Export_Training_Consultant_RFP.pdf

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

Request for Proposal (RFP):

Export Training Grant Program Consultant

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) invites you to review and respond to this Solicitation. In submitting your response, you 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 should read and review the entire solicitation.

Costs must not exceed $37,000 over the term of May 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

Responses are due April 22, 2024, by 8:00 AM Pacific Time. If you have questions or need any clarification of information contained herein, please send your questions via e-mail to the assigned Point of Contact below.

GO-Biz Point of Contact:

1325 J Street, Suite 1800

Sacramento, CA 95814

GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

STATE OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM

mailto:GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov

I. SCOPE OF WORK

1. Background

This request for proposal (RFP) is in the International Affairs and Trade 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 individual to consult the International Affairs and Trade team on the Export Training Grant Program.

The consultant will provide strategic and administrative input on the collaborations with external stakeholders, review applications for grant consideration, and convene expert review panels.

2. Minimum Qualifications

1. Professional Experience:

a. A minimum of twenty-five (25) years of professional experience consulting public agencies or directly to small businesses on international trade.

b. In-depth subject knowledge of small business operations, exporting, international markets, export finance.

c. Knowledge of export challenges and opportunities for small business.

d. Demonstrated experience providing export advice and webinars, seminars, and classroom presentations on all aspects of exporting.

e. At least twenty (20) years of experience consulting with companies on matters related to international trade, exporting, and export finance, including experience consulting with small businesses and new to export companies.

f. Experience working with or directly for a federal agency charged with international trade responsibilities, e.g. U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, or the Small Business Administration.

2. Education:

a. A master’s degree (MA) in Business, Economic Development, Economics, Finance, Foreign Affairs, or a similar relevant field.

3. Leadership Experience:

a. At least ten (10) years of experience at the director level leading strategic planning and program evaluation.

4. Third-Party Certification:

a. The bidder must possess third-party certification focused on international trade.

5. Program Development Experience:

a. Demonstrated experience in building new-to-export training program(s).

b. Proven track record in identifying export assistance providers from local, state, and federal agencies and organizations.

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

3. Scope of Work The Contractor will be responsible for working the with International Affairs and Trade (IAT) team to develop the Export Training Grant Program. Broadly, the Export Training Grant Program will be part of GO-Biz’s Export Training Network and consist of export technical assistance organizations providing California small businesses with export training. Summary descriptions of services to be provided in coordination and with oversight from the IAT team:

1. Grant Program Development:

a. The contractor shall work closely with the IAT team to conceptualize and refine the objectives, eligibility criteria, and selection process for the Export Training Grant Program.

b. Develop clear and concise grant guidelines outlining program goals, application requirements, evaluation criteria, and reporting expectations.

2. Grant Administration:

a. In coordination with the IAT team, review and vet grant applications.

b. Provide guidance and support to the IAT team and other stakeholders throughout the grant review process, ensuring fairness, transparency, and adherence to established criteria.

c. Coordinate export training activities with grant recipients and other local, state, and federal partners.

3. Program Reporting Metrics:

a. Collaborate with the IAT team to develop comprehensive program reporting metrics to track the progress and outcomes of the Export Training Grant Program.

b. Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and data collection methods to measure the effectiveness and impact of funded training initiatives.

c. Create reporting templates and guidelines to facilitate consistent and meaningful data collection from grant recipients.

4. Advisory Support:

a. Offer expert guidance on strategic planning, program evaluation, and continuous improvement initiatives to optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of the Export Training Grant Program.

5. Communication and Collaboration:

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

b. Foster a collaborative working relationship with stakeholders, including grant applicants, grant recipients, and other program partners, to ensure the successful implementation of the Export Training Grant Program.

6. Estimated Time Schedule

a. The contractor is expected to communicate with the IAT team during business hours (Monday through Friday 8 AM – 5 PM PST).

b. Hours will vary per week but on average are expected to be approximately 10-12 hours per week.

II. PROPOSAL CONTENT

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

A. Cover Letter

a. Name

b. Address

c. Telephone

B. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

a. Experience on assignments of a similar nature

C. Cost Estimation

a. The contractor’s billing/labor rates per work hour

b. Detailed total cost projected by the contractor

c. Estimate of monthly costs associated with executing the proposed services, including staff hourly time, office space, equipment, and travel expenses.

d. Travel Costs that are reasonably, actually, and necessarily incurred as a result of conducting activities related to the Scope of Work. These costs should be identified, and reimbursement will be subject to rates published by the Department of Human Resources.

https://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/2203

Travel receipts must be maintained by the contractor as a substantiation that the amount claimed was not in excess of the amount of the actual expense. The IAT team may request receipts at any time.

III. TIMELINE

RFP Released by GO-Biz April 5, 2024 RFP Questions Submission Deadline April 12, 2024 Posting of RFP Questions and Answers April 17, 2024 RFP Submission Deadline April 22, 2024 at 8:00 AM Tentative Award Notice April 26, 2024 Contract Period May 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

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.

Evaluation Score Sheet Maximum Possible Score

Score

1. How well does the Proposer’s experience directly relate to the needs of the project, particularly in terms of international trade consulting and program development?

2. Does the Proposer provide examples of Leadership experience and third-party certification focused on international trade?

3. Are the budget/cost estimates provided realistic and well-justified.

Presentations and/or Interviews

Upon request by GO-Biz, each Contractor may be required to present their proposal in person or virtually.

VENDOR FORMS

Please include the completed vendor forms and submit 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

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.

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.

a) 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.

b) 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.

c) 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.

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

e) 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://www.aging.ca.gov/download.ashx?lE0rcNUV0zZK%2FYm8WzGo%2Fg%3D%3 D.

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 et. seq.).

Consequently, materials submitted by an applicant to GO-Biz may be subject to a PRA request. In such an event, 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 the information to the extent an exemption is provided by law, including but not limited to notes, drafts, proprietary information, financial information and trade secret information. GO-Biz will also apply the “balancing test” as provided for under Government Code section 7922 to the extent applicable.

Potential Proposers must email all required materials to GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov no later than April 22, 2024, 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 in advance of the final deadline to receive a confirmation of receipt.