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Public Contracting in California

2008 Dates and Location:

San Francisco, CA

Registration Fee
$595

Daily Schedule
Registration: 8:45am
Meetings: 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm

CLE Hours
This Course is Eligible for
5.5(60 minute)
6.6(50 minute)
More CLE Info

CPE Hours
This Course is Eligible for
6.0(CPE)
hours of credit.
Program Level: Basic
Program Prerequisite: None
Advance Preparation: None
Method: Group-Live
More CPE Info

A step-by-step guide to the State, County, Town, and Municipal purchasing systems in California.

California Government - State, county, city and municipal agencies - offer extraordinary opportunities for the sale of equipment, material, supplies, construction work, and other goods and services. The key for an individual or company seeking to do business with any California Government entity: Understanding precisely how the public contracting system works and how it differs from commercial transactions and from transactions with the Federal Government.

The purpose of this course: To show you how to effectively take advantage of available contracting opportunities at all levels of California Government and to guide you in the special procedures and strategies contractors need to know.

Who will benefit from this course? All individuals, agencies or companies who are directly or indirectly involved with public business in California. It will not only benefit companies seeking to provide goods/services to state, county, agency, city or municipal departments, but also those already involved in public contracting wishing to swiftly update their knowledge of business opportunities and of contracting requirements. This special one-day program will benefit company executives and project managers, sales directors, program managers, contract administrators, marketing personnel, attorneys, Government personnel, insurers, and others.

A review of the detailed Course Curriculum illustrates how this program will take you, step-by-step, through the full cycle of the public contracting process - Locating and developing opportunities...contract administration...subcontracting...disputes resolution while addressing specific procurement needs - maintenance, construction, supplies, services, and more. Further, the specialized characteristics of the California public contract law are highlighted and explained - including prevailing wage requirements, exemptions to the rules, and when competitive bidding is not required.

The program will be presented by a veteran professional Course Director, who is able to teach what he knows in terms you can immediately apply to your individual needs. The course also includes a workshop which will demonstrate the practical applications of the course material. And, each attendee will receive a Course Manual of original materials prepared by the Course Director exclusively for your use during the program and as a source-book of continuing value to you.

We look forward to having you join us.

Public Contracting in California Course Curriculum

  1. Overview
    1. Basic Public Procurement Concepts
    2. Competitive Bidding
    3. Negotiated Contracts
    4. Design Build
    5. Exceptions to Competitive Bidding Rules
  2. Understanding the Rule Structure
    1. The California Public Contract Code
    2. Civil Code
    3. Other Applicable California Codes
    4. County, Municipal and Other Organizations
    5. Joint Power Entities
    6. University of California
    7. California State University
  3. Bids and Bidding
    1. Advertising
    2. The Bid Process
    3. Bid Evaluation
    4. Pre-Qualification
    5. Subcontractor Listing Law
  4. Bid Protests
    1. Asserting Bid Protest
    2. Public Entity Management of Bid Protest
  5. Contract Formation
    1. Void Contracts
    2. Key Terms and Conditions
    3. Risk Shifting
  6. Subcontracting
    1. Special Provisions
    2. Flow Down of Terms and Conditions
  7. Contract Administration
    1. Payments
    2. Waivers and Releases
    3. Implied Warranty of Specifications
    4. Contract Changes & Change Management
    5. Insurance
    6. Delay
    7. Liquidated Damages
    8. Terminations for Default and Convenience
    9. Advanced Issues
  8. Surety Bonds
    1. Bid Bonds
    2. Payment Bonds
    3. Performance Bonds
    4. Release Bonds
    5. Bond Claims
  9. Prevailing Wages and Other Socio-Economic Issues
  10. Stop Notices
    1. How to Use
    2. How to Defend
    3. Public Entity Responsibilities
  11. Contract Disputes
    1. Schedule
    2. Directed and Constructive Changes
    3. Delay and Disruption
    4. Abandonment and Rescission
    5. Government Code Claims
    6. Proving Damages
    7. Extended Home Office Overhead
    8. Claim Preparation
    9. The Dispute Process During the Project
    10. Disputes After Completion
  12. Workshop - Identifying and Addressing Contract Issues During Performance

The Course Director

Laurence P. Lubka is a Partner in the Pasadena California law firm of Hunt Ortmann Palffy Nieves Lubka Darling & Mah, Inc. He concentrates his practice in the areas of public contract law, including both California State and Federal procurements. His expertise includes public contracts work ranging from drafting contracts to bid protests and claims disputes. He lectures extensively on all phases of public contracts, including Prevailing Wage laws, California Mechanics’ Liens, Contract Types and Claims Presentation. Mr. Lubka has also taught at the Northrop Law School. In addition, he has written a wide range of articles on construction law issues for various publications, including the Los Angeles Daily Journal and the Dodge McGraw-Hill Greensheet. He practices before California state courts and Federal courts, including the United States Court of Federal Claims and the Federal boards of contract appeal. He has acted as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and is a Fellow with the National Contract Management Association. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and a Juris Doctor degree from the George Washington University.