.

Procurement shall coordinate with the requesting department to develop, a written project scope describing the requirements and characteristics necessary for the goods or services to be responsive.

Procurement shall obtain written responses from at least three responsible vendors. If fewer than three responses are received, Procurement shall document the vendors contacted, the outreach performed, and the efforts made to obtain the required responses. Verbal quotations, if permitted, must be documented.

The project scope and evaluation process shall address applicable CSU Accessible Technology Initiative requirements, information-security requirements, privacy requirements, and other applicable technology or risk-management requirements.

Requests for exceptions to competition shall be evaluated in accordance with the CSU Limits on Competition Policy and applicable CSUSB procedures.

ITR Goods and Services Greater Than $1,000,000

Requisitions for ITR goods and services with an estimated value greater than $1,000,000 require a formal solicitation process, unless an authorized exception to competition applies.

Procurement shall coordinate with the requesting department to develop the project scope and administer the formal solicitation. The formal solicitation shall comply with applicable CSU and CSUSB requirements, including public advertising, accessibility, information security, privacy, evaluation, and technology-review requirements.

The issuance and evaluation of the solicitation shall be administered by Procurement. An evaluation team may be established when appropriate, and all evaluation-team members shall complete the required Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement before reviewing supplier responses.

Requests for exceptions to competition shall be evaluated in accordance with the CSU Limits on Competition Policy and applicable CSUSB procedures.

Acquisitions Less Than $250,000 From a California Certified Small Business or DVBE

CSUSB may award a contract for goods, services, or ITR goods and services with an estimated value of less than $250,000, without advertising, to a California Certified Small Business or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise.

To use this option, Procurement shall obtain price quotations from at least two California Certified Small Businesses or at least two DVBEs.

If fewer than two responses are received, Procurement shall document the suppliers contacted, the outreach performed, and the efforts made to obtain the required responses. Any waiver of the two-response requirement must be approved in accordance with applicable CSUSB procedures, and price reasonableness must be established and documented.

Use of the Small Business/DVBE option does not eliminate other applicable CSU or CSUSB requirements, including contract, insurance, accessibility, information-security, privacy, public works, funding, or approval requirements.