2025_CA_RISE_Fiscal_Agent_RFP_FINAL_updated_4.21.26.pdf

CALIFORNIA REGIONAL INITIATIVE FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES PROGRAM

FISCAL AGENT - REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The purpose of this announcement is to solicit applications from eligible organizations (“Fiscal Agent”) to apply to administer a grant program for the State and distribute grants up to $300,000.00 to eligible social enterprises and nonprofits that have completed an eligible training program.

Opening Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Closing Date: Thursday April 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM PT

Proposals submitted after the stipulated deadline will be rejected without being evaluated with no exceptions.

Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development 1325 J Street, Suite 1800 Sacramento, CA 95814

Business.ca.gov Phone: 1-877-345-4633

Office of the Small Business Advocate Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Contents Introduction

Background and Purpose

Roles and Responsibilities

Program Lead Responsibilities

Fiscal Agent Responsibilities

CalOSBA Responsibilities

Definitions

Award Information

Available Funding

Period of Performance

Funding Information

Funding Method

Collateral Requirements

Contract Execution

Eligibility Requirements

Scope of Work:

Oversight & Reporting Requirements

Dates and Deadlines

Points of Contact

Administration

RFP Response Requirements

Reservation of Rights and RFP Amendments

Award and Protest

Public Records Act

Standard Contract Terms

GenAI Disclosure

Small Business and DVBE Incentive Program

Small Business Incentive Program

Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE) Incentive Program

Insurance Requirements

Proposal Evaluation

Scoring Criteria

Disqualification

Application and Submission Requirements

Proposal

SECTION I: Applicant Information

SECTION II: Narrative

SECTION III: Attachments

Introduction The Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) is administering a one-time grant through the California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprises Program (“Program”). The Program will award funds to a select organization to act as the Fiscal Agent to distribute grants to Employment Social Enterprises (ESEs) for purposes of accelerating economic mobility and inclusion for individuals who experience employment barriers.

Background and Purpose The California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprises Program (CA RISE) was created in 2021 by Senate Bill No. 193 (Government Code Section 11788) to accelerate economic mobility and inclusion for individuals that experience employment barriers, the purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance and technical assistance to ESEs.

Through the Budget Act of 2025 (Item 0509-102-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2025 (Chapter 5, Statutes of 2025)), $17,000,000 was provided to CalOSBA to administer a second round of the California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprises Program (CA RISE 2.0) with one-time grant funding to support eligible ESEs through a combination of technical assistance and grants.

CalOSBA is seeking a third-party administrator to serve as a Fiscal Agent for the Program and administer the grantmaking component of the Program for the State. The Fiscal Agent will be tasked with disbursing grants of up to $300,000.00 to eligible ESEs and nonprofits in California by March 31, 2028.

Roles and Responsibilities To ensure clear accountability and efficient program administration, responsibilities for the CA RISE Program are divided among CalOSBA, the Program Lead, and the Fiscal Agent as follows:

Program Lead Responsibilities The Program Lead is responsible for program design, outreach, technical assistance and communication with applicants, including:

• Conducting statewide outreach to nonprofit and business communities to promote program participation

• Designing, implementing, and scoring the application process

• Designing and delivering all program components, including technical assistance to applicants and grantees

• Preparing and submitting quarterly and final program report

Fiscal Agent Responsibilities The Fiscal Agent is responsible for grant administration, compliance, and fund disbursement, including:

• Validating business eligibility and good standing for recommended applicants

• Executing grant agreements and any required related agreements with awarded ESEs

• Disbursing all grant funds in accordance with program requirements and timelines

CalOSBA Responsibilities CalOSBA provides oversight and final authority for the program, including:

• Administrative oversight of all contractual obligations

• Support Program Lead with statewide outreach

• Reviewing and validating the application scoring methodology

• Reviewing and approving recommended awardees prior to notice of award

• Reviewing and approving the final report

Definitions Definitions that pertain to this Program Announcement are provided below.

I. “Employment social enterprise” or “ESEs” means a nonprofit or for-profit organization that meets all the following requirements:

a. Is organized as a social purpose corporation or a benefit corporation, or as an organization incorporated within a larger organization

b. Demonstrates evidence of a mission to provide and to access employment and social supports with on-the-job and life skills training to a direct labor force comprised of individuals with a “barrier to employment,” as that phrase is defined in Section 3102 of Title 29 of the United States Code, as that section read on January 1, 2021

c. Is evidence-based and utilizes data-driven policies in implementing procedures and measuring outcomes

d. Produces or assembles goods or provides services, or a combination of both II. “Fiscal Agent” is the third-party contractor that has been selected as the grantmaking entity for the California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprises Program.

III. “Program” means the California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprises Program created pursuant to, and administered in accordance with, Chapter 7.3 of Government Code Section 11788.

IV. “Program Lead” means the organization selected by CalOSBA to deliver technical assistance.

Award Information Available Funding Of the $17,000,000 allocated to the Program, CalOSBA/GO-Biz expects to issue $12,528,000 in grant funds for the CA RISE program. The Fiscal Agent may request up to $612,000 for program administration. The Fiscal Agent, in turn, is expected to award one-time grants to ESEs through a competitive grant process developed by CalOSBA and the Program Lead. The Fiscal Agent must demonstrate capacity to deploy the full funding amount statewide.

Period of Performance The agreement term will begin June 1, 2026 to March 31, 2028. During this period of performance, the disbursement of funds to selected awardees is expected to be completed, all funds exhausted, and all applicable reporting requirements satisfied. Any unused money by the Fiscal Agent must be transferred back to CalOSBA/GO-Biz by March 31, 2028.

Funding Information Funds provided under the Program must be used solely for the purposes stipulated in this Announcement and subsequently in the Agreement between CalOSBA/GO-Biz and the Fiscal Agent. All costs proposed in an applicant’s budget must meet the tests of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.

The Fiscal Agent is authorized to use up to $612,000 for costs incurred for program administration. CalOSBA is seeking competitive proposals with platform efficiencies to reduce the cost and maximize grants awarded to eligible ESEs. All costs must be justified in detail (see proposal – budget section below).

Grants awarded pursuant to this Program are intended to support the employment social enterprise to build their capacity to generate revenue and provide jobs, training, and support to employees, develop data and learning systems, or replicate or expand within their community or to other California communities. However, each grant shall not exceed $300,000.

This Program does not have a match requirement.

The remaining program funds will support technical assistance and other program components administered by CalOSBA and the Program Lead.

Funding Method CalOSBA/GO-Biz will process an agreement that must be fully executed by June 1, 2026.

Following execution of the agreement, the Fiscal Agent will receive an upfront payment for the total amount to disburse through grants to eligible ESEs. Administrative costs will be processed monthly in arrears with a final payment to be held until all disbursements have been made and final reports have been submitted and approved.

Collateral Requirements The Fiscal Agent is expected to use a bank, savings and loan association, or credit union outside the Centralized State Treasury System to hold state funds. Accordingly, the Fiscal Agent agrees to comply with the requirements of the State Administrative Manual Section 8002 and California Government Code section 16521, specifically the requirement that the bank, savings and loan association, or credit union used will deposit securities as collateral with the State Treasurer valued at 110 percent of the uninsured portion of the collected funds deposited with the bank, savings and loan association, or credit union. The Fiscal Agent must be able to obtain approval as a Fiscal Agent per Department of Finance, Fiscal Systems and Consulting Unit (FSCU) regulations. Applicants will be expected to acknowledge this requirement as part of their application. Applicants must demonstrate ability to meet this requirement prior to contract execution.

Contract Execution Selected Fiscal Agent will be required to complete the following forms in order to enter a fully executed contract with CalOSBA/GO-Biz:

• STD213 – State of California Standard Agreement

• STD204 – State of California Payee Data Record Form

• STD021 – State of California Drug-Free Workplace Certification Form

• Scope of Work

• Budget Details and Payment Provisions

• Budget Cost Breakdown

• State of California – Bidder Declaration

• State of California – DARFUR Contracting Act Compliance

• State of California – Contractor Certification Clauses (CCC)

Work may not begin until the contract has been executed.

Eligibility Requirements Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Able to receive State funds

• Demonstrated experience with CalOSBA in developing and managing grant and/or loan programs including but not limited to application development, translation/interpretation, validation, verification and approval processes, fraud prevention, disbursement, customer service, compliance, and reporting

• Demonstrated ability to partner with relevant entities for the Program, including, but not limited to, agencies in the workforce, social and health services, homelessness, and justice systems to better serve high-barrier populations and ensure greater system collaboration

• Strong plan for a transparent, competitive process to select ESEs and nonprofits to receive the one-time grants. This process will include collaboration with the Program Lead.

Scope of Work:

The Fiscal Agent shall perform the following tasks consistent with the Roles and Responsibilities section.

Task 1: Design Grantmaking Process

• Design grantmaking process with appropriate internal controls

• Establish program guidelines, workflows, and systems for application validation

• Coordinate with Program Lead and CalOSBA

Task 2: Application Intake

• Receive and securely process application data and documentation provided by the Program Lead for eligibility verification.

Task 3: Eligibility Verification and Compliance

• Verify applicant eligibility, including business status, location, and documentation

• Conduct compliance checks (e.g., identity verification, OFAC, fraud screening)

• Coordinate with Program Lead to confirm participation in required technical assistance programs

Task 4: Application Review and Quality Control

• Perform application validation of applicants’ required documentation including but not limited to government-issued owner/applicant identification, business organization documents, proof of tax exemption, and most recent completed, unaltered, and filed Federal tax returns

• Ensure standardized quality control procedures

Task 5: Award Processing and Disbursement

• Prepare and manage grant agreements

• Facilitate secure fund disbursement (e.g., ACH)

• Administer multi-tranche payments

Task 6: Reporting and Closeout

• Provide reporting in accordance with Oversight & Reporting Requirements

Fiscal Agent Deliverables

• Operational application and grant management system

• Verified applicant eligibility determinations

• Executed grant agreements

• Disbursement and financial tracking records

• Required progress and final reports

Oversight & Reporting Requirements Upon approval of a grant award pursuant to Article 11788.4 (a), the Fiscal Agent will be subject to the following oversight and reporting requirements:

1. Fiscal Agent will furnish a report aimed at assuring the effectiveness of its controls pertaining to the security, availability, and processing integrity of the systems used to process client information.

2. A comprehensive listing of grant applications, including applications selected and columns configured based on the relevant phase.

3. A detailed list of program payments including grants to participants and payment requests for program administration costs with transaction dates and dollar amounts.

CalOSBA/GO-Biz has the right to conduct a programmatic and financial review of any grant recipient and sub grant recipient.

The Program will require awarded Fiscal Agent to design verification processes and self-certifications and attestations to help ensure eligibility and equitable distribution and limit misuse.

The Program will also require awarded Fiscal Agent to coordinate with the Program Lead to communicate application review status and resolve issues. The final report of Program outcomes is due within sixty (60) days after Program close.

Dates and Deadlines All dates and deadlines as set forth in this Announcement and subsequent grant agreement are non-negotiable and may not be extended.

Thursday April 9, 2026 RFP application period opens – posted on Cal eProcure

Tuesday April 14, 2026 by 3:00PM PST Deadline to submit questions Thursday April 16, 2026 by 5:00 PM PST Answers to questions posted on Cal eProcure

Thursday April 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM PST RFP application period closes – all submissions must be received via email at Go-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov

Thursday April 30, 2026 by 5:00 PM PST

Notice of Intent to Award posted on Cal eProcure

TBD Grant Agreement execution by CalOSBA/GO-Biz will commence after approval as a Fiscal Agent. Program shall begin after grant agreement execution.

March 31, 2028 All funds must be disbursed to eligible ESEs and nonprofits.

Points of Contact Questions and correspondence regarding this Announcement shall be directed to:

Primary Contact: Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz) Email: GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov

All questions regarding this Announcement shall be submitted in writing (e-mail only) no later than Tuesday April 14, 2026 by 3:00PM PST. Questions submitted after the deadline will not be answered. Questions and Answers will be shared on Cal eProcure no later than Thursday April 16, 2026 by 5:00 PM PST.

Prospective applicants shall not contact CalOSBA or GO-Biz employees with questions or suggestions regarding this Announcement except through the primary contact listed above.

Any unauthorized contact may be considered undue pressure and cause for disqualification of the applicant.

Administration RFP Response Requirements This RFP and the Proposer’s response to this document will be made part of CalOSBA/GO-Biz’s proposer’s file.

Plagiarism, including but not limited to taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own, and failure to cite someone else’s work or ideas, is prohibited and is grounds for disqualification. Using Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools to complete any portion of an application, without citation, may be considered plagiarism and may also be grounds for disqualification.

mailto:GO-BizBSU@gobiz.ca.gov

Reservation of Rights and RFP Amendments CalOSBA/GO-Biz reserves the following rights, which may be exercised at its sole discretion and without liability to any Applicant:

1. Right to Amend, Supplement, or Cancel the RFP CalOSBA/GO-Biz reserves the right to amend, supplement, clarify, revise, delay, or cancel this Request for Proposals (RFP), in whole or in part, at any time prior to the proposal submission deadline or prior to execution of a final agreement. Amendments may include, but are not limited to, changes to the scope of work, key dates, funding availability, evaluation criteria, or submission requirements. Issuance of this RFP does not obligate GO-Biz to make an award or to enter into any agreement.

2. Notice of Amendments All official amendments, addenda, and clarifications to this RFP will be posted on the GO-Biz website at: Cal eProcure

It is the sole responsibility of each Applicant to monitor the website for updates, amendments, or additional information related to this RFP. GO-Biz is not responsible for failure of an Applicant to receive notice of an amendment. Failure to acknowledge or respond to an amendment may result in disqualification. The Notice of Intent to Award will post to Cal eProcure and remain posted for five (5) business days.

3. Right to Reject Proposals CalOSBA/GO-Biz reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive minor irregularities or technical defects in proposals received, and to request clarification of information submitted.

4. Right to Award in Whole or in Part CalOSBA/GO-Biz reserves the right to:

a. Award funding in whole or in part;

b. Award less than the total amount requested;

c. Make multiple awards under this RFP;

d. Not award all available funds; or

e. Issue additional solicitations for similar services.

f. Selected Applicants may be required to negotiate scope or budget adjustments consistent with available funding.

5. Right to Negotiate and Request Additional Information

CalOSBA/GO-Biz may request additional information, conduct interviews, seek clarifications, or enter into negotiations with one or more Applicants prior to final award. Failure to respond timely to such requests may result in disqualification.

6. Proposal Preparation Costs All costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal are the sole https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/index.aspx responsibility of the Applicant. CalOSBA/GO-Biz shall not be liable for any costs incurred in connection with this RFP, including in the event of amendment or cancellation.

Award and Protest A. A contract award may not be made until GO-Biz posts a notice of the proposed contract award in a place accessible by the general public, including any Internet site identified in the RFP for at least five working days prior to awarding the contract. (PCC § 10345(b).)

B. Inspection of bids is required as follows:

1. All proposals and all evaluation and scoring sheets shall be available for public inspection at the conclusion of the committee scoring process. (PCC § 10344(c)(2).)

C. There are time limits in which to file a protest. A protest must be filed with GO-Biz GO- Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov and DGS OLSProtests@dgs.ca.gov after notice of intent to award the contract, if notice was required, but before the actual award. (PCC § 10345.)

D. Once a protest is filed, the contract may not be awarded until the protest is withdrawn or DGS has rendered a decision. (PCC §§ 10345(a)(2), 10345(b)(1).)

E. After filing a protest, the protestant has five (5) calendar days to file a detailed written statement of the protest grounds if the original protest did not contain the complete grounds for the protest. (PCC §§ 10345(a)3), 10345(b)(2).)

F. Upon receipt of a protest, DGS/OLS:

1. Sends the protestant an acknowledgment letter which includes copies of the protest statutes and regulations and informs the protestant that it must submit a full and complete statement specifying grounds of protest within five calendar days of filing of the notice of protest.

2. Requests information on a designated form from GO-Biz regarding the agency contact person and other administrative details. GO-Biz will complete and return the form to DGS/OLS within 24 hours. In addition, if GO-Biz is aware of any reason that the protest should not go forward, this would be communicated to DGS/OLS at this time. (See SCM 1, section 6.03).

3. Reviews the protest to determine whether DGS has jurisdiction. If DGS does not have jurisdiction, DGS/OLS issues a written notice of dismissal.

4. Assigns a Hearing Officer to the protest if DGS has jurisdiction. The Hearing Officer determines whether the protest will be resolved by written submission or public oral hearing.

a. Written Submission Process: DGS/OLS sends a Hearing Notice to all interested parties, setting the due date for written submissions.

b. Oral Hearing Process: DGS/OLS sends a Hearing Notice to all interested parties of the date, time and place of the hearing at least five (5) calendar days before the hearing date. The Hearing Notice will also include a due mailto:GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov mailto:GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov mailto:OLSProtests@dgs.ca.gov date for written submissions. DGS/OLS will arrange for the hearing to be recorded.

Public Records Act By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges that CalOSBA/GO-Biz is subject to the California Public Records Act (PRA) (Government Code section 7920.000 et. seq.).

Consequently, materials submitted by an applicant to GO-Biz may be subject to disclosure pursuant to a PRA request. In the event that records of the applicant are requested, GO-Biz will notify the applicant, as soon as practicable, that a PRA request for the applicant’s information has been received, but not less than five (5) business days prior to the release of the requested information, to allow the applicant to seek an injunction. CalOSBA/GO-Biz will work in good faith with the applicant to protect any confidential information to the extent an exemption is provided by law.

Standard Contract Terms All agreements entered into with the State of California will include reference to General Terms and Conditions that may be viewed and downloaded here: Standard Contract Language.

GenAI Disclosure The State of California seeks to realize the potential benefits of GenAI, through the development and deployment of GenAI tools, while balancing the risks of these new technologies.

Applicant must notify the State in writing if it: (1) intends to provide GenAI as a deliverable to the State; or (2), intends to utilize GenAI, including GenAI from third parties, to complete all or a portion of any deliverable that materially impacts: (i) functionality of a State system, (ii) risk to the State, or (iii) Contract performance. For avoidance of doubt, the term “materially impacts” shall have the meaning set forth in State Administrative Manual (SAM) § 4986.2 Definitions for GenAI.

Failure to report GenAI to the State may result in disqualification. The State reserves the right to seek any and all relief to which it may be entitled to as a result of such non-disclosure.

Upon notification by an applicant of GenAI as required, the State reserves the right to incorporate GenAI Special Provisions into the final contract or reject bids/offers that present an unacceptable level of risk to the State.

Government Code 11549.64 defines “Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)” as an artificial intelligence system that can generate derived synthetic content, including text, images, video, and audio that emulates the structure and characteristics of the system’s training data.

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services-Resources-List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language?search=general%20terms

Small Business and DVBE Incentive Program Small Business Incentive Program Current law encourages state departments to first consider a California-certified small business (SB) and microbusiness (MB) for contracting opportunities. The State of California is committed to supporting SB and MB participation in state contracting and seeks to use certified SBs and MBs whenever possible.

In accordance with GC Section 14835, et seq., certified small businesses and microbusinesses are encouraged to apply and can claim a five percent (5%) preference when submitting a bid on a state contract. A non-small business may receive a preference of five percent (5%) if the business commits to subcontracting at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its net bid price with one or more small businesses or microbusinesses.

A. The SB preference provides certified SBs and MBs a calculation preference in the amount of five percent (5%) of the highest scored, responsible, and responsive proposal submitted by a proposing firm who is not a certified small business.

B. The five percent (5%) preference is used only for computation purposes, to determine the winning bidder and does not alter the amounts of the resulting contract. A contract awarded on the basis of the five percent (5%) preference is awarded to the small business or non-small business for the actual amount of its bid.

A complete copy of the firm’s current Small Business certification with the Department of General Services (DGS) must also accompany the response.

Helpful resources pertaining to the small business program may be found here:

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/About/Page-Content/PD-Branch-Intro-Accordion- List/OSDS/OSDS?search=small%20business

Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE) Incentive Program Prime contractors, with the exception of a certified Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE), who subcontract work to DVBEs a minimum of five percent (5%) of its net bid price to meet the DVBE participation goal will receive a five percent (5%) preference during the evaluation.

In accordance with section 999.5(a) of the Military and Veterans Code, an incentive will be given to bidders who meet or exceed the DVBE program requirement. For evaluation purposes only, the State shall apply an incentive to bids that propose California-certified DVBE participation as identified on the Bidder Declaration and confirmed by the State. A five percent (5%) preference will be given. A contract awarded on the basis of the five percent (5%) preference is awarded to the DVBE for the actual amount of its bid.

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/About/Page-Content/PD-Branch-Intro-Accordion-List/OSDS/OSDS?search=small%20business https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/About/Page-Content/PD-Branch-Intro-Accordion-List/OSDS/OSDS?search=small%20business

A complete copy of the firm’s current DVBE certification with the Department of General Services (DGS) must also accompany the response.

Helpful resources pertaining to the DVBE program may be found here:

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/About/Page-Content/PD-Branch-Intro-Accordion- List/OSDS/OSDS?search=small%20business

Insurance Requirements Insurance requirements may apply when the total contract value exceeds $100,000.

Contractors may be required to maintain Commercial General Liability, Workers Compensation, and Professional Liability (applicable to contracts over $1,000,000).

Proposal Evaluation A Fiscal Agent will be selected based on an evaluation criterion based on past experience, program design, program implementation plan, program management and staffing plan, and budget and financial controls. In addition, applicants should demonstrate strong support for ESEs and nonprofits, underserved small business groups and communities, and strong relationships with small business technical assistance providers will be given preference.

California is seeking a Fiscal Agent with established platforms or networks of CDFIs and/or other small business providers to distribute grants to eligible ESEs, small businesses, and nonprofits in the entire state. The Fiscal Agent will also be evaluated on the following criteria:

a. The proposed use of the requested funding, including the specificity, measurability, and ability of the Fiscal Agent to document and achieve the goals and objectives identified in its application

b. The proposed management strategy of the Fiscal Agent to achieve the goals and objectives identified in its application

c. The Fiscal Agent’s ability to complement and leverage the work of other local, state, federal, and nonprofit or private business technical assistance resource providers

d. The Fiscal Agent’s historical performance with private funding sources and the strength of its fiscal controls

Scoring Criteria CalOSBA/GO-Biz staff will rank all the applications based on the total number of points received in the Proposal section below. Final grant award determination will be based on rankings of applicants. If full award point values are equal, CalOSBA/GO-Biz has the discretion to determine the final Fiscal Agent.

CalOSBA/GO-Biz may ask applicants for follow-up meetings to review and clarify design, technical and cost aspects of their proposals. This must not be construed as a commitment to fund the proposed effort.

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/About/Page-Content/PD-Branch-Intro-Accordion-List/OSDS/OSDS?search=small%20business https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/About/Page-Content/PD-Branch-Intro-Accordion-List/OSDS/OSDS?search=small%20business

Proposals will be evaluated by individuals in a committee. The committee will evaluate each proposal and score each proposal individually using the scoring criteria. Proposals will be considered for their merits in accordance with the Scope of Work.

Applicants must score enough technical points (non-budget/cost) to advance in the evaluation phase and also to be eligible for invitation to any applicable interview or presentation phase.

Technical scores are subject to change after interviews.

Evaluation Score Sheet Maximum Possible Score

Applicant Experience / Past Performance Score 0–4: Firm demonstrates little or no relevant experience, with limited comparable projects, insufficient qualifications, and minimal evidence of successful outcomes.

Score 5–8: Firm demonstrates some relevant experience, though prior work shows moderate alignment with the scope and limited evidence of measurable results.

Score 9–12: Firm demonstrates strong relevant experience with qualified personnel and successful delivery of projects similar in scope and complexity.

Score 13–15: Firm demonstrates extensive, highly relevant experience with exceptionally qualified personnel and a consistent record of delivering successful outcomes on comparable projects.

Application Validation and Award Distribution Design Score 0–6: Proposal shows limited understanding of program requirements and presents an unclear or incomplete approach to validation, disbursement, and compliance.

Score 7–13: Proposal demonstrates a basic understanding with a feasible but moderately detailed approach and work plan.

Score 14–20: Proposal demonstrates a strong understanding with a clear, logical, and well-structured approach to program administration.

Score 21–25: Proposal demonstrates exceptional understanding with a comprehensive, strategic, and highly effective approach, including strong data systems, security, and process design.

Program Implementation Schedule Score 0–1: Timeline is unclear, unrealistic, or does not align with program requirements.

Score 2–3: Timeline is generally feasible but lacks detail or clarity in key milestones.

Score 4: Timeline is clear, feasible, and aligned with program deadlines.

Score 5: Timeline is detailed, realistic, and demonstrates strong ability to meet or exceed required deadlines.

Program Management / Staffing Plan Score 0–2: Staffing plan is unclear or insufficient; lacks relevant expertise.

Score 3–5: Staffing plan is adequate but lacks depth, clarity, or demonstrated capacity.

Score 6–8: Strong staffing plan with qualified personnel and clear roles and responsibilities.

Score 9–10: Exceptional staffing plan with highly qualified personnel, clear structure, and strong alignment to program goals.

5a.

Budget and Financial Management - Budget Narrative / Cost Proposal Score 0–4: Cost proposal is unclear, poorly justified, or misaligned with the scope of work.

Score 5–8: Cost proposal is generally reasonable but lacks full transparency, detail, or clear justification.

Score 9–12: Cost proposal is clear, well-structured, and appropriately aligned with the proposed scope of work.

Score 13–15: Cost proposal is highly detailed, transparent, and demonstrates strong value and cost-effectiveness.

5b.

Budget and Financial Management - Financial Management and Controls Score 0–4: Financial systems and controls are unclear or insufficient.

Score 5–8: Financial controls are adequate but lack detail or demonstrated reliability.

Score 9–12: Strong financial management systems with appropriate controls and oversight.

Score 13–15: Exceptional financial systems with robust controls, audit readiness, and risk mitigation measures.

When scoring a proposal, cost/value effectiveness and cost adequacy may be judged, evaluated and awarded points as part of the technical score, but this must be in addition to cost points. GO-Biz will use the suggested formula in SCM Vol 1, 5.25, B to calculate points for cost.

TOTAL 85

Disqualification CalOSBA/GO-Biz may disqualify applications or deny applications for the following reasons:

a. Incomplete application

b. Ineligible applicant

c. Plagiarism

d. Failure to comply with guidance as set forth in this Announcement

e. Late applications will not be accepted

Application and Submission Requirements Proposal and attachments must be submitted in one email containing the following:

1. Proposal saved as .pdf

2. Budget saved as .xls

3. Completed and signed STD204 saved as .pdf

4. Completed and signed STD021 saved as .pdf

5. Optional: Letters of support or recommendation (no more than 3)

File Format: Organization Name_CA_RISE_Fiscal Agent_Proposal_Date

Subject Line: Organization Name – CA RISE Fiscal Agent Proposal Submission

Applicants must email all grant application materials to GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov no later than Thursday April 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM PST. No mailed/hard copy submittals will be accepted. No late applications will be accepted or considered under any circumstances. It is recommended that you submit your application in advance of final deadline to receive a confirmation of receipt.

Proposal

SECTION I: Applicant Information Legal Name of Applicant:

DBA (if applicable):

Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number:

Mailing Address (and physical address if it is different):

Street 1:

Street 2:

City:

County:

State: California Only Zip Code:

Name and Contact Information of person to be contacted regarding this application:

First and Last Name:

Title:

Telephone Number:

Email:

Website:

Signature of Contact (E-signature is acceptable)

Date

By signing, I certify that the information in this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

SECTION II: Narrative Narrative responses must not be more than fifteen (15) pages total, double-spaced, one-inch margin, Times New Roman, 12 point. Total points available is 85.

1. Applicant Experience/Past Performance: Describe in detail the applicant’s experience with CalOSBA in designing, developing and managing grant or loan programs and especially similar ESEs/small business grant programs. Include examples of prior programs administered with related performance and impact measures. Highlight experience in effectively implementing an application, verification, and disbursal processes. Please validate ability to scale any past experience to statewide level. In addition, describe past efforts to collaborate with the relevant employment social enterprise ecosystem including your ability to complement and leverage the work of other state, local, federal, and nonprofit or private business technical assistance resource providers. (15 points)

2. Proposed Application Validation and Award Distribution Design: Describe your approach to implementing and administering the grantmaking process, including validation, disbursement, and compliance to select ESEs to receive the one-time grants. Please detail how you envision data sharing and security between your organization, the Program Lead, and CalOSBA. In addition, describe your data collection and measurement systems and ability to document and achieve the goals and objectives identified in your application. (See Attachment 2 in Section 3 below) (25 points)

3. Program Implementation Schedule: Proposed schedule for this Program with detailed validation of speed of distribution of grants and ability to achieve disbursement of funds and target with strong controls within time allotted by March 31, 2028. (5 points)

4. Program Management/Staffing Plan: Provide key management and staffing plan to achieve proposed implementation schedule. Describe how management strategy will support you to achieve the goals and objectives identified in this application. Please include summary bios highlighting relevant experience in grants management, financial oversight, and knowledge/expertise in ESEs, small business, and nonprofits, LMI communities and underserved small business groups. (10 points)

5. Budget and Financial Management Systems:

a. Budget narrative to support the proposed budget submitted as Attachment 1 in Section III below (15 points)

b. Financial management and controls narrative (15 points)

SECTION III: Attachments Label each attachment and submit them in the order listed.

1. Program narrative – see Section II and provide answers in .PDF of no more than 15 pages total, double spaced, one-inch margin, Times New Roman, 12-point font.

2. Proposed Budget saved as .xlsx – Download Template

3. Flow chart and any other relevant visuals or diagrams of Program design and grants administration process including sample application process (submit as .PDF)

4. STD204 – Payee Data Record Form – download this form at https://calosba.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/std204-calosbaprograms.pdf

5. STD021 – Drug-Free Workplace Certification – download this form at https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std021.pdf

6. Optional: One to three (max) letters of recommendations from past clients or key strategic partners (submit as .PDF)

The following documents will be required in the event of an award.

1. Bidder Declaration

2. CCC 201

3. DARFUR Contracting Act Compliance Form

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https://calosba.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/CA-RISE-Budget-Proposal-Template-2026.xlsx https://calosba.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/std204-calosbaprograms.pdf https://calosba.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/std204-calosbaprograms.pdf https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std021.pdf