26-10009-000 Cremation Services

The Department of State Hospitals - Atascadero is soliciting bids for cremation services to be provided on an as-needed basis through Invitation for Bid (IFB) 26-10009-000. The primary objective is to secure a qualified cremation service provider capable of handling all aspects of cremation operations, including body removal within 24 hours of notification, cold storage, cremation preparation and execution in full compliance with California regulations, ash disposition, death certificate processing, and submission of required reports to the State. Services will be performed primarily within San Luis Obispo County, with occasional services outside the county available at no additional cost to the State, operating on a 24/7 basis as needed. Required qualifications for bidders include a current Funeral Establishment License, Funeral Director's License, and either a Certificate of Authority or Crematory License, along with submission of one reference from customers served within the past four years, preferably from government entities. Bidders must submit per-service rates for three separate fiscal years with all costs—including travel, pickup, cold storage, disposition, permits, certificates, filing fees, and reports—incorporated into the quoted price. The IFB was released on March 6, 2026, with a deadline for bidder questions on March 13, 2026, and a final bid submission deadline of March 23, 2026, at 3:00 PM Pacific Time; public bid opening is scheduled for March 26, 2026, at 10:00 AM, with a Notice of Intent to Award posted on March 27, 2026. The anticipated contract start date is July 1, 2026, with an agreement term of three years through June 30, 2029, with no renewal options.

The procurement includes a 5% small business preference and a variable Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentive ranging from 1% to 5% based on participation level, with cumulative adjustments capped at $100,000. Insurance requirements are substantial and include Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate), Pollution/Environmental Impairment Liability ($1,000,000 per claim/$2,000,000 aggregate), Motor Vehicle Liability ($1,000,000 per accident), and Professional Liability ($1,000,000 per claim/$2,000,000 aggregate), along with Performance and Payment Bonds each in the amount of the total contract price. The State estimates approximately 10 cremation services per year but makes no guarantee regarding actual volume, meaning the award value will depend on actual utilization and the per-service rates quoted by the successful bidder over the three-year contract period. No incumbent vendor or current contractor is identified in the procurement materials. DSH reserves the right to reject all bids and will award the contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder after applying applicable preferences.