California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act Training Series Recap

Managing public works procurement requires careful coordination to meet legal requirements, maintain transparency, and ensure efficiency. In response to systemwide interest, the CollegeBuys Professional Development Workgroup developed a three-part webinar series to provide California public agencies with clarity and confidence in applying the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA).

Designed for both those already familiar with CUPCCAA and those seeking to enhance existing practices, each session delivered practical tools, legal insights, and operational strategies to ensure agencies are audit-ready and positioned for long-term success. 

This initiative was led by Angelic Davis, Director of Purchasing, Printing, and Mail Services at Mt. San Antonio Community College District. The first session, presented with Deidree Sakai, partner at Dannis Woliver Kelley (DWK), provided an overview of CUPCCAA’s legal framework, governance structure, and implementation requirements for public construction projects. Angelic and Deidree explained bidding thresholds and procurement pathways, covering both informal and formal processes, while underscoring the importance of compliance and documentation. The session concluded with a discussion on emergency exceptions, change orders, enforcement mechanisms, and a Q&A addressing specific CUPCCAA scenarios.

Building on this foundation, Angelic partnered with Don Mackessy, Contracts Compliance Manager at West Valley Mission Community College District, to lead the second session, which focused on informal bidding procedures. Topics included contractor qualifications, bid thresholds, and the use of PlanetBids, an e-bidding platform. Best practices for vendor outreach, documentation, and maintaining compliant contractor lists were highlighted, along with cooperative contracts, reporting requirements, and upcoming training opportunities with the State Controller’s Office.

The series concluded with Angelic and Nate Holt, Secretary for the CUPCCAA Commission, presenting on formal bidding requirements for projects exceeding $220,000. They discussed advertising standards, bid package components, evaluation processes, and the implementation of electronic bid systems, emphasizing transparency, compliance, and documentation throughout the procurement process. The session also addressed common challenges in bid reception, collaboration between purchasing and facilities teams, and the broader financial and legislative implications of procurement decisions, while underscoring the role of professional organizations in shaping policy outcomes.

CollegeBuys extends its sincere gratitude to the Professional Development Workgroup for their dedication to curating these sessions, and a special thank you to Angelic Davis for her leadership in bringing this initiative to fruition. We also thank all our guest speakers–Deidree Sakai, Don Mackessy, and Nate Holt–for generously sharing their expertise and insights. 

For those who were unable to attend the training sessions, recordings of the series are available in the Vision Resource Center (VRC).