California Conservation Corps

April 16, 2026

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) (Secondary) NUMBER C5100-127184

ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT SERVICES

Notice to Prospective Proposers

You are invited to review and respond to this Request for Proposal (RFP) (Secondary) Number C5100-127184. In submitting your proposal, you must comply with these instructions.

Read the attached document carefully. Please submit all required forms and documents with your proposal response as indicated in this RFP. Any response received after the date and time indicated in this RFP will not be considered for review.

Proposers are advised to check the Cal eProcure website for addendums, modifications, and updates to the Proposal documents. The California Conservation Corps (CCC) is not responsible for failure of the prospective proposer to check for any proposal document updates, changes, or answers to questions posted on Cal eProcure. Failure to periodically check the website will be at the Proposer’s sole risk.

If a discrepancy occurs between the information in the advertisement appearing on the Cal eProcure website: https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/Events-BS3/event-search.aspx and the information in the herein RFP, the information in the attached RFP shall take precedence.

In the opinion of CCC, this RFP is complete and without need of explanation. However, if you have questions, or should you need any clarifying information, please email bidquestions@ccc.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.

Please be advised of Executive Order N-6-22 Russia Sanctions. On March 4, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order (EO) N-6-22 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, Bidder represents that it is not a target of Economic Sanctions. Should the State determine Bidder is a target of Economic Sanctions or is conducting prohibited transactions with sanctioned individuals or entities, that shall be grounds https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/Events-BS3/event-search.aspx mailto:bidquestions@ccc.ca.gov for rejection of the Bidder’s bid any time prior to contract execution, or, if determined after contract execution, shall be grounds for termination by the State.

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 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 its 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.

A. Purpose and Description of Services B. Proposal Information

1. Key Action Dates

2. Written Questions & Answers

C. Submission of Proposal D. Proposer Qualifications E. Technical Proposal

1. Attachment 1, Required Attachment Checklist

2. Cover Letter

3. Technical Approach

4. Data Needs

5. Work Plan & Timeline

6. Team Qualifications

7. Relevant Experience

8. Conflict of Interest Statement

9. Cost Proposal Worksheet (Attachment 13)

F. Evaluation Process G. Award and Protest H. Disposition of Proposals I. Agreement Execution and Performance J. Preference and Incentive Programs

1. How the Preferences and Incentives Work

2. Small Business Preference

3. Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Incentive

4. Small Business Subcontractor Preference

K. Required Attachments

A. Purpose and Description of Services

The California Conservation Corps (CCC) is seeking proposals from qualified research firms, academic institutions, or consulting organizations to conduct a comprehensive Economic Impact Report. This study will quantify the economic value the CCC delivers to the State of California, providing data-driven evidence of the Corps’ return on public investment.

The CCC, established in 1976, is the oldest and largest conservation corps in the nation. It engages young adults (ages 18–25) and military veterans in meaningful work addressing California’s most pressing environmental and community needs, including wildfire response, disaster relief, habitat restoration, recycling, and infrastructure improvement. The CCC operates 24 residential and nonresidential centers throughout the state.

This economic impact study will serve as a critical tool for legislative advocacy, budget justification, strategic planning, and public communication. The final report must be rigorous, defensible, and accessible to both technical and general audiences.

The selected Contractor shall produce a comprehensive Economic Impact Report consisting of two interconnected study components, described below. The analysis should employ accepted economic modeling techniques and be grounded in verifiable data sources.

Study Component One: Return on Investment Analysis

The Contractor shall determine the per-dollar return on investment (ROI) that the State of California realizes for every dollar invested in the CCC. This analysis must quantify the economic multiplier effect of CCC operations and impact of Corpsmember development and training, and produce a clear, defensible ratio of dollars returned to the California economy for each dollar of state funding allocated to the CCC.

This component shall include, at a minimum:

• Direct economic outputs: wages paid to Corpsmembers and staff, procurement spending, facility operations, and capital expenditures.

• Indirect economic effects: economic activity generated through CCC supply chain spending and vendor relationships within California.

• Induced economic effects: consumer spending by Corpsmembers and resultant economic ripple effects of participation in the program on outcomes (this could be influenced by component 2).

• Fiscal impacts: tax revenues generated (income, sales, property) and public cost avoidance (e.g., reduced incarceration, reduced public assistance utilization, disaster response cost savings).

• Valuation of project outputs: estimated economic value of completed conservation, infrastructure, and disaster response projects, including ecosystem services where applicable.

• A clearly stated ROI ratio expressed as dollars returned per dollar invested (e.g., “For every $1.00 invested in the CCC, $X.XX is returned to the California economy”).

Study Component Two: Corpsmember Earnings Differential

The Contractor shall analyze and quantify the difference in lifetime and near-term earning potential between individuals who have completed a term of service with the CCC (Corpsmembers) and a comparable cohort of individuals who have not participated in the program (non-Corpsmembers).

This component shall include, at a minimum:

• A rigorous methodology for establishing a valid comparison group, controlling for demographic factors such as age, education level, geographic region, socioeconomic background, and prior employment history.

• Analysis of post-service employment rates, wage trajectories, and career advancement over defined time horizons (e.g., 1-year, 5-year, 10-year, and lifetime projections).

• Evaluation of educational attainment gains attributable to CCC participation, including certifications, vocational training, and college enrollment/completion.

• Assessment of non-wage economic benefits such as access to employer-provided health insurance, retirement benefits, and reduced reliance on public assistance programs.

• Disaggregation of findings by relevant subgroups where data permits (e.g., by center, region, program track, or demographic category).

• Identification of data sources, including CCC alumni records, employment databases (e.g., EDD wage data), surveys, and any necessary data-sharing agreements.

Methodology Requirements

Proposals must clearly describe the analytical framework, models, and data sources the Contractor intends to use. The CCC expects the following standards to be met:

• Clear documentation of all data sources, collection methods, and any limitations

• Statistically valid sampling methods for any primary data collection (surveys, interviews).

• Peer-reviewed or academically defensible approaches to earnings analysis and comparison group selection.

• Sensitivity analysis to demonstrate the robustness of key findings under varying assumptions.

• Compliance with applicable CCC, state, and federal policies and regulations regarding data privacy and human subjects’ research.

See the Standard Agreement, Exhibit A, Scope of Work, for a complete description of services.

Agreement Term

The term of this Agreement is anticipated to be 07/01/2026 – 06/30/2027, The rates proposed in Attachment 13, Cost Proposal Worksheet will stay in effect for the entire contract term. This Agreement may be terminated by CCC with a 30-day written notice to the Contractor.

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

Agreement Amount

The Contractor and CCC representatives are responsible for monitoring the Agreement cost to ensure it does not exceed the maximum amount of the Agreement without an executed amendment.

Proposal submissions shall not exceed $100,000.00 in total proposed costs. Proposals that exceed this amount will not be considered for selection

Funding is subject to annual budget approval by CCC Leadership. If full funding does not become available, CCC may terminate or amend the contract to reflect reduced funding and reduced deliverables.

B. Proposal Information

1. Key Action Dates

EVENT DATE

RFP Available to Prospective Proposers April 16, 2026 Written Questions Submittal Deadline April 23, 2026 by 4:00PM PT Written Questions & Answers Released April 30, 2026 Final Date for Proposal Submission May 08, 2026 by 2:00PM PT Evaluation of Proposals* May 08, 2026 through May 22, 2026 Notice of Intent to Award May 25, 2026 Proposed Award Date June 02, 2026 Agreement Begi July 01, 2026

*Dates after Proposal Submission are estimates only and may be subject to change.

CCC will adhere to the listed dates as strictly as possible but will not be held accountable for changes due to unforeseen circumstances.

2. Written Questions & Answers

a. Proposers may submit questions for clarification of the content of this RFP to bidquestions@ccc.ca.gov. Questions and any proposed changes must be submitted by the Written Questions Submittal Deadline date as stated in Section B, Proposal Information, 1. Key Action Dates.

b. The subject line of the email should read, RFP C5100-127184 Questions – Company Name

c. The Proposer must reference the section and page number about which they are inquiring.

d. Written Questions and Answers will be provided without identifying the submitter. CCC may paraphrase questions, at its sole discretion, for clarity.

e. Questions and Answers will be posted to Cal eProcure on or before the Written Questions & Answers Released date specified in Section B, Proposal Information, 1. Key Action Dates.

C. Submission of Proposal

1. Proposals must be submitted as set forth below.

a) Proposers must submit their proposal (Technical Proposal and Cost) in portable document format (PDF) attached to an email to Kiran.Varghese@ccc.ca.gov by May 08, 2026, by 2:00PM also specified in Section B, Proposal Information, Item

1. Key Action Dates. Subject line must read RFP C5100-127184 – Economic Impact Assessment Services.

Email Requirements

1) Proposers must ensure that emails do not exceed a file size of 20 megabytes.

2) Proposers must ensure that emails do not contain scripts, executable files, password protections, or macros, which may make their emails undeliverable.

3) Do not imbed links within the PDF—all documents must be contained within the PDF. CCC cannot access links to external sources. Proposals containing links to external sources will be rejected.

4) If the email should exceed acceptable file size, the Proposer shall split the email into multiple emails to ensure delivery.

5) Bid submissions that are sent from unrecognized email servers may be blocked by CCC security filters and be flagged as spam, thereby rendering them unsubmitted.

6) LATE PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED—NO

EXCEPTIONS.

mailto:bidquestions@ccc.ca.gov mailto:Kiran.Varghese@ccc.ca.gov

b) Proposals not marked as indicated may be rejected.

c) If the Proposal is made under a fictitious name or business title, the actual legal name of the Proposer must be provided.

d) All proposals shall include the documents identified in Attachment 1, Required Attachment Checklist. Proposals not including the proper required attachments may be deemed non-responsive.

e) All documents requiring a signature must bear a signature of a person authorized to bind the proposing firm.

f) Proposals must be submitted for the performance of all the services described herein. Any deviation from the work specifications will not be considered and will cause a proposal to be rejected.

g) CCC may reject any or all proposals. 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.

h) CCC may waive an immaterial deviation in a proposal. CCC waiver 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.

i) Costs incurred 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.

j) An individual who is authorized to bind the Proposer contractually shall sign Attachment 2, Proposal/Proposer Certification Sheet. The signature should indicate the title or position that the individual holds in the firm. An unsigned proposal shall be rejected.

k) A proposer may modify a proposal after its submission by withdrawing its original proposal and resubmitting a new proposal prior to the Final Date for Proposal Submissions. A proposer’s modification offered in any other manner, oral or written, will not be considered.

l) A proposer may withdraw its proposal by submitting a written withdrawal request to CCC, signed by the Proposer or an authorized agent. A proposer may thereafter submit a new proposal prior to the Final Date for Proposal Submission.

Proposals may not be withdrawn without cause subsequent to the Final Date for Proposal Submission.

m) CCC may modify the RFP prior to the Final Date for Proposal Submission by issuing an addendum that shall be posted to Cal eProcure.

n) CCC reserves the right to reject all proposals. CCC is not required to award an agreement.

o) CCC 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) are not negotiable.

p) No oral understanding or agreement shall be binding on either party.

D. Proposer Qualifications The ideal proposer will possess the following qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience conducting economic impact analyses for public agencies, government programs, or nonprofit organizations.

• Experience with workforce development program evaluation, earnings analysis, or human capital research.

• Familiarity with California state government, conservation programs, or youth/workforce development corps (preferred).

• Capacity to conduct primary data collection (surveys, interviews) and to work with administrative data under data-sharing agreements.

• Strong track record of producing publication-quality research reports for both technical and general audiences.

E. Technical Proposal Proposals must describe the Proposer’s qualifications and expertise in the format outlined in this RFP. A Proposal will not be considered complete unless it contains all of the items described below. Technical Proposal includes all of the following items:

1. Attachment 1, Required Attachment Checklist The Proposer must submit all applicable attachments identified on Attachment 1, Required Attachment Checklist. Proposers are not to alter or modify the forms other than by providing the required information; please note, adding your firm’s logo or letterhead to the form is not considered a modification or alteration of the form.

2. Cover Letter (1 page) The Proposer must submit a signed letter of interest identifying the proposing entity, primary contact, and a brief summary of qualifications. The cover letter should also showcase an understanding of the CCC’s mission and program.

3. Technical Approach (2 pages) The Proposer must submit a detailed description of the proposed methodology for each of the two study components, including data sources, analytical tools, and any proposed primary research.

4. Data Needs (1 page) The Proposer must submit a detailed description of the data needs to undertake such an approach described in the above point Technical Approach.

5. Work Plan & Timeline (1 page) The Proposer must submit a project schedule with milestones, deliverable dates, and key activities mapped to the proposed timeline.

6. Team Qualifications (1 page summary, and # of resumes/CVs) The Proposer must submit Resumes or CVs of all key personnel, including their roles, relevant experience, and qualifications. Identification of any subcontractors.

7. Relevant Experience (copies of three comparable projects/reports) The Proposer must submit descriptions of at least three comparable projects completed within the last seven years, including client references.

8. Conflict of Interest Statement (1 page) The Proposer must disclose of any real or perceived conflicts of interest.

9. Cost Proposal Worksheet (Attachment 13) The Proposer must submit a Cost Proposal Worksheet (Attachment 13) with an itemized budget with a not-to-exceed total, broken out by study component, personnel costs, direct costs, and any subcontractor fees.

F. Evaluation Process

1. The evaluation process complies with the requirements for competitive bidding in

California Public Contract Code Section 10344. Each proposal will be evaluated to determine responsiveness to the requirements and standards described in this RFP.

CCC cannot assume nor infer qualifications, skill, experience, or competence not specifically and expressly addressed in the Proposal. Proposals cannot be changed after the time and date designated for receipt.

2. Proposals that contain false or misleading statements, or proposals which include incomplete references, which do not support an attribute or condition claimed by the Proposer, may be rejected.

3. A responsive proposal is one which meets the requirements stated in this RFP. At the time of proposal opening, each proposal will be checked for the presence or absence of required information in conformance with the submission requirements of this RFP.

Proposals that meet the minimum qualifications will then be evaluated and scored according to the criteria indicated in the following process:

a. Administrative Evaluation

1) Proposals shall be date/time stamped upon receipt.

2) Proposals will be reviewed to verify that submission is in a single PDF, properly identified, and received on or before the final filing date and time specified in Section B. Proposal Information, 1. Key Action Dates.

3) Proposals shall remain sealed until after the Final Date for Proposal Submission.

4) Proposal will be reviewed to determine completeness of required documentation and compliance as identified in this RFP. CCC staff will use the Attachment 1, Required Attachments Checklist, submitted by the Proposer to confirm receipt of all required documents. Proposal requirements will be evaluated on a “pass/fail” basis for all criteria and information. CCC may reject any or all Proposals that fail to meet these requirements.

b. Technical Proposal Evaluation and Scoring

1) Members of the Evaluation Team will independently evaluate each Proposer’s

Technical Proposal using the Proposal evaluation criteria as stated in Section F. Evaluation Process, Item 5. Evaluation Worksheet.

2) Each proposal shall be awarded up to the maximum points available in each category for a maximum of 115 points available with an emphasis on the experience, qualifications, and the references of the Proposer. The Technical Proposal should provide the detail, clarity, completeness, relevance, and appropriateness of the experience as it relates to the needs of CCC as stated in this RFP.

3) Once individual scoring has been completed, team members will determine a single score for each Proposers Technical Proposal upon consensus of the Evaluation Team.

c. Cost Assessment and Scoring

1) The Evaluation Team will review the Cost Proposal Worksheets to verify mathematical accuracy and determine if there are any deviations in the proposal. If a deviation is material, it may be cause for rejection. Immaterial deviations will be processed as if no deviation had occurred.

2) Cost Proposal Worksheets shall be evaluated and scored based on the total proposal cost for the term of the Agreement. The Proposer with the lowest cost Proposal will be awarded the maximum number of points available (35 points), which is 30% of the total points available (the technical score is 80 points).

3) The Proposer’s cost score will be based on a proportional number of points as it relates to the total costs associated with the lowest responsive proposal multiplied by the maximum number of cost points.

4) The following formula shall be used to determine cost points:

LOWEST COST PROPOSAL

PROPOSAL COST

× 35 COST POINTS AVAILABLE

= 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴

Table 1. Sample Cost Assessment

Proposer Proposal Cost

Calculation Points Awarded

A $95,000 $90,000 (Proposer B) / $95,000 (Proposer A) X 35 (weight)

B $90,000 $90,000 (Proposer B) / $90,000 (Proposer B) X 35 (weight)

C $100,000 $90,000 (Proposer B) / $100,000 (Proposer C) X 35 (weight)

4. Selection

Award will be made to the highest scoring, responsive, responsible proposer.

5. Evaluation Worksheet

The Evaluation Worksheet details the evaluation and scoring criteria. The Evaluation Worksheet will be found on the following pages for your reference.

EVALUATION WORKSHEET

Name of Proposer:

Evaluator: Date:

A. Administrative Evaluation

Description Pass/Fail Proposal received by the date and time specified in the RFP.

All applicable attachments identified on Attachment 1, Required Attachment Checklist were completed and submitted.

All Technical Proposal components included in proposal package as specified in RFP.

Proposers must receive a “Pass” for the Administrative Evaluation to have the remaining Technical Proposal evaluated. If the Proposer did not receive a “Pass” for the Administrative Evaluation the Proposal is considered non-responsive and is therefore disqualified.

B. Technical Proposal Evaluation and Scoring

1. Technical proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Evaluation Criteria Maximum Points Points Scored

Cover Letter

• Proposer shows a clear understanding of the project, CCC mission, and programs

Technical Approach

• Proposer provides a clear and understandable approach for each of the two study components, including data sources, analytical tools, and any proposed primary research.

Data Needs

• Proposer provides a detailed description of the data needs to undertake such an approach, as described in the Technical Approach.

Work Plan & Timeline

• Proposer provides an achievable workplan and timeline with milestones, deliverable dates, and key activities mapped to the proposed timeline.

Team Qualifications

• Identified personnel of the proposal have the necessary experience and qualifications for the proposal

Relevant Experience

• Proposer identifies three examples that clearly showcase the ability to undertake the project.

Total Points 80

Score Evaluation Criteria

Rating Criteria Scoring Range Excellent An excellent response will be a highly comprehensive, exemplary reply that meets all of the requirements of the areas within that category. In addition, the response covers areas not originally addressed within the RFP category and includes additional information and recommendations that would prove both valuable and beneficial to the Department. For a response to be considered excellent, the proposer must clearly demonstrate their authoritative knowledge and understanding of the project.

81-100% of available points

Above Average

An above average response meets all the requirements and has demonstrated in a clear and concise manner a thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and project. This response demonstrates an above average performance with no apparent deficiencies noted.

61-80% of available points

Average An average response meets the requirements in an adequate manner. This response demonstrates an ability to comply with guidelines, parameters, and requirements with no additional information put forth by the proposer.

41-60% of available points

Poor A poor response minimally meets most requirements set forth in the RFP. The proposer has demonstrated knowledge of the subject matter only.

21-40% of available points

Unacceptable An unacceptable response does not meet the requirements set forth in the RFP. The proposer has not demonstrated knowledge of the subject matter.

0-20% of available points

2. Cost

LOWEST COST PROPOSAL

PROPOSAL COST

× 35 COST POINTS AVAILABLE = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴

Proposer Cost Proposal Calculation Cost Proposal

Score

3. Score Total

Total Points Maximum Points Points Scored

Proposer’s Technical Score 80

Proposer’s Cost Score 35

Incentives and Preferences Scores, as applicable TBD

Proposer’s Total Score 115

G. Award and Protest

1. Notice of the Proposed award shall be posted for five working days prior to awarding the Agreement on the Cal eProcure website:

2. If any proposer, prior to the award of the Agreement, files a protest with the CCC and the Department of General Services (DGS), Office of Legal Services (OLS) the Agreement shall not be awarded until either the protest has been withdrawn or the DGS has decided the matter. (See Public Contract Code section 10345.)

3. Within five days after filing the protest, the protesting proposer shall file with DGS- OLS and the CCC, a detailed statement specifying the grounds for the protest. The written protest statement should include the RFP number, the name of the State agency involved, and the agency contract person. Protests may be sent by email, regular mail, or courier or personal delivery to the addresses shown below.

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.

Department of General Services 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

California Conservation Corps

Attention: Kiran Varghese 1719 24th Street Sacramento CA 95816

Email: Kiran.Varghese@ccc.ca.gov

H. 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.

I. Agreement Execution and Performance

1. The Agreement will be executed only upon CCC acceptance of all documents required by this RFP. The Agreement is attached and by virtue of submitting a proposal, the Proposer agrees to the terms and conditions stated herein. The terms and conditions stated herein shall not be negotiated by a contractor at any time (prior to or after agreement execution) except at the discretion of the State.

mailto:OLSProtests@dgs.ca.gov mailto:Kiran.Varghese@ccc.ca.gov

2. Service shall start no sooner than the Agreement start date specified in Section B, Proposal Information, 1. Key Action Dates, or on the express date set by CCC and the Contractor, after all approvals have been obtained and the Agreement is fully executed. Should the Contractor fail to commence work at the agreed upon time, CCC, upon five days written notice to the Contractor, reserves the right to terminate the Agreement. Commencement of work prior to final approval of the Agreement is at the risk of the Contractor. The Contractor may not receive any payment for work performed prior to final approval of the Agreement.

3. All performance under the Agreement shall be completed on or before the termination date of the Agreement.

J. Preference and Incentive Programs Preference and Incentive Programs are identified below. The Proposer must clearly identify in their proposal for which of the program(s) it qualifies.

When claiming a preference or incentive through subcontractor participation, Proposers must be aware that only Small Businesses (SBs), Microbusinesses (MBs), and/or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs) that are certified by the Department of General Services (DGS) Office of Small Business and DVBE Services (OSDS) may be subcontracted to achieve eligibility. In addition, each participating SB, MB, or DVBE subcontractor must perform a commercially useful function (CUF) relevant to this solicitation.

Proposers who intend to subcontract with SBs, MBs, and/or DVBEs are required to verify each subcontractor’s certification with DGS OSDS to receive the preference and/or incentive. See Government Code Section 14837(d)(4) for the definition of CUF as it pertains to SBs and MBs. The definition of CUF as it pertains to DVBEs can be found in Military and Veterans Code Section 999.

1. How the Preferences and Incentives Work After CCC has evaluated and scored each responsive proposal, Proposers who are eligible for a preference and/or incentive program will receive additional points. A Proposer may be eligible to receive more than one preference or incentive. After all applicable preferences and incentives have been applied, the Proposer with the highest score will be selected for the contract award. The following example demonstrates how the preferences and incentives can affect Proposer rankings based on highest score.

In this example, Proposers A, B, and C were assessed to be both responsive and responsible. Based on CCC’s evaluation, Proposer A, a non-SB with no committed subcontractors, is initially ranked 1st with 940 points; Proposer B, a certified SB, is ranked 2nd with 915 points; and Proposer C, a certified DVBE and a certified SB, is ranked 3rd with 895 points. Proposers B and C both receive a 5% SB preference of 47 points, which is calculated by multiplying Proposer A’s score of 940 by 0.05.

Proposer C also receives a 5% DVBE incentive of 50 points, which is calculated by multiplying the maximum possible score of 1,000 by 0.05. As a result, Proposer A is now ranked 3rd with 940 points; Proposer B is now ranked 2nd with 962 points; and

Proposer C is now ranked 1st with 992 points and will be awarded the contract. The table below summarizes the application of the preferences and incentives.

Proposer A Proposer B Proposer C Evaluated Total Score 940 915 895 Initial Ranking 1st 2nd 3rd

Certified SB (5% Preference) No Yes Yes Certified SB Preference Points 0 47 47 25% SB Subcontractor Participation (5% Preference) No N/A N/A

25% SB Subcontractor Participation Preference Points 0 N/A N/A Certified DVBE (5% Incentive) No No Yes Certified DVBE Incentive Points 0 0 50 DVBE Subcontractor Participation (5% Incentive maximum) No No N/A

DVBE Subcontractor Participation Incentive Points 0 0 N/A Adjusted Total Score 940 962 992 Final Ranking 3rd 2nd 1st

2. Small Business Preference A five percent (5%) scoring preference is available to SB and MB Proposers who are certified by DGS OSDS. To be eligible for the preference, a Proposer must meet one of the following criteria:

i. Currently certified by DGS OSDS as a SB or MB; or

ii. Applied for a DGS OSDS SB or MB certification by 5:00 p.m. on the proposal due date and was certified before the Notice of Intent to Award date in Section B, Proposal Information, 1. Key Action Dates.

If the Proposer is currently certified, a copy of the certificate or the approval letter from DGS OSDS must be included in the proposal submission.

When a non-SB Proposer earns the highest evaluated score, the SB preference increases the score of SB and MB Proposers by adding five percent (5%) of the points earned by that non-SB Proposer. Note: If there is a tie for the highest score between a certified SB or MB Proposer and a certified DVBE Proposer that is also a SB or MB, the contract shall be awarded to the DVBE Proposer; if there is a tie for the highest score between a certified SB Proposer and a certified DVBE Proposer, the contract shall be awarded pursuant to Government Code Section 14838.

If a Proposer is eligible for the preference program and wishes to take advantage of it, the Bidder Declaration (GSPD-05-105) form (Attachment 8) must be completed accordingly and included in the proposal submission.

3. Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Incentive The DVBE Participation Program requirements for this solicitation have been waived.

A DVBE incentive between one percent (1%) and five percent (5%) is available to

DVBE Proposers and DVBE Subcontractors who are certified by DGS OSDS. To be eligible for the preference, a Proposer must meet one of the following criteria:

i. Currently certified by DGS OSDS as a DVBE; or

ii. Applied for a DGS OSDS DVBE certification by 5:00 p.m. on the proposal due date and was certified before the Notice of Intent to Award date in Section B, Proposal Information, 1. Key Action Dates.

If the Proposer or a Proposer’s Subcontractor is currently certified, a copy of the certificate or the approval letter from DGS OSDS must be included in the proposal submission.

The DVBE incentive increases Proposer’s score by adding between one percent (1%) and five percent (5%) of the total points available, not including points for socioeconomic incentives or preferences. The incentive points are included in the sum of non-cost points.

The participation incentive amounts are shown in the table below.

DVBE Participation Level Incentive Amount

1.0 - 1.99% 1 point

2.0 – 2.99% 2 points

3.0 – 3.99% 4 points

4.0 – 4.99% 5 points

5.0% OR MORE 6 points

Note: If there is a tie for the highest score between a certified SB Proposer and a certified DVBE Proposer, the contract shall be awarded pursuant to Government Code Section 14838.

If a Proposer is eligible for the incentive program and wishes to take advantage of it, the Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Declarations (STD. 843) form must be completed accordingly and included in the proposal submission.

4. Small Business Subcontractor Preference A five percent (5%) scoring preference is available to non-SB Proposers committing to twenty-five percent (25%) participation by SB and/or MB subcontractors that are certified by DGS OSDS. To be eligible for the preference, a non-SB Proposer must list the certified SB(s) and/or MB(s) that will be subcontracted if the Proposer is selected for the contract award, and the total value of the SB and MB subcontracts must be at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total cost proposal. Each SB or MB subcontractor listed must meet one of the following criteria:

i. Currently certified by DGS OSDS as a SB or MB; or

ii. Applied for a DGS OSDS SB or MB certification by 5:00 p.m. on the proposal due date and was certified before the Notice of Intent to Award date in Section B, Proposal Information, 1. Key Action Dates.

If the subcontractor is currently certified, a copy of the certificate or the approval letter from DGS OSDS must be included in the proposal submission.

When a non-SB Proposer earns the highest evaluated score, the SB subcontractor preference increases the score of an eligible non-SB Proposer by adding five percent (5%) of the points earned by the non-SB Proposer with the highest score. Note:

Application of the SB subcontractor preference shall not remove the contract award from a certified SB or MB Proposer in favor of a non-SB Proposer.

If a subcontractor is eligible for the preference program and the non-SB Proposer wishes to take advantage it, the Proposer must complete the Bidder Declaration (GSPD-05-105) form accordingly and include it in the proposal submission.

K. Required Attachments Refer to Attachment 1, Required Attachment Checklist for additional required attachments that are a part of this solicitation. Exclusion of any required attachments may result in proposer’s disqualification.

K. Required Attachments