California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration on Friday released the contract behind the state’s $6.2 million diaper program after questions about the deal’s noncompetitive designation and a reported delay in making the agreement public.
The agreement with nonprofit Baby2Baby will provide families of newborns with 400 free diapers at participating California hospitals.
Newsom said in May that the deal went through a “competitive bidding process.” However, the state’s contract database lists it as “NON-COMPETITIVELY BID,” according to CBS California Investigates.
Instead of seeking formal bids, the state asked interested groups to submit information through a “Request for Information.” The document said it was “not a solicitation” and that prices submitted would not count as bids, CBS California Investigates reported.
Newsom’s office pushed back on the report, saying 15 groups responded and were reviewed based on cost and their ability to make and distribute diapers.
“The governor was referring to the process being competitive in nature, which remains accurate,” Newsom’s office told the outlet.
The records reportedly did not include scoring sheets, rankings or clear evaluation standards.
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Several applicants said they only learned they were no longer being considered when Newsom announced the Baby2Baby partnership, CBS California Investigates reported.
California’s 2025 budget exempted the program from normal bidding rules and other state review requirements, according to the outlet.
CBS California Investigates found more than two dozen similar exemptions in the state budget, covering over $1 billion in spending. About two-thirds never expire.
The state released the contract on July 17, 66 days after the outlet filed a public records request.
The governor’s office said the extra time was needed to “grant our legal team adequate time to process and work on these requests,” according to CBS Investigates.
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CBS California Investigates reported that the agreement marks at least the third time Baby2Baby has received California funding without a competitive bid.
The nonprofit also has a connection to the Newsom administration. Baby2Baby co-CEO Norah Weinstein serves on the board of the California Partners Project, which was founded by first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, according to the outlet.
Newsom’s office and Baby2Baby could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.
