25LS0022 - SB Only - Back-up Non-Emergency Wheelchair Assessable Transportation Services

The California Department of Veterans Affairs is soliciting quotes for back-up non-emergency wheelchair-accessible transportation services to support the Veterans Home of California - Lancaster through solicitation 25LS0022. The services will provide safe, reliable transportation for residents to local medical facilities including the West LA VA Medical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System facilities, Antelope Valley Hospital, Kaiser Permanente Palmdale Medical Offices, and other specialty medical providers within Los Angeles and Kern Counties. The contractor must provide all labor, vehicles, materials, insurance, licenses, and permits necessary to deliver ADA-compliant services seven days per week with a maximum 60-minute response time for requests and 15-minute arrival windows for scheduled appointments. Deliverables include per-mile charges for local transport within a 25-mile radius, wheelchair lift and securement fees, escort or attendant seat fees, wait time charges for increments exceeding 15 minutes, no-show and late cancellation fees, and holiday surcharges, with pricing differentiated between regular hours (Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and non-regular hours (after-hours, weekends, and holidays). Qualified contractors must possess valid California business and transportation licenses, demonstrate ADA and DMV compliance, pass background checks consistent with California Health & Safety Code requirements, and provide driver training in first aid, CPR, safe wheelchair handling, and infection control. Required insurance includes Commercial General Liability coverage with a combined single limit of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and Automobile Liability coverage of not less than $1,000,000 per accident covering owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles. The solicitation was advertised on January 16, 2026, with a deadline for questions on January 23, 2026, responses to questions posted by January 27, 2026, and quote submissions due by February 2, 2026; the contract is proposed to commence on March 1, 2026, and extend through February 28, 2029, for a three-year term. Award will be made to the lowest responsive responsible quote in accordance with Government Code 14838.5, with a tie-breaking provision favoring disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

This solicitation is restricted exclusively to California-certified Small Business (SB) and Micro Business (MB) firms, representing a formal set-aside for small business participation with no protest rights available under this solicitation method. Proposers must submit comprehensive documentation including a completed quote rate sheet, Payee Data Record (STD 204), Contractor Certification Clauses, Bidder Declaration, DVBE Declaration, Commercially Useful Function Certification, Darfur Contracting Act Certification, proof of required licenses and certifications, sample insurance documentation, a sample invoice, and any DVBE subcontractor confirmation letters if applicable. Subcontractors may be utilized to meet service requirements, though complete disclosure of subcontractor information is mandatory on the Bidders Certification form. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation documents, indicating this represents a new procurement or service transition. The solicitation documents do not specify an estimated contract value or budget range; however, the rate sheet indicates estimated service volumes including 24 local transport trips during regular hours, 75 wheelchair lift uses, 60 escort seat trips, and 30 wait time increments during the contract term, with proportionally lower volumes for non-regular hours and miscellaneous charges. The contract is subject to budget contingency, with the State retaining the right to terminate with 30 days written notice or immediately for cause, and all quoted rates are binding for the entire contract term including any extensions through formal amendment.