California Code, Public Contract Code - PCC § 10510.8

(a) The university shall negotiate a contract with the best qualified firm for architectural, landscape architectural, engineering, environmental, land surveying, real property development services, and construction project management services at compensation that the university determines is fair and reasonable to the University of California.

(b) Should the university be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the firm considered to be the most qualified, at a price the university determines to be fair and reasonable to the University of California, negotiations with that firm shall be formally terminated. The university shall then undertake negotiations with the second most qualified firm. Failing accord with the second most qualified firm, the university shall terminate negotiations. The university shall then undertake negotiations with the third most qualified firm.

(c) Should the university be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with any of the selected firms, the university shall select additional firms in order of their competence and qualification and continue negotiations in accordance with this article until an agreement is reached.