0CA26004_Sample_Exhibit_A.docx

Contractor Name 0CA24006 – Exhibit A

Exhibit A Statement of Work

This Agreement between the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and [Contractor Name] is for the purpose of providing public engagement, research, analysis, and report development services to support preparation of the stewardship section of the 2027 Pathways to 30x30 Annual Report, as required by Assembly Bill 900 (Chapter 385, Statutes of 2025).

Background California has committed to conserving at least 30 percent of its lands and coastal waters by 2030, an initiative known as the 30x30 goal, established under Executive Order N‑82‑20 and codified in Public Resources Code sections 71450-71453. To guide this effort, the California Natural Resources Agency released the Pathways to 30x30 California report in 2022 and is required to submit annual progress updates to the Legislature. AB 900 builds upon this foundation by recognizing that conservation is not limited to land acquisition and designation alone. Effective conservation requires ongoing stewardship—science‑based management, adaptive strategies, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and best practices across all land types.

AB 900 requires CNRA to prepare a comprehensive stewardship section as part of the 2027 30x30 Annual Report. This section must assess the statewide backlog of stewardship needs, estimate associated costs, document best practices and case studies, evaluate ecological and climate benefits, identify workforce needs, and develop recommendations to strengthen stewardship of conserved lands. The Legislature also directed CNRA to collaborate closely with stakeholders, California Native American tribes, and relevant agencies, and to incorporate recommendations that support tribal stewardship, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and opportunities for ancestral land return.

Completion of the 2027 stewardship section requires extensive information gathering, analysis, and synthesis across multiple disciplines, as well as robust consultation and partnership efforts. To meet these statutory obligations and timelines, CNRA seeks contractor support to produce a complete, high‑quality stewardship chapter no later than the due date in the deliverables table.

Project Summary and Objective The objective of this contract is to support CNRA in fulfilling the statutory requirements established by Chapter 385, Statutes of 2025, Assembly Bill 900 (AB 900) by developing the stewardship section of the 2027 “Pathways to 30x30” Annual Report (“Report”). The contractor will synthesize and analyze existing research, analysis, data synthesis, and recommendations necessary for CNRA to assess statewide stewardship needs, including cost; document best practices; evaluate benefits; and outline strategies to strengthen stewardship of conserved lands and advance 30x30 goals. The contractor will also support CNRA in its community outreach to conservation leaders, local, rural, and underserved communities’ expertise and priorities are included in the Report. Lastly, the contract will coordinate closely with the CNRA Tribal Affairs Unit to ensure close coordination with the tribal stewardship components of the Report.

Work to be Performed The Contractor shall provide comprehensive synthesis and analysis of existing information, facilitation, and report‑development services to support the California Natural Resources Agency in fulfilling the statutory requirements of Assembly Bill 900. AB 900 mandates that CNRA prepare a detailed stewardship section for inclusion in the 2027 “Pathways to 30x30” Annual Report, addressing statewide stewardship needs (including cost), best practices, workforce capacity, climate and ecological benefits, and recommendations for improving stewardship of conserved lands, supporting tribal stewardships, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and ancestral land return.

To meet these obligations, the Contractor shall perform the following services with oversight from CNRA:

Task 1 – Stakeholder and Tribal Engagement Support

Description

The Contractor shall support the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) in developing outreach activities to gather information necessary to fulfill the reporting requirements of Assembly Bill (AB) 900. The Contractor shall assist with the facilitation and platform hosting of stakeholder engagement activities, meetings, regional listening sessions, and convenings, as needed, to inform development of the final report. The Contractor shall also support the CNRA Tribal Affairs Unit's tribal consultations, tribal roundtables, and convenings, consistent with the CNRA Tribal Consultation Policy, as needed to inform the final report. The Contractor shall ensure that the expertise and priorities of conservation leaders, as well as local, rural, and underserved communities, are appropriately reflected in the Report.

Subtasks

1.1 Outreach Planning and Coordination

· Support CNRA in designing and implementing outreach activities to gather information to support AB 900 and stewardship work in California.

· Assist in planning engagement sessions, including agenda development, speaker facilitation, and materials preparation.

1.2 Stakeholder Engagement

· Facilitate stakeholder meetings, listening sessions, regional roundtables, and virtual or in person engagement activities in partnership with CNRA.

· Provide logistical and platform-hosting support (e.g., virtual meeting facilitation, event support) and note-taking where applicable.

· Ensure the expertise and priorities of conservation leaders, local communities, rural communities, and underserved communities are incorporated.

1.3 Tribal Engagement and Consultation Support

· Support CNRA Tribal Affairs Unit, when needed, in conducting tribal consultations, tribal roundtables, and regional listening sessions consistent with agency protocols as necessary.

· Support CNRA Tribal Affairs Unit, when needed, to document input from California Native American tribes to ensure stewardship needs, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, ancestral land return, and capacity considerations are accurately reflected.

Task 2 – Stewardship Needs and Cost Assessment

Description

The Contractor shall collect and analyze datasets from tribal, federal, state, local, private, and non-governmental sources created on or before the due date identified in the Deliverables Table. The Contractor shall identify statewide backlogged, critical, recurring, and future stewardship needs and develop cost estimates and methodologies appropriate to those needs. The Contractor shall also support, when needed, the CNRA Tribal Affairs Unit in integrating tribal stewardship needs identified through consultation and data-gathering from California Native American tribes into the Report.

Subtasks

2.1 Data Collection and Review

· Collect and analyze datasets, reports, materials from outreach and engagement, and other relevant information from tribal, federal, state, local, private, and non-governmental sources created on or before the due date in the deliverables table.

· Develop a data inventory, documenting completeness, reliability, and data gaps

2.2 Statewide Stewardship Needs Assessment

· Identify and categorize backlogged, critical, recurring, and future stewardship needs.

· Analyze needs across land types, regions, and management entities.

· Analyze needs across community types, including but not limited to rural, underserved, tribal, and urban.

2.3 Cost Estimation Methodology Development

· Develop cost estimation models consistent with the needs identified in 2.2

· Provide clear methodologies, assumptions, and calculation frameworks.

2.4 Integration of Tribal Stewardship Needs

· Support CNRA Tribal Affairs Unit, when needed, to incorporate tribal stewardship needs identified through consultations and available datasets.

· Ensure findings reflect tribal priorities, practices, and constraints.

Task 3 – Best Practices, Case Studies, and Innovation Review

Description

The Contractor shall identify and document case studies representing effective stewardship across diverse landscapes, including tribal-led examples. The Contractor shall review science-based management, adaptive management, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and emerging best practices. The Contractor shall also evaluate innovative practices and technologies that improve stewardship outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Subtasks

3.1 Case Study Identification and Selection

· Identify a representative set of stewardship case studies across geographies and management entities, including tribal-led and underserved community examples, to demonstrate the range of effective stewardship approaches, illuminate successful strategies and lessons learned, and highlight replicable models that can inform statewide recommendations.

3.2 Case Study Development

· Document management actions, outcomes, innovations, and lessons learned.

3.3 Best Practices Review

· Review science-based management, adaptive management, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and other stewardship practices.

3.4 Innovation and Technology Assessment

· Evaluate emerging tools, technologies, and practices that improve stewardship effectiveness or cost efficiency.

Task 4 – Benefits and Co‑Benefits Analysis

Description

The Contractor shall synthesize and analyze existing information regarding the ecological, climate, cultural, and restorative economic benefits associated with stewardship activities, including biodiversity outcomes, carbon sequestration, water and air purification, wildlife habitat improvements, recreation, and public access. This work includes synthesizing and analyzing existing valuations or qualitative assessments aligned with available data, as well as existing information on how increased stewardship strengthens local and tribal cultural connections to land and species. The Contractor shall bolster existing related efforts, including those underway pursuant to AB 1757 (2022) at CNRA and the California Air Resources Board, and, when needed, support the CNRA Tribal Affairs Unit in synthesizing and analyzing existing ecological and climate benefits associated with Traditional Ecological Knowledge and tribal stewardship.

Subtasks

4.1 Ecological Benefits Assessment

· Synthesize and analyze existing information on the impacts on biodiversity, habitat quality, ecological resilience, and ecosystem function.

· Synthesize and analyze existing information on wildlife habitat improvements.

4.2 Climate Benefits Assessment

· Synthesize and analyze existing information on carbon sequestration, climate regulation, and related climate focused benefits, in partnership with the California Air Resources Board.

4.3 Environmental Service Benefits

· Synthesize and analyze existing information on water purification, air purification, and other ecosystem service benefits.

· Synthesize and analyze recreation and Access Benefits

· Synthesize and analyze existing information on recreation, public access, and community-based co-benefits associated with stewardship.

· Synthesize and analyze existing information on how eco-tourism benefits local economies.

4.4 Valuation and Synthesis

· Synthesize and analyze existing valuations or qualitative assessments aligned with available data and identify limitations.

4.5 Restorative Economic Benefits

· Synthesize and analyze existing information on how stewardship practices benefit local economies.

4.6 Cultural Benefits

· Synthesize and analyze existing information on how increased stewardship strengthens local and tribal cultural connections to land and species.

Task 5 - Ecological Workforce Needs Assessment

Description

The Contractor shall Synthesize and analyze existing information on workforce gaps, barriers, and training needs across stewardship sectors and communities, including building on existing analysis conducted for CNRA.

Subtasks

5.1 Workforce Gap Identification

· Synthesize and analyze existing information on gaps, barriers, and capacity constraints in California’s stewardship workforce across federal and state agencies, non-profits, local governments, California Native American tribes, and private companies.

5.2 Training and Pipeline Assessment

· Synthesize and analyze existing information on existing and potential training, apprenticeship, and workforce development pathways.

Task 6 - Recommendations Development

Description

The Contractor shall provide recommendations to reduce barriers to stewardship implementation; increase federal, state, and local support for stewardship; expand tribal partnerships and support for Traditional Ecological Knowledge as a stewardship practice; increase opportunities for ancestral land return; strengthen long-term stewardship planning and resource alignment; and increase opportunities to strengthen workforce pipelines, including tribal and underserved communities' workforce support and capacity-building.

Subtasks

6.1 Stewardship Recommendations

· Identify strategies to improve stewardship of conserved lands and reduce barriers to effective implementation.

6.2 Support Recommendations

· Recommend ways to increase federal, state, and local support for stewardship (financial or programmatic).

6.3 Tribal Partnership and Knowledge Integration

· Support CNRA Tribal Affairs Unit, when needed, to recommend approaches to strengthen tribal partnerships, support Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and expand opportunities for ancestral land return.

6.4 Long-Term Stewardship Planning Recommendations

· Identify opportunities to support long-term stewardship planning, data improvements, and resource alignment across sectors.

6.5 Workforce Recommendations

· Develop recommendations to strengthen workforce capacity statewide, including support for tribal, underserved communities, and culturally based stewardship workforce development.

Task 7 - Draft and Deliver the 2027 Stewardship Section

Description

The Contractor shall prepare all narrative text, figures, tables, citations, and appendices needed for the 2027 Pathways to 30x30 Annual Report. The Contractor shall produce a complete Draft Stewardship Section and, following revisions based on CNRA feedback, deliver a final, publication-ready Stewardship Section that meets statutory deadlines, format requirements, including accessibility requirements and graphic design as necessary, and CNRA quality standards. The final deliverable shall be completed by the due date identified in the Deliverables Table to support CNRA's ability to meet the legislated reporting deadline.

Subtasks

7.1 Draft Preparation

· Develop the complete draft stewardship chapter, including narrative text, tables, figures, maps, appendices, and citations.

7.2 Internal Review and Revision Support

· Revise deliverables based on CNRA comments and stakeholder input.

· Provide version control, responses to comments, and tracked edits.

7.3 Final Publication Ready Stewardship Section

· Deliver a final, publication-ready stewardship section meeting CNRA formatting, accessibility, and quality standards.

· Submit all associated supporting materials.

· Ensure final delivery meets statutory deadlines.

Task 8 - Project Management and Coordination

Description

The Contractor shall attend regular check-ins with the CNRA project management team; develop and maintain a detailed work plan and timeline that aligns with CNRA's internal contract timeline and required approval processes; provide transparent documentation of methodologies, sources, assumptions, and revisions; and manage and coordinate any sub-contractors.

Subtasks

8.1 Work Planning and Scheduling

· Develop and maintain a detailed work plan and timeline aligned with CNRA’s internal processes.

8.2 Coordination and Communication

· Participate in regular check-ins and coordination meetings with CNRA’s project management team.

· Coordinate and manage any sub-contractors.

· Provide consistent progress updates and risk mitigation plans.

8.3 Documentation and Quality Assurance

· Maintain clear documentation of methods, data sources, assumptions, and revisions.

· Ensure all deliverables follow CNRA and state quality standards.

Task 9 - Post-Deliverable Support

Description

The Contractor shall provide technical assistance after the final deliverables are submitted by answering questions, clarifying methodologies, and supporting CNRA staff. The Contractor shall complete limited post-submission revisions, corrections, and formatting updates as requested by CNRA; attend follow-up meetings, briefings, or presentations related to the 2027 Stewardship Section; and deliver all final files and documentation, as well as conduct a knowledge-transfer session to support CNRA's long-term use of the work.

Subtasks

9.1 Post‑Submission Technical Assistance

· Provide ongoing technical support to CNRA after submission of the Final Stewardship Section.

· Respond to CNRA questions regarding methodologies, datasets, assumptions, and findings.

· Clarify or expand on analytical approaches as needed for internal or external communication.

9.2 Participation in Meetings

· Attend CNRA meetings, briefings, or presentations related to the 2027 Stewardship Section post‑submission.

· Provide subject‑matter support during internal or external discussions, including stakeholder or tribal follow‑up sessions if needed.

9.3 Knowledge Transfer and Close‑Out

· Provide all final work products, editable files, documentation, and supporting materials.

· Conduct a knowledge‑transfer session (virtual) summarizing project methods, datasets, recommendations, and reproducibility steps.

· Support contract close‑out activities as requested by CNRA.

Accessibility The Contractor shall ensure that all public-facing websites, web content, electronic documents, reports, presentations, and other digital deliverables developed under this Agreement comply with all applicable federal and State of California accessibility requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Government Code section 11135, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, or any successor standard adopted by the State of California. All deliverables shall be accessible to individuals with disabilities prior to submission to CNRA.

Timeline

Additional Provisions – Consultant Services The Contractor shall perform all services under this Agreement as consultant services and shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Public Contract Code, including but not limited to Public Contract Code sections 10335, 10367, and 10371, and any applicable provisions of the State Contracting Manual.

A. Evaluation Criteria The State shall evaluate the Contractor’s performance based on the Contractor’s ability to complete the tasks, deliverables, and services described in this Exhibit A in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner. Evaluation may include, but is not limited to, the following criteria:

1. Quality, accuracy, and completeness of work products and deliverables;

1. Timeliness of performance and adherence to the approved progress schedule;

1. Responsiveness to State direction, comments, requested revisions, and communications;

1. Demonstrated knowledge, technical expertise, and professionalism;

1. Effective project coordination and communication with the State’s project coordinator;

1. Compliance with the Agreement, including this Scope of Work, budget, and applicable State requirements; and

1. Completion of all required tasks and deliverables within the term and funding limits of the Agreement.

For consulting services contracts subject to post-evaluation requirements, the State may complete a contractor evaluation upon completion of the Agreement or as otherwise required by applicable State contracting requirements. The Contractor shall cooperate with the State’s evaluation process and provide information reasonably requested by the State to support evaluation of the Contractor’s performance.

B. Progress Schedule The Contractor shall perform the services in accordance with the tasks, milestones, deliverables, and timeframes identified in this Exhibit A. The Contractor shall not materially deviate from the approved progress schedule without prior written approval from the State.

If the Contractor anticipates a delay in completing any task or deliverable, the Contractor shall notify the State’s project coordinator in writing as soon as the delay is known and shall identify the cause of the delay, the anticipated impact to the project schedule, and the Contractor’s proposed corrective action.

C. Detailed Cost Analysis The Contractor shall provide and maintain a detailed analysis of the costs necessary to perform the services under this Agreement. The cost analysis shall support the proposed compensation, including, as applicable, labor classifications, estimated hours, hourly rates, deliverable costs, travel, materials, subcontractor costs, and any other costs necessary to complete the work.

The Contractor shall perform all services within the maximum amount payable under the Agreement. The Contractor shall not perform work, incur costs, or invoice the State for services that exceed the authorized budget, task amount, or Agreement amount without prior written approval from the State and, if required, a fully executed amendment.

D. State Project Coordinator The State will designate a project coordinator to serve as the primary point of contact for the Agreement. The State’s project coordinator will be responsible for monitoring the Contractor’s performance, reviewing deliverables, coordinating meetings, providing direction or clarification, and determining whether submitted work is acceptable.

The Contractor shall designate a contractor project manager or primary point of contact who will be responsible for coordinating the Contractor’s work, communicating with the State, managing Contractor staff and subcontractors, and ensuring timely completion of all tasks and deliverables.

E. Progress Reports and Meetings The Contractor shall provide progress reports as requested by the State and at the frequency identified in this Exhibit A or as otherwise directed by the State. Progress reports shall include, at a minimum:

1. Work completed during the reporting period;

1. Work anticipated during the next reporting period;

1. Status of each task, milestone, and deliverable;

1. Any issues, delays, risks, or concerns affecting performance;

1. Actions taken or proposed to resolve identified issues; and

1. Any decisions, approvals, or information needed from the State.

The Contractor shall participate in project meetings as requested by the State. Meetings may be held in person, by telephone, or by virtual platform, at the State’s discretion. The Contractor shall be prepared to discuss project status, deliverables, schedule, budget, outstanding issues, and next steps.

F. Review and Acceptance of Deliverables All deliverables submitted by the Contractor are subject to review and approval by the State. The State may approve, reject, or require revision of any deliverable that does not meet the requirements of the Agreement, this Exhibit A, or the State’s direction.

The Contractor shall make revisions requested by the State at no additional cost unless the State determines that the requested revision is outside the approved Scope of Work. Payment for a deliverable shall not constitute final acceptance unless expressly stated in writing by the State.

G. Amendments and Changes to Scope The Contractor shall not begin work on any new task, revised task, expanded scope, extended term, or additional service unless authorized in writing by the State. Any change that affects the scope, term, budget, deliverables, or other material terms of the Agreement may require a formal amendment.

If an amendment is required, the Contractor shall not perform the changed work or incur related costs until the amendment has been fully executed and, if applicable, approved by the Department of General Services. Work performed before required approval shall be at the Contractor’s own risk and may not be eligible for payment.

Project Representatives

Sacramento, CA 95814 Address:

Contract Representatives:

Sacramento, CA 95814 Address:

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