IFB Title and Escrow in Butte County

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for on-call and as-needed Title and Escrow services in Butte County, specifically covering Butte Valley CDP, Butte Meadows CDP, and Butte Creek Canyon CDP. The solicitation seeks qualified title and escrow companies licensed by the California Department of Insurance to provide comprehensive services for transportation projects, including 35 preliminary title reports per parcel, 20 title record searches per parcel, 5 statement of record ownership charges per parcel, and 15 continuation guarantee updates per parcel. Deliverables will include preliminary title reports, title record searches, litigation guarantees, title insurance policies, and escrow services for transactions ranging from $0 to $5,000,000. Written questions are due November 17, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., with final bid submissions required by November 25, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. The bid opening will occur on November 25, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. via teleconference, with a proposed award date of December 11, 2025. The agreement is estimated to commence May 15, 2026 and expire May 14, 2031, with a three-year placement period for new orders ending May 14, 2029.

The procurement includes specific set-aside designations and preferences for small businesses and disabled veteran-owned businesses. A 5 percent Small Business (SB) preference applies to certified SBs or Micro Businesses with principal places of business in California, and a 5 percent Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentive is available for 100 percent DVBE participation. Subcontracting is not permitted, and all contractors must obtain and maintain a valid Title and Escrow license from the California Department of Insurance, providing proof with their bid submission. Caltrans plans to award contracts to two contractors based on the lowest responsive bids, with pricing structured as unit rates for each line item. The agreement is subject to budget contingency provisions and may be amended or terminated based on available funding. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the contract covers a wide range of transaction values from $0 to $5,000,000, suggesting significant potential contract value. The procurement emphasizes competitive bidding and supports California's goals of promoting small and disabled veteran-owned businesses in state contracts.