General Contract Information

Contract Definition

An agreement between two or more parties creating obligations that are enforceable or otherwise recognizable at law. A contract may be called many different names. In higher education, a contract may be referred to by other names, including:

Agreement
Agreement for Services
Affiliation Agreement
Allied Health Agreement
Course/Instructor Agreement
Dual Enrollment Agreement
End User License Agreement (EULA)
Independent Contractor Agreement
(ICA- for Non Public Works and for Public Works)

Instructional Service Agreement (ISA)
Letter of Agreement (LOA)
Letter of Intent (LOI)
License
Master Service Agreement (MSA)
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

Professional Services Agreement (PSA)
Release
Renewal
Short Form Presenter Agreement
Software License/Subscription Agreement
Terms and Conditions
Waiver

Contract Review

Signature Authority & Signature Blocks

The Board of Trustees delegates to the District Chancellor or Chief Financial Officer the authority to enter into contracts on behalf of the District. These are the only authorized officers that may sign contracts. District faculty, staff, or administrators are not authorized to sign a contract without the express permission of Kern CCD (BP 6340).

Below are the signature blocks for the authorized signers for Kern Community College District.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature: Date:

Name: Melissa Thornsberry

Title: Chief Financial Officer

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature: Date:

Name: Dr. Steven Bloomberg

Title: Chancellor

Contract Management: iContracts UCM

Documents and Forms

Contract FAQs

What is Kern CCD’s legal name?

The Kern Community College District on behalf of Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College, and/or Porterville College.

Who is authorized to sign contracts on behalf of Kern CCD?

The Board of Trustees (BOT) delegated signature authority to the Chancellor or Chief Financial Officer. (BP 6340).

How do I know if a contract is needed?

A contract is required for any service, regardless the dollar amount. A contract is required for an agreement which requests a service or commits the funds, personnel, facilities, equipment, property, other resources of the College.

May faculty, staff, or administrators sign a contract, MOU, etc. on behalf of Kern CCD?

Only the District Chancellor or Chief Financial Officer have the authority to bind Kern CCD or its colleges. District faculty, staff, or administrators are not authorized to sign contract without the express permission of Kern CCD. Employees will incur personal liability for any contract signed without written permission. Please contact the Contracts Department at contracts@kccd.edu for assistance with determining who is authorized to sign a specific document.

Who should I call to have a MOU, agreement, license, etc. reviewed?

Vendors should work with their District or college contact person to submit contracts for review. Staff and/or vendors may receive an email from contracts@kccd.edu regarding contracts reviewed by the Contracts Department, General Counsel, Risk Management or District Information Technology.

What is the dollar amount that a contract must be bid?

A contract is required for any service, regardless of the dollar amount. Three quotes are required for any purchase/service over $5,000.

Kern CCD follows CUPCCAA guidelines (2024 CUPCCAA Bidding Matrix). An RFP/Bid is required for any purchase/service over annual bid limit. Please contact purchasing@kccd.edu for assistance with the RFP/Bid process.

The Office of General Counsel

The Kern Community College District utilizes contract Counsel to provide proactive professional advice on critical strategic, legal, and public policy issues, is part of the senior management team, and interacts closely with the District’s senior officers. The size, complexity, scope and diversity of the District, generates a range of complex, cutting-edge legal issues. Many, such as academic freedoms, participatory governance, and student’s rights and obligations, are unique to a community college academic environment and add complexity to the more traditional and predictable legal practice.

The Office of General Counsel is charged with providing advice and support to the Chancellor and District's Board of Trustees on legal issues. The goal of the Office of General Counsel is to:

Support the District’s functions and business through the delivery of legal support and guidance.
Develop and implement an ethical vision and strategic plan for the District’s legal services.
Function as an integral partner with the Chancellor’s senior leadership team.
Coordinate the identification and management of legal risks across the District.
Identify and prioritize the response to various areas of legal risk and establish a clearly understood framework for legal practices within the Office of General Counsel.
Lead the internal legal team and contract legal teams and set objectives.
Be accountable for the management of relationships with external legal partners; monitor such relationships for effective, cost efficient and constructive outcomes on behalf of the District’s stakeholders.
Establish and manage a budget for the provision of the District’s legal services by both inside and outside counsel, monitoring compliance with the budget, as well as establishing levels of accountability and results.

The Office of the General Counsel represents the Kern Community College District. When the General Counsel or Office of General Counsel staff interact with faculty or staff on legal matters, it is important that the faculty and staff understand that the Office of General Counsel owes its allegiance to the Kern Community College District.

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General Procurement & Contract Information

General Procurement & Contract Information