The Basics of Competition - 1402

Competition is one of the basic tenets in State procurement and contracting. The nature of effective competition varies with the goods and services being acquired. Depending upon decisions made during the planning phase, the procurement may be informal or formal; the selected competition method may be a phone call, or a written solicitation document. Depending on the procurement value, solicitations may be distributed by fax, electronic mail, United States Postal Service mail, or via the California State Contracting Register (CSCR) in FI$Cal. Unless otherwise provided by law, procurement activities must be conducted in an open and fair environment that promotes competition among prospective suppliers.