IFB-Multi-provider On-Call, and As-Needed Title and Escrow Services in Humboldt County

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for multi-provider on-call and as-needed Title and Escrow Services in Humboldt County to support property acquisitions for future State highway facilities. Bidders must be title and escrow companies regulated by the California Department of Insurance and must maintain valid licensure throughout the contract term. The scope of services encompasses preliminary title reports on multiple parcels, title record searches, litigation guarantees, policies of title insurance for both residential and commercial properties, escrow services with closure periods of 30 to 90 days, and related document preparation and recording. Services will be provided on a per-unit basis with pricing structured across numerous line items covering varying transaction amounts from under $100,000 to over $5,000,000. All costs, including travel, insurance premiums, and taxes, must be included in the bid rates. The Agreement will have a five-year term commencing May 1, 2026, and expiring April 30, 2031, with new orders limited to placement through April 30, 2029. Written questions must be submitted by April 3, 2026, with bids due by 2:00 p.m. on April 14, 2026, and bid opening scheduled for 2:30 p.m. the same day, with a proposed award date of April 21, 2026.

Caltrans will select up to two responsible bidders with the lowest bids for this multi-provider agreement. A five percent Small Business preference applies to certified small businesses and micro-businesses, with a preference cap of $50,000, while a five percent Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentive applies to bids with 100 percent verified DVBE participation, with a combined incentive and preference dollar cap of $100,000. Subcontracting is not permitted under this Agreement. Contractors must maintain proof of applicable insurance including general liability coverage with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000, and statutory workers' compensation coverage. Bidders must comply with California Civil Rights Laws certifications, the Darfur Contracting Act, Executive Order N-6-22 regarding Russia sanctions, and Executive Order N-12-23 regarding Generative Artificial Intelligence disclosure requirements. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation; pricing will be determined through the competitive bidding process based on submitted rates for the identified line items and service categories.