RFP_HD259003_Implicit_Bias_Training.pdf

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) HD259003

Implicit Bias Training

Notice to Prospective Proposers

March 4, 2025

You are invited to review and respond to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Request for Proposal (RFP) HD259003, entitled “Implicit Bias Training.” 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 (formerly the California State Contracts Register) at https://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 DDS, 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 Contract Analyst

Melanie.manus@dds.ca.gov 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 Implicit Bias Training RFP HD259003

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

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.

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. MANDATORY PROPOSER’S CONFERENCE

VIII. QUESTIONS

IX. ADDENDA

X. REQUIRED FORMAT OF PROPOSALS

XI. REQUIRED CONTENT OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

XII. LABOR HOURS WORKSHEET

XIII. REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS AND CONDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

XIV. COST PROPOSAL

XV. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL

XVI. EVALUATION PROCESS

XVII. DISPOSITION OF PROPOSALS

XVIII. INTENT TO AWARD AND PROTEST PROCEDURES

XIX. TAX DELINQUENCY DISCLAIMER

XX. PREFERENCE/INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

XXI. DARFUR CONTRACTING ACT CERTIFICATION

XXII. LOSS LEADER LANGUAGE

XXIII. GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DISCLOSURE NOTIFICATION………………

EXHIBIT A–SCOPE OF WORK

EXHIBIT B–BUDGET DETAIL AND PAYMENT PROVISIONS

II. INVOICING AND PAYMENT

III. BUDGET CONTINGENCY CLAUSE

IV. PROMPT PAYMENT CLAUSE

V. TAXES

VI. TRAVEL

VII. PAYMENT WITHHOLD FOR SEPARATE AND DISTINCT TASKS

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

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

APPENDIX 1 REQUIRED AND CONDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS ............ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT

DEFINED.

APPENDIX 2 EVALUATION CRITERIA

APPENDIX 3 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

I. PURPOSE

The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is soliciting proposals to assist in completing activities related to Implicit Bias Training as legislatively mandated and specified in Welfare and Institutions Code 4511.1.

This statewide solicitation is for training for all regional center (RC) employees and specified contractors only. It is expected that the trainings will be individualized to meet the training needs of each individual RC.

Welfare and Institutions Code 4511.1 allows RCs to procure their own implicit bias training with DDS approval. As such, the number of RCs in the state for which training must be provided may be reduced. The awarded contractor should have the infrastructure to deliver comprehensive training to all RCs and their contractors, including both in-person and virtual components as needed. The awarded contractor must also provide tools for accurate attendance tracking, real-time reporting, and evaluation of training effectiveness. DDS will inform the awarded contractor of the RCs that do not require training by the state contractor or if only a portion of the training is required.

II. BACKGROUND

RCs are nonprofit entities required by state law to provide assessments and eligibility determinations and provide service coordination including the development, purchase, and coordination of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities residing in a specific geographic area. There are twenty-one (21) RCs state-wide.

The 21 RCs are:

Alta California Regional Center (ACRC), Central Valley Regional Center (CVRC), Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC), Far Northern Regional Center (FNRC), Frank D.

Lanterman Regional Center (FDLRC), Golden Gate Regional Center (GGRC), Harbor Regional Center (HRC), Inland Regional Center (IRC), Kern Regional Center (KRC), North Bay Regional Center (NBRC), North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC), Regional Center of the East Bay, (RCEB), Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC), Redwood Coast Regional Center (RCRC), San Andreas Regional Center (SARC), San Diego Regional Center (SDRC), San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center (SG/PRC), South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC), Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC), Valley Mountain Regional Center (VMRC) and Westside Regional Center (WRC).

Information about RCs may be found here: https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/ A map showing the geographic location of each RC may be found here:

https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DDS_RCMap.pdf

The RC Map and DDS Organization Chart can be found in Appendix 3.

https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/ https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DDS_RCMap.pdf

III. TERM OF AGREEMENT

The term of the agreement is 2 years. The initial contract term is from 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2027 with a one-year option to renew.

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 DDS in the past 18 months may be disqualified.

This restriction extends to all entities for which the Proposers’ representatives have been responsible 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 Contactor’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, DDS 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.

Proposer will provide resumes for each of the Proposer’s key personnel that will be used to complete the work outlined in this RFP that demonstrate experience in the following:

1. Each of the Proposer’s personnel must possess a minimum of five years of documented experience designing and conducting implicit bias, unconscious bias and/or cultural and disability sensitivity training and evaluation, including in-person training delivery.

2. The proposal must demonstrate that Proposer’s personnel and/or subcontractors proposed to assist Proposer in carrying out Scope of Work have at least five cumulative years of documented experience working with diverse communities within a developmental disability services system or other health and human services system, including diverse communities identified by race/ethnicity, language, and socioeconomic circumstances.

3. The proposal must demonstrate that Proposer’s personnel and/or subcontractors proposed to assist Proposer in carrying out Scope of Work have at least five years of experience working cooperatively with government agencies, diverse community-based organizations, and constituency groups who prioritize reducing biases in the workplace, building enhanced awareness of implicit biases, and personal, professional and organizational growth.

4. Resumes for key staff must not exceed 3 pages in length.

5. The individuals used to complete the work outlined in this RFP must:

Hold a bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited university, as listed on the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education’s web site at https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home in any of the following areas:

a. Communications

b. Public Policy

c. Government/Political Science https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home

d. Sociology

e. Psychology

f. Education

The proposer will provide photocopies of the individuals’ school transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

6. Three references, including, but not limited to, companies and specific work performed that demonstrates the ability to provide the services sought by DDS as described in Article XI. Required Content of Technical Proposal, item E. Scope of Project, within the last five (5) years. No current or former DDS staff may be used as a reference.

Proposer(s) must use Attachment 5, Proposer References.

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 March 4, 2025

Mandatory Proposer’s Conference March 13, 2025, 10:00 AM PT

Questions Due March 21, 2025, by 5:00 PM PT

DDS Response Posted April 1, 2025 (Tentative)

Proposals Due May 1, 2025, by 4:00 PM PT

Presentations May 23, 2025 – May 30, 2025 (Tentative) Five-day posting period of Intent to Award June 5, 2025 – June 13, 2025 (Tentative)

Agreement Start Date July 1, 2025 (Tentative)

*The Proposal Review time frame may be lengthened if TACPA Preference is requested.

It is the responsibility of the Proposer to ensure that their proposal is in the possession of DDS Contracts Unit by May 1, at 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 (formerly 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.

https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/index.aspx

VII. MANDATORY PROPOSER’S CONFERENCE

A MANDATORY Proposer’s Conference will be held March 13, 2025. If a Proposer is unable to attend, a representative must be present. Failure to do so will result in a rejection of a Proposal. Attendees or their representative will be required to sign-in electronically. This will be a virtual proposer’s conference and notice will be sent with the link to all Proposers registered to attend. The purpose of the Proposer’s Conference is to ensure Proposers have adequate information to respond fully and comprehensively to DDS’ requirements. During the conference, DDS staff will present an overview of the business environment, the work to be performed and the minimum proposal package requirements for this RFP. Please allow up to two hours for the conference. Questions will not be answered at the conference but will be recorded and answered on Cal eProcure on April 1, 2025. Proposers should thoroughly review the RFP and be familiar with its content and DDS’ functional and technical requirements prior to the conference. Request for invitation to the Proposer’s Conference should be made to Melanie Manus at melanie.manus@dds.ca.gov no later than 4:00 PM PST March 10, 2025.

VIII. QUESTIONS

A. Proposers requiring clarification of the intent or content relating to RFP HD259003, Implicit Bias Training 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 DDS’ discretion. ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING.

B. On April 1, 2025 (tentative) 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. DDS 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 HD259003, Implicit Bias Training

Questions – Company Name.

D. DDS may paraphrase questions at its sole discretion for clarity.

E. DDS will answer questions at its sole discretion.

IX. ADDENDA

DDS may modify RFP HD259003, Implicit Bias Training 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.

mailto:melanie.manus@dds.ca.gov mailto:melanie.manus@dds.ca.gov

X. 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) additional electronic copy of the proposal must be submitted on a USB thumb drive. Proposals not submitted in a sealed envelope may be rejected. All documents shall be in Microsoft Word or PDF, except for the cost proposal, which shall be in Microsoft Excel.

The original proposal must be marked "MASTER PROPOSAL." If discrepancies are found between the electronic proposal and the master 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 XI. Required Content of Technical Proposal for details.)

Cover Letter Table of Contents Executive Summary Resumes Scope of Project Labor Hours Worksheet 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.

XI. 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/About/Page-Content/PD-Branch-Intro- Accordion-List/OSDS/OSDS?search=osds, 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 July 1, 2025 (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.

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 XI.-Required Content of Technical Proposal, Item E. 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 subcontractor role as identified by the Proposer. Resumes must demonstrate how key staff meet the requirements outlined in Article V. Proposer Minimum Qualification Requirements. The resumes provided for key staff members must match the names of key staff members listed in Attachment 3 – Cost Proposal Worksheet and Attachment 13 – Labor Hours Worksheet.

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

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/About/Page-Content/PD-Branch-Intro-Accordion-List/OSDS/OSDS?search=osds https://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/About/Page-Content/PD-Branch-Intro-Accordion-List/OSDS/OSDS?search=osds

E. Scope of Project

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

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 DDS 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 DDS during the entire agreement period. The successful Proposer shall provide timely and accurate communication and coordination with DDS 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 DDS for up to two hours, at a date and location that is to be determined by DDS.

The successful Proposer must develop the meeting agenda in coordination with DDS, take minutes, and, within five working days after the meeting, submit the meeting minutes to DDS 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 DDS and the successful proposer’s Project Manager to review and discuss implementation and status. The frequency and location of meetings will be determined by DDS. 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 DDS, the meetings to discuss progress and issues pertaining to implementation of the contract. The meetings may be held either in person at DDS headquarters in Sacramento, California, other agreed upon location, or may be conducted online at DDS’ request. The successful proposer must develop the meeting agenda in coordination with DDS, provide summary, and, within five working days after the meeting, submit the meeting summary to DDS 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.

C. Contract Reporting Activities

The Technical Proposal must include a detailed plan for providing DDS with monthly activity and budgetary progress reports summarizing contract activities and expenditures during the prior month. The report will also include objectives (and associated activities) for future months.

Proposer must provide a narrative detailing how the Proposer intends to meet the following:

Provide a close out report no later than 30 days prior to the contract’s expiration date.

The report should include outcomes, evaluations and overall impact of the trainings, lessons learned, data collected and recommendations for improving future implicit bias trainings.

Section 2 – Proposer’s Personnel and Organizational Structure Proposer will provide an overview of all key personnel and capabilities in implementing each of the deliverables identified in Article X. Required Content of Technical Proposal, Item E. Scope of Project. Proposer shall identify the staff assigned to each section of the Scope of Project, and the staff’s expertise in this area.

Proposer will provide an overview of the organizational structure defining support and ancillary staff responsibilities, liaisons to DDS, and defined reporting relationships.

Section 3 – Technical Experience Proposers will provide a narrative of the Proposer’s experience with California’s developmental disability system including RCs, cultural and linguistic competency, and strategies to promote and reduce disparities.

Proposers will provide a narrative of the qualifications and experience that will result in a successful assessment of the state of implicit bias training in the RC system.

Proposers will provide a narrative of how the Proposer’s work and/or educational experience with strategies for systems change related to implicit bias training, policy or practice, to improve service delivery, access and equity for individuals who receive services.

Section 4 – Additional Knowledge, Expertise, and Skills

Proposers will address each of the following:

1. How does your organization define implicit bias?

2. Describe your experience in assisting your clients in addressing concerns identified in implementing implicit bias training. What steps did you recommend addressing those concerns?

3. If applicable, describe any experience with change management. Please note if this change management work was related to implicit bias.

4. Describe your knowledge of and/or experience with the California service delivery system for persons with developmental disabilities.

5. Describe your methods for ensuring accurate training registration and course completion information, as well as the issuance of course completion certificates.

6. Describe how your organization has ensured that information and skills acquired by trainees regarding implicit bias is maintained over time.

7. What strategies have you implemented to assist individuals who are resistant to implicit bias training?

Section 5 – Logic Model The proposal shall include a logic model that illustrates the steps linking implicit bias training to measurable improvements in outcomes for consumers. The Proposer should recommend measures to assess the impact of the training at each step of the logic model. The logic model must reference peer-reviewed research findings demonstrating that implicit bias training can lead to specific, measurable impacts, including knowledge increases, behavior changes, and systematic improvements.

Section 6 – Work Plan

A. Proposers shall submit a draft work plan identifying detailed tasks and timelines to implement the project deliverables, including in-person and virtual training components, real-time reporting mechanisms, and evaluation tools. The work plan shall include objectives, activities, responsible parties, outcomes/deliverables, and timelines. It must also account for infrastructure to support attendance tracking, certification issuance, and continuing education credits. The work plan will outline effective administration, capacity, and contingency plans to successfully implement the contract deliverables and coordinate with RCs.

B. Within 45 days of execution of the contract, the awardee shall work with DDS to refine the workplan. The winning proposal will be incorporated as Exhibit A, Scope of Work, which will become the workplan.

C. The Proposer understands that the work plan may be modified by DDS upon contract execution. Proposer will provide a final workplan for DDS approval within 14 days of receiving input.

Section 7 – Strategies

A. Proposers will provide a general strategy that address the following:

1. How to overcome barriers or obstacles to implementation

2. Plan for delivery of accessible materials in plain language and easy-to-understand concepts

3. Demonstrate capacity to adapt curricula and professional development/training to the intellectual and developmental disability context

4. Strategy for creating actionable recommendations that reduce institutional biases within an RC

5. The current state of implicit bias training at each of the RCs subsequent to initial training provided to RC staff and required contractors.

B. Proposers will provide a strategy to leverage data to understand the current conditions in each RC catchment area, and identify the impact, if any, of existing practice and policies on service delivery including processes for:

1. Analyzing available RC catchment and administrative data

2. Assessing each RCs’ implicit bias status

3. Creating actionable recommendations to measure impact of implicit bias training and ongoing support for implementation within an RC

Section 8 – Training

A. Training Curriculum

Proposers will provide a narrative of the Proposer’s plan to develop a statewide implicit bias training.

Proposers, in developing the training curriculum, must consider:

1. A curriculum that aims to reduce and mitigate individual and systemic biases and lessen negative impacts of implicit biases on individuals and families requesting or receiving services from RCs. Initiate discussions with the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA) and Training and Information Group (TIG) to determine the best way to provide training modules to RC staff and contractors. The discussion should include how best to utilize the ARCA Learning Management System (ARCA Learn) to capture training registration and completion information, and to produce data reports.

2. Input from DDS, RCs, and stakeholders, to include but not limited to self-advocates, families, advocates, and community-based organizations, and informed by the results of a survey of each RC’s knowledge and capacity or understanding of implicit bias;

3. The core tenets of implicit bias which include, but are not limited to, acknowledgement that unconscious biases exist with every individual, identification of one’s own implicit biases, impacts of stereotyping and discrimination (including ableism), setting individual expectations and removing biases from the decision-making process;

4. Relevant research on how implicit bias training can reduce negative impacts of implicit bias, with a focus on individuals who have intellectual/developmental disabilities;

5. Actionable steps trainees can take to recognize and address their own implicit biases;

6. Practical and engaging strategies when implementing the training curriculum to allow people with varying perspectives to have a safe space for learning;

7. The impact of bias on public benefit programs, including RC services;

8. Be adaptable so it can be tailored for each RC, the various functions conducted by an RC (such as assessment for eligibility, service coordination, resource development), various staff levels, and complement work already done to address implicit bias;

9. The use of easy-to-understand concepts in training materials that are appropriate for all individuals participating in the training courses;

10. Delivery in various ways such as in-person, virtual (remote/online), or hybrid. In-person training shall be delivered at each RC required to receive training from the Contractor at least once annually ;

11. Recommendations for follow-up trainings and/or assessments to maintain and expand the knowledge gained.

B. Quantitative and Qualitative Measures

Proposer must demonstrate how the Proposer will develop both quantitative and qualitative measures that DDS and RCs will use to assess the individual and systemic outcomes and impacts of implicit bias training at RCs, both during and immediately after the training and at specified periods after the training.

Examples of quantitative and qualitative outcome/impact measures that could be developed are:

1. Pre/post assessment of staff perspectives about the characteristics, preferences, and abilities of individuals from a variety of race/ethnic, language, socioeconomic, and disability groups;

2. Pre/post assessment of staff knowledge of their own implicit biases and observable skills in regulating their behavior to compensate for their implicit bias;

3. Changes in outreach, intake, assessment, and eligibility determination data;

4. Changes in per capita purchase of service (POS) authorizations and expenditures;

5. Changes in access to other services not funded through the developmental disabilities services system;

6. Findings from interviews with RC and contractor staff and members of the local developmental disability community;

7. Assessments of relationships among regional staff and contractors and self-advocates/families and community-based organizations (CBO).

The Proposer should discuss the relative merits and weaknesses of different types of measures, such as self-reports of bias vs. tools like the Implicit Bias Assessment Test, or measures of perspectives vs. measures of behavior.

Proposer must acknowledge they will provide implicit bias training at RCs selected by and/or according to a schedule approved by DDS. Welfare and Institute Code

4511.1 allows RCs to procure their own implicit bias training with DDS approval. The awarded contractor(s) will be informed by DDS of the RCs that do not require training by state contractor or if only a portion of the training is required at a specified

RC.

C. Post-Training Activities

Proposer must demonstrate how the Proposer plans to accomplish post-training activities:

1. Be available to provide consultation and actionable steps for RC staff and contractors to recognize, understand and address their own implicit biases;

2. Identify follow-up steps that RCs and/or DDS can implement to facilitate the application of the information learned during the training.

3. Suggest revisions to the training curriculum to improve its efficacy.

D. Training Reports

Proposer must demonstrate how the Proposer will develop the following reports:

1. Provide an initial report following completion of the first series of training for all RCs.

The report should address how the trainings will have an impact on outcomes for individuals and families served.

2. A written report following completion of the initial meeting with ARCA and the Training and Information Group (TIG). The report should summarize the outcomes of each meeting and the plan to utilize the ARCA Learning Management System.

3. Every six months, based on outcomes and evaluations of trainings, provide DDS with recommended actionable steps DDS and RCs can implement to further reduce implicit biases. These recommendations should reflect input and data collected through the measures developed to meet the requirements specified in the initial ARCA and TIG meeting report (see previous paragraph).

4. A written report that provides guidance on how RC and contractor executive staff can best support their staff’s experience with the implicit bias training, before, during and after the training.

Section 9 – Section 508 Compliance

Proposer must demonstrate how the Proposer will ensure the following:

Compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and meeting the technology recommendations and minimum standards described in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended (29 U.S.C Section 784). This shall include, but is not limited to, requests for interpretation and/or translation of any training presentations, closed captioning on all training video materials and any additional accommodations;

XII. LABOR HOURS WORKSHEET

Proposers must provide a breakdown of hours by task using the template in Attachment 14 as a guide. Proposers must demonstrate the number of hours to be completed by an individual for the task they are assigned to. The labor hours worksheet must not contain costs. However, the hours listed in the labor hours worksheet must match the labor hours listed in Attachment 3, the Cost Worksheet.

XIII. REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS AND CONDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

Proposers must include each item listed in the Appendix – 1 REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS proposals shall include the following required attachments:

Attachment 1– Required Attachment Checklist Attachment 2 – Proposal/Proposer Certification Sheet Attachment 3 – Cost Proposal Worksheet (Submitted in Excel as well as hardcopy) Attachment 4 – Proposer Point of Contact Attachment 5 – Proposer References Attachment 6 – Payee Data Record (STD 204) and Payee Record Supplement (STD 205) (STD 205 required only if applicable).

Attachment 7 – Contractor Certification Clauses (CCC 04/2017) Attachment 8 – Proposer Declaration (GSPD-05-105) Attachment 9 – Insurance Acknowledgement Attachment 10 – Proposal Incentives and Preferences Certification Attachment 11 – Resumes Attachment 12 – Statement of Assurances for Protection of Protected Health (HIPAA)/ Business Associate Agreement (BAA) Acknowledgement Attachment 13 – Labor Hours Worksheet

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

Attachment 14 – Copy of California Certified Small Business (SB)/Microbusiness (MB) Certification Attachment 15 – Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) (STD 830) Attachment 16 – Proposer’s Summary of Contracting Activities and Labor Hours (DGS PD 526) Attachment 17 – California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Declarations

(DGS PD 843)

Attachment 18 – Darfur Contracting Act Certification (DGS PD1) https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std205.pdf https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std830.pdf

Attachment 19 – Iran Contracting Act Verification Form (DGS PD 3) Attachment 20 – California Civil Rights Law Certification (DGS OLS 04) Attachment 21 – California Secretary of State Certification of Status

All attachments and documents not linked in this section can be found in Appendix 1.

XIV. COST PROPOSAL

Use the sample Cost Proposal Worksheet, Appendix 1, Attachment 3, as a guide in preparing your cost proposal and submit in Microsoft Excel. See Appendix 1, Attachment 3, Cost Proposal.

Indirect/overhead costs cannot exceed 15% of the proposed total.

Where applicable, a proposer should carefully examine work sites and specifications. No increases to the cost bid submitted by any proposer will be allowed due to a proposer’s lack of careful examination of work sites and specifications.

XV. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL

A. All proposals must be received in DDS’ Contracts Unit by 4:00 p.m. PT, May 1, 2025.

Proposals not received by the date and time specified will be rejected.

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

C. DDS will not accept more than one proposal for the same region from a single individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association whether submitted under the same or different names.

D. DDS will not accept single bids submitted by a joint proposer. Additionally, if a bid is submitted by a subsidiary of another entity, the main entity must sign and be responsible for the contract.

E. All proposal envelopes must be plainly marked with the RFP number and title, your firm name and address, and must be marked, as shown in the following example:

Your Organization

123 Your Street, Room 100 Your City, Your State 90000

“RFP HD259003 Implicit Bias Training, Attention: Melanie Manus – DO NOT OPEN.”

Proposal must also include a USB thumb drive (flash drive) containing an electronic copy of the entire proposal packet. Deliver proposals under sealed cover to:

Department of Developmental Services Attention: Melanie Manus 1215 O Street, MS 10-10 Sacramento, CA 95814 https://www.dgs.ca.gov/-/media/Divisions/OLS/Forms/CALIFORNIA-CIVIL-RIGHTS-LAWS-ATTACHMENT.ashx

F. 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 DDS’ 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 proposals and do not assess proposers’ responsiveness to the RFP requirements in the proposal content or in any attachments therein.

G. 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. DDS 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.

H. DDS 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.

I. DDS reserves the right to cancel this RFP without cause at any time.

J. DDS reserves the right to reject all proposals.

K. 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.

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

DDS, 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.

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

N. 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.

O. Proposers are cautioned to not rely on DDS 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.

XVI. 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. DDS will put each proposal through a process of evaluation to determine its responsiveness to DDS’ 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 DDS, such information was intended to mislead DDS 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 two-phase evaluation process. A committee made up of DDS-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 X. Required Format of Proposals. XI. Required Content of Technical Proposal, and XIII. Required Attachments and 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 233 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 163 points to move on to the Third Phase Presentation.

Third Phase Presentation – Presentation of Proposal (Total Possible Score 22 Points)

All proposers passing Phase I and Phase II will be required to present their proposal to the Evaluation Committee. The Evaluation Committee consists of staff that served as panel members in Phase II. Presentations will be via video conference.

The Evaluation Committee will evaluate each of the presentations based on the following proposal presentation requirements:

Presentation is limited to a maximum of 60 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for follow up questions and answers by DDS’ Evaluation Committee. Proposers may use visual aids or any other form of communication to present their proposals, and includes:

• Experience working with DDS, RCs, diverse community-based organizations, and constituency groups whose work addresses individuals’ and their families’ service access and equity needs

• Knowledge of social and health care services systems

• Knowledge of implicit biases associated with disability as well as intersectional identities

(race, ethnicity, languages spoken, gender, gender identity and expression, socio-economic status, and other cultural factors)

Final Selection and Award Process

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

DDS 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. [Government Code § 14838 (f)]

XVII. 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…