CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

Request For Proposal (RFP) 3475

PART 1 – BIDDER INSTRUCTIONS

FOR

EDD Salesforce M&O

June 2, 2026

Issued by:

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Employment Development Department 1416 9th St. Sacramento, CA 95814

Part 1 of this solicitation contains the Bidder and bidding instructions, proposal form instructions, solution requirements and instructions, and all other instructional/compliance information that the Bidder must meet in order to be considered responsive to the solicitation.

Part 2 of this solicitation contains all forms a Bidder must complete and return with its proposal, including the Statement of Work (SOW), administrative forms, qualification forms, requirement responses, and all exhibits/attachments discussed in Part 1.

Disclaimer: The original version and any subsequent solicitation addenda released by the Procurement Officer of this solicitation remain the official version. In the event of any inconsistency between the Bidder’s versions, articles, attachments, specifications, or provisions, the official State version of the solicitation in its entirety shall take precedence.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. PURPOSE OF THIS RFP

1.2. BACKGROUND

1.3. TERM OF CONTRACT

1.4. CURRENT AND PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTS

1.4.1. CURRENT ENVIRONMENT

1.4.2. PROPOSED ENVIRONMENT

1.5. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

2. BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS

2.1. BIDDER ADMONISHMENT

2.2. COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTACTS

2.2.1. PROCUREMENT OFFICERS

2.2.2. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT

2.2.3. INTENT TO BID

2.2.4. REQUEST INVITATION TO STATE'S FILE-SHARING SITE

2.3. KEY ACTION DATES

2.4. RULES GOVERNING COMPETITION

2.4.1. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF SOLICITATION

REQUIREMENTS

2.4.2. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS

2.4.3. EXAMINATION OF THE WORK

2.4.4. EXCLUSION FOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST

2.4.5. CONFIDENTIALITY

2.4.6. BONDS

2.4.7. ADDENDA

2.4.8. COST FOR DEVELOPING PROPOSAL

2.4.9. IRREVOCABLE OFFER

2.4.10. FALSE OR MISLEADING STATEMENTS

2.5. BIDDING STEPS

2.5.1. FINAL PHASE

2.5.2. WITHDRAWAL AND RESUBMISSION/MODIFICATION OF

PROPOSALS

2.5.3. DISPOSITION OF PROPOSALS

3. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

3.1. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

3.1.1. BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS (M)(DS)

3.1.2. BIDDER REFERENCES (MS)

3.1.3. KEY STAFF QUALIFICATIONS (M)(DS)

3.1.3.1. FULL-TIME/PART-TIME MONTH EQUIVALENTS DEFINITION

3.1.4. KEY STAFF REFERENCES (M)

3.1.5. SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

3.1.5.1. FUNCTIONAL AND NON FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS (M)

3.1.5.1.1. SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS BACKLOG (M)

3.1.5.2. NARRATIVE REQUIREMENTS (MS)

3.2. PREQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

3.2.1. ELECTRONIC VENDOR APPLICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS

(EVAQ)(M)

3.2.1.1. INCORPORATION OF EVAQ REQUIREMENTS

3.3. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

3.3.1. COVER LETTER (M)

3.3.2. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT (M)

3.3.3. CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT (M)

3.3.4. ABILITY TO PERFORM

3.3.5. PRIMARY BIDDER

3.3.6. SUBCONTRACTORS

3.3.6.1. BIDDER DECLARATION FORM (M)

3.3.7. AMENDMENT

3.3.8. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INFORMATION

3.3.9. GENERAL PROVISIONS

3.3.10. GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (GENAI)

DISCLOSURE NOTIFICATION

3.3.11. STATEMENT OF WORK

3.3.11.1. INSURANCE COVERAGE

3.3.11.2. INSURANCE COVERAGE

3.3.12. SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS

3.3.12.1. BIDDER'S PREFERENCE AND INCENTIVE DECLARATION

(M)

3.3.12.2. DISABLED VETERAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DVBE)

PROGRAM

3.3.12.2.1. DVBE PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT (M)

3.3.12.2.2. DVBE INCENTIVE (O)

3.3.12.3. SMALL BUSINESS PREFERENCE (O)

3.3.12.4. NON-SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTOR PREFERENCE

(O)

3.3.12.5. COMMERCIALLY USEFUL FUNCTION (M, IF APPLICABLE)

3.3.12.6. TARGET AREA CONTRACT PREFERENCE ACT (TACPA) (O)

3.4. INTERVIEWS (MS)

4. COST

4.1. COST WORKBOOK (MS)

4.2. COST WORKBOOK INSTRUCTIONS

4.3. SALES TAX

5. PROPOSAL FORMAT AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

5.1. PREPARATION

5.2. COMPLETION OF PROPOSALS

5.3. DELIVERY OF SUBMITTALS

5.4. PROPOSAL FORMAT AND CONTENT

5.4.1. VOLUME 1: RESPONSE TO PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

5.4.2. VOLUME 2: COST

6. EVALUATION

6.1. EVALUATION TEAM

6.2. PROPOSAL EVALUATION

6.2.1. ERRORS IN THE FINAL PROPOSAL

6.2.1.1. BIDDER RESPONSE CLARIFICATION

6.2.2. VALIDATION AGAINST REQUIREMENTS

6.3. ADMINISTRATIVE EVALUATION

6.4. QUALIFICATION EVALUATION

6.4.1. BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS EVALUATION

6.4.2. BIDDER REFERENCES EVALUATION

6.4.3. KEY STAFF QUALIFICATIONS EVALUATION

6.4.4. KEY STAFF REFERENCES EVALUATION

6.5. SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS EVALUATION

6.5.1. FUNCTIONAL AND NON-FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION

6.5.1.1. SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS BACKLOG

EVALUATION

6.5.2. NARRATIVE RESPONSE(S) EVALUATION

6.6. INTERVIEW EVALUATION

6.7. COST EVALUATION

6.7.1. COST SCORE CALCULATION

6.8. SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS EVALUATION

6.8.1. DVBE INCENTIVE EVALUATION

6.8.2. SMALL BUSINESS PREFERENCE EVALUATION

6.8.3. TACPA PREFERENCE EVALUATION

6.9. BIDDER FINAL SCORE CALCULATION

6.10. PROPOSAL RANK DETERMINATION

7. NEGOTIATIONS

7.1. PROCEEDING TO NEGOTIATIONS

7.2. NEGOTIATION INVITATION

7.3. BEST AND FINAL OFFER SUBMISSION (BAFO)

7.4. EVALUATION OF BAFO SUBMISSION

8. CONTRACT AWARD

9. DEBRIEFING

10. PROTESTS

ATTACHMENT 1: TEMPLATE FOR QUESTION/REQUEST FOR CHANGE

SUBMITTAL

ATTACHMENT 2: INTENT TO BID

ATTACHMENT 3: FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT DISCLOSURE FORM

ATTACHMENT 4: COVER LETTER FORM

ATTACHMENT 5: RESPONSE TO ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

ATTACHMENT 6: CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT

ATTACHMENT 7: BIDDER DECLARATION GSPD 05-105

ATTACHMENT 8: BIDDING PREFERENCES AND INCENTIVES

ATTACHMENT 9: DVBE DECLARATIONS

ATTACHMENT 10: COMMERCIALLY USEFUL FUNCTION (CUF)

CERTIFICATION

ATTACHMENT 11: TACPA PREFERENCE REQUEST FORMS

ATTACHMENT 12: BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS FORM - INSTRUCTIONS

ATTACHMENT 13: BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS FORM

ATTACHMENT 14: BIDDER REFERENCE FORM

ATTACHMENT 15: KEY STAFF QUALIFICATIONS FORM – INSTRUCTIONS

ATTACHMENT 15.1: ENGAGEMENT MANAGER - QUALIFICATIONS FORM

ATTACHMENT 15.2: ENGAGEMENT MANAGER - REFERENCE FORM

ATTACHMENT 15.3: PROJECT MANAGER - QUALIFICATIONS FORM

ATTACHMENT 15.4: PROJECT MANAGER - REFERENCE FORM

ATTACHMENT 15.5: TECHNICAL LEAD - QUALIFICATIONS FORM

ATTACHMENT 15.6: TECHNICAL LEAD - REFERENCE FORM

ATTACHMENT 16: NARRATIVE RESPONSE

ATTACHMENT 17: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

EXHIBIT A: STATEMENT OF WORK

EXHIBIT A1: ADD, DELETE, OR SUBSTITUTE STAFF REQUEST FORM

EXHIBIT A2: DELIVERABLE EXPECTATION DOCUMENT

EXHIBIT A3: DELIVERABLE ACCEPTANCE DOCUMENT

EXHIBIT B: FUNCTIONAL AND NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

EXHIBIT B1: BACKLOG

EXHIBIT C: COST WORKBOOK

EXHIBIT D: SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS (REV 09-24)

EXHIBIT E: PROTECTION OF CONFIDENTIALITY (REV 08-25)

EXHIBIT E1: VENDOR CONTRACTOR CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT (REV

05-23)

EXHIBIT E2: DATA DESTRUCTION CERTIFICATION FORM (REV 05-24)

EXHIBIT F: SAFEGUARDING CONTRACT LANGUAGE ADMINISTRATIVE

REQUIREMENTS

EXHIBIT G: SAFEGUARDING CONTRACT LANGUAGE FOR TECHNOLOGY

SERVICES

EXHIBIT H: SECURITY AND DATA PROTECTION

EXHIBIT I: SF INTERFACES

RFP

PART 1 – BIDDER INSTRUCTIONS

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

June 2, 2026

1. INTRODUCTION

On behalf of the Employment Development Department, this solicitation is being conducted under the authority of California Department of Technology (CDT) pursuant to Public Contract Code (PCC) §6611 which provides the authority to use a competitive negotiation process when the State’s business need or the purpose of a procurement or contract is known, but negotiation is necessary to ensure that the State is receiving the best value or the most cost-efficient goods, services, information technology, and telecommunications.

This solicitation contains the instructions governing the requirements for fixed price deliverable-based proposals to be submitted by Bidders. Also included in this solicitation is the required format and materials Bidders must follow when responding to this solicitation. This solicitation also addresses the requirements that Bidders must meet to be eligible for consideration, as well as Bidders’ responsibilities before and after award.

The following terms are used interchangeably throughout the solicitation documents: (1) “Contract” and “Agreement”; (2) “response” and “proposals”. For additional definitions, see ATTACHMENT 17:

GLOSSARY OF TERMS.

1.1. PURPOSE OF THIS RFP

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) (hereafter referred to as “solicitation”) is to obtain proposals from qualified Bidders to provide EDD and the State of California (hereafter referred to as “State”) with Salesforce Maintenance & Operations Support (hereafter referred to as "Salesforce M&O Support").

The Contract Award, if made, will be to the single Bidder in accordance with the methodology defined in

SECTION 6. EVALUATION.

1.2. BACKGROUND

The Employment Development Department (hereinafter referred to as “State” or "EDD") provides a variety of services to businesses, workers, and job seekers. The EDD administers benefit programs, including Unemployment Insurance (UI), Disability Insurance (DI), and Paid Family Leave (PFL) programs that provide financial stability to workers and their communities. The EDD also provides critical employment service programs to Californians, collects the State's labor market information and employment data, and serves as one of the nation's largest tax agencies through the collection of payroll taxes.

The EDD’s mission is to enhance California’s prosperity and economic growth by delivering valuable and innovative services to meet the changing needs of employers, personnel, and those seeking employment.

The Information Technology Branch (ITB) supports this mission by engineering and maintaining IT

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal services to support employers, employees, and job seekers in the State of California.

1.3. TERM OF CONTRACT

Effective upon approval of CDT, Office of Statewide Technology Procurement (OSTP), the base term of the Contract is two (2) years.

The State, at its sole discretion, may exercise its option to execute two (2), one-year extensions for a maximum Contract term of four (4) years.

The Contractor shall not be authorized to deliver goods or commence performance of services described in this Agreement prior to the effective date. Any delivery of goods or performance of services by the Contractor that is commenced prior to the effective date shall be at no cost to the State.

The State is not obligated to use any or all of these options. The Agreement is of no effect unless approved by CDT and no work shall begin before full execution of the Agreement.

1.4. CURRENT AND PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTS

1.4.1. CURRENT ENVIRONMENT

Currently, some of the mission critical systems to support core EDD business functions are maintained within the Salesforce Orgs listed below:

• CA-EDD Org

• Contact Center Org

• EDD UI Claims Org

The details about the applications within the respective Salesforce Orgs and the current hosting location details are provided in SECTION 15. PROJECT (CONTRACTOR) TASKS AND DELIVERABLE

REQUIREMENTS.

The Contractor will not create a new hosting environment, but is expected to be responsible for the procurement and management of Salesforce licenses for the supported orgs.

1.4.2. PROPOSED ENVIRONMENT

This section is intended to present an overview of the proposed system and as such will not specify any detailed technical requirements. A more detailed description of the proposed environment and overall project requirements for Salesforce Maintenance & Operations Support are included in EXHIBIT A:

STATEMENT OF WORK. Details of the solicitation requirements are included in EXHIBIT B:

FUNCTIONAL AND NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

The Contractor will take ownership for the following:

A. Provide Salesforce licenses as described in the EXHIBIT C: COST WORKBOOK.

B. Implement updates and provide ongoing maintenance, along with operational support that includes proactive system monitoring, performance tuning, user assistance, incident response within defined SLAs, regular health checks and documentation updates for existing applications and systems within each Salesforce Org.

C. Implement system updates, including decisive bug fixes and performance optimizations to ensure continuous improvement.

D. Lead and manage all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), from comprehensive requirements gathering to deployment, rigorous testing, and post-deployment support.

E. Maintain the integration processes between these Salesforce Orgs and external systems, guaranteeing seamless data flow and system interoperability.

F. Implement adaptive maintenance and apply security fixes to ensure ongoing compliance with the security standards outlined in SECTION 19. SECURITY.

G. Ensure that all deliverables consistently meet agreed-upon standards and best practices, thereby optimizing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Salesforce Orgs and their associated applications.

H. Conduct thorough knowledge transfer activities for EDD staff and its designees, ensuring that all EDD resources are fully trained and equipped with essential knowledge for operational success.

See SECTION 15. PROJECT (CONTRACTOR) TASKS AND DELIVERABLE REQUIREMENTS for more details.

1.5. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

To comply with the nondiscrimination requirements of ADA, it is the policy of the State of California to make every effort to ensure that its programs, activities, and services are available to all persons, including persons with disabilities.

For persons with a disability needing a reasonable accommodation to participate in the procurement process or for persons having questions regarding reasonable accommodations of the procurement process, you may contact the Procurement Officer identified in SECTION 2.2.1. PROCUREMENT OFFICERS. You may also contact the State of California at the telephone numbers listed below.

Important: To ensure that we can meet your needs, it is best that we receive your request for reasonable accommodations at least ten (10) working days before the scheduled event, e.g., meeting, conference, workshop, etc., or deadline due date for procurement documents.

Table 1.5-1: The California Relay Service Telephone Numbers

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

June 2, 2026 https://sb.cityinnovate.com/account/solicitations/documents/379507#section-742069

RELAY SERVICE

DESCRIPTION

LANGUAGE TELEPHONE NUMBER

TTY/VCO/HCO to Voice

English

Spanish

1-800-735-2929

1-800-855-3000

Voice to TTY/VCO/HCO

English

Spanish

1-800-735-2922

1-800-855-3000

From or to Speech-to-Speech English & Spanish 1-800-854-7784

2. BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS

2.1. BIDDER ADMONISHMENT

This procurement will follow an approach designed to increase the likelihood of a successful proposal and Bidder eligibility for an invitation to negotiation.

The Bidder should refer to SECTION 2.5. BIDDING STEPS to understand the phases applicable to this solicitation and SECTION 6. EVALUATION to understand the evaluation process. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to:

1. Carefully read the entire solicitation.

2. Submit questions in a timely manner.

3. Submit all required responses by the required dates and times specified in SECTION 2.3. KEY

ACTION DATES.

4. Abide by all procedures and requirements of the solicitation.

5. Not include conditional statements, assumptions, or exception language with proposals.

6. Carefully review the solicitation requirements prior to submission of a proposal to ensure nothing has been overlooked.

2.2. COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTACTS

The State uses an online procurement system known as Cal eProcure to communicate with prospective Bidders and suppliers. Information and ongoing communications for this solicitation will be posted by the State on the Cal eProcure website, www.caleprocure.ca.gov.

Oral communications by Agency/state entity officers and employees concerning this solicitation shall not be binding on the State and shall in no way excuse the Bidder of any obligations set forth in this

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

June 2, 2026 https://sb.cityinnovate.com/account/solicitations/documents/44067#section-207751 https://www.caleprocure.ca.gov/ solicitation.

2.2.1. PROCUREMENT OFFICERS

The Procurement Officer is the State’s designated authorized representative regarding this procurement and is the sole point of contact.

Bidders are directed to communicate all correspondence regarding this procurement to both the Procurement Officer and the Secondary Procurement Officer at the contact information below.

Table 2.2.1-1: Procurement Officers

DESCRIPTION CONTACT INFORMATION

Department Name:

California Department of Technology (CDT), Office of Statewide Technology Procurement (OSTP)

Procurement Officer: Alnice Botha

Email: alnice.botha@state.ca.gov

Phone: (916) 846-6439

Secondary Procurement Officer: Katie DeAngelis

Email: katie.deangelis@state.ca.gov

Phone: (916) 281-4062

2.2.2. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT

Bidders requesting clarification of the intent, terms and conditions, content of this solicitation, or on procedural matters regarding the competitive bid process should submit ATTACHMENT 1: TEMPLATE FOR QUESTION/REQUEST FOR CHANGE SUBMITTAL via email addressed to the Procurement Officers listed in SECTION 2.2.1. PROCUREMENT OFFICERS.

If the Bidder believes that one or more of the solicitation requirements is onerous, unfair, or imposes unnecessary constraints on the Bidder proposing a less costly or an alternate solution, the Bidder may request a change to the solicitation by submitting, in writing, the recommended change(s) and the facts substantiating this belief and reasons for making the recommended change using ATTACHMENT 1:

TEMPLATE FOR QUESTION/REQUEST FOR CHANGE SUBMITTAL. Such request must be submitted to the Procurement Officers by the date specified in SECTION 2.3. KEY ACTION DATES.

Written questions and requests for changes must be submitted, using Microsoft Excel or Word, by email

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal to the Procurement Officers identified in SECTION 2.2.1. PROCUREMENT OFFICERS, using

ATTACHMENT 1: TEMPLATE FOR QUESTION/REQUEST FOR CHANGE SUBMITTAL.

The email must include the solicitation identification information from the solicitation title page in the subject line. To ensure a response, questions and/or requests for changes must be received in writing by the date(s) specified in SECTION 2.3. KEY ACTION DATES. Question and answer sets will be posted to Cal eProcure and will not identify the submitters. At the sole discretion of the State, questions may be paraphrased by the State for clarity.

If a Bidder desires clarification or further information on the content of the solicitation, but whose questions relate to the proprietary aspect of its proposal and disclosure exposes its proposal to other Bidders, the question may be submitted using the same criteria above with the notation, “CONFIDENTIAL.” The Bidder must explain why the question is sensitive in nature. If the State concurs that the disclosure of the question or the answer would expose the proprietary nature of the proposal, the question will be answered and both the question and answer will be confidentially maintained. If the State does not concur with the proprietary nature of the question, the Bidder will be notified and may withdraw the question. If the question is not withdrawn, the question and response will not be confidentially maintained.

Only questions submitted in writing and answered in writing by the Procurement Officer shall be binding and official.

2.2.3. INTENT TO BID

Bidders that wish to participate in the solicitation should submit a completed ATTACHMENT 2: INTENT TO BID by the date specified in SECTION 2.3. KEY ACTION DATES.

This document shall be sent by email to the Procurement Officer identified in SECTION 2.2.1.

PROCUREMENT OFFICERS.

It shall be the Bidder’s responsibility to notify the Procurement Officer regarding any change to its Intent to Bid or the contact information. The State shall not be responsible for proposal correspondence not received by the Bidder if the Bidder fails to notify the State, in writing, of any change pertaining to the designated contact person.

2.2.4. REQUEST INVITATION TO STATE'S FILE-SHARING SITE

The Bidder must email the Procurement Officer by the due date specified in SECTION 2.3. KEY ACTION DATES, two (2) contacts who will have access to the State's file sharing site to electronically upload Bidder’s proposal. Once provided, an invitation to the State's file sharing site will be sent to those individuals. It is the Bidder's responsibility to confirm receipt of the invitation with the Procurement Officer.

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

A separate file location will be created for each Bidder accessible only to the Bidder Contact(s).

The file sharing site does not allow access from outside the Continental United States.

It is highly recommended that Bidders upload a test MS Word, MS Excel, and PDF file to each folder at least five (5) calendar days prior to the due date to test access to the State's file sharing site. Upon successful upload, notify the Procurement Officer and the test file will be deleted. It is the Bidder's responsibility to gain access to the file-sharing site to submit their proposal.

The file sharing site will provide a primary folder for each Bidder to submit their proposal. Each Bidder's folder will contain subfolders: Volume 1, Volume 2.

The Bidder contacts will be required to upload a complete copy of the Bidder’s proposal to the appropriate folders.

If a Bidder fails to request access to the file sharing site by the due date specified in the Key Action Dates, the State cannot guarantee access to the site prior to the proposal submittal due date and no other submissions outside of the file sharing site will be considered.

If a file is uploaded in error to a file sharing site folder, the Bidder may submit a request by email to the Procurement Officer prior to the last day to submit responses. Do not upload compressed files (.zip files) onto the file sharing site.

Proposals must be received no later than the date and time specified in SECTION 2.3. KEY ACTION DATES. Late receipt of a proposal may be considered non-responsive and may be the basis for rejecting the Bidder's proposal.

2.3. KEY ACTION DATES

Key Action Dates provides the key action dates and times by which actions must be taken or completed.

If the State finds it necessary to change these dates or times, it will be accomplished via an addendum to this solicitation with the exception of dates listed after the Bidder’s submission of proposal. Dates listed after the Bidder’s submission of proposal are estimated and may be adjusted without addendum to this solicitation. All times listed are for Pacific Time. Unless otherwise specified, all times are 4:00 PM Pacific Time.

Table 2.3-1: Key Action Dates (KAD)

ITEM ACTION DATE AND TIME

1. Release of Solicitation June 2, 2026

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

ITEM ACTION DATE AND TIME

2. Last day to submit questions and request for changes prior to proposal using ATTACHMENT 1: TEMPLATE

FOR QUESTION/REQUEST FOR CHANGE

SUBMITTAL

June 16, 2026 by 12:00 PM noon

3. State’s response to Bidder’s questions, and release of potential addendum1

June 30, 2026

4. Submit:

ATTACHMENT 2: INTENT TO BID

July 7, 2026

5. Last Day for Bidders to request an invitation to the State's file-sharing site to submit a proposal (Refer to

SECTION 2.2.4. REQUEST INVITATION TO STATE'S

FILE-SHARING SITE)

July 7, 2026

6. Last day to submit proposal and be deemed eVAQ approved by OSTP.2 July 21, 2026 by 12:00 PM noon

7. Proposal Evaluation Period July 22 - September 23, 2026

8. Interviews (if held) September 24 - October 7, 2026

9. Negotiations October 15 - November 4, 2026

10. BAFO submission November 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM noon

11. BAFO evaluations November 20 - December 14, 2026

12. Target Notification of Award/Contract Execution February 8, 2027

1 Or five (5) working days following the last addendum that changes the requirements of the solicitation.

2 If Bidder does not have an approved eVAQ application on file with OSTP, it is recommended that Bidders allow a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to proposal due date for the State to process and

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal approve Bidder's eVAQ application.

2.4. RULES GOVERNING COMPETITION

This solicitation, the evaluation of responses, and the award of any resultant Contract shall be made in conformance with current competitive bidding procedures as they relate to the procurement of IT goods and services or telecommunications by public bodies in the State of California.

2.4.1. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF SOLICITATION

REQUIREMENTS

The State has established certain requirements with respect to proposals to be submitted by prospective Contractors. The use of “shall,” “must,” or “will” (except to indicate simple futurity) in the solicitation indicates a requirement or condition which is mandatory.

Non-compliance with any mandatory requirement will disqualify a Bidder from further participating in Evaluation, Negotiations and Contract Award.

The words “should” or “may” in the solicitation indicate desirable attributes or conditions, but are non-mandatory in nature.

2.4.2. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS

This solicitation document includes, in addition to an explanation of the State’s requirements which must be met, instructions which prescribe the format and content of proposals to be submitted and the model of the Contract to be executed between the State and the successful Bidder.

If a Bidder discovers any ambiguity, conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other error in this solicitation document, the Bidder shall immediately notify the Procurement Officer identified in SECTION 2.2.1.

PROCUREMENT OFFICERS, of such error in writing and request clarification or modification of the document.

If the solicitation document contains an error known to the Bidder, or an error that reasonably should have been known, the Bidder shall bid at its own risk. If the Bidder fails to notify the State of the error prior to the date fixed for submission of proposals, and is awarded the Contract, the Bidder shall not be entitled to additional compensation or time by reason of the error or its later correction. Modifications will be made by addenda issued pursuant to SECTION 2.4.7. ADDENDA.

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

2.4.3. EXAMINATION OF THE WORK

The Bidder should carefully examine the entire solicitation document and any addenda thereto, and all related materials and data referenced in the solicitation document or otherwise available to the Bidder, and should become fully aware of the nature and location of the work, the quantities of the work, and the conditions to be encountered in performing the work.

2.4.4. EXCLUSION FOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST

No consultant shall be paid out of State funds for developing recommendations on the acquisition of telecommunication, information technology (IT) products or services or assisting in the preparation of the project approval lifecycle documents (stages 2, 3, or 4), while in effect, if that consultant is to be a source of such acquisition or could otherwise directly and/or materially benefit from State adoption of such recommendations or the course of action recommended in the project approval lifecycle documents (stages 2, 3, or 4). Further, no consultant shall be paid out of State funds for developing recommendations on the disposal of State surplus IT products if that consultant would directly and/or materially benefit from State adoption of such recommendations.

A consultant shall not be eligible to serve as the Prime Contractor or subcontractor pursuant to this solicitation if the Contractor/subcontractor is currently working on the solicitation in an Independent Verification and Validation (IV & V) role.

The Bidder must complete and submit ATTACHMENT 3: FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT DISCLOSURE FORM with its proposal.

2.4.5. CONFIDENTIALITY

Bidder material becomes public only after the Notification of Award is released. If material marked “confidential,” “proprietary,” or “trade secret” is requested pursuant to the Public Records Act, the State will make an independent assessment whether it is exempt from disclosure. If the State disagrees with the Bidder, the State will notify the Bidder and give them a reasonable opportunity to justify their position or obtain a court order protecting the material from disclosure.

The Bidder should be aware that marking a document “confidential” or “proprietary” in their Proposal may exclude it from consideration for award and will not keep that document from being released after notice of award as part of the public record, unless a court has ordered the State not to release the document.

The content of all working papers and discussions relating to the Bidder’s Proposal shall be held in confidence indefinitely, unless the public interest is best served by an item’s disclosure because of its direct pertinence to a decision, agreement or the evaluation of the Proposal.

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

Any disclosure of confidential information by the Bidder is a basis for rejecting the Bidder’s Proposal and ruling the Bidder ineligible to further participate. Any disclosure of confidential information by a State employee is a basis for disciplinary action, including dismissal from State employment, as provided by Government Code §19570 et seq. Total confidentiality is paramount; it cannot be over emphasized.

2.4.6. BONDS

The State reserves the right to require a performance bond or other security document as specified in the solicitation from the Bidder in an amount not to exceed the amount of the Contract. In the event the State requires a surety bond that has not been expressly required by the solicitation, the State will reimburse the Bidder as an addition to the purchase price in an amount not exceeding the standard premium on such bond.

2.4.7. ADDENDA

The State may modify the solicitation at any time prior to submission of proposal by issuing an addendum.

Addenda will be numbered consecutively and released to all Bidders via Cal eProcure.

The Bidder is allowed five (5) working days to submit written questions regarding the addendum according to the instructions contained in SECTION 2.2.2. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE

SOLICITATION DOCUMENT .

2.4.8. COST FOR DEVELOPING PROPOSAL

Costs for developing proposals are the responsibility entirely of the Bidder and shall not be chargeable to the State.

2.4.9. IRREVOCABLE OFFER

Bidder’s response to this solicitation shall constitute a firm offer, which shall remain irrevocable for not less than 120 calendar days following the Contract Award date specified in SECTION 2.3. KEY ACTION DATES. In the event of a delay in Contract Award, a Bidder may extend the expiration date of its firm offer an additional 30 calendar days by written notice to the State.

This expiration date may be further extended by mutual agreement between the State and the Bidder, in order to accommodate processing time for required approvals and other solicitation-related reviews.

2.4.10. FALSE OR MISLEADING STATEMENTS

Proposals that contain false or misleading statements, or provide references that do not support an attribute or condition claimed by the Bidder, may be the basis for rejecting the Bidder's proposal. If, in the opinion of the State, such information was intended to mislead the State in its evaluation of the proposal, State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

June 2, 2026 https://sb.cityinnovate.com/account/solicitations/documents/394119?return_path=%2Faccount%2Fworkflows%2Fstages%2F34827%3Fsub_stage%3Ddocuments#section-816900 and the attribute, condition, or capability is a requirement of this solicitation document, may be the basis for rejecting the Bidder’s proposal.

2.5. BIDDING STEPS

The following instructions provide the steps to submit a response to this solicitation by interested Bidders.

Details surrounding proposals are described further in SECTION 3. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS.

The Bidder is expected to follow the format requirements and utilize all forms included in this solicitation necessary for its response. This solicitation also addresses the Bidder responsibilities and requirements it must meet to be eligible for consideration. If the Bidder fails to follow the provided instructions, the Bidder may be disqualified from the solicitation process.

Refer to SECTION 2.3. KEY ACTION DATES to determine which phases and mandatory steps are included in this solicitation. SECTION 2.3. KEY ACTION DATES lists milestones, mandatory steps, and due dates for deliverables in this solicitation. Bidders must submit a pre-qualified Electronic Vendor Application of Qualifications (eVAQ) as detailed in SECTION 3.2.1. ELECTRONIC VENDOR

APPLICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS (EVAQ)(M).

2.5.1. FINAL PHASE

The final phase consists of a proposal (Mandatory) and, if requested by the State, a Best and Final Offer

(BAFO).

The purpose of the final phase is to obtain proposals that are responsive in every respect. The proposal is a mandatory step for all Bidders; all other steps are optional unless otherwise stated in SECTION 2.3.

KEY ACTION DATES.

The proposal must be complete, and include all cost information, required signatures, contract changes issued by the State via an addendum and corrections made to those defects noted by the State in its review of the draft proposal, if any. Bidders that submitted proposals meeting the criteria identified in SECTION 7. NEGOTIATIONS, will be eligible to receive an invitation to negotiate with the State.

The State, at its sole discretion, may request a BAFO from those Bidders that participated in the Negotiation Process as identified in SECTION 7. NEGOTIATIONS.

2.5.2. WITHDRAWAL AND RESUBMISSION/MODIFICATION OF PROPOSALS

A Bidder may withdraw its proposal at any time prior to the proposal submission date by submitting a written notification of withdrawal signed by an authorized representative of the Bidder in accordance with SECTION 3.3.1. COVER LETTER (M) . The Bidder may thereafter submit a new or modified proposal prior to the submission date and time specified in SECTION 2.3. KEY ACTION DATES. Modification

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal offered in any other manner, oral or written, will not be considered. Other than as allowed by law, proposals cannot be changed after the deadline date and time designated for receipt, except as provided in the solicitation.

2.5.3. DISPOSITION OF PROPOSALS

All materials submitted in response to this solicitation will become the property of the State of California.

All phases of the proposal shall be retained for official files and will become a public record after the Notification of Award is posted.

3. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

This section contains the mandatory, desirable scored and optional proposal requirements that must be met in order to be considered responsive to this solicitation.

The documents that must be submitted with the Bidder’s proposal are noted as “Mandatory” “(M)” in this section. Items labeled "Desirable Scored" "(DS)" or "Optional" "(O)" are optional.

The proposal requirements listed in this section are denoted as follows:

1. (M) Sections labeled as “Mandatory” or “M” are not negotiable. To be considered responsive to these requirements, all requirements identified as (M) must receive a response from the Bidder.

Failure to respond to any (M) requirements where indicated shall result in a “fail” and disqualification of the proposal.

2. (DS) Sections labeled “Desirable Scored” or "DS" are not required to be offered by the Bidder in order to be responsive with the solicitation requirements. The Bidder may choose whether to meet requirements labeled as (DS). However, if a Bidder offers any of these (DS) requirement, the Bidder must meet the minimum requirements as stated in the section. The State will review responses to (DS) requirements and apply points, if applicable, per criteria stated in SECTION 6.

EVALUATION.

3. (O) Sections labeled as “Optional” or “O” are not required to be offered by the Bidder in order to be responsive to the solicitation requirements. A Bidder may choose whether to meet administrative requirements labeled as (O) such as those relating to preference points. However, if a Bidder offers any of these (O) requirements, the Bidder must meet the minimum requirements as stated in the section. The State will review responses to optional requirements and apply points, if applicable, in accordance with SECTION 6. EVALUATION.

3.1. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The Bidder is expected to have a proven record of success and be responsible for all aspects of the service, including any subcontractors and the project team/staff proposed.

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

The Bidder must meet the minimum Bidder Qualification and Key Staff Qualification Requirements. Failure to meet any of the minimum requirements shall result in a proposal being deemed non-responsive and therefore disqualified.

3.1.1. BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS (M)(DS)

The Bidder must complete and submit as part of the proposal response, ATTACHMENT 13: BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS FORM, to confirm that the Bidder’s experience meets all the minimum requirements identified in ATTACHMENT 13: BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS FORM. It is incumbent upon the Bidder to provide enough detail in the proposal for the state to evaluate the Bidder’s ability to meet the requirements and perform the services as described in this solicitation. Refer to ATTACHMENT 12:

BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS FORM - INSTRUCTIONS for further requirements and instructions.

The Bidder must provide information for a minimum of three (3) projects. A separate ATTACHMENT 13:

BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS FORM must be submitted for every project used to meet the minimum required experience. Any given project may meet multiple requirements, but at least three (3) projects and not more than six (6) projects must be provided to meet the requirements in ATTACHMENT 13: BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS FORM. If more than six (6) Bidder Qualification Forms are submitted, only the first six

(6) in the order presented in the proposal will be evaluated.

Unless stated otherwise, experience must have occurred within ten (10) years prior to the solicitation release date for all projects and must have been completed in the United States of America. Points will be awarded based on desirable experience in accordance with SECTION 6. EVALUATION.

3.1.2. BIDDER REFERENCES (MS)

The Bidder must complete and submit as part of proposal, ATTACHMENT 14: BIDDER REFERENCE FORM for each of the projects cited on the corresponding ATTACHMENT 13: BIDDER

QUALIFICATIONS FORM.

The purpose of the Bidder reference requirement is to provide the State the ability to evaluate the Bidder’s experience in providing similar or relevant services to other organizations through a satisfaction rating provided by the Bidder’s previous project clients. The description of their projects must be detailed and comprehensive enough to permit the State to assess the similarity of those projects to the work anticipated for the Contract resulting from this solicitation.

ATTACHMENT 14: BIDDER REFERENCE FORM must be completed in its entirety and dated by the reference to be considered responsive. The ATTACHMENT 14: BIDDER REFERENCE FORM must be returned to the Bidder for submission with proposal. No information corrections or changes may be made on the reference form by the Bidder. Forms with alterations or changes to the entered information may be considered non-responsive and may be the basis for rejecting the Bidder's proposal.

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal

References may be contacted to validate submitted responses based on customer satisfaction in accordance with SECTION 6. EVALUATION. Failure to provide verifiable references may be considered non-responsive and may be the basis for rejecting the Bidder's proposal.

References must meet the following criteria:

• Must be from the company (customer) or Agency for which the project was developed and/or services provided.

• Must be someone who performs a management or supervisory role on the referenced project.

• Must be external to the Bidder’s organization and corporate structure.

• Must not be from employees or individuals who have or are currently working for the Bidder.

• Amendments to contracts shall not be considered separate and distinct contracts and cannot be used as separate projects.

• Must be able to provide an objective evaluation of the proposed Bidder and/or Key Staff's performance.

If the reference is not allowed either legally or by company/organization policy to fill out the reference form, the reference must type in its full name and provide the reason why they are not allowed to fill out the form.

Prior to the Bidder using a current State employee as a reference, the Bidder shall contact the State Procurement Officer identified in SECTION 2.2.1. PROCUREMENT OFFICERS, to ensure the current State employee is not a member of the Evaluation Team. In addition, only one (1) reference from the EDD is permitted.

3.1.3. KEY STAFF QUALIFICATIONS (M)(DS)

The Bidder is fully responsible for all necessary staffing resources to successfully maintain and operate Salesforce within the agreed upon schedule and to perform to the standards set forth in SECTION 30.

SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS (SLAS). The Bidder's staff may be comprised of Contractor Key Staff, critical Non-Key Staff, and any other Non-Key Staff that the Bidder requires to implement the Solution. A minimum of seven (7) Contractor Key Staff are required to fill the three (3) roles required in the SOW.

EDD requires the following:

1. One (1) Key Staff as the Engagement Manager

2. Three (3) Key Staff as Project Managers (one for each Org)

3. Three (3) Key Staff as Technical Leads (one for each Org)

Additional Contractor staff may also be necessary, at no additional cost to the State.

The Bidder must complete and submit Key Staff Qualification forms. The Bidder must provide complete

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal information to confirm that each of the proposed Key Staff possess the experience and qualifications as specified for their project role. Refer to ATTACHMENT 15: KEY STAFF QUALIFICATIONS FORM – INSTRUCTIONS for further requirements and instructions.

The Bidder must cite up to six (6) projects per proposed Key Staff to meet the requirements. If more than six (6) forms are submitted only the first six (6) in the order presented will be evaluated.

Each cited project for each Key Staff must be submitted separately on the appropriate form. It is incumbent upon the Bidder to provide enough detail in the response for the State to evaluate the Bidder’s proposed Key Staff’s ability to meet the requirements and perform the services as described in this solicitation and the SOW.

The Bidder’s proposed Key Staff must meet all the mandatory minimum qualification requirements. All experience used to meet the minimum requirements must have occurred within the last ten (10) years prior to the proposal due date. The same resource cannot be assigned to meet multiple roles. Points will be awarded to Bidders that meet the criteria set forth in the desirable experience qualifications as specified in SECTION 6. EVALUATION.

The following Key Staff are required to perform the services as described in EXHIBIT A: STATEMENT OF

WORK:

• ATTACHMENT 15.1: ENGAGEMENT MANAGER - QUALIFICATIONS FORM

• ATTACHMENT 15.3: PROJECT MANAGER - QUALIFICATIONS FORM

• ATTACHMENT 15.5: TECHNICAL LEAD - QUALIFICATIONS FORM

3.1.3.1. FULL-TIME/PART-TIME MONTH EQUIVALENTS DEFINITION

For each experience requirement marked with an “x” on the cited project, indicate the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) months the staff member accrued. One (1) FTE month is earned for each calendar month in which the staff member worked at least 160 hours across a minimum of 20 workdays on tasks relevant to the claimed experience.

For staff who worked part-time on a cited project, prorate the experience accordingly. For example, if the staff member worked half-time (i.e., at least 80 hours over 20 workdays in a month), they accrue 0.5 FTE month for that period.

For each experience requirement addressed by the staff member's work on a cited project, report the total number of FTE months of experience. Use the calculation methods described above, based on the calendar period during which the staff member worked on the project and whether the work was performed on a full-time or part-time basis.

Refer to the details in SECTION 6. EVALUATION on how the requirements will be scored as part of the

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal overall evaluation.

3.1.4. KEY STAFF REFERENCES (M)

The Bidder must complete and submit as part of its proposal one (1) Key Staff Reference Form for each of the projects cited on the corresponding Key Staff Qualifications Form.

The purpose of the Key Staff reference requirement is to provide the State the ability to evaluate the proposed Key Staff person’s experience in providing similar or relevant services to other organizations through a satisfaction rating provided by the Key Staff person’s previous project clients. The description of their projects must be detailed and comprehensive enough to permit the State to evaluate the work performed on the project meets the requirement(s).

Key Staff Reference Form must be completed in its entirety, and dated by the reference to be considered responsive. The Key Staff Reference Form must be returned to the Bidder for submission with proposal.

No information corrections or changes may be made on the reference form by the Bidder. Forms with alterations or changes to the entered information may be considered non-responsive and may be the basis for rejecting the Bidder's proposal.

References may be contacted to validate submitted responses based on customer satisfaction in accordance with SECTION 6. EVALUATION. Failure to provide verifiable references may be considered non-responsive and may be the basis for rejecting the Bidder's proposal.

References must meet the following criteria:

• Must be from the company (customer) or Agency for which the project was developed and/or services provided.

• Must be someone who performs a management or supervisory role on the referenced project.

• Must be external to the Bidder’s organization and corporate structure.

• Must not be from employees or individuals who have or are currently working for the Bidder.

• A contract and all amendments to it are considered as one project. Amendments to a contract cannot be submitted as separate projects.

• Must be able to provide an objective evaluation of the proposed Key Staff's performance.

If the reference is not allowed either legally or by company/organization policy to fill out the reference form, the reference must type in its full name and provide the reason why they are not allowed to fill out the form.

Prior to the proposed Key Staff person using a current State employee as a reference, the Bidder shall contact the State Procurement Officer identified in SECTION 2.2.1. PROCUREMENT OFFICERS, to ensure the current State employee is not a member of the Evaluation Team. In addition, only one (1)

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT OSTP Request For Proposal reference from the Employment Development Department is permitted.

3.1.5. SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

This section contains the detailed functional and non-functional requirements, deliverables and milestones requirements, and narrative response requirements pertaining to the proposed system that must be met in order to be considered responsive to this solicitation. In addition to meeting these requirements, the Bidder must adhere to EXHIBIT A: STATEMENT OF WORK.

3.1.5.1. FUNCTIONAL AND NON FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS (M)

The Bidder must complete and submit as part of its proposal, EXHIBIT B: FUNCTIONAL AND NON- FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS. The Bidder must indicate compliance and confirmation to each of the requirements by marking “Yes” or “No” in the column labeled “Bidder Agrees to Meet? Yes/No.” A blank or “NO” answer in this column may be considered non-responsive and may be the basis for rejecting the Bidder's proposal.

The following provides a description of each column and the instructions for completing EXHIBIT B:

FUNCTIONAL AND NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Column A: Requirement ID specifies the requirement’s identification number

• Column B: Requirement provides text to describe the requirement.

• Column C: Bidder Agrees to Meet? Yes/No Bidder must mark "Yes" or "No" indicating agreement and compliance with the requirement.

The Bidder must not alter the structure or content of EXHIBIT B: FUNCTIONAL AND NON-FUNCTIONAL

REQUIREMENTS.

Refer to SECTION 6. EVALUATION for details on how the requirements will be scored as part of the overall evaluation.

3.1.5.1.1. SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS BACKLOG (M)

The Bidder must complete and submit as part of its proposal, EXHIBIT B1: BACKLOG. The Bidder must indicate compliance and confirmation to each of the requirements by marking “Yes” or “No” in the column labeled "Bidder Agrees to Meet? Yes/No." A blank or “NO” answer in this column may be considered non-responsive and may be the basis for rejecting the Bidder's proposal.

The following provides a description of each column and the instructions for completing EXHIBIT B1:

BACKLOG:

• Column A: Epic ID specifies the requirement’s identification number

• Column B: Epic Description provides text to describe the requirement.

State of California Employment Development Department

RFP #3475

CDT…