Economic_Consultant_RFP_-_Final.pdf

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

STATE OF CALIFORNIA | OFFICE OF GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

Request for Proposal (RFP):

Economist or Economic Consulting Firm

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) invites consulting companies to review and respond to this Solicitation. In submitting a response, applicants must comply with the instructions found herein.

This is an open solicitation for consultants from private entities, non-profit organizations, and other governmental entities.

Before submitting a response to this solicitation, interested parties must read and review the entire solicitation.

Responses are due April 1, 2025, by 8:00 AM Pacific Time, to GO- Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov with the subject line: “RFP 0000034587 FY 2024-25 Economic Consultant.”

GO-Biz Point of Contact:

1325 J Street, Suite 1800

Sacramento, CA 95814

GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov

I. SCOPE OF WORK

1. Background and Overview

This request for proposal (RFP) is for the Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) team within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO- Biz). GO-Biz serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth, economic development, and business assistance efforts. GO-Biz is seeking an economic consultant or consulting firm to provide expert economic analysis, data modeling, and policy evaluations to support GO-Biz in making data-driven decisions that enhance California’s economic competitiveness.

The consulting firm will work closely with GO-Biz to not only prepare and model economic data but also analyze key trends and develop actionable policy recommendations. Core responsibilities include conducting workforce and economic impact studies, assessing industry shifts, identifying challenges and opportunities, and interpreting data for strategic policy guidance. The firm will also develop interactive data visualization tools and provide strategic insights on key economic indicators.

Additionally, the firm will support GO-Biz leadership through concise briefings, reports, and presentations that inform decision-making and highlight departmental successes.

By leveraging expert economic analysis and policy expertise, GO-Biz aims to better quantify economic trends, proactively address emerging challenges, and enhance the effectiveness of its programs and initiatives.

This is the first time GO-Biz is engaging an economic consultant in this capacity, and we view this as an opportunity to build a long-term partnership. We are looking for a firm that not only meets the technical requirements of this RFP but also aligns with our mission and approach to economic development. Through this engagement, we hope to establish a collaborative relationship that evolves over time, allowing us to refine our strategies, enhance our analytical capabilities, and drive meaningful economic outcomes for California.

2. Structure and Operational Capacity

The selected consulting firm shall have sufficient staff and resources to effectively track, manage, and execute the workload required to support GO-Biz in achieving its objectives. The firm must demonstrate the ability to provide timely and high-quality analyses, ensuring that all deliverables meet the expectations outlined in the scope of work. At a minimum, the firm shall designate a Principal Investigator and a Project Manager to lead and coordinate efforts, with additional support staff as needed to complete research, modeling, and reporting tasks efficiently.

This contract will run through December 2026, with the potential for extension to June 2028 based on funding availability and performance.

3. Minimum Qualifications

1. Professional Experience:

a. Must have a proven track record of working with government agencies, economic development organizations, or private-sector clients on economic research and consulting projects.

b. A history of delivering high-quality economic studies, policy evaluations, or advisory services that have informed decision-making at the state or local level.

c. Demonstrated experience conducting labor data analysis, policy evaluations, economic impact studies and projections, data modeling, and/or advisory services specific to California’s economic landscape and overall familiarity with California’s economic landscape, including key industries and policies.

d. Expertise in data modeling and developing economic projections and forecasts, with a strong emphasis on providing policy recommendations based on findings.

e. Fluency in speaking, writing, and reading in English

2. Education

a. The Principal Investigator or Project Manager will have an advanced degree in economics (Ph.D. preferred).

These minimum qualifications are essential for potential bidders to possess to be considered for the RFP. Candidates must meet all the above requirements to ensure they have the expertise and qualifications necessary to successfully fulfill the objectives of the project.

4. Scope of Work

The consulting firm will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Economic Analysis & Research:

• Conduct in-depth labor market and economic impact analyses to assess trends and forecast economic conditions in California.

• Evaluate the fiscal and economic effects of existing and proposed policies, including tax incentives, subsidies, and regulatory changes.

• Sector-specific and issue-specific analyses may include the following but are subject to reflect emerging policy issue areas: wage distribution breakdowns;

forecasts on the economic impact of tariffs; trends in foreign direct investment, sources, jobs supported, and flows; and the economic contributions of immigrant communities and business owners and effects of potential changes to federal immigration policy.

• Projections should not only outline potential outcomes but provide strategic insights and actionable recommendations to address issues and guide policy decisions.

2. Public-Facing Reports and Key Metrics:

• Support developing and implementing relevant, key performance indicators, including data collection and analysis (e.g. survey instruments).

• Strategic contributions to official reports summarizing GO-Biz initiatives and achievements, includes providing data-driven insights to highlight programmatic value.

3. Interactive Tools and Models:

• Develop dashboards or data visualization tools to track trends, competitiveness, and program outcomes in real-time.

• Tools to benchmark California’s performance against other states and countries.

4. Policy and Legislative Evaluations:

• As requested, fiscal and economic impact assessments of proposed and enacted policies, including tax incentives, subsidies, and regulations, with recommendations for mitigation and improvement.

• Policy and legislative research, in partnership with GO-Biz leadership that arrives at outcomes and highlights practical, implementable policy solutions.

5. Strategic Presentations and Briefings:

• Concise executive summaries, talking points, and briefing materials for internal use and potential public engagement.

• Presentation decks for leadership and stakeholders to support advocacy efforts and decision-making.

5. Communication and Collaboration:

1. Maintain open and regular communication with the REDI team, providing updates and addressing any issues or concerns in a timely manner.

2. If a consultant and/or front-facing support staff will be unavailable for an extended period of more than 72 hours during the work week, an alternative point of contact at the consulting company must be provided.

6. Payment Structure

This contract will be structured as a time and materials agreement, compensated through a retainer or capacity-based fee. Payment will be based on actual hours worked and deliverables completed, ensuring flexibility while maintaining accountability for project outcomes.

II. PROPOSAL CONTENT

The individual responding to this RFP (“Respondent”) must submit the following information with the written proposal:

1. Cover Letter

a. Name of the consulting company, website, telephone number, and address, including e-mail address, of bidder.

b. Name and title of individual authorized to bind the bidder and submit the proposal.

c. Name, e-mail address, and telephone number of person GO-Biz may contact during the proposal evaluation process (if different).

d. Form of business - e.g. sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, not-for-profit organization.

e. Firm/company background including year established and number of employees.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume for Principal Investigator, Project Manager, and any key support staff who will be assigned to the project.

a. Each CV or resume should include a summary of relevant experience, highlighting past projects similar in scope to the work outlined in this RFP.

b. Experience should demonstrate expertise in economic research, policy analysis, data modeling, and advisory services, particularly in California’s economic landscape.

c. Clearly identify each team member’s role in the project and their specific areas of responsibility.

3. Methodology

a. Provide a description of the methodologies and tools used for labor data analysis, policy evaluations, economic impact studies, and data modeling.

b. Firm capacity and projected/typical turnaround time for completing projects upon request.

c. An explanation of how findings will be presented to GO-Biz, including reports, visualizations, and briefings.

d. Provide a sample analysis or case study demonstrating the firm’s expertise in economic research, policy analysis, or relevant consulting services. An anonymized sample from a previous project is acceptable.

4. Cost Estimation and Budget Analysis

a. Provide a detailed fee structure outlining consultant hours and rates, including the Principal Investigator, Project Manager, and any additional staff supporting the project.

b. Estimated costs based on expected workloads and deliverables. Expenses should be aligned with proposed tasks/activities.

c. Invoicing schedules, reporting requirements, and any relevant billing procedures.

d. Proposers should outline their approach to maximizing impact within their proposed budget, detailing the scope of work achievable at various funding levels to ensure transparency in cost-effectiveness and realistic expectations.

5. References (at least three)

a. At least three professional references, including contact information.

b. At least two references must be from government agencies, economic development organizations, or similar entities that have worked with the firm for related services.

6. Information concerning terminations, litigation, and debarment. Bidder shall provide answers to the following questions:

a. During the last five years, has the Bidder had a contract for services terminated for any reason? If so, provide full details related to the termination.

b. During the last five years, describe any order, judgment or decree of any Federal or State authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting the right of the Bidder to engage in any business, practice or activity.

c. During the last five years, list, and summarize pending or threatened litigation, administrative or regulatory proceedings, or similar matters. The Bidder must also state whether it or any owners, officers, or primary partners have ever been convicted of a felony. Failure to disclose these matters may result in rejection of the bid proposal or in termination of any subsequent contract. This is a continuing disclosure requirement. Any such matter commencing after submission of a bid proposal, and with respect to the successful Bidder after the execution of a contract, must be disclosed in a timely manner in a written statement to GO-Biz.

7. Interviews and/or Presentations

a. Candidates advancing past the technical review phase will be required to participate in interviews and/or present their proposals virtually, as requested by GO-Biz.

III. TIMELINE

RFP Released by GO-Biz March 7, 2025 Deadline for Written Questions

Please submit questions to GO- Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov

March 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM

Posting of RFP Questions and Answers on Cal eProcure

March 21, 2025 by 5:00 PM

RFP Submission Deadline April 1, 2025 by 8:00 AM Tentative Award Notice April 10, 2025 Contract Period May 15, 2025 – December 2026 potential for extension to 2028

IV. EVALUATION

Proposals will be evaluated by individuals in a committee. The committee will evaluate each proposal and score each proposal individually using the Evaluation Criteria Score Sheet. Proposals will be considered on their merits in accordance with the Scope of Work.

Bidders must score at least 60 out of 70 possible technical points (non-budget/cost) to advance in the evaluation phase and be eligible for invitation to any applicable interview or presentation phase.

Evaluation Score Sheet Maximum Possible Score Score

1.

How well does the Proposer’s experience directly relate to the scope of work, particularly in economic analysis, policy evaluation and economic advising?

2. How well does the proposal address the requirements of the RFP? 20

3. Quality of sample material provided 10

4. Oral Interview/Presentation 20

5. Are the budget/cost estimates provided realistic and well-justified? 30

V. TERMINATING CONTRACT

GO-Biz will have grounds to terminate the contract under the following conditions:

1. Non-performance: Failure to meet agreed-upon deliverables and objectives within the specified timelines and milestones.

2. Unresponsiveness: A pattern of unresponsiveness to communication efforts. If

GOBiz or delegate contact experiences more than two instances where emails and/or voicemails are not responded to within five working days, it will be considered a breach of contract.

3. Quality of Work: Submission of substandard or inadequate analysis, reports, or economic evaluations that do not meet professional standards. All deliverables must be detailed, data-driven, and actionable for informing policy and decision-making.

4. Lack of Transparency: Failure to provide regular updates, progress reports, and documentation as required. This includes maintaining an open line of communication with GO-Biz regarding the status of the project, challenges encountered, methodologies used in analysis, and policies recommended.

If any of the above conditions are met, GO-Biz reserves the right to terminate the contract with immediate effect. Written notice of termination will be provided, outlining the specific grounds for termination.

RFP RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

This RFP and the Proposer’s response to this document will be made part of GO-Biz’s procurement contract file. Responses must contain all requested information and data and conform to the format described in this section. It is the Proposer’s responsibility to provide all necessary information for the State to evaluate the response, verify requested information, and determine the Proposer’s ability to perform the tasks and activities defined in the State’s Scope of Work. The Proposer must submit their response electronically to the department contact name and email address indicated on the cover sheet to this RFP.

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.

AMENDMENTS TO RFP; DOWNLOADING FROM INTERNET

a) GO-Biz reserves the right to amend the RFP at any time before the RFP submission deadline.

b) All amendments will be posted on Cal eProcure. Each Bidder is advised to check this home page periodically for amendments to this RFP, particularly if the Bidder downloaded the RFP from the Internet as the Bidder may not automatically receive amendments.

VENDOR FORMS

Please include the completed vendor forms and submit them with your proposal. Blank copies of the required forms will be included in the solicitation documents. The necessary forms are as follows:

• STD 204 – Payee Data Record

• STD 21 – Drug Free Workplace Certification

• CCC – Contractor Certification Clauses

• Darfur

• Bidder Declaration

COPYRIGHTS

By submitting a bid proposal, the Bidder agrees that GO-Biz may copy the bid proposal for purposes of facilitating the evaluation of the bid proposal or to respond to requests for public records. The Bidder consents to such copying by submitting a bid proposal and warrants that such copying will not violate the rights of any third party.

AWARDS AND PROTESTS

a) Notice of the proposed award shall be posted in a public place in the office of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development for five (5) working days prior to awarding the agreement.

b) If any Proposer, prior to the award of agreement, files a protest with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, 1325 J Street, Suite 1800, Sacramento, CA 95814; and the Department of General Services, Office of Legal Services, 707 Third Street, 7th Floor, Suite 7-330, West Sacramento, CA 95605, on the grounds that the (protesting) Proposer would have been awarded the contract had the agency correctly applied the evaluation standard in the RFP, or if the agency followed the evaluation and scoring methods in the RFP, the agreement shall not be awarded until either the protest has been withdrawn or the Department of General Services has decided the matter. It is suggested that you submit any protest by certified or registered mail. c) Within five (5) calendar days after filing the initial protest, the protesting Proposer shall file with the Department of General Services, Office of Legal Services, and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development a detailed statement specifying the grounds for the protest.

d) Upon resolution of the protest and award of the agreement, Contractor must complete and submit to the awarding agency the Payee Data Record (STD 204), to determine if the Contractor is subject to state income tax withholding pursuant to California Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 18662 and 26131. This form can be found on the Internet at https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/FMC/PDF/Std204.pdf.

e) No payment shall be made unless a completed STD 204 has been returned to the awarding agency.

f) Upon resolution of the protest and award of the agreement, Contractor must sign and submit to the awarding agency, page one (1) of the Contractor Certification Clauses, which can be found on the Internet at https://aging.ca.gov/download.ashx?lE0rcNUV0zYMvfnvExc8gQ%3D%3D

SMALL BUISNESS and DVBE

Certified small businesses, microbusinesses, and DVBEs 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 if the business commits to subcontract at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its net bid price with one or more small businesses or microbusinesses. The five percent 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, microbusiness, DVBE, or non-small business for the actual amount of its bid.

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

Helpful resources pertaining to the Small Business and DVBE program may be found here: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Resources/Page-Content/Procurement-Division- Resources-List-Folder/Commercially-Useful-Function-for-Certified-Firms

PUBLIC RECORDS ACT

By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges that 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. GO-Biz will work in good faith with the applicant to protect any confidential information to the extent an exemption is provided by law.

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.

Bidder / Offeror 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 a Bidder / Offeror 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.

Potential Proposers must email all required materials to GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov no later than April 1, 2025, at 8:00 AM PST. No mailed/hard copy submittals will be accepted. No late proposals will be accepted or considered under any circumstances.

It is recommended that you submit your proposal at least two business days in advance of the final deadline to receive a confirmation of receipt and avoid potential delays due to technical difficulties. If you should experience technical difficulties during the submission, please contact GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov immediately.