26-20-002 IFB Title and Escrow Services

California Department of Housing and Community Development is requesting bids on title and escrow transactional services to facilitate assignment and transfer of local government-held loan portfolios under IFB 26-20-002, with bids due September 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM Pacific Time. The scope covers up to 375 existing loans affecting approximately 250 individual properties, with a public virtual bid opening at 3:00 PM the same day.

A 5% Small Business preference applies to certified small businesses or microbusinesses, and a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentive of 1% to 5% applies based on confirmed DVBE participation levels. Both are applied after bid evaluation on a low-bid basis.

Deliverables include 250 preliminary reports; 325 mortgage note assignments with notary acknowledgements; 325 deed of trust assignments with notary acknowledgements; 50 covenant assignments with notary acknowledgements; 50 ALTA 104.1 endorsements; 225 American Land Title Association lender's title insurance policies; 150 reconveyances and partial reconveyances with notary acknowledgements; and up to 3 mobile notary visits. Bidders must submit pricing on a per-unit basis for each deliverable type, with all costs inclusive of labor, materials, notary acknowledgements, and recording fees. The state is exempt from recording fees and documentary transfer taxes.

Mandatory qualifications include lawful authorization to do business in California; a current California Department of Insurance license to issue lender's title insurance policies and provide title services; and authorization from the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to perform escrow services in the covered jurisdictions. A $100,000 Combined Single Limit liability insurance certificate is required before work commences.

The anticipated agreement start date is December 1, 2026, for a one-year term plus two optional twelve-month extensions, not to exceed three years total. An unusual costs line item of up to $100,000 is available for unforeseen title and escrow services approved in writing by HCD. Written questions are due August 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time, with responses posted by August 18, 2026.