PETE CERVINKA

DIRECTOR

State of California—Health and Human Services Agency Department of Developmental Services

1215 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 www.dds.ca.gov

GAVIN NEWSOM

GOVERNOR

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (Secondary) 1053

BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT STAFFING

Notice to Prospective Proposers

July 31, 2026

You are invited to review and respond to the Department of Developmental Services’ (Department) Request for Proposal (RFP) 1053, entitled “Behavioral Support Staffing.” By submitting a proposal, the Proposing firm agrees to the terms and conditions stated in this RFP.

In submitting a proposal, Proposers agree that they have read, understood, and will comply with the instructions found herein. Failure to comply with any of the requirements may result in the rejection of a proposal. By submitting a response, Proposers agree to the terms and conditions stated in this solicitation and any resulting agreement.

All agreements entered into with the State of California will include, by reference, the state’s General Terms and Conditions (GTC 02/2025) and Contractor Certification Clauses (CCC 04/2017) that may be viewed and downloaded at:

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services-Resources- List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language

This solicitation is published online on the eProcurement System webpage (also known as the California State Contracts Register) at https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/index.aspxhttps://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/index.aspx. To ensure receipt of any addenda that may be issued, and answers to any questions posed, Proposers must register online at https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/. If a Proposer does not have Internet access, a hard copy can be obtained by contacting the person listed below.

In accordance with the California Government Code and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, this RFP can be made available in a text-only format on a compact disc as a disability-related reasonable accommodation. Please contact the contract analyst listed below for an accessible version of the RFP.

In the opinion of the Department, this RFP is complete and without need of explanation.

However, if you have questions, or should you need any clarifying information, please contact:

Melanie Manus Melanie.manus@dds.ca.gov

Please note that no verbal information given will be binding upon the State unless such information is issued in writing as an official addendum.

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services-Resources-List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language#@ViewBag.JumpTo https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services-Resources-List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language#@ViewBag.JumpTo https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/index.aspx https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/ mailto:Melanie.manus@dds.ca.gov

Department of Developmental Services Behavioral Support Staffing

RFP 1053

The Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirement is waived for this RFP. However, DVBE participation is highly encouraged through the use of a DVBE incentive.

RFP 1053

Contents

NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE PROPOSERS

I. PURPOSE

II. BACKGROUND

III. TERM OF AGREEMENT

IV. PROPOSER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

V. PROPOSER MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

VI. KEY ACTION DATES

VII. QUESTIONS

VIII. ADDENDA

IX. REQUIRED FORMAT OF PROPOSALS

X. REQUIRED CONTENT OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

XI. COST PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

XII. REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS AND CONDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

XIII. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL

XIV. EVALUATION PROCESS

XV. DISPOSITION OF PROPOSALS

XVI. INTENT TO AWARD AND PROTEST PROCEDURES

XVII. TAX DELINQUENCY DISCLAIMER

XVIII. PREFERENCE/INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

XIX. DARFUR CONTRACTING ACT CERTIFICATION

XX. LOSS LEADER LANGUAGE

XXI. GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (GENAI) NOTIFICATION………..……………...21

EXHIBIT A–SCOPE OF WORK

EXHIBIT B–BUDGET DETAIL AND PAYMENT PROVISIONS

EXHIBIT C–GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

EXHIBIT D–SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

EXHIBIT E–ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

EXHIBIT F–SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION POLICY

EXHIBIT G–HIPAA AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT H–ANTI-NEPOTISM POLICY……………………………………………………………………..75

EXHIBIT I–DRIVING ON STATE BUSINESS–CONTRACTOR………………………………………….77

APPENDIX 1 REQUIRED AND CONDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS

APPENDIX 2 EVALUATION CRITERIA

I. PURPOSE

The Department of Developmental Services (Department) is soliciting for staffing for Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), for seven Stabilization Training Assistance Reintegration (STAR) homes.

These services are temporary in nature, with the contractor providing short-term staffing during periods when permanent civil service staffing is not available. Contractor shall act as the STAR’s strategic staffing partner, providing contingent, licensed, and certified BCBA staffing to fill temporary vacancies and positions, substitute for STAR employees while on leave, provide temporary services when appropriate staffing levels cannot be maintained with civil service staff, and supply services when the requested services are not available within the State civil service.

II. BACKGROUND

The State-Operated STAR homes are committed to affording each individual a safe and nurturing environment where opportunities for growth, realization, self-expression, and goal achievement are celebrated. The homes strive to empower individuals to be self-reliant as their skills, strengths, perseverance, and abilities allow them to transition from crisis stabilization services to long-term community living. STAR provides services to children (7- 12 years old), adolescents (12-17 years old) and adults (18 years of age and older) with developmental disabilities receiving regional center services and who are in need of time-limited crisis stabilization services for up to 13 months. STAR homes provide trauma-informed, person-centered support and crisis stabilization to the individuals being served so they can successfully transition to a community living setting.

III. TERM OF AGREEMENT

The term of the agreement is two years with one one-year option to renew. The contract initial term will be from approximately December 1, 2026 through November 30, 2028.

Contractors are cautioned that no work shall begin until the Agreement has been fully executed. If work is performed prior to the Agreement approval, and the Agreement for any reason is not approved, all previous work performed by the Contractor is considered voluntary and no payment shall be made for that work.

IV. PROPOSER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. Public or private corporations, agencies, organizations, associations, or individuals may submit a sealed bid response to this RFP. The Proposer must be legally constituted and qualified to do business within the State of California (registered with the California Secretary of State), if applicable. Proposers must be a legally cognizable public agency, sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation (fully incorporated by the deadline for submitting bids). Failure to meet the foregoing requirement will result in disqualification.

2. Proposers, including the Proposer’s representatives such as executives, officers, board members, and agents, must be responsible and have the capability to carry out the terms in this RFP. Proposers or Proposers’ representatives who have had an agreement terminated for cause with Department in the past 18 months may be disqualified. This restriction extends to all entities for which the Proposers’ representatives have been responsible for in whole or in part (e.g., making decisions, managing operations).

3. Executive Order N-6-22- Russia Sanctions

On March 4, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-6-22 (the EO) regarding Economic Sanctions against Russia and Russian entities and individuals.

“Economic Sanctions” refers to sanctions imposed by the U.S. government in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, as well as any sanctions imposed under state law. By submitting a bid or proposal, Contractor represents that it is not a target of Economic Sanctions. Should the State determine Contractor is a target of Economic Sanctions or is conducting prohibited transactions with sanctioned individuals or entities, that shall be grounds for rejection of the Contractor’s bid/proposal any time prior to contract execution, or, if determined after contract execution, shall be grounds for termination by the State.

4. The Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Participation Program requirements for this solicitation have been exempted. However, the Department is committed to achieving legislatively established goals for the participation of DVBEs whenever possible. Please see Article XVIII Preference/Incentive Programs.

V. PROPOSER MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To be considered responsive, Proposers must meet all of the following Minimum Qualification Requirements and submit the required Attachments and any documents (e.g., resumes, executive summary) that clearly explain and substantiate how the particular Minimum Qualification is met. A responsive proposal is one that meets or exceeds all the requirements stated in this RFP. Any proposal that does not meet the Minimum Qualifications and does not submit the required documents may be considered nonresponsive and may be disqualified. Failure to satisfy any of these qualifications and requirements upon submittal of the proposal will result in the rejection of the proposal.

The Proposer responding to this RFP must serve as the Prime Contractor and therefore must meet the Proposer Minimum Qualification Requirements as stated in this section.

The Prime Contractor must have the experience and qualifications to provide oversight to all proposed subcontractors. The Proposer must review and approve work products created by all proposed subcontractors.

The Proposer must demonstrate experience in the following:

1. Provide a photocopy of their Business License, as issued by the local city or county in which the Proposer is registered to do business.

2. Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in recruitment, placement, and retention of professional staff, preferably within behavioral health, applied behavior analysis (ABA), or related human services fields.

3. Experience recruiting and supporting staff to work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including those in acute crisis, and ensuring cultural and linguistic responsiveness in hiring.

4. Familiarity with California’s developmental services system, including the Department of

Developmental Services (DDS), regional centers, and state-operated programs.

5. Experience contracting with public sector agencies and coordinating staffing solutions within health and human services fields (e.g., education, healthcare, social services, or behavioral health).

The Proposer must employ and use behavior support staff who meet the following requirements:

1. The contract staff must be licensed as a BCBA and certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. The certification must be verifiable through the BCBA Certification Registry: https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135

The Proposer must provide:

a) Resumes for each key staff member working in the hiring agency, including subcontractors (if applicable). Key staff are individuals who have a significant policy decision, consultation, or administrative role as identified by the Proposer. For example, executives, directors, or lead administrators.

b) Resumes are not needed for the clinical staff. For example, BCBA staff who will be working in the STAR homes.

i. Each resume must not exceed three pages in length.

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135

VI. KEY ACTION DATES

All Proposers are hereby advised of the following schedule and shall adhere to the required dates and times.

ACTION Date

Request for Proposal Released July 31, 2026

Questions Due August 19, 2026 by 5:00 PM PT

DDS Response Posted September 2, 2026 (Tentative)

Proposals Due October 2, 2026 by 4:00 PM PT

Evaluation October 5-23, 2026 (Tentative)

Interviews November 2-6, 2026 (Tentative) Five-day posting period of Intent to Award November 13-23, 2026 (Tentative)

Agreement Start Date December 1, 2026 (Tentative)

It is the responsibility of the Proposer to ensure that their proposal is in the possession of the Department Contracts Unit by October 2, 2026, by 4:00 PM PT. All dates after proposal submission are approximate and may be adjusted as conditions arise, without addendum to this RFP.

RFP is available to prospective Proposers via the eProcurement System webpage (also known as the California State Contracts Register) at https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/index.aspx. Proposers must register with Cal eProcure to receive addenda that may be issued, for submittal of questions, and to receive answers.

VII. QUESTIONS

A. Proposers requiring clarification of the intent or content relating to the Behavioral Support Staffing RFP or procedural matters regarding the competitive proposal process, may request clarification by submitting questions via email to the Contract Analyst, melanie.manus@dds.ca.gov. To ensure a response, questions must be received in writing by the scheduled date(s) given in Article Vl. Key Action Dates.

Inquiries received after the question submittal deadline will only be addressed at the Department’s discretion. ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING.

https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/index.aspx mailto:melanie.manus@dds.ca.gov

B. On September 2, 2026 all questions and their responses will be posted to Cal eProcure. The source of each question will not be indicated. Proposers should notify by email the Contract Analyst immediately if they need clarification about the services being sought or have questions about the RFP. Note: it is the responsibility of the Proposer to check Cal eProcure for questions and/or changes within the RFP as all questions, answers, and addenda will be posted. The Department will not be held responsible for inaccurate proposals due to proposer’s oversight in reviewing any and all information via Cal eProcure.

C. The subject line of the email will read, RFP 1053, Behavioral Support Staffing

Questions – Company Name.

D. The Department may paraphrase questions at its sole discretion for clarity.

E. The Department will answer questions at its sole discretion.

VIII. ADDENDA

The Department may modify the Behavioral Support Staffing RFP prior to the Intent to Award date, by the issuance of an addendum. Any modifications to the RFP will be provided in writing, via a formal addendum, and posted on the Cal eProcure website. All Proposers registered in Cal eProcure will have access to view and download the addendum. Addenda will be numbered consecutively.

IX. REQUIRED FORMAT OF PROPOSALS

A. To compare and evaluate proposals objectively, all proposals must be submitted in accordance with the format below. Failure to comply with the format set forth herein may result in rejection of the RFP response. In your proposal, please respond to each task by repeating the task prompt at the top of the section and referring to the task numbers used in this RFP. Proposals are to be submitted in 8 1/2” x 11” size, typed in a font size no less than 12 and submitted in paper form, single-sided, bound with a simple method of fastening.

B. The Proposer must submit an original proposal labeled “MASTER PROPOSAL”, and one (1) nonbound copy of the proposal without tabs/dividers which is suitable for easy scanning. Proposal must also include a USB thumb drive (flash drive) containing an electronic copy of the entire proposal packet. Proposals not submitted in a sealed envelope may be rejected.

The original proposal must be marked "MASTER PROPOSAL." If discrepancies are found between two or more copies of the proposal, the “MASTER PROPOSAL” will prevail over all others.

C. If discrepancies between sections or other errors are found in the “MASTER PROPOSAL,” the State may reject the proposal. However, if not so rejected, the

“MASTER PROPOSAL” will provide the basis for resolving such discrepancies. No erasures shall be permitted. Errors may be crossed out and corrections printed in ink or typewritten adjacent and must be initialed in ink by the person signing the proposal.

D. Lengthy narrative is discouraged; proposals should be brief, concise and well organized. Proposals should not include extraneous or unnecessarily elaborate promotional material. Sections should be separated by labeled tabs and organized in accordance with subject matter sequence as set forth below. Each page of the Proposal must be numbered in a manner to be uniquely identified. Proposers should use the following outline in organizing the contents of their proposals. (See Article X. Required Content of Technical Proposal for details.)

Cover Letter Table of Contents Executive Summary Resumes Transparency in Pricing Narrative Scope of Project Required Attachments and Conditional Documents Cost Proposal

E. Costs for developing proposals and in anticipation of award of the Agreement are entirely the responsibility of the Proposer and shall not be charged to the State of California.

X. REQUIRED CONTENT OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

Each proposer must submit a Technical Proposal that contains all the required items listed below in the order they appear.

A. Cover Letter must be on the Proposer’s letterhead. The cover letter must include a statement agreeing to the requirements of the RFP. If the Proposer is a Certified Small Business (SB) and/or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), as described on Internet web site https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Services/Page-Content/Procurement- Division-Services-List-Folder/Apply-for-or-Re-apply-as-Small-Business-Disabled- Veteran-Business-Enterprise, it shall be indicated on the proposal cover letter. Submit a copy of a current Office of Small Business and DVBE Services (OSDS) certification approval letter or have a completed application on file with the State OSDS by 1:00 p.m.

on the deadline for submission of proposal and be verifiable by that office as an approvable application. The Proposer should not include any limiting statements in the cover letter that would preclude the Proposal from being held as an irrevocable offer until the anticipated agreement start date of December 1, 2026 (tentative).

The cover letter must be signed by the prospective Proposer. It may be signed by an authorized agent of the Proposer only if the agent is properly authorized by a power of attorney or equivalent document. Such authorization must be submitted with the Proposal. The name of the individual signing the proposal must be typed immediately below the signature.

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Services/Page-Content/Procurement-Division-Services-List-Folder/Apply-for-or-Re-apply-as-Small-Business-Disabled-Veteran-Business-Enterprise https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Services/Page-Content/Procurement-Division-Services-List-Folder/Apply-for-or-Re-apply-as-Small-Business-Disabled-Veteran-Business-Enterprise https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Services/Page-Content/Procurement-Division-Services-List-Folder/Apply-for-or-Re-apply-as-Small-Business-Disabled-Veteran-Business-Enterprise

B. Table of Contents that includes a listing of any attachments, samples, and appendices.

The table of contents must display appropriate page numbers for each item listed.

C. Executive Summary of no more than four (4) pages that summarizes the following:

1. How the Proposer has the organization, management capability, and expertise to perform the tasks identified immediately below in Article X-Required Content of Technical Proposal, Item F. Scope of Project

2. Titles, qualifications, and number of staff and subcontractors that will be used

3. A plan of how the Proposer will integrate the work described in the RFP with their current activities

D. Resumes for each key staff member including subcontractors (if applicable). Key staff are individuals who will exercise a major administrative role or major policy or consultant role as identified by the Proposer.

1. Each resume must not exceed three pages in length.

E. Transparency in Pricing Narrative

Proposer must provide a detailed narrative that explains the pricing structure, including hourly rates, administrative fees, and any other such costs associated with the staffing service.

Transparency in Pricing Narrative must align with the hourly rates provided in the Cost Proposal.

F. Scope of Project

The Proposer must detail the performance of all tasks described herein. Any deviation from the tasks described in Article X. Required Content of Technical Proposal, Item F.

Scope of Project will not be considered and will cause a proposal to be rejected. This RFP seeks proposals addressing the following four sections:

Section 1 – Coordination and Communications with Department This section of the Technical Proposal must acknowledge the Proposer’s commitment to completing all the requirements specified below and must provide a description of the approach and methodology by which the Proposer will accomplish all the associated subsections and activities. The Technical Proposal must contain sufficient detail to convey the Proposer’s knowledge of the subjects and skills necessary to successfully complete the Project as stated in this section.

The successful proposer shall coordinate communications with the Department during the entire agreement period. The successful Proposer shall provide timely and accurate communication and coordination with the Department staff and other board, bureau, and program staff; attend and provide a summary of meetings, including action items, as required. The proposal must include the following information to address activities in this section which include the following subtasks. The activities include, but are not limited to, the following subsections.

A. Orientation Meeting The Technical Proposal must include a detailed plan for conducting an orientation meeting that will occur within the first two weeks of the commencement of this agreement. The Technical Proposal must ensure that all key personnel of the prime contractor and any subcontractor(s) including the management team (Project Manager, Fiscal Manager, and any other key personnel), and significant subcontractors will meet in person with the Department for up to two hours, at a date and location that is to be determined by the Department.

The successful Proposer must develop the meeting agenda in coordination with the Department, take minutes, and, within five working days after the meeting, submit the meeting minutes to the Department by email for review and approval. The orientation meeting must address all sections, including timelines, questions, and concerns about the implementation of the contract.

B. Management Meetings

The Technical Proposal must include a plan to hold regular management meetings between the Department and the successful proposer’s Project Manager to review and discuss section implementation and status. The frequency and location of meetings will be determined by the Department. Key personnel may attend management and coordination meetings virtually as in-person attendance is not required. The Technical Proposal must acknowledge and ensure that the successful proposer’s key personnel, including staff and any proposed subcontractors, will be present and must attend, at the request of the Department, the meetings as appropriate to the section. The meetings may be held either in person at the Department headquarters in Sacramento, California, other agreed upon location, or may be conducted online at the Department’s request.

The successful proposer must develop the meeting agenda in coordination with the Department, provide summary, and, within five working days after the meeting, submit the meeting summary to the Department by email for review and approval. The agenda must include, but is not limited to, the status of all pending activities along with deadline, status, issue(s), and person(s) assigned to each activity.

Section 2 – Qualifications and Experience Proposers will provide a narrative description of how their experience and expertise will provide effective management in recruiting, placing and retaining qualified professionals to accomplish the requirements and services outlined in Exhibit A, Scope of Work, and how the Proposer meets the minimum qualifications stated in Article V. Proposer Minimum Qualification Requirements.

A. The narrative description must include the number of years’ experience the Proposer has in staffing level-of-care roles for BCBAs.

B. The narrative description must include the number of years’ experience recruiting level-of-care staff in hard-to-recruit locations.

C. The narrative description must contain specific examples of past reviews of governmental and/or private industry audits and successful reforms recommended and implemented.

Section 3 – Recruitment and Retention Strategy

A. Recruitment and Retention

The Proposer must provide a clear plan to recruit and retain licensed BCBAs. This should include how candidates will be sourced, screened, and hired, as well as strategies for retention, such as competitive pay, supervision, and professional growth. The plan must also address how staffing gaps will be managed and how success will be measured.

Proposer must factor the requirements and services outlined in Exhibit A, Scope of Work.

XI. COST PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

The Proposer must submit an original hard copy cost proposal with the master proposal, and an electronic version on a USB thumb drive. The electronic version of the Cost Proposal must be in Microsoft Excel and must match the hard copy.

The resulting contract will be a cost reimbursement contract using the Cost Proposal as the contract budget.

The total contract bid amount must be for all services specified in the scope of project.

Computations must be calculated to the exact cent [expressed in dollars to two (2) decimal places].

Except where noted, the Proposer is responsible for all logistics and costs incurred by the Proposer or other program participants, including, but not limited to, travel costs (e.g., per diem and lodging), and meeting costs (meeting materials, interpreters, video-hook-up fees, facility rental, etc.).

Proposer must use the format in Appendix 1, Attachment 3 - Cost Proposal Worksheet.

The costs/rates must be reasonable. Every component of the cost is subject to reasonableness of cost justification to the Department of General Services (DGS), who may approve it at its discretion. If any portion of the cost is rejected by DGS, then the entire proposal may be rejected.

Any proposed costs submitted by the bidder that are not included in the total amount for the overall contract as stated on the Cost Proposal Worksheet, are not binding on the Department, or the State of California, and the Proposer will be legally bound to fully perform all work for the total amount stated and absorb such amounts not included.

XII. REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS AND CONDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

Proposers must include each item listed as required in Appendix 1 Required and Conditional Attachments. Proposals shall include the following required attachments:

A. Attachment 1 – Required Attachment Checklist B. Attachment 2 – Proposal/Proposer Certification Sheet C. Attachment 3 – Cost Proposal Worksheet (Submitted in Excel as well as hardcopy) D. Attachment 4 – Proposer Point of Contact E. Attachment 5 – Payee Data Record (STD 204) and Payee Record Supplement (STD

205) (STD 205 required only if applicable).

F. Attachment 6 – Contractor Certification Clauses (CCC 04/2017) G. Attachment 7 – Proposer Declaration (GSPD-05-105) H. Attachment 8 – Insurance Acknowledgement I. Attachment 9 – Proposal Incentives and Preferences Certification J. Attachment 10 – Statement of Assurances for Protection of Protected Health (HIPAA)/

Business Associate Agreement (BAA) Acknowledgement K. Attachment 11 – Iran Contracting Act Verification Form (DGS PD 3) L. Attachment 12 – California Civil Rights Law Certification

The following documents must be included in the submission, if applicable:

A. Attachment 13 – Copy of California Certified Small Business (SB)/Microbusiness (MB) / Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Certification

B. Attachment 14 – California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Declarations C. Attachment 15 – Darfur Contracting Act Certification (DGS PD1) D. Attachment 16 – California Secretary of State Certification of Status

All attachments and documents in this section, or links to access them, can be found in Appendix 1.

XIII. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL

A. All proposals must be received in the Department’s Contracts Unit by October 2, 2026 at 4:00pm PT. Proposals not received by the date and time specified will be rejected.

B. Incomplete or late proposals will not be considered. The Department reserves the right to refuse all proposals.

One Master Copy of proposal must be sealed in an envelope, clearly labeled “RFP 1053 Behavioral Support Staffing, Attention: Melanie Manus – DO NOT OPEN.”

and your firm’s name and address. Proposal must also include a USB thumb drive https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std205.pdf https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std205.pdf https://www.dgs.ca.gov/-/media/Divisions/OLS/Forms/CALIFORNIA-CIVIL-RIGHTS-LAWS-ATTACHMENT.ashx

(flash drive) containing an electronic copy of the entire proposal packet. Deliver proposals under sealed cover to:

Attention: Melanie Manus 1215 O Street, MS 10-10 Sacramento, CA 95814

C. All electronic versions of documents in the Proposal shall be in Microsoft Word or portable document format (PDF), except for the Cost Proposal, which shall be in Microsoft Excel.

Neither the postmark on the proposal envelope nor receipt in Department’s mail room constitutes timely delivery. Any proposal received in the Contracts Unit after the date and time specified in Article VI., Key Action Dates will not be considered. It is the State’s policy to make every effort to ensure that all proposals have been received and properly timestamped; however, Proposers are ultimately responsible for ensuring timely receipt of their proposal. Proposers may verify receipt of their proposal by contacting the person identified in the cover letter of this RFP. Receipt confirmations only confirm receipt of proposal packages and do not assess Proposers’ responsiveness to the RFP requirements in the proposal content or in any attachments therein.

D. A proposal may be rejected if it is conditional or incomplete, or if it contains any alterations of form or other irregularities of any kind. Department may reject any or all proposals and may waive an immaterial deviation in a proposal. The State’s waiving of an immaterial deviation shall in no way modify the RFP document or excuse the Proposer from full compliance with all requirements if awarded the Agreement.

E. The Department does not accept alternate agreement language from a prospective contractor. A proposal with such language will be considered a counterproposal and will be rejected. The State’s General Terms and Conditions (GTC 02/2025) and any other provisions outlined in this RFP are not negotiable.

F. The Department reserves the right to cancel this RFP without cause at any time.

G. The Department reserves the right to reject all proposals.

H. The Proposer may modify a proposal after its submission by withdrawing the original proposal and resubmitting a new proposal prior to the proposal submission deadline.

Proposal modifications offered in any other manner, oral or written, will not be considered.

I. The Proposer may withdraw a proposal by submitting a written withdrawal request to

Department, signed by the Proposer. The Proposer may thereafter submit a new proposal prior to the proposal submission deadline. Proposals may not be withdrawn without cause subsequent to proposal submission deadline.

J. The Department may modify the RFP prior to the date fixed for submission of proposals by the issuance of an addendum on the Cal eProcure website.

K. Costs for developing proposals and in anticipation of award of the agreement are entirely the responsibility of the Proposer and shall not be charged to the State of California.

L. Proposers are cautioned to not rely on the Department during the evaluation to discover and report to the Proposer any defects and errors in the submitted documents. Before submitting their documents, Proposers should carefully proof them for errors and adherence to the RFP requirements. More than one (1) proposal from an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association under the same or different names, will not be considered. Reasonable grounds for believing that any Proposer has submitted more than one proposal for the work contemplated herein will cause the rejection of all proposals submitted by that Proposer. If there is reason for believing that collusion exists among the Proposers, none of the participants involved will be considered in this or future procurements.

XIV. EVALUATION PROCESS

Upon opening, each proposal will be checked for the presence or absence of required information in conformance with the submission requirements of this RFP. The Department will put each proposal through a process of evaluation to determine its responsiveness to Department’s needs. Proposals that contain false or misleading statements, which do not support an attribute or condition claimed by the Proposer, may be rejected. If, in the opinion of the Department, such information was intended to mislead the Department in its evaluation of the proposal, and the attribute, condition, or capability is a requirement of this RFP, it will be the basis for rejection of the proposal. Those proposals meeting the RFP requirements will undergo a three-phase evaluation process. A committee made up of Department-selected representatives (hereinafter referred to as the Evaluation Committee) will evaluate the proposals and, through consensus, will arrive at a single score for each of the evaluation criteria.

First Phase Evaluation – Intake and Compliance Review (Pass/Fail)

A pass/fail evaluation will be completed for each proposal by DDS staff. To pass this Phase I review, each Proposer must include the required items listed in Articles IX. Required Format of Proposals, X. Required Content of Technical Proposal, XI. Cost Proposal Requirements, and XII. Required Attachments and Conditional Documents. Any material deviation from the RFP required attachments or documents may result in a fail score and the proposal will not be evaluated for Phase II. Proposers who pass Phase I by meeting this standard shall qualify to move on to Phase II.

Second Phase Evaluation – Proposal Evaluation (Total Possible Score 106 Points)

All proposals passing Phase I will be submitted to the Phase II Evaluation Committee. The Phase II Evaluation Committee of not more than five (5) members will be comprised of representatives from DDS. The Evaluation Committee will conduct the evaluation of the proposals and the accompanying literature. The Evaluation Committee will evaluate each proposal using the evaluation criteria in Appendix 2. Proposals must score a minimum of 74 points to move on to the Third Phase Interview.

Third Phase Interview – (Total Possible Score 50 Points)

All proposers passing Phase I and Phase II, with a minimum score of 74, will be required to participate in an interview with the Evaluation Committee. The Evaluation committee consists of DDS staff that served as panel members in Phase II.

The Evaluation Committee will score the interview based on the criteria outlined in Appendix 2, Interview Evaluation Criteria. Interviews will occur during the dates outlined in Article VI. Key Action Dates. DDS will notify the selected proposer of interview times via email. Interviews will be conducted via video conference.

Final Phase – Cost Component (Total Possible Score 70 Points)

The lowest Cost for Services will be given the maximum number of 70 points. All other cost proposals, that passed Phase II, will be given a prorated percentage of 70 points based on the proportion of their Cost for Services compared to the lowest cost bid for Cost for Services.

For example, if the lowest cost for the Behavioral Support Staffing RFP equals $300,000, it would be awarded 70 points, the second lowest cost $316,000.00 would be awarded ($300,000/$316,000 x 70) = 66 points total.

Final Selection and Award Process

An agreement will be awarded to the Proposer who accumulates the highest final score.

The Department is seeking a single vendor to provide service to all seven of its STAR homes. The Department reserves the right to reject all proposals and to waive informalities and minor irregularities in proposals received. In the event of a tie in the highest final score, a tiebreaker will be decided by a coin toss observed by witnesses. Affected Proposers will be invited to witness the coin toss. In the event of a precise tie of the final score of a certified SB or microbusiness and the final score of a certified DVBE, the Agreement must be awarded to the DVBE. [California Code of Regulations, Title 2, § 1896.8(f)]

XV. DISPOSITION OF PROPOSALS

Upon proposal opening, all documents submitted in response to this RFP will become the property of the State of California and will be regarded as public records under the California Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250 et seq.) and subject to review by the public. The State cannot prevent the disclosure of public documents.

However, the contents of all proposals, draft proposals, correspondence, agenda, memoranda, working papers, or any other medium which discloses any aspect of a Proposer’s proposal, shall be held in the strictest confidence until the “Notice of Intent to Award” is posted. Should a proposer desire to keep any or all components of their response to this RFP confidential, the Proposer would need to obtain a protective order from a court of competent jurisdiction.

XVI. INTENT TO AWARD AND PROTEST PROCEDURES

A “Notice of Intent to Award” to the proposed Contractor will be posted in the DDS Allenby Building Lobby at 1215 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, five (5) working days prior to awarding the Agreement. After the five (5) day notice has been completed, the proposed awardee will be formally notified by email.

If, prior to the formal award, any proposer files a protest with DGS against the awarding of the Agreement, the Agreement shall not be awarded until either the protest has been withdrawn or DGS has decided the matter. Within five (5) days after filing the protest, the protesting proposer shall file with DGS a full and complete written statement on the grounds that the (protesting) proposer would have been awarded the contract had the Department correctly applied the evaluation standards in the RFP, or if the Department followed the evaluation and scoring methods in the RFP.

Protests may be sent to DGS by regular mail, email, courier, or personal delivery.

Protestants should include their email address if they have one and advise the DGS Bid Protest Coordinator if they will accept service of documents pertaining to the protest via email.

Protests should be submitted to both of the following:

Department of General Services (DGS) Office of Legal Services Attention: Bid Protest Coordinator 707 Third Street, 7th Floor, Suite 7-330 West Sacramento, CA 95605 Email: OLSProtests@dgs.ca.gov

Department of Developmental Services Contracts Unit Attention: Melanie Manus 1215 O Street, MS 10-10 Sacramento, CA 95814 Email: Melanie.Manus@dds.ca.gov mailto:OLSProtests@dgs.ca.gov mailto:Melanie.Manus@dds.ca.gov

XVII. TAX DELINQUENCY DISCLAIMER

Pursuant to the Public Contract Code section 10295.4, persons or companies identified as the largest tax delinquents by the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) are ineligible to enter into any agreement with the State for non-IT goods or services. Any agreement entered into in violation of section

10295.4 is void and unenforceable.

Prior to executing any state agreement or renewal for non-IT goods or services, the Department shall verify that the proposed awardee(s) is not on a prohibited list by checking both the FTB and CDTFA websites. The established lists can be found at:

FTB:https://www.ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/top-500-past-due-balances/corporate-income-tax-list.html

CDTFA: https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/top500.htm

XVIII. PREFERENCE/INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

The Preference and Incentive Programs listed below may be combined but will not exceed a combined total of 15 percent of the Proposal amount or $100,000 per proposal, whichever is less. No proposal price will be reduced by more than $100,000, and all preference and incentive cost adjustments are for proposal evaluation purposes only and do not alter the actual cost offered by the Proposer.

A Small Business (SB)/Microbusiness (MB) and/or a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) must have current and valid certification through DGS, Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Services (OSDS). Completed certification applications and required support documents must be submitted to OSDS no later than 5:00 PM PT on the Final Date for Proposal Submission and OSDS must be able to approve the application as submitted.

For certification and preference approval process information, contact OSDS by telephone at (916) 375-4940 or access OSDS’ Internet website at https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Services/Page-Content/Procurement-Division-Services-List- Folder/Apply-for-or-Re-apply-as-Small-Business-Disabled-Veteran-Business-Enterprise

The Department is awarding this agreement using the RFP Secondary Method and is therefore awarding to the highest scoring proposal. The examples listed below represent an example of how Small Business Preference and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise incentive is applied to the lowest cost proposal. For the Department’s purposes, the SB preference and DVBE incentive will be applied to the proposals in which the preference and/or incentive is applicable and based upon the highest scoring proposal rather than the lowest cost.

https://www.ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/top-500-past-due-balances/corporate-income-tax-list.html https://www.ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/top-500-past-due-balances/corporate-income-tax-list.html https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/top500.htm https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Services/Page-Content/Procurement-Division-Services-List-Folder/Apply-for-or-Re-apply-as-Small-Business-Disabled-Veteran-Business-Enterprise https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Services/Page-Content/Procurement-Division-Services-List-Folder/Apply-for-or-Re-apply-as-Small-Business-Disabled-Veteran-Business-Enterprise

Small Business Preference:

In accordance with Government Code section 14838.5, et seq. and California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 1896, et seq., a five (5) percent preference will be granted to proposers properly certified as a California Small Business (SB), Microbusiness (MB), or Non-Small Business (NSB) with a Small Business subcontracting for a minimum of 25 percent of the proposal amount. A five (5) percent preference will be granted to proposers certified as a Non-Profit Veteran Service Agency in accordance with the Military and Veterans Code section 999.50. Applications must be on file at the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification by 5:00 p.m. on final date for proposal submission. The preference adjustment for awards based on low price cannot exceed $50,000.00.

Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program and Incentive:

The Department hereby waives the mandatory Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirement for this RFP. An incentive for proposers who include DVBE participation is available and encouraged for this RFP. For evaluation purposes only, the State shall apply an incentive to proposals that include California certified DVBE participation and confirmed by DDS The incentive amount will vary in conjunction with the percentage of DVBE participation in accordance with the following formula:

The net proposal score of responsive proposals with DVBE participation will be increased by the amount of DVBE incentive as applied to the highest responsive proposal score. If the #1 ranked, responsive, responsible proposal is a California certified small business, the only proposers eligible for the incentive will be other California certified small businesses.

Information submitted by the proposer to claim the DVBE incentive will be verified by the Department. Only the DVBEs who shall perform a commercially useful function relevant to the Scope of Work included in this RFP may be used to qualify the proposer for a DVBE incentive. All DVBE proposers and their proposed subcontractors must submit a copy of the Declarations Form (DGS PD 843).

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Forms?search=843&topicCategoryFilters=&audienceCategoryF ilters=&sort=relevance&activeFilters=&page=1

DVBE Incentive Participation DVBE Incentive

5% or Over 5% 4% to 4.99% Inclusive 4% 3% to 3.99% Inclusive 3% 2% to 2.99% Inclusive 2% 1% to 1.99% Inclusive 1% https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Forms?search=843&topicCategoryFilters=&audienceCategoryFilters=&sort=relevance&activeFilters=&page=1 https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/Forms?search=843&topicCategoryFilters=&audienceCategoryFilters=&sort=relevance&activeFilters=&page=1

Calculation of Multiple Preferences:

In the event that proposers qualify for the SB preference and/or the DVBE incentive, the SB preference shall be calculated first. In circumstances where the Department will award a single agreement as a result of this solicitation, in accordance with Government Code section 14838, subdivision (f), the DVBE incentive will not be calculated if, after the application of the SB preference, an SB proposer is the apparent highest scoring proposer unless another SB proposer is also a DVBE or has subcontracted with DVBE firms.

Note: in accordance with Government Code section 14838, subdivision (f), in the event of a precise tie between a small business or microbusiness, and a disabled veteran-owned small business or microbusiness, the agreement shall be awarded to the disabled veteran-owned small business or microbusiness.

Additional Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Information:

Failure of Contractor to seek substitution and adhere to the DVBE participation level identified in the proposal or offer may be cause for agreement termination, recovery of damages under rights and remedies due to the State, and penalties as outlined in Military & Veterans Code section 999.9; Public Contract Code section 10115.10 or Public Contract Code section 4110 (applies to public works only). Contractor must immediately notify the DDS SB/DVBE Advocate that the substitution of a DVBE subcontractor is requested.

This solicitation does not include a minimum DVBE participation percentage or goal.

Failure of Contractor to adhere to the certification requirements of Military and Veterans Code section 999.5, subdivision (d) may be used as evidence of the proposer’s non-responsibility in future solicitations.

Commercially Useful Function (CUF) Disclaimer:

Each certified SB/MB or DVBE must perform a commercially useful function. Proposers who are found to not be performing a CUF will have their proposals deemed non-responsive. An SB/MB or DVBE is deemed to perform a commercially useful function when the business does all of the following:

i. Is responsible for the execution of a distinct element of the work of the Agreement.

ii. Carries out its obligation by actually performing, managing, or supervising the work involved.

iii. Performs work that is normal for its business services and functions.

iv. Is responsible, with respect to products, inventories, materials, and supplies required for the agreement, for negotiating price, determining quality and quantity, ordering, installing, if applicable, and making payment.

v. Is not further subcontracting a portion of the work that is greater than that expected to be subcontracted by normal industry practices.

Agreements resulting from this solicitation shall afterwards be monitored for compliance with CUF for the duration of the agreement.

XIX. DARFUR CONTRACTING ACT CERTIFICATION

Effective January 1, 2009, all Invitations for Bid (IFB) or Requests for Proposal (RFP) for goods or services must address the requirements of the Darfur Contracting Act of 2008 (Act). (Public Contract Code sections 10475, et seq.; Stats. 2008, Ch. 272). The Act precludes State agencies generally from contracting with “scrutinized” companies that do business in the African nation of Sudan (of which the Darfur region is a part), for the reasons described in Public Contract Code section 10475.

A scrutinized company is a company doing business in Sudan as defined in Public Contract Code section 10476. Scrutinized companies are ineligible to, and cannot, bid on or submit a proposal for a contract with a State agency for goods or services. [Public Contract Code section 10477(a)].

Therefore, Public Contract Code section 10478(a) requires a company that currently has (or within the previous three years has had) business activities or other operations outside of the United States to certify that it is not a “scrutinized” company when it submits a bid or proposal to a state agency (See Appendix 1, Attachment 15).

A scrutinized company may still, however, submit a bid or proposal for a contract with a state agency for goods or services if the company first obtains permission from the Department of General Services (DGS) according to the criteria set forth in Public Contract Code section 10477(b) (See Appendix 1, Attachment 15).

XX. LOSS LEADER LANGUAGE

It is unlawful for any person engaged in business within this state to sell or use any article or product as a “loss leader” as defined in section 17030 of the Business and Professions Code.

XXI. GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (GENAI) NOTIFICATION

The State of California seeks to realize the…