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State Department Looks to Improve Online Access

The Department of Cannabis Control wants better visibility into county-level property data across the state “in order to verify property details on parcels where cannabis cultivation activities are occurring.”

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A newly created state department is seeking quotes from IT vendors for online services – its second recent technology procurement.

In a request for quote (RFQ) released Monday, the Information Technology Services Division of the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) seeks respondents capable of delivering “Parcel Boundary and APN Mapping Services to perform the statutory requirements for Cannabis Licensing.” DCC was formed July 1 via the consolidation of the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division and the Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch – all previously under different state departments. In August, DCC sought a deputy director to serve as its chief information officer; the search is ongoing, the department told Techwire Friday. And in a quick request for offer this week, DCC also sought a renewal of Ivanti software via Software Licensing Program contracts. Among the takeaways on the RFQ:

  • DCC is calling for a contractor to deliver “Internet accessible services in support of the Parcel Boundaries and APN Mapping Services project.” The project, it said, addresses its Licensing Branch’s needs to “ensure public safety and environmental protection by licensing and regulating commercial cannabis cultivators in California.” The department needs access to county assessors’ ownership records and maps across the state in order to verify property details on parcels where cannabis cultivation activities are occurring.
    “Access to these details will help staff ensure the correct property owner has provided consent for cannabis activity and ... validate premise maps provided by the applicant are an accurate geographic description of where this activity is occurring,” according to the RFQ.
  • More specifically, to meet its own licensing requirements, DCC needs access to “current real property data for all 58 counties within California.” The department needs to “acquire an Internet-accessible service to provide this information and will not host the service on site within DCC data center facilities.” Therefore, the contractor must provide such a service, with accurate, current information across all 58 counties. The estimated number of users is about 12, although the department doesn’t guarantee the number of licenses to be purchased. DCC needs unlimited access to “the contractor’s Internet-based real property data base program via its website” 24 hours a day, and it needs to allow “70 recorded documents per month” to be shared free by licensees, with the option to purchase documents after that threshold is reached.
  • Among the required services, the contractor’s website must provide county data including assessor parcel number and address and owner’s name, legal description and tax information. The service must have export functions into Microsoft Word and other programs and must be able to let a DCC user “nonpermanently manipulate the maps of assessor parcel, to include zoom, measure, rotate and add text.” It must also be possible to print maps, display their multiple layers and get copies of recorded documents like deeds and the record of survey maps. The contractor selected will be required to provide training on the services in the RFQ’s statement of work to DCC users, either in person or via online conference, and additional training twice a year at DCC’s request.
  • The contract is for three years, and its estimated value is unclear. Quotes are due by 5 p.m. Nov. 17, and a contract award is expected Nov. 19. The company ultimately selected must be able to begin providing services within 10 business days of contract award.
Theo Douglas is Assistant Managing Editor of Industry Insider — California.