Standards & Specification Development

The Engineering Branch administers two of the Department of General Services Procurement programs: Standards and Quality Control and Environmentally Preferable Purchasing. Together, Standards and Quality Control and Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, provide professional, technical expertise to assist our customers in fulfilling their mission. The Branch offers a broad range of procurement engineering services.
About the Branch
ABOUT THE BRANCH
The Department of General Services (DGS) Procurement Division (PD), in which the Engineering Branch (Branch) is part, is the State’s central purchasing authority for all State executive branch departments, agencies, and institutions. 
 
The Branch is responsible for assisting state agencies in describing and developing technical and environmental specifications to acquire quality, cost-effective goods and services which reduce the State of California’s environmental impact.

WE SERVE CALIFORNIA
Annually, we assist our customers, State of California procurement professionals, with the development of hundreds of procurements. In delivering specifications and evaluation methodologies the Branch has been successful in steering the marketplace to offer goods and services that reduce cost of ownership. In addition to reducing the state’s environmental footprint through the state’s Leverage Procurement Agreements (LPAs), the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program (EPP) furthers its impact through the Buying Green website, workshops, training and our participation and involvement in state environmental boards, workgroups and  professional organizations.  Together, Standards and Quality Control and EPP, provide professional, technical expertise to assist our customers in fulfilling their mission. 

The Branch delivers innovative procurement solutions enabling its customers to serve the people of California by:
  • Developing technical specifications for products in the state solicitation process
  • Ensuring product performance
  • Promoting Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)
  • Providing support to overall procurement process
  • Providing leadership for procurement specifications

OUR VISION
The vision statement is the inspiration for the Branch’s aspirations. It is intended to provide purpose, demonstrate long-term direction, and depict a strong identity of who we are as an organization.

Excellence in the business of government.

OUR MISSION
The mission statement succinctly describes the reason for our Branch’s existence.  It addresses what our organization does, why and for whom. The mission intertwines the elements specific to the Branch while encompassing the larger division and department mission. We are one enterprise.

Our mission is to provide technical expertise for excellence in procurement.

OUR PRINCIPLES
Guiding principles summarize the operating philosophies that will be used  in fulfilling  our mission and vision.   These principles will guide our work to achieve the goals in this plan. They are how we conduct business.  

We aspire to :
  • Provide leadership
  • Be timely
  • Be efficient
  • Provide effective technical support & expertise
  • Encourage greening of products
  • Make it strong, make it simple, make it work

Programs & Services
PROGRAMS
The Engineering Branch administers two of the Department of General Services procurement programs: Standards and Quality Control and Environmentally Preferable Purchasing. 

Standards and Quality Control Program
The Standards and Quality Control Program is responsible for assisting state agencies in describing and developing standard technical specifications to acquire goods and services. As part of the procurement process, engineers test product for inclusion on acceptable brand lists; evaluate products for compliance to solicitation specifications and provide quality assurance testing on delivered products.

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) is the procurement of goods and services that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment as compared to other goods and services serving the same purpose (Public Contract Code §12400-12404). The EPP Program delivers cost-effective procurement solutions that reduce the State's environmental footprint through environmentally preferable purchasing. Additionally, it assists state agencies in enhancing their EPP efforts through training, support and the Buying Green Guide. 

SERVICES
Together, Standards and Quality Control and Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, provide professional, technical expertise to assist our customers in fulfilling their mission. The Branch offers a broad range of procurement engineering services. 

Standards and Quality Control
  • Specification Development 
  • Bid Evaluation
  • Bid Rejection
  • Bid Protest

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)
  • Environmental Specification Development
  • Training
  • Outreach

Technical Support

Specification Development

A specification defines what a purchaser wishes to buy and, consequently, what the supplier is expected to provide.  As a purchaser, writing concise and sound specifications will make your needs clear to bidders.  A well-written specification is a valuable tool in resolving disputed supplier performance. For assistance in developing your technical specifications, please submit your request to Charleen Fain-Keslar by email. 

Commodity Technical Support

For all other technical support requests, please select the contact below by commodity type and submit your request by email. 
Contact Engineering

Business Hours

8:00 am - 5:00 pm


Mailing Address

Department of General Services

Procurement Division

Engineering Branch

707 3rd Street, 2nd Floor

West Sacramento, CA 95605


Phone Number

916-375-4400


Fax Number 

916-375-4522
Performance and Environmental Standards Workgroup

The Department of General Services, Procurement Division, Engineering Branch has teamed up with the Purchasing Authority Round Table (PART) to launch the Performance and Environmental Standards (PES) Workgroup. 

The purpose of this collaborative is to assist the Purchasing Contract Officer in meeting their delegated purchasing authority responsibilities and in achieving best value procurements through a sound technical and environmental foundation.  In partnership, this workgroup of state engineers, environmental specialists and procurement professionals, will focus on the following top priorities to:

  • Provide a transparent process for standards development and prioritize the development of those standards. 
  • Identify common commodities where consolidating performance specifications would be advantageous.
  • Leverage the state’s purchase of products reduce environmental and public health impacts. i.e. environmentally preferable purchases and State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) compliant commodities.
  • Collaborate with other state and federal agencies, programs, and workgroups to exchange information that may impact consumer products. 

We are currently forming the PES Workgroup. The PES Workgroup will be comprised of subject matter experts who help establish regulatory standards for consumer products sold in California and purchasing officials who establish policy, procedure and procurement plans for their department. Please refer to the draft PES Workgroup Charter for additional details. If you are interested in being considered for participation, please email annette.picettigrosjean@dgs.ca.gov.

MEETING AGENDA & MINUTES
February 19, 2013 MINUTES
March 19, 2013 AGENDA | MINUTES
April 16, 2013 AGENDA | MINUTES
May 21, 2013 AGENDA | MINUTES

2013 MEETING SCHEDULE
All meetings are held from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
at 707 3rd Street, Room 2-106, 2nd Floor West Sacramento, CA

February 16
March 19
April 16
May 21
June 18
July 16
August 20
September 17
October 15
November 19
December 17