RFPQ_Community-Based_Social_Marketing_(CBSM)_Consultant_Notice.pdf

This is a Request for Proposals/Qualifications (RFP/Q) notice issued by the City of Thousand Oaks, California, for Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) consulting services. The City seeks a qualified firm or team with demonstrated expertise in CBSM, behavioral science, or related disciplines to design and implement a comprehensive outreach, research, and engagement strategy supporting the City's Climate and Environmental Action Plan (CEAP) adopted in 2024. The primary focus areas are residential building electrification, with induction stoves as the initial focus, and household hazardous waste (HHW) participation, with particular emphasis on historically underrepresented communities and Spanish-language accessibility. Key deliverables include market research and audience segmentation, behavior prioritization and design frameworks, comprehensive outreach and campaign strategies, messaging and collateral development, pilot implementation with goal tracking, and capacity building and knowledge transfer. The anticipated project term is 24 to 36 months, subject to funding availability. Sealed electronic proposals are due by March 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time via the City's eProcurement Portal, with a deadline for submitter questions on February 24, 2026. City Council is scheduled to award the contract on April 21, 2026, with contract execution by April 28, 2026, and work commencing May 1, 2026.

Compensation will be paid on an hourly basis according to the consultant's Schedule of Fees, with proposers required to provide a maximum not-to-exceed compensation amount broken down by hourly rates, reimbursables, and anticipated costs, including detailed staff hour estimates by title for each phase. The total project budget exceeds $300,000, comprising a $250,000 Clean Power Alliance Innovation Grant plus $50,000 in City contributions, with $100,000 allocated specifically for the CBSM consultant services for research, pilot design, and evaluation; however, the specific award value or not-to-exceed amount for the consultant contract is not disclosed in published solicitation materials. The solicitation includes no set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular organization types, disadvantaged enterprises, or minority-owned businesses, indicating the procurement is open to qualified firms regardless of business structure or certification status. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified. All work related to electrification must comply with Clean Power Alliance grant requirements and reporting obligations. Proposers must submit a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Levine Act Disclosure Form, W-9, and at least three references from similar projects within the past five years, and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including Commercial General Liability ($2,000,000 per occurrence), Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), Workers' Compensation ($1,000,000 per accident), and Professional Errors and Omissions ($1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate with three-year tail coverage). The City reserves the right to cancel the solicitation, reduce scope, or terminate negotiations without liability if funding is reduced, delayed, or withdrawn, and may terminate the contract without cause upon fifteen days' written notice.