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The Guide newsletter provides quick information and resources on how to do business with The Department of General Services (DGS) as well as other featured news, opportunities, and highlights.
Questions or ideas for The Guide can be sent to DGSNewsletter@dgs.ca.gov.
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The California Department of General Services provides a wide range of services to state and local government agencies, businesses, schools and the general public. They include the following: |
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- Contracting and procurement policies and solutions
- Real estate management and design
- Environmentally friendly transportation, energy efficient building upgrades, and clean energy generation and storage solutions
- Professional printing
- Design and web services
- Administrative hearings
- Building standards
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- Structural safety oversight
- Fire/life safety and accessibility for the design and construction of K-12 public schools and community colleges
- School construction funding
- Disability access
- Manage and maintain all buildings within the DGS portfolio statewide
- Manage and maintain partial building management services for over 200 other departments and agencies throughout the state
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In March, I had the pleasure of visiting green schoolyard sites with State Architect Ida Clair. The tour was facilitated by Christos Chrysiliou with the Los Angeles Unified School Districts Facilities Services Division and provided an opportunity to see firsthand multiple benefits that occur from incorporating nature-based solutions at California schools. The tour was very much a homecoming for me in that early on in my career I managed the Joint Use Development Program for LAUSD where I worked to develop community partnerships and capital improvement projects to provide features and enhancements for public schools, such as green schoolyards.
At one particular site we visited, we witnessed children playing and learning through an outdoor classroom at an early education center. The outdoor classroom featured different spaces – gathering, building, nature art, garden, open space, water, sand and dirt digging areas – to support skill development in an engaging and stimulating way. It was evident that the intentional design to incorporate more nature into the space was very enriching to both the students as well as the teachers.
How does this relate to our work at DGS? DGS' Division of the State Architect (DSA) conducts school plan review approval and construction oversite. Through the CALGreen Code, DSA regulates sustainable practices that reduce negative impact on the environment or provide a positive environmental impact. These mandatory measures target energy efficiency, water efficiency, water conservation, material conservation, resource efficiency, and environmental quality.
With the increased impacts of climate change (i.e., extreme heat and flooding), threats to public health, and the opportunity for improved educational outcomes, schools throughout California need to incorporate more nature-based solutions to their school sites for the overall benefit of our children. At DGS, particularly with DSA and our Office of Public School Construction, and in partnership with the California Department of Education and CAL FIRE's Green Schoolyards Grant program (now accepting grant applications through April 28, 2023), we have the ability to partner with schools to help offer guidance, plan review, and funding opportunities to increase nature into our children's learning environments.
Ana M. Lasso
Director, California Department of General Services
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DGS has three separate and distinct procurement/contracting responsibilities: |
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The DGS Procurement Division is the oversight and control entity responsible for setting statewide policy and delegates purchasing authority to California state agencies and departments for goods and services, including IT goods and services. The division offers purchasing services and training, certifies small businesses and issues large-scale procurement agreements for goods and services from which state departments and agencies purchase, including the DGS Office of Business and Acquisition Services.
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The DGS Office of Legal Services reviews and approves non-IT services contracts on behalf of DGS pursuant to statute. It also maintains the State Contracting Manual Volume 1. The DGS Procurement Division maintains the State Contracting Manual Volume 2. These manuals provide policies, procedures and guidelines to promote sound business decisions in state contracting.
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Find current bid opportunities on the California State Contracts Register (CSCR). To search for DGS-specific opportunities, enter 7760 in the “Department” field.
Please note that the majority of California state purchases are facilitated by the individual state departments making the purchase, not by DGS. A filtered list of each state department and what goods and services they are looking to purchase can be found on CaleProcure.ca.gov.
Apply for Small Business/Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certifications
Vendors/contractors interested in doing business with DGS should consider becoming a certified Small Business (SB) or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) because DGS' Office of Business and Acquisition Services follows a strict SB/DVBE First policy. The Office of Business and Acquisition Services is the procurement and contracting shop for DGS offices, divisions, and six client agencies. It is responsible for processing procurements through solicitation, award and execution.
For guidance or support, reach out to the Office of Business and Acquisition Services SB/DVBE Advocate: OBASAdvocate@dgs.ca.gov.
For information on how to get certified, reach out to the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Services (OSDS) at OSDSHelp@dgs.ca.gov.
Statewide Leveraged Procurement Agreement Opportunities
Leveraged Procurement Agreements (LPAs) allow departments to buy directly from suppliers through existing contracts and agreements. LPAs are available to California's state, county, city, special district, education, and other government entities. Here are some of the current opportunities being solicited for statewide contracts:
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Upcoming Procurement and Contracting Events
The DGS Procurement Division offers and promotes a wide range of training sessions and webinars to support businesses with the state contracting process. A full list of upcoming events can be found on the Procurement Division's Events Page.
UC Davis Supply Chain Management will host their annual “Small and Diverse Supplier Expo” in partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, UC Davis Health Procurement, and local diverse Chambers of Commerce. This in-person, on-campus event offers businesses the opportunity to learn more about UC Davis department buyers’ needs and how best to position their companies. DGS will participate in one-on-one meetings to answer questions and provide information on doing business with the state.
Date: Thursday, April 13, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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Government of Indonesia, National Public Procurement Agency Delegation Visit
On March 8, DGS' Procurement Division led by California's Chief Procurement Officer, Angela Shell, welcomed a delegation of government officials from Indonesia. The delegation was comprised of officials from Indonesia's National Public Procurement Agency, Ministries of Finance, Planning and Foreign Affairs. As Indonesia is in the process of formulating a new Public Procurement Act, DGS' Procurement Division had the opportunity to share information about California's regulatory framework on government procurement, increasing sustainable procurement, increasing the use of domestic products in public procurement, and using public-private partnerships.
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Saturday, April 22, 2023, is Earth Day. Celebrated since 1970, the annual event has raised awareness of the need to preserve the health of humanity’s home. Events and activities demonstrating support for the natural environment now span the globe in nearly every country and culture on earth. The California Department of General Services (DGS) leads the way by working to reduce the environmental impact of state operations.
The DGS Office of Sustainability (OS) provides sustainability-related services for all state agencies, including policy development, energy efficiency retrofits, clean energy generation, microgrid installations, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Since 2006 the OS Clean Energy Unit has installed projects generating 80 MWs of clean, renewable energy at state facilities. OS builds thoughtful energy solutions for California agencies, saving money and improving working conditions.
DGS plays an integral role in the sustainable use of the state’s natural resources. For additional information on how the state is providing balance between people and our environment, visit the California Natural Resources Agency website. Consider their mission “to restore, protect and manage the state’s natural, historical and cultural resources for current and future generations using creative approaches and solutions based on science, collaboration, and respect for all the communities and interests involved.”
See more on Earth Day 2023 - Earth Day and find an event or activity near you.
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DGS facilitates and participates in many public meetings and events to conduct state business, including the featured list below. Please note that meeting dates are subject to change. Visit our DGS website for the most up-to-date information and a listing of all DGS public meetings and events.
State Allocation Board Meeting
The State Allocation Board is responsible for determining the allocation of state resources used for the construction, modernization and maintenance of local public school facilities.
Date: Wednesday, April 26 at 4:00 p.m.
The agenda and meeting details can be found on the Office of Public School Construction website.
California Building Standards Commission Meeting
The California Building Standards Commission produces sensible and usable state building standards and administrative regulations that implement or enforce those standards.
Date: April 20
The agenda and meeting details can be found on the Building Standards Commission website.
California Commission on Disability Access Meeting
To promote disability access in California through dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders, including the disability and business community and all levels of government.
Date: April 19 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The meeting notice and agenda can be found on the California Commission on Disability Access website.
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Administrative Law Judge
Are you ready to make a difference in your life and the lives of your fellow Californians? If so, consider joining DGS as an Administrative Law Judge. As an Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Administrative Hearings, you will serve your state as an impartial judge presiding over Special Education Hearings. Join the mission to “Provide a neutral forum for fair and independent resolution of administrative matters, ensuring due process and respecting the dignity of all." Apply today!
 Senior Architect: Accessibility Code Specialist
Are you an experienced architect interested in making the world a better place for people with disabilities? If so, join the Division of the State Architect with DGS as one of their Senior Architects (Accessibility Code Specialists) and play a critical role in writing building codes to increase access for the state of California. Apply today!
 For more information about DGS careers, reach out to the DGS Recruitment Unit: Recruitment@dgs.ca.gov
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