5708656507_RFO_Sr._Solution_Architect.pdf

CALSTRS.

HOW WILL YOU SPEND YOUR FUTURE?

CALIFORNIA STATE TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Technology Services California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) Agreement

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

REQUEST FOR OFFER 5708656507

OFFER DUE DATE

June 26, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. PT

Penny Palmertree IT Contracts and Procurement Manager

California State Teachers’ Retirement Systems ITProcurement@CalSTRS.com mailto:ITProcurement@CalSTRS.com

Request for Offer 5708656507 Technology Services

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

REQUEST FOR OFFER

You are invited to review and respond to the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), Request for Offer (RFO), entitled Senior Solution Architecture Lead. Read this document carefully. In submitting your Offer, you must comply with the instructions, terms and conditions stated in this RFO and in your Information Technology CMAS contract.

Offers must be submitted to CalSTRS via email to ITProcurement@CalSTRS.com and must be received by CalSTRS no later than June 26, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. PT, Pacific Time (PT).

Offers received after the specified date and time may be rejected.

Respondents requiring clarification of the intent and content of this RFO, or on the competitive process, may request clarification only by submitting written questions to the contact listed above.

Refer to Attachment IV, Frequently Asked Questions, prior to submitting any written questions. Any additional questions must be received by June 17, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. PT. Questions received by this date may be answered in writing, without identifying the source of query.

Any attempt by a firm responding to this Offer to initiate contact with any member of the Teachers’ Retirement Board and/or CalSTRS staff, other than the CalSTRS contact listed above, regarding this RFO process may disqualify the firm from further consideration.

Please note that no verbal information given will be binding upon the California State Teachers’ Retirement System unless such information is incorporated into this RFO via an addendum.

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. INTRODUCTION

B. BACKGROUND

C. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

D. OFFER REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION

E. ATTACHMENTS

I. Information and Offer Sheet II. Proposed Project Person Skill Summary Sheet III. Proposed Project Person Business Reference Sheet IV. Frequently Asked Questions V. Statement of Work

F. SAMPLE AGREEMENT

1. Agreement Terms and Conditions

2. Exhibit A – Statement of Work

3. Exhibit B – Contractor’s Key Personnel

4. Exhibit C – Teachers’ Retirement Board Governance Manual – Third Party

Economic Interest Disclosure Policy

5. Exhibit D – Form 600-H Third Party Economic Interest Disclosure

6. Exhibit E – Contractor Background Investigation Policy

7. Exhibit F – Certification of Contractor’s Employee Background Investigation

Form

8. Exhibit G – Personal History Statement

9. Exhibit H – CalSTRS Information Security and Privacy Addendum

10. Exhibit I – Confidentiality, Non-Disclosure and Acceptable Use Agreement

11. Exhibit J – CalSTRS Minimum Information Security Requirements

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

GENERAL INFORMATION

A. INTRODUCTION

CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world. CalSTRS administers a hybrid retirement system, consisting of traditional defined benefit, cash balance and voluntary defined contribution plans. CalSTRS also provides disability and survivor benefits.

CalSTRS serves California’s public school educators and their families from the state’s school districts, county offices of education and community college districts. For more information on CalSTRS and its various programs, please refer to the CalSTRS Website at:

https://www.CalSTRS.com.

The purpose of this RFO is to select one (1) experienced Senior Solution Architecture Lead with detailed knowledge and experience of Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation, Cloud platforms, Advanced Data Analytics, and Data Warehouse systems. This role will serve as the principal system architect and subject matter expert responsible for designing, validating, and implementing robust, scalable, and secure technology solutions across various business areas at CalSTRS. The services required are more fully described in Attachment V, Statement of Work, included in this document.

CalSTRS will only accept one (1) offer per Vendor (Respondent) for this RFO. Each offer shall only include one (1) proposed project person.

The total services period may be up to twenty-four (24) months, with an option to extend up to twenty-four (24) additional months, at an estimated average of 160 work hours per month at the rate negotiated at contract execution. Any contract resulting from this RFO may be amended to add time or funds, at the sole discretion of CalSTRS.

The Vendor/Contractor must be able to perform all work on-site at the CalSTRS headquarters facility in West Sacramento, CA. At CalSTRS’ discretion, a different approach (i.e., fully in-office, fully remote or different work hours) may be utilized based on CalSTRS business need and/or directive. Work must be performed during CalSTRS business hours and shall not be permitted on California State Holidays identified on the California Department of Human Resources website, unless pre-approved in writing by CalSTRS management. All work schedules must be pre-approved in writing by CalSTRS management and must adhere to all applicable CalSTRS policies and procedures. The Vendor/Contractor is responsible for any travel costs (including travel time) that they may incur while providing the services identified in the Statement of Work.

The proposed project person selected as a result of this RFO will be under the direction of the CalSTRS Enterprise IT Solutions and Innovation Director or designee and may be assigned one or more teams/programs/projects during the services period.

https://www.CalSTRS.com

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

B. BACKGROUND

This role will lead multiple concurrent technical initiatives of integrating AI capabilities to data warehouse platforms, oversee end to end solution architecture, and ensure all technology implementations align with CalSTRS enterprise architecture standards, AI policies, security policies, and business objectives. The candidate shall have advanced expertise in AI technologies, data warehouse, cloud platforms, data engineering, machine learning, and integration best practices, and will act as a trusted technical advisor to technical teams, business partners, and Executive leadership.

The Contractor will report directly to the CalSTRS Enterprise IT Solutions and Innovation Director and is expected to work onsite at CalSTRS headquarters, unless written approval is granted by the Chief Technology Officer.

For more information about the CalSTRS organization, mission, vision, and strategic and business plans, go to www.CalSTRS.com.

C. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

The proposed project person must meet all of the following minimum qualifications to CalSTRS’ satisfaction to be given further consideration. Failure to satisfy any of the minimum qualifications upon submittal of the Offer may result in the immediate rejection of the Offer.

Minimum Administrative Qualifications

As of the Offer Due Date:

1. The Respondent must hold a current Information Technology California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) agreement with the California Department of General Services and must comply with the instructions, terms and conditions stated in the Leveraged Procurement Agreement.

2. The Respondent must submit all data/information and attachments requested in the offer format described below under Section D, Subsection 2, Offer Requirements. Failure to submit Attachment I - Information and Offer Sheet and Attachment II - Proposed Project Person Skill Summary Sheet, by the Offer Due Date, will be grounds for immediate rejection of the submission.

Minimum Technical Qualifications

As of the Offer Due Date, the proposed project person must have the following listed experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as evidenced by Attachment II, Proposed Project Person Skill Summary Sheet and resume:

www.CalSTRS.com

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

1. A minimum of ten (10) years of IT experience with expert-level skills in enterprise architecture design, data modeling, and implementation for data warehouse systems and advanced data analytics platforms.

2. A minimum of three (3) years of experience designing architecture that integrates Generative AI capabilities into Business Intelligence and Data Warehouse platforms.

3. At least five (5) years of cloud architecture experience (such as Azure, AWS, or GCP), including deployment strategies and the use of infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform.

4. At least five (5) years of experience leading cross-functional technical teams, providing mentorship, and driving technical excellence in complex enterprise environments.

5. Five or more (5+) years of experience in designing and implementing secure, scalable integration architectures for complex enterprise environments, including APIs, microservices, event-driven systems, and data integration.

Desirable Technical Qualifications

It is desirable for the proposed project person to have the following listed experience, knowledge, skills and abilities as evidenced by Attachment II, Proposed Project Person Skill Summary Sheet and resume:

1. Five or more (5+) years of hands-on experience with C# / Python, SQL databases, and advanced SQL queries.

2. Five or more (5+) years of experience developing comprehensive technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, design specifications, standards, and best‑practice guidelines for enterprise‑scale systems.

3. Three or more (3+) years of experience with Snowflake or AWS Redshift.

4. Three or more (3+) years of experience of using Power BI to create data analytics dashboards.

5. The proposed project person will be able to adhere to working on-site five (5) days per week at CalSTRS Headquarters, West Sacramento, CA. If no, provide a short explanation. (no points)

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

D. OFFER REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION

1. Time Schedule

CalSTRS will use its best efforts to adhere to the time schedule. However, CalSTRS reserves the right to amend the time schedule, as it deems necessary or appropriate.

Question Submission Due Date: June 17, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. PT Offer Due Date: June 26, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. PT

Estimated Start Work Date: August 2026

2. Offer Requirements

To be eligible, an Offer must include all of the following listed attachments and information:

a. Attachment I, Information and Offer Sheet

b. Attachment II, Proposed Project Person Skill Summary Sheet

c. Attachment III, Proposed Project Person Business Reference Sheet

d. Proposed Project Person’s Resume

e. Current California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) Agreement

One (1) copy of the Respondent’s current, completed and signed Information Technology CMAS agreement and all supplements issued by the Department of General Services.

f. Current General Services Administration (GSA) Agreement One (1) copy of the Respondent’s current GSA agreement and pricing pages applicable to the Respondent’s Information Technology CMAS contract, which includes the personnel classifications, hourly rates, and minimum qualifications.

3. Submission of Offer

a. All offers must be submitted to CalSTRS via email to ITProcurement@CalSTRS.com. If Respondents encounter any difficulties sending their offer, they must promptly notify CalSTRS Procurement.

b. Offers must be received no later than the offer due date and time. Offers received after the specified date and time may be rejected.

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

c. CalSTRS will only accept ONE offer submission per Respondent. Only ONE file attachment is allowed and must be in the form of .PDF (reduced file size) or a compressed zip file. The file title must not exceed thirty (30) characters and must include the Respondent Firm name and ten-digit RFO number (i.e. Vendor A, 5000001234). The file attachment must include all required documents as listed in section D.2. Offer Requirements of this RFO.

d. It is the Respondent’s responsibility to respond with all data/information requested;

provide data/information that is deemed adequate for CalSTRS to determine/verify the proposed project person’s ability to perform the tasks/activities defined in Attachment V, Statement of Work; and submit all data/information in the Offer format described in Section D, Subsection 2, Offer Requirements.

e. It is the Respondent’s responsibility to check for and review any addenda and consider such modifications when preparing its submissions.

f. By submittal of an Offer, the Respondent declares that any proposed project person is in compliance with all experience, qualification, and education requirements stipulated in the Respondent’s applicable Leveraged Procurement Agreement.

g. If a Respondent has assigned contract person to CalSTRS under an existing agreement, the Respondent should not offer the same contract person for this RFO if the current term of the existing agreement and the estimated start of these RFO services will overlap. These Offers, if received, may be rejected at CalSTRS discretion.

h. This RFO and all Offers in response to this RFO will be made a part of the resulting contract file. All documents submitted in response to this RFO will become the property of the State of California and may be subject to review by or release to the public under the California Public Records Act, Government Code section 7920.000 et seq.

i. CalSTRS encourages Respondents to submit their Offers early.

j. CalSTRS accepts no responsibility for any technical difficulties associated with the electronic submission and transmission of any Offer.

k. CalSTRS will not disseminate the competitive processes and attachments hereto in any other format (i.e. Microsoft Word).

l. Costs for developing Offers and in anticipation of award of an agreement are entirely the responsibilities of the Respondents and shall not be charged to CalSTRS.

m. Respondents may modify their Offer, after its submission, by withdrawing their original Offer and resubmitting a new Offer prior to the Offer Due Date. Offer

Senior Solution Architecture Lead modifications submitted in any other manner, oral or written, or after the Offer Due Date will not be considered. Respondents may withdraw their own Offer by submitting a written withdrawal request to the CalSTRS Contact via email at ITProcurement@CalSTRS.com. Respondents may thereafter submit a new Offer prior to the Offer Due Date.

n. CalSTRS may modify the RFO prior to the Offer Due Date by issuing an addendum.

o. Respondents are cautioned to not rely on CalSTRS to discover and report to the Respondent any defects or errors in the submitted documents. Respondents, before submitting their documents, should carefully proofread for errors and ensure adherence to the RFO requirements.

p. CalSTRS reserves the right to cancel this RFO at any time and has the right to reject all Offers. CalSTRS is not required to award an agreement.

4. Comparison Process

a. Upon receipt, Offers will be checked for the presence or absence of required content.

Incomplete Offers may be rejected. No assumptions will be made by CalSTRS regarding the intentions of the Respondent in submitting the Offer.

b. Offers and any subsequent presentations should be submitted with the most favorable terms the Respondent can offer.

c. If CalSTRS is unable to execute an agreement with the most qualified and responsible Respondent, CalSTRS reserves the right to award the agreement to the next qualified and responsible Respondent.

d. Offers will be reviewed to determine best value using the following phases:

1) PHASE 1, PREQUALIFICATION OF MINIMUM ADMINISTRATIVE &

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS: PASS/FAIL

In Phase 1, the Respondent’s offer will be reviewed for compliance with the minimum qualifications, content and format requirements of the RFO. Both the minimum administrative and technical qualifications must be met as specified in Section C, Qualifications Requirements. Failure to satisfy any part of prequalification may result in the immediate disqualification of the offer and/or applicable proposed project person.

2) PHASE 2, TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION REVIEW: 70 POINTS

Proposed project personnel who meet the minimum qualifications will move to Phase 2, Technical Qualification Review. Each proposed project person’s

Senior Solution Architecture Lead expertise, experience, and education will be reviewed and scored based on the information provided in their Attachment II, Proposed Project Person Skill Summary Sheet (which also includes desirable qualifications), and resume.

3) PHASE 3, COST COMPARISON: 30 POINTS

In Phase 3, Cost Comparison, the hourly rate provided in the Respondent’s Attachment I, will be scored using the cost formula indicated below. The Respondent’s proposed project person with the lowest hourly rate will receive the full allotment of points. All other Respondents’ proposed project personnel will be scored as follows:

Lowest Hourly Rate x Maximum Number of Points (30) = Personnel’s Score Personnel’s Proposed Hourly Rate

4) PHASE 4, INTERVIEWS & TECHNICAL SKILLS ASSESSMENT (ON-SITE):

100 POINTS

In Phase 4, highest scoring proposed project person(s) after Phase 2, Technical Qualification Review and Phase 3, Cost Comparison shall be invited for one or more rounds of interviews. Reference checks may be conducted.

5) PHASE 5, COST NEGOTIATIONS: PASS/FAIL

In Phase 5, CalSTRS will negotiate rates with the Respondent whose proposed personnel is the highest ranking from Phase 4. If the initial highest ranking proposed project person is no longer available and/or does not pass Phase 5, Cost Negotiation, CalSTRS reserves the right to move to the next highest ranking proposed project person from Phase 4.

5. Award

a. If CalSTRS enters into an agreement, it will be with the highest scoring responsible and responsive Respondent(s)/proposed personnel, as detailed above, subject to optional reference checks including passing the cost negotiation phase, and satisfying all the requirements for this RFO. Respondents should review the attached Sample Agreement for a sample of the agreement that will be awarded.

b. If CalSTRS is unable to execute an agreement with the highest scoring Respondent(s)/Proposed Personnel, CalSTRS reserves the right to award to the next highest scoring responsive Respondent(s)/proposed personnel in line.

c. Multiple project personnel may be selected from this RFO.

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

d. The Respondent, if awarded an agreement, must register in the CalSTRS integrated financial system, the SAP Business Network. This portal provides direct access to administering product and service delivery with CalSTRS. Click on the hyperlink to register: https://s1.ariba.com/Sourcing/Main/ad/selfRegistration?realm=calstrs.

e. If at any time during or at the conclusion of this RFO process CalSTRS determines that, in its opinion, the results of this process are unsatisfactory, CalSTRS reserves the right to cancel this RFO, discontinue this process and decline to award an agreement.

f. In the event of a tie, (i.e. two Respondent’s proposed project persons with the same highest score), the award shall be determined by a coin toss.

6. Payment Structure

The payment structure for activities performed under Attachment V, Statement of Work, is hourly.

Invoices shall be submitted in triplicate not more frequently than monthly in arrears.

Invoice(s) must include: 1) Purchase Order Number, 2) Contractor’s name, address and telephone number, 3) total amount of invoice, 4) copies of the Contractor’s weekly status reports that cover the invoice dates, and 5) a copy of the timesheet approved/signed by the CalSTRS Contract Manager that covers the invoice dates.

7. Services or Procurement Resulting from Agreement

No person, firm, or subsidiary thereof awarded an agreement resulting from this RFO may submit a bid for, nor be awarded a contract for, the provision of services, procurement of goods or supplies, or any other related action which is required, suggested, or otherwise deemed appropriate in the end product of an agreement resulting from this RFO. (Public Contract Code §10365.5).

8. Workers’ Compensation/Employer’s Liability Insurance

Contractor shall maintain statutory workers’ compensation and employer’s liability coverage for all its employees who will be engaged in the performance of the agreement, including special coverage extensions where applicable.

9. Security

Contractor shall perform a background investigation on all of Contractor’s employees, subcontractors and agents assigned to perform the services, or any part of the services, pursuant to the agreement (the “Contractor Personnel”), per the provisions of the attached Sample Agreement, Section G – Affirmative Covenants, Item 10 – Security, and must https://s1.ariba.com/Sourcing/Main/ad/selfRegistration?realm=calstrs

Senior Solution Architecture Lead demonstrate compliance with Exhibit E, CalSTRS Contractor Background Investigation Policy. CalSTRS reserves the right to conduct a background investigation on the Contractor’s personnel, at its sole discretion.

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

ATTACHMENT I

Information and Offer Sheet

Respondent Firm Name: ________________________________________________________

Firm Address

Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:

Information Technology CMAS & Small Business / DVBE Certification

CMAS Number:

CMAS Term Dates:

Certified Small Business Enterprise (Yes or No):

If Yes, provide DGS certification number:

Certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (Yes or No):

If Yes, provide DGS certification number:

Administrative Contact

Name and Title:

Office Telephone # (Include area code):

Cell Telephone # (Include area code):

Email Address:

Authorized Signer

Name and Title:

Office Telephone # (Include area code):

Cell Telephone # (Include area code):

Email Address:

Proposed Project Personnel and Rate

Name of Proposed Project Person:

CMAS Job Title1:

CMAS (GSA) Hourly Rate:

Discount Hourly Rate Offered2:

1 Must be a job title listed in the Available Products and/or Services of your CMAS.

2 The discount hourly rate offered will be scored in Phase 3, Cost Comparison.

Technology Services

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

ATTACHMENT II

Proposed Project Person Skill Summary Sheet

This sheet must be completed by each Proposed Project Person.

The proposed project person’s expertise, experience, and education will be reviewed and scored based on the information including descriptions provided in this Attachment (which also includes desirable qualifications), and resume.

Follow the format prescribed below. The work experience, skills and abilities listed in each description must be verifiable by proposed personnel references and resumes. A statement such as, Refer to Resume, is not acceptable. All fields must be completed.

Proposed Project Person Name: __________________________________________________

Minimum Technical Qualifications

As of the Offer Due Date, the proposed project person must have the following listed experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as evidenced by Attachment II, Proposed Project Person Skill Summary Sheet and resume:

1. A minimum of ten (10) years of IT experience with expert-level skills in enterprise architecture design, data modeling, and implementation for data warehouse systems and advanced data analytics platforms.

Do you meet the above minimum qualification (Yes/No)? Total No. of Years:

Provide a detailed description of specific work experience that meets the minimum qualification. Description:

List the employer and work dates, including months and years, that meet the required years of experience:

Employer: Start Date – End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date – End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date – End Date: No. of Years:

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

2. A minimum of three (3) years of experience designing architecture that integrates Generative AI capabilities into Business Intelligence and Data Warehouse platforms.

Do you meet the above minimum qualification (Yes/No)? Total No. of Years:

Provide a detailed description of specific work experience that meets the minimum qualification. Description:

List the employer and work dates, including months and years, that meet the required years of experience:

Employer: Start Date – End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date – End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date – End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date – End Date: No. of Years:

3. At least five (5) years of cloud architecture experience (such as Azure, AWS, or GCP), including deployment strategies and the use of infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform.

Do you meet the above minimum qualification (Yes/No)? Total No. of Years:

Provide a detailed description of specific work experience that meets the minimum qualification. Description:

List the employer and work dates, including months and years, that meet the required years of experience:

Employer: Start Date – End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date – End Date: No. of Years:

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

4. At least five (5) years of experience leading cross-functional technical teams, providing mentorship, and driving technical excellence in complex enterprise environments.

Do you meet the above minimum qualification (Yes/No)? Total No. of Years:

Provide a detailed description of specific work experience that meets the minimum qualification. Description:

List the employer and work dates, including months and years, that meet the required years of experience:

Employer: Start Date – End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date - End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date - End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date - End Date: No. of Years:

5. Five or more (5+) years of experience in designing and implementing secure, scalable integration architectures for complex enterprise environments, including APIs, microservices, event-driven systems, and data integration.

Do you meet the above minimum qualification (Yes/No)? Total No. of Years:

Provide a detailed description of specific work experience that meets the minimum qualification. Description:

List the employer and work dates, including months and years, that meet the required years of experience:

Employer: Start Date - End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date - End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date - End Date: No. of Years:

Employer: Start Date - End Date: No. of Years:

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

Desirable Technical Qualifications

It is desirable for the proposed project person to have the following listed experience, knowledge, skills and abilities as evidenced by Attachment II, Proposed Project Person Skill Summary Sheet and resume:

1. Five or more (5+) years of hands-on experience with C# / Python, SQL databases, and advanced SQL queries.

No. of Years:

Description:

2. Five or more (5+) years of experience developing comprehensive technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, design specifications, standards, and best‑practice guidelines for enterprise‑scale systems.

No. of Years:

Description:

3. Three or more (3+) years of experience with Snowflake or AWS Redshift.

No. of Years:

Description:

4. Three or more (3+) years of experience of using Power BI to create data analytics dashboards.

No. of Years:

Description:

5. The proposed project person will be able to adhere to working on-site five (5) days per week at CalSTRS Headquarters, West Sacramento, CA. If no, provide a short explanation. (no points)

No. of Years:

Description:

Technology Services

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

ATTACHMENT III

Proposed Project Person Business Reference Sheet

One sheet must be completed for each Proposed Project Person.

Business references should be able to verify the proposed project person’s experiences, within the last 10 years, and to verify the other information provided regarding such person.

Proposed Project Person Name: __________________________________________________

REFERENCE 1

Name of Company/Agency:

Company Address City, State:

Contact Person (Name and Title):

Contact Telephone # (Include area code):

Contact Email Address:

Dates of Service (Include years and months):

REFERENCE 2

Name of Company/Agency:

Company Address City, State:

Contact Person (Name and Title):

Contact Telephone # (Include area code):

Contact Email Address:

Dates of Service (Include years and months):

REFERENCE 3

Name of Company/Agency:

Company Address City, State:

Contact Person (Name and Title):

Contact Telephone # (Include area code):

Contact Email Address:

Dates of Service (Include years and months):

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

ATTACHMENT IV

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are frequently asked questions as it pertains to this RFO. Respondents are responsible for reviewing these questions and responses. If this RFO accepts clarifications/questions, see instructions located on page 2 for how to submit written questions and the deadline to ensure a response.

Q.1. Is this a new position?

A.1. Yes.

Q.2. If there is an incumbent, are they eligible to be considered for this position?

A.2. N/A.

Q.3. Will phone/webcam interviews be an option if interviews are conducted?

A.3. No, all interviews will be in-person only. Please submit project personnel that will be able to attend in-person interview(s).

Q.4. What is the anticipated award and start dates for the contract?

A.4. See RFO Section D.1., Time Schedule.

Q.5. Is there a “remote working” option?

A.5. See RFO Section A., Introduction.

Q.6. Is the RFO available in a Word document format?

A.6. In order to maintain the format prescribed, CalSTRS will not disseminate the RFO in Microsoft Word or any other format. It is the Respondent’s responsibility to develop and format a response, which may include the use of Microsoft Word, Adobe or other software and functions (i.e. prepare, convert, etc.), to provide all the required information and documents listed in the RFO.

Q.7. Is a CMAS required to respond to this RFO?

A.7. Yes.

Q.8. How do we become a CMAS vendor?

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

A.8. Business Entities interested in becoming a CMAS contractor may view the Department of General Services site for additional information:

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD.

Q.9. Which classification do I list on Attachment I if it does not match the CalSTRS position title?

A.9. Respondents may submit a classification that has similar skills/experience and that is an available service listed on their CMAS as long as all Minimum Qualifications of this RFO are met.

Q.10. What if a proposed project person I submitted is no longer available at time of contract award, can I submit a new proposed project person?

A.10. Award is based on each individual proposed project person’s score. If any highest scoring proposed project person is no longer available at time of contract award, then CalSTRS reserves the right to award the next highest scoring Respondent/proposed project person in line.

Q.11. What is the estimated budget for this RFO?

A.11. In an effort to obtain competitive pricing, CalSTRS will not disclose this information.

Q.12. How to become a business partner with CalSTRS?

A.12. Business Entities may become a business partner with CalSTRS by registering in CalSTRS integration on-line financial system, the SAP Business Network. For more information about the portal and additional registration requirements please visit the link: https://s1.ariba.com/Sourcing/Main/ad/selfRegistration?realm=calstrs.

Q.13. How do I update my business information (i.e. address, tax ID, entity name) with CalSTRS?

A.13. Business Entities will need to complete a Business Partner Form. To request the form please email Partners@CalSTRS.com.

Q.14. Does CalSTRS Headquarters have onsite parking for independent Contractors?

A.14. Monthly parking privileges are available for CalSTRS employees only. Independent contractors are responsible for seeking alternative parking locations. One option may be the Ziggurat parking garage at 601 Third Street, West Sacramento, CA. Other parking options can be found at:

https://www.cityofwestsacramento.org/government/departments/economic-development-and-housing/parking.

https://www.cityofwestsacramento.org/government/departments/economic mailto:Partners@CalSTRS.com https://s1.ariba.com/Sourcing/Main/ad/selfRegistration?realm=calstrs https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

ATTACHMENT V

Statement of Work

The Contractor must be able to perform all work on-site at the CalSTRS headquarters facility in West Sacramento, CA. At CalSTRS’ discretion, a different approach (i.e., fully in-office, fully remote or different work hours) may be utilized based on CalSTRS business need and/or directive. Work must be performed during CalSTRS business hours and shall not be permitted on California State Holidays identified on the California Department of Human Resources website, unless pre-approved in writing by CalSTRS management. All work schedules must be pre-approved in writing by CalSTRS management and must adhere to all applicable CalSTRS policies and procedures. The Contractor is responsible for any travel costs (including travel time) that they may incur while providing the services identified in this Statement of Work.

The Senior Solution Architecture Lead (Contractor) will serve as the principal system architect and subject matter expert responsible for designing, validating, and implementing robust, scalable, and secure technology solutions, but excluding solutions that involve investment and/or using investment-tech.

This role will lead multiple concurrent technical initiatives, oversee end-to-end solution architecture, and ensure all technology implementations align with CalSTRS enterprise architecture standards, security policies, and business objectives. The candidate shall have advanced expertise in AI technologies, cloud platforms, data engineering, machine learning, and integration best practices, and will act as a trusted technical advisor to technical teams, business partners, and executive leadership.

The Contractor will report directly to the CalSTRS Enterprise IT Solutions and Innovation Director and is expected to work onsite at CalSTRS headquarters, unless written approval is granted by the Chief Technology Officer.

The Contractor is expected to perform the following tasks and produce associated deliverables including, but not limited to the following:

1) Lead the architecture design, implementation, and optimization of enterprise-level IT solutions leveraging Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) technologies, cloud platforms, data analytics systems, and data warehouse architectures to ensure scalability, performance, and security.

2) Lead system architectural design and implementation, including Large Language Model (LLM) evaluation, prompt integration, data modeling, data integration, and deployment strategies across complex environments.

3) Develop comprehensive technical documentation, including solution designs, coding standards, architectural patterns, policies, and best practices.

Senior Solution Architecture Lead

4) Provide technical leadership and architectural oversight for data warehouse initiatives, including data Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) architecture, data pipelines, data modeling, and enterprise data governance.

5) Review, refine, and approve architectural artifacts, system diagrams, integration patterns, and solution designs for mission-critical applications.

6) Ensure all technology solutions comply with enterprise architecture standards, cybersecurity policies, and strategic business goals.

7) Serve as a trusted technical advisor to project teams, business partners, leadership, and executive stakeholders.

8) Validate application, system, and integration designs to meet enterprise requirements for scalability, resiliency, performance, and security.

9) Collaborate closely with developers, engineers, Database Administrators (DBAs), infrastructure teams, and enterprise architects to ensure successful and aligned solution delivery.

10) Provide mentorship and thought leadership in cloud-native design, microservices architecture, containerization, Application Programming Interface (API) design, and modern integration patterns.

11) Support production issue resolution by providing deep technical expertise during high‑priority incident investigations and remediation.

12) Ensure strict adherence to security, compliance, and enterprise architecture principles throughout all solution design and implementation activities.

13) Champion continuous improvement of architecture practices, technical processes, frameworks, and solution methodology across the organization.

Transfer of knowledge to appropriate CalSTRS employees is required, along with any requested materials and content for transfer of knowledge.

Completion Criteria

Deliverables/tasks will include all work assignments identified to be completed.

Deliverables/tasks are considered complete after CalSTRS’ quality assurance process is completed and approval is granted by designated CalSTRS’ reviewers.

Performance and timeliness of all deliverables/tasks will be monitored by CalSTRS via the submission of Contractor’s weekly status reports and through status meetings. Status and actual hours will be reported by Contractor on a weekly basis for the deliverables/tasks assigned. Each deliverable/task will be tracked via the appropriate program/project schedule and budget in order to monitor progress toward the completion of the deliverables/tasks and milestones.

SAMPLE AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT NUMBER CW#######

BETWEEN CALIFORNIA STATE TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM

AND <INSERT CONTRACTOR NAME>

A. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Contractor

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System, also known as CalSTRS, and <Insert Contractor Name>, also known as Contractor, agree to the following terms and conditions, in addition to those identified in the State of California, Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) No.

XXXX. See Exhibit A, Statement of Work (SOW).

B. AGREEMENT CONTACTS

1. Contractor

Contractor liaison for services shall be XXXX at telephone number (XXX) XXX-XXX and E-mail address XXXX.

2. CalSTRS

a) CalSTRS Business Contract Liaison for services shall be (Insert name) at E-mail address XXX@CalSTRS.com for questions related to the services.

b) CalSTRS Business Contract Manager for services shall be (Insert name) at telephone number (916) 414-XXXX, and E-mail address XXX@CalSTRS.com for questions related to the services.

C. TERM

The term of this Agreement shall be from <Month, Date, Year> through <Month, Date, Year> with the option to extend up to <insert #> additional months if the Contractor’s CMAS (identified above) is current prior to the term expiring.

D. FEES

The total amount of this Agreement shall not exceed $XXX.XX, unless amended in writing, approved by all required authorities, and additional funds are authorized. Fees shall be calculated as follows:

Hours Position Per Hour Amount X,XXX <Insert CalSTRS Working Title> $XXX.XX $XXX.XX

<Insert GSA Classification>

SAMPLE

mailto:XXX@CalSTRS.com mailto:XXX@CalSTRS.com

E. BUDGET DETAIL AND PAYMENT PROVISIONS

1. Invoicing and Payment

a) For services satisfactorily rendered, and upon receipt and approval of the invoices, CalSTRS agrees to compensate the Contractor for actual expenditures incurred in accordance with the rates specified herein and made a part of this Agreement.

b) Invoices shall be submitted not more frequently in monthly arrears through the following:

1. The supplier submits their invoices through the SAP Business Network.

2. If contractor/supplier has not registered, to do business with CalSTRS, on the

SAP Business Network:

a. Supplier must contact Partners to create an SAP Business Network account to facilitate invoicing and payment.

b. Supplier will contact their Business Area Liaison for assistance in submitting an invoice.

c) Invoice(s) must include: 1) Purchase Order Number, 2) Contractor’s name, address and telephone number, 3) total amount of invoice, 4) copies of the Contractor’s weekly status reports that cover the invoice dates, and 5) a copy of the timesheet approved/signed by a State Manager that covers the invoice dates.

2. Budget Contingency Clause

a) It is mutually agreed that if the Budget Act of the current year and/or any subsequent years covered under this Agreement does not appropriate sufficient funds for the program, this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect. In this event, CalSTRS shall have no liability to pay any funds whatsoever to Contractor or to furnish any other considerations under this Agreement and Contractor shall not be obligated to perform any provisions of this Agreement.

b) If funding for any fiscal year is reduced or deleted by the Budget Act for purposes of this program, CalSTRS shall have the option to either cancel this Agreement with no liability occurring to CalSTRS or offer an agreement amendment to Contractor to reflect the reduced amount.

c) Pursuant to the Teachers’ Retirement Board (board) Governance Manual, any Agreement which exceeds $1,000,000 in cumulative value must be approved by the board. If the Agreement term spans multiple fiscal years and board approval of the cumulative fiscal year value is required, it is mutually agreed that if the board does not approve funding for current year and/or any subsequent years, this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect.

3. Prompt Payment Clause

Payment will be made in accordance with, and within the time specified in, Government Code Chapter 4.5, commencing with section 927.

SAMPLE

https://service.ariba.com/Supplier.aw/109573047/aw?awh=r&awssk=3eo5bK9B&dard=1&ancdc=1 mailto:mailto:%20Partners@CalSTRS.com

F. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Approval

This Agreement is of no force or effect until signed by both parties. Contractor may not commence performance until approval has been obtained.

2. Titles/Section Headings

Titles or headings are not part of this Agreement, they are for convenience of reference only, and shall have no effect on the construction or legal effect of this Agreement.

3. Choice of Law

This Agreement and any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof shall be administered, construed, governed and enforced according to the laws of the State of California (without regard to any conflict of laws provisions) to the extent such laws have not been preempted by applicable federal law. Any suit brought hereunder (including any action to compel arbitration or to enforce any award or judgment rendered thereby) shall be brought in the state or federal courts sitting in Sacramento, California, the parties hereby waiving any claim or defense that such forum is not convenient or proper. Each party agrees that any such court shall have in personam jurisdiction over it and consents to service of process in any manner authorized by California law.

4. Unenforceable Provision

In the event that any provision of this Agreement is unenforceable or held to be unenforceable, then the parties agree that all other provisions of this Agreement have full force and effect and shall not be affected thereby.

5. Amendment

No amendment or variation of the terms of this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by the parties. No oral understanding or agreement not incorporated in the Agreement is binding on any of the parties.

6. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable to the other for delay in or failure of performance, nor shall any such delay in or failure of performance constitute default, if such delay or failure is caused by “Force Majeure.” Such causes may include, but are not restricted to, Acts of God or of the public enemy, acts of the State in its sovereign capacity, fires, floods, power failure, disabling strikes, epidemics, quarantine restrictions, and freight embargoes.

Contractor confirms that the goods/services to be provided to CalSTRS are not affected by the current COVID-19 Pandemic and that Contractor is able to perform under the Agreement.

SAMPLE

7. Signatures & Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

The parties agree to the terms of this Agreement and have caused this Agreement and its exhibits to be signed by their duly authorized representatives. Any manually executed signature page to this Agreement and its exhibits delivered by a party by facsimile or electronic mail in .PDF form shall be deemed to be an original signature hereto. Additionally, CalSTRS may provide the option for the parties to electronically sign this Agreement and exhibits via Docusign or by other electronic means prescribed by CalSTRS. Any counterpart delivered using any of foregoing methods shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered with the same force and effect as original signatures, which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

8. Intellectual Property

Contractor expressly acknowledges and agrees that all discoveries, inventions, processes, designs, plans, works of authorship, and trade secrets, whether of a technical nature or not, made or developed by Contractor alone or in conjunction with any other person or entity while accomplishing the Agreement (Intellectual Property), shall be the sole and exclusive property of CalSTRS and CalSTRS may use or reuse the Intellectual Property, in whole or in part, in all media, whether now or later existing, throughout the universe in perpetuity, including but not limited to the exclusive right to reproduce, perform and exploit the Intellectual Property, and all information regarding the Intellectual Property, concurrent with the discovery or development of the Intellectual Property. If the Intellectual Property or the results and proceeds thereof constitute “works of authorship” within the scope of U.S. Copyright Law, the foregoing shall be deemed “works made for hire” and CalSTRS shall be considered the sole author and owner of all rights comprised in the copyright and/or patent thereof and shall have the exclusive right to seek patent and/or copyright protection in CalSTRS name. In the event that any Intellectual Property does not constitute “works made for hire,” Contractor hereby assigns all rights thereto exclusively to CalSTRS for any and all purposes of CalSTRS. At all times during its term and after the termination of the Agreement, Contractor shall assist CalSTRS in obtaining and maintaining, for CalSTRS benefit, protection of the Intellectual Property and Contractor shall execute and cause its subcontractors to execute such further instruments as CalSTRS may reasonably require as evidence of ownership of such rights. Contractor agrees that he/she will not use or disclose any Intellectual Property owned by CalSTRS without the express written permission of CalSTRS.

G. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

1. Reports and/or Meetings

a) Contractor shall provide oral or written progress reports as requested by CalSTRS to determine if Contractor is performing to expectations or is on schedule, to provide communication of interim findings, and shall afford occasions for discussing and resolving problems encountered.

b) Contractor shall meet with CalSTRS staff and/or the board upon request to discuss progress on the Agreement or to present findings, conclusions and recommendations.

2. Additional Documents

Contractor and CalSTRS agree to execute such additional documents, and perform such further acts, as may be reasonable and necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.

3. Reportable Interests

Contractor shall not directly or indirectly receive any benefit from recommendations made to CalSTRS and shall disclose to CalSTRS any personal investment or economic interest of Contractor which may be enhanced by the recommendations made to CalSTRS.

Contractor acknowledges that CalSTRS is subject to provisions of the Fair Political Practices laws of California (Government Code section 81000, et seq., and all regulations adopted thereunder, including, but not limited to, Title 2, California Code of Regulations, section 18700) and Contractor shall comply promptly with any requirement thereunder. If required by law, Contractor shall require its Key Personnel named, and all later substitutions therefore, to file Statements of Economic Interest (Title 5, California Code of Regulations, section 22000 et seq.). All such reports shall be filed simultaneously with CalSTRS.

4. Key Personnel

Exhibit B, Contractor Name’s Key Personnel, names certain members of Contractor's staff (key individuals) who will perform the conduct described in the scope of services and exercise a significant decision making role in the delivery of services under this Agreement. These personnel shall be hereafter referred to (both individually and collectively) as " Key Personnel."

a) Contractor shall not substitute, replace or reassign Key Personnel without CalSTRS prior approval. However, with CalSTRS prior approval, the parties may agree in writing to a change in these Key Personnel. The writing shall become a part of this Agreement.

b) This Agreement may be terminated immediately, in CalSTRS sole discretion and upon written notice from CalSTRS to Contractor, because of any change in or departure of Contractor's Key Personnel.

5. Changes in Control, Organization or Key Personnel

Contractor shall promptly, and in any case within five (5) calendar days, notify CalSTRS in writing: 1) if any of Contractor's representations and warranties, as set forth in this Agreement, cease to be true at any time during the term of this Agreement; 2) of any change in Contractor's staff who exercise a significant administrative, policy, or consulting role under this Agreement, including without limitation the Key Personnel; 3) of any change in the majority ownership, control, or business structure of Contractor; or

4) of any other material change in Contractor's business, partnership or corporate organization.