PURCHASES FROM PRISON INDUSTRY AUTHORITY - 3505

In preparing purchase estimates, an agency will first consider if its needs can be met by Prison Industry Authority (PIA) commodities and services. Agencies are mandated by California Penal Code 2807 to purchase from and consult with PIA to develop new products and adapt existing products to meet their needs. They shall consult with PIA for commodities and services, or like commodities and services, even though not specified in the PIA catalog.

The Procurement Division (PD), Department of General Services, will examine all submitted purchase estimates to determine whether PIA products would meet all reasonable requirements.  If this appears to be the case, the Procurement Division will notify the ordering agency that the items should be purchased from PIA.

The Procurement Division will not purchase these items from commercial vendors without written authorization to do so from PIA. A waiver must be obtained from PIA prior to purchasing items from commercial vendors.