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 to support implementation of the City's Climate and Environmental Action Plan (CEAP). The City seeks a qualified firm or team with demonstrated expertise in CBSM, behavioral science, or related disciplines to design and implement a comprehensive 24- to 36-month outreach, research, and engagement strategy focused on residential building electrification (particularly induction stoves) and household hazardous waste (HHW) participation. Primary 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, with particular emphasis on historically underrepresented communities and Spanish-language accessibility. Sealed electronic proposals must be submitted via the City's eProcurement Portal (https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/toaks) by March 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time. The deadline for submitter questions is 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 amount broken down by hourly rates, reimbursables, and anticipated costs, including detailed staff hour estimates by title for each phase. While the total project budget exceeds $300,000—comprising a $250,000 Clean Power Alliance Innovation Grant plus $50,000 in City contributions—the specific not-to-exceed amount for the consultant contract is not disclosed in the published solicitation materials. The solicitation contains no set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular organization types, disadvantaged enterprises, or minority-owned businesses, indicating this 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. The City reserves the right to cancel the solicitation, reduce the scope of work, or terminate negotiations without liability if funding is reduced, delayed, or withdrawn, and may terminate the contract without cause upon fifteen days' written notice.