IFB Title and Escrow Services in San Diego and Imperial Counties

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for on-call and as-needed Title and Escrow services in San Diego and Imperial Counties. This procurement encompasses 112 line items covering a comprehensive range of services including preliminary title reports, litigation guarantees, policies of title insurance, escrow services, document searches, document copying, document signing and preparation fees, and electronic recording and disbursement services for transportation projects. Bidders must be licensed title and escrow companies regulated by the California Department of Insurance and capable of providing quick and timely preliminary reports on multiple parcels. The services include residential and commercial title insurance policies, litigation guarantees, and escrow services across multiple transaction value tiers. All bid submissions must include completed bid proposals with unit prices for each line item in the prescribed format with no blank fields or price ranges permitted, along with copies of Title and Escrow licenses, California Civil Rights Laws Certifications, and Darfur Contracting Act Certifications. The written question submittal deadline is May 12, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, with final bid submissions due May 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. followed by bid opening at 2:30 p.m. the same day. The proposed award date is June 2, 2026, with the Agreement commencing June 1, 2026 and expiring May 31, 2031, for an initial five-year term with a three-year placement period for new orders ending May 31, 2029.

This procurement includes a five percent small business or micro-business preference for certified firms with a maximum preference amount not to exceed $50,000, and a five percent disabled veteran business enterprise (DVBE) incentive for verified DVBE firms with 100 percent DVBE participation. Subcontracting is not permitted under this Agreement, and Caltrans will award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all specifications, with ties resolved through lot drawings. Upon award, the winning bidder must provide a Certificate of Insurance within 10 working days demonstrating Commercial General Liability coverage with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability coverage of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and Workers' Compensation coverage with $1,000,000 employer's liability limits. Bidders must also certify compliance with Title VI nondiscrimination requirements, Executive Order N-6-22 regarding Russia sanctions, and Executive Order N-12-23 regarding Generative Artificial Intelligence use and reporting. The total Agreement amount is to be determined based on the submitted bids, and all costs including employer payments, travel, insurance premiums, taxes, and assessments must be included in the bid rates with no additional allowance unless specifically provided in the Agreement.