San_Mateo_County_Economic_Development_Strategic_Plan.pdf

County of San Mateo

Request for Proposals (RFP) for San Mateo County

Economic Development Strategic Plan

County Executive's Office

RFP No. 2027-RFP-00003

RFP Contact: Henry Nibbelin hnibbelin2@smcgov.org

1. Introduction

The County of San Mateo (the “County” or “SMC”) encompasses most of the San Francisco Peninsula.

The region covers 744 square miles and 20 incorporated cities, and is home to nearly 800,000 residents.

The County provides for the health, safety, and welfare of all people within its borders, and serves as the local government for the unincorporated areas. Innovation thrives here in industries including bioscience, computer software, green technology, hospitality, financial management, health care, education, agriculture, and transportation. The County prides itself on how that prosperity fosters its commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety, welfare and natural resources of the community.

1.1. Summary

The County Executive’s Office of the County of San Mateo is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to develop the County’s first Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP). As detailed further below, the County desires that the EDSP: (a) establish strategic goals that guide the County’s long-term vision for economic and workforce development; (b) analyze the County’s current economic conditions by region and sector; and (c) provide strategic, actionable recommendations to support business retention, recruitment and expansion, growth in diversity of jobs for various skillsets and career pathways, and a resilient economic environment. Finally, the EDSP shall provide an evaluation framework with performance metrics to measure the effectiveness of its recommendations. The goal of the EDSP is to provide the County with actionable strategies that foster a welcoming and supportive business environment, reduce government burden on businesses, expand access to jobs and opportunities for advancement in various careers, and assist with prioritizing investments that make San Mateo County a premier destination for business and innovation – an inclusive community where people want to live, work, and experience.

1.2. Contact Information

Project Contact:

Henry Nibbelin Management Analyst Email: hnibbelin2@smcgov.org Phone: (650) 363-4259

Procurement Contact:

Henry Nibbelin Management Analyst Email: hnibbelin2@smcgov.org Phone: (650) 363-4259

Department:

County Executive's Office

Department Head:

Michael Callagy County Executive mailto:hnibbelin2@smcgov.org tel:(650)363-4259 mailto:hnibbelin2@smcgov.org tel:(650)363-4259

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1.3. Timeline

RFP Released July 27, 2026

Deadline for Questions, Comments, and

Contract Exceptions

August 10, 2026, 3:00pm

Question Response Deadline August 14, 2026, 3:00pm

Proposal Due Date and Time August 24, 2026, 3:00pm

Conduct References Checks, Evaluate

Proposals, and Select Contractor

Week of August 24, 2026

Initiate Contract Negotiations Week of August 31, 2026

Anticipated Contract Award Date September 29, 2026

2. Scope of Work

2.1. Defining the Key Focus Areas of the EDSP

The EDSP will focus on the four main topics listed below. Three of these focus areas are specific geographic areas within the County: North Fair Oaks, the Midcoast, and the South Coast (as defined below). The fourth focus area is called Countywide Initiatives, which are strategies and actions that aim to benefit all residents of San Mateo County.

• North Fair Oaks is a culturally rich unincorporated community of approximately 15,000 residents that is located between Redwood City and Menlo Park. The community has a mix of residential neighborhoods, retail, and light industrial. It is a deeply multilingual hub; nearly

69% of residents speak a language other than English at home. The Middlefield Road Corridor is the main thoroughfare in the heart of the community. The Edison Way Corridor contains mainly light industrial. It features a bustling mix of Latin-American restaurants, bakeries, and markets like Chavez Supermarket.

• The Midcoast is an unincorporated region of approximately 20,000 residents that is located between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay (El Granada, Moss Beach, Montara, Miramar, and Princeton-by-the-Sea). The region is a tourist destination for its coastline, recreation

Page 4 of 19 Release date of July 27, 2026 opportunities, restaurants, and visitor amenities. The primary job sectors on the San Mateo

County Midcoast are tourism and hospitality, agriculture and commercial fishing, and a rapidly growing segment of remote knowledge workers.

• The South Coast is the unincorporated area that is south of the City of Half Moon Bay to the county line with Santa Cruz County, including San Gregorio, Pescadero, Loma Mar, and the surrounding open space and agricultural fields. This region has a rich agricultural history that the

County is interested in supporting and is a popular weekend destination for beachgoers and cyclists. The primary job sectors on the San Mateo County South Coast are agriculture, eco-tourism/hospitality, and public land management.

• Countywide Initiatives refer to strategies and recommended actions designed to benefit all residents of San Mateo County, including, but not limited to, workforce development, promotion of film industry opportunities, enhancement of parks and recreation, and improvement of County-owned land. Workforce development refers to strategies that connect individuals to employment opportunities by aligning education, training, and support services with the hiring needs of businesses. At its core, workforce development connects people to opportunities by upskilling workers, closing equity gaps, and responding to employer needs.

As explained in greater detail in the next section (Required Components of the EDSP), the County expects the selected consultant to analyze and make recommendations related to these focus areas according to the structure set forth in the Required Components of the EDSP section. These four focus areas will be referred to in this RFP as the Key Focus Areas.

2.2. Required Components of the EDSP

The selected consultant will be responsible for conducting the process necessary to prepare the EDSP, including two working drafts and a final draft to present to key stakeholders. The County’s

EDSP must include the following information:

A. Establish Economic Development Strategic Goals: The consultant shall conduct interviews with key stakeholders, including each member of the County Board of Supervisors, the County

Executive, business advocacy organizations (e.g., The San Francisco Peninsula, Coastside

Chamber of Commerce, San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce, and San Mateo County

Economic Development Association (SamCEDA), and San Mateo County Shared Prosperity

Coordinating Council), business leaders, and municipal advisory councils to determine the economic development strategic goals that will define the County’s long-term economic vision and the specific outcomes it wants to achieve in the Key Focus Areas.For example, these goals may include the sectors and types of businesses the County hopes to attract, retain, and grow;

priorities regarding workforce development; policy and process improvements to make the

County more business-friendly, including exploring possible modifications to the County’s

Page 5 of 19 Release date of July 27, 2026 agricultural tourism regulations; changes in land use policy to streamline development and establishment of innovative businesses; enhancement of arts and culture; and balancing the quality of life for residents, business, and tourists.Interviewed stakeholders may identify different or conflicting economic development strategic goals for the Key Focus Areas. To address this situation, after concluding the interview process, the consultant shall prepare a report of the various goals identified in the interviews and summarize the shared values and common themes identified by multiple stakeholders. Values and themes that are identified by multiple stakeholders will be prioritized during the development of the EDSP while ideas not shared by multiple interviewees will be noted but not pursued.

B. Existing Conditions Assessment: The consultant shall assess and summarize San Mateo

County’s current economic base, market position, and development constraints to establish a baseline of current conditions. After conducting this countywide analysis, the consultant shall conduct an existing conditions assessment for each of North Fair Oaks, the Midcoast, and the

South Coast regions. The analysis should include demographic and labor force trends;

commercial and industrial real estate conditions; transportation, broadband, utilities, and other infrastructure capacity; land use, zoning, and development pipeline conditions; and small business and entrepreneurship opportunities. The assessment should assess each region’s economic development capacity, and the composition, growth trajectory, and level of specialization of local sectors.

C. Cluster Analysis: The consultant shall identify and evaluate groups of interconnected businesses, industries/sectors, and institutions throughout the entirety of San Mateo County. This analysis will help to understand the dynamics of economic clusters, which are geographic concentrations of interrelated companies and/or organizations that enhance productivity and innovation through collaboration and shared resources. After conducting a countywide Cluster Analysis, the consultant shall conduct a Cluster Analysis for each of North Fair Oaks, the Midcoast, and the

Southcoast regions. These will be Cluster Analyses that are specific to each of these three regions and will examine interconnected businesses, industries/sectors, and institutions in each region.

D. Stakeholder and Community Engagement: Next, the consultant shall coordinate and host two

(2) community engagement workshops to share the results and findings of the contractor’s work thus far, including the economic development strategic goals, the existing conditions assessment, and the cluster analysis. These workshops should aim to (a) inform the public about the EDSP and the analysis conducted thus far and (b) gather input from members of the public about the

EDSP and identify specific concerns and questions that the public may have about the process.

These workshops should seek to include a diverse group of community members including representatives from the business community, nonprofits, government leaders, and other community-based organizations and groups.

E. Strategic Direction/Action Plan: Using the findings from the Economic Development Strategic

Goals, Existing Conditions Assessment, Cluster Analysis, and Stakeholder and Community

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Engagement workshops, the consultant shall prepare a series of prioritized, implementable recommendations the County can pursue to foster a more business-friendly environment, align workforce development with industry needs to generate long-term economic growth and resilience in the Key Focus Areas, and support the needs of local businesses and communities. The selected consultant should explore the opportunities for forming entertainment districts, overhauling the County’s agricultural tourism regulations, and attracting film shoots to the region. Recommendations should also explore the possibility of “de-regulation,” which refers to reducing the regulatory burden on established and establishing businesses, promote sectors identified as thriving or emerging in the Cluster Analysis, support small and microbusiness, and empower the creation of career-oriented jobs. Each recommendation should include the purpose and desired outcome of the initiative, the lead department or partner responsible, key milestones and timelines, required funding and staffing resources, performance measures, and how progress will be monitored and reported.

F. Evaluation Framework: The consultant shall develop a series of performance measures the

County can track to determine the effectiveness of the strategies implemented.

The selected consultant will be responsible for managing the process and developing the EDSP, including: collecting pertinent information, documents, and data; coordinating meetings with the County and taking meeting minutes; scheduling, conducting, and summarizing interviews; preparing draft documents; presenting the draft documents to relevant stakeholders to receive feedback, revising the documents accordingly, and preparing the final EDSP.

2.3. Project Team

County may form a project team to work with the selected consultant on the development of the

EDSP. This team may be comprised of County staff, business advocates and leaders, and community leaders. This team, if formed, may help to produce requested documents, review draft documents, and provide the consultant with guidance, as needed, in order to develop the EDSP.

2.4. Project Deliverables; Key Milestones

The selected consultant will be responsible for preparing the following Project Deliverables according to the Key Milestones listed below. Please note the County expects the selected consultant to produce a detailed workplan and timeline showing how it will complete the Required Components of the EDSP according to these Key Timelines.

Week of October 12, 2026: Consultant and the County shall meet for a project kick-off meeting. Consultant shall provide the County with a project workplan and timeline detailing how it will complete the Required Components of the EDSP set forth in this RFP as well as submit a list of document requests.

Week of June 1, 2027: Consultant to provide the County with the first working draft of the EDSP. The consultant shall give no more than five (5) presentations on the draft EDSP. Three of these presentations

Page 7 of 19 Release date of July 27, 2026 will be to (1) the North Fair Oaks Community Council, (2) the Midcoast Community Council, and (3) the

Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council. The other two presentations will be given to other stakeholders of the County’s selection.

Week of August 1, 2027: Consultant to integrate feedback and input from initial round of presentations into a second draft EDSP. The Consultant shall provide a copy of the second draft EDSP to County

Executive Office staff for review, questions, and comments.

Week of September 6, 2027: Consultant to integrate feedback and input from County Executive Office staff review into a final draft EDSP. The consultant shall present the final draft EDSP to the same groups it presented to during the first round of presentations as well as the Board of Supervisors for adoption.

Note that although this RFP document below provides for the standard contract term of three (3) years, the County expects that the contractor's work to be completed by the end of 2027. The exact completion date will be negotiated and set by the parties during the Contract Negotiation phase of this RFP process.

The County expects the selected consultant to provide regular project updates and meet regularly with the

County to advise on the status of the consultant’s outreach efforts, analysis, and preparation of the

EDSP.

2.5. Performance Measures

The County expects to use the following performance measures to evaluate the selected consultant's performance and completion of this project:

A. Timeliness: Consultant completes all project tasks in accordance with the County's key milestones and consultant's proposed, and County approved workplan and schedule.

B. Communication; Responsiveness: Consultant effectively engages with the key stakeholders identified in Scope of Work, captures their input accurately and completely, and provides prompt responses to any questions and concerns raised. Consultant provides regular written updates to and meets with the County as needed to advise on the status of the work.

C. Quality Assurance/Quality Control: Required analyses incorporate relevant qualitative and quantitative data, as appropriate, and the results of these analyses are presented in a clear, logical way. County feedback is appropriately incorporated into the draft and final documents.

D. Actionable Recommendations: Based on analyses and stakeholder engagement, consultant provides a list of clear, actionable recommendations to improve economic and workforce development. Consultant provides a logical framework for evaluating the effectiveness of each recommendation.

E. Final Product: The final EDSP document should be polished, include all required information, and presented in a professional manner to key stakeholders.

3. Submission Requirements

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3.1. Submission Deadline

Proposals must be electronically received by 3:00 pm, on Monday, August 24, 2026 via eProcurement system.

Allow sufficient time for the upload to complete by the Due Date and Time. Partial uploads will automatically terminate, and proposals will be rejected. The eProcurement system submission time will be the official submission time. The County will not be responsible for and may not accept proposals that are late due to slow internet connections or for any other failure of the eProcurement system.

NOTE: The County does not maintain the eProcurement system and is not liable for site failures or technical problems. To resolve technical issues, contact OpenGov Technical Support by using the real time chat located in the lower right hand corner of the screen, or via email at procurement-support@opengov.com https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/smcgov

3.2. Pre-submission Registration

Organizations or individuals interested in responding to this solicitation must register online with the

County of San Mateo at:

• https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/smcgov

It is recommended that organizations complete this registration as soon as possible. The County will not be responsible for and may not accept proposals that are late due to a failure to register in the eProcurement system.

3.3. Submission via eProcurement Portal

Required Documents

Please refer to the Technical Proposal section for submittal documents and requirements.

Electronic Submissions

Include the proposer name and the RFP title and number in each filename. Submit proposals via the eProcurement website, allowing sufficient time for the upload to complete by the Due Date and Time. As noted above, the eProcurement portal submission time will be the official submission time, and partial uploads will automatically terminate, and proposals will be rejected. Contact eProcurement Portal with technical questions regarding this site.

Conflicts between Certain Requirements

Prior to the submission deadlines and solely relating to a determination of the timeliness of questions, comments, and proposal submissions, information displayed on the eProcurement portal site will take precedence in the event of a discrepancy between that information and the information within the solicitation documents. For all other discrepancies, the information in the solicitation documents will take precedence.

Format mailto:procurement-support@opengov.com mailto:procurement-support@opengov.com https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/smcgov https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/smcgov https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/smcgov/projects/283986/document?section=2738202

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Documents should be created in the following format:

• Text should be Times New Roman (12-point minimum font size) and unjustified (i.e., with a ragged-right margin)

• Pages should have margins of at least one inch on all sides (excluding headers and footers)

• If the proposal is lengthy, a Table of Contents should be included.

• PDF format is preferred.

Errors in Proposals

The County will not be liable for any errors in proposals. Proposals may be rejected as unresponsive if they are late, incomplete, missing pages or information, or cannot be opened for any reason. The County may waive minor irregularities, but such waiver will not modify any remaining RFP requirements.

3.4. Procurement Preference for Local Businesses and Local Non-Profits

The County of San Mateo has adopted a Procurement Preference for Local Businesses Ordinance (County

Ord. Code Ch. 2.89.) The purpose of this Ordinance is to promote a strong local economy by giving preference to local businesses, local non-profits, local small and micro businesses, and local small and micro non-profits in County procurements, to the extent consistent with the law and interests of the public. The County’s process for applying local preferences to competitive procurements is set forth in

County Ordinance Code Section 2.89.030. The Ordinance and exemptions (e.g. the ordinance will be exempt when all bids or proposals received are from Non-Profit Organizations) can be reviewed here:

Chapter 2.89 - PROCUREMENT PREFERENCE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES | Code of Ordinances |

San Mateo County, CA | Municode Library

The requirements for bidders to establish eligibility for a local preference for this solicitation are detailed below in Section III (Submission Requirements) The Ordinance does not apply if a procurement is determined to be exempt (County Ord. Code sec. 2.89.050), and the County reserves the right to waive application of the Ordinance to this procurement if determined to be in the best interests of the County

(County Ord. Code sec. 2.89.060).

4. Minimum Qualifications, Local Preference Ordinance, and Technical Proposal

4.1. Minimum Qualifications

4.1.1. Has Proposer has been providing similar services for a minimum of three (3) years within the last seven (7) years?*

☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

4.1.2. Has Proposer completed at least three (3) similar projects that involve developing strategic goals for economic and workforce development, conducting the required research and analysis (e.g., Cluster analysis), and formulating recommendations for improving workforce development and economic growth?* https://library.municode.com/ca/san_mateo_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_ART2.8INFIPRCOCO_CH2.89PRPRLOBU https://library.municode.com/ca/san_mateo_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_ART2.8INFIPRCOCO_CH2.89PRPRLOBU

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☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

4.1.3. Please confirm your firm is registered with System for Award Management (SAM)*

SAM.gov

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

4.1.4. What is the registered Business Name and Unique Entity ID (UEI) No.?*

• UEI number can be obtained by registering your business through SAM.GOV

• Should you be in the process of obtaining your UEI number, please enter the digits ‘123’ temporarily for your response below in order to proceed with proposal. This temporary number should be replaced with the correct registration number for submission of the proposal.

*Response required

4.2. Procurement Preference for Local Businesses and Local Non-Profits

4.2.1. Is the Proposer a "Local Business"?

As Defined by Chapter 2.89.020 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, a “Local Business” means any for-profit business which has its principal place of business, or is headquartered, in San Mateo

County. If this designation applies to the proposer, a self-attestation form must be completed and provided with this response.

Please download the below documents, complete, and upload. If this designation is not applicable, please leave blank.

• SMC_LocalBusiness_self-atte...

4.2.2. Is the Proposer a Non-Profit?

A Non-Profit is defined as a tax-exempt public charity organization (within the meaning of section

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) that is formed for purposes other than making a profit, is exempt from paying federal income taxes on the income generated for their exempt purposes.

☐ Yes

☐ No

When equals "Yes"

4.2.3. Is the Proposer a "Local Non-Profit"

As Defined by Chapter 2.89.020 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, a “Local Non-Profit" means a tax-exempt public charity organization (within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the

Internal Revenue Code) that is formed for purposes other than making a profit, is exempt from paying federal income taxes on the income generated for their exempt purposes, and has its principal place of business, or is headquartered, in San Mateo County. If this designation applies to the proposer, a self-attestation form must be completed and provided with this response.

https://sam.gov/content/home https://government-project.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/153456/a16ffdc0-a0ee-44ca-b6de-1fddd010042f_SMC_LocalBusiness_self-attestation_form_120424.pdf

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Please download the below documents, complete, and upload. If this designation is not applicable, please leave blank.

• SMC_LocalBusiness_self-atte...

4.2.4. Is the Proposer a Local "Small" or "Micro" Business?

As Defined by Chapter 2.89.020 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code:

“Small Business” means any business which holds a Small Business Certification awarded by the

California Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services (OSDS).

“Micro Business” means any Small Business certified by the OSDS which is automatically designated by the OSDS as a Micro Business due to gross annual receipts falling below the OSDS-designated dollar amount.

If the above designations apply, please provide the OSDS provided Certification ID.

If this designation is not applicable, please leave blank.

4.2.5. Is the Proposer a Local "Small" or "Micro" Non-Profit?

As Defined by Chapter 2.89.020 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code:

“Small Non-Profit" means a Local Non-Profit with an annual revenue of $1,000,000 to $2,500,000 according to its most recently filed IRS Form 990.

“Micro Non-Profit" means a Local Non-Profit with an annual revenue of less than $1,000,000, according to its most recently filed IRS Form 990.

If the above designations apply, please provide your latest filed IRS form 990. A filing from the last two calendar years is acceptable.

If this designation is not applicable, please leave blank.

4.3. Technical Proposal

4.3.1. Introduction and Executive Summary *

Submit a letter of introduction and executive summary of the proposal. The letter must contain:

• Name, title and contact information (email, phone, and address) for representative of proposer that is responsible for communication related to this RFP.

• Name, title, contact information, and signature of person authorized to obligate firm to perform the commitment contained in the proposal.

Submission of the letter will constitute a representation by proposer that it is willing and able to perform the commitments contained in the proposal and has not violated the terms of this RFP.

*Response required

4.3.2. Statement of Minimum Qualifications *

Describe how the proposer meets the minimum qualifications as set forth in Minimum Qualifications of this RFP.

https://government-project.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/153456/80d29c2f-acda-4b87-837e-cb4ead1fb303_SMC_LocalBusiness_self-attestation_form_120424.pdf

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Submission of the Minimum Qualifications checklist is not a substitute for providing a detailed written response.

*Response required

4.3.3. Project Approach*

This section should correlate to the Scope of Work. Proposer should explain how it will perform the relevant work, including a detailed plan for how it will approach completing each required component of the EDSP identified in the Scope of Work according to the County's expected timeline.

*Response required

4.3.4. Proposed Schedule *

Attach a proposed schedule which references Proposer's ability to complete the project within the

County's required time frame and in accordance with the Key Milestones in the Scope of Work section.

*Response required

4.3.5. Innovations*

Refence any notable innovations or improvements that you expect to provide (with respect to, for example, efficiency, technology, sustainability)

*Response required

4.3.6. Firm Qualifications *

Attach information regarding background and qualifications, including the following:

• A brief description of the proposer.

• A description of not more than three (3) projects similar in size and scope conducted by the proposer, including the client, reference and telephone numbers, primary staff members involved, budget, schedule, and project summary. Descriptions should be limited to one (1) page for each project.

• If subcontractors are anticipated, identify them (if known) and provide information on how they will be used.

*Response required

4.3.7. Team Qualifications*

Provide a chart identifying:

▪ Project team and reporting structure

▪ Lead project manager

▪ Role each person will play in the project

Provide a brief description of the experience and qualifications of the project team members, including short resumes if desired.

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Written assurance that the key individuals listed and identified will be performing the work and will not be substituted or reassigned without the County’s prior approval

*Response required

4.3.8. References*

Provide 3 references from successfully completed projects of similar nature to that described in this RFP document, including the name of the organization for which work was performed, and the name, phone number, and email address of an individual at the organization who was responsible for managing and accepting the work. Ensure that contact information is current. If the County cannot contact the reference because of incorrect information, the reference will be deemed not have been provided.

*Response required

4.3.9. Fee Proposal*

The Fee Proposal should be submitted as a separate PDF file from the Technical Proposals detailed in

Required Documents.

The County reserves the right to accept other than the lowest priced offer and to reject any proposals that are not responsive to this request.

*Response required

5. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

The proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee with relevant expertise. The County intends to evaluate the proposals generally in accordance with the criteria itemized below. Proposers with the highest scoring proposals may be interviewed by the committee to make the final selection.

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Method and Approach

• Understanding of the scope of services to be provided

• Appropriateness of the proposed solution/services

Points Based 45 (45% of Total)

2. Experience and Organizational Capacity

• Qualification and experience of both the proposer and key personnel

• Experience with other public agencies

• Organizational resources and staff, apparent ability to meet any required timelines and other requirements

Points Based 30 (30% of Total)

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3. Price

• Pricing will be evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively.

• Evaluators will analyze the fee proposal based on the estimated cost to complete the project deliverables according to the County's key milestones

Points Based 25 (25% of Total)

6. Instructions to Proposers

6.1. Instructions

There will be no pre-proposal conference or site visit for this project.

6.2. Communications

A. As of the issuance date of this RFP and continuing until it is canceled or an award is made, no proposer or person acting on behalf of a prospective proposer may discuss any matter relating to the RFP with any officer, agent, or employee of the County, other than through eProcurement portal, to the Authorized Contact Person, or as outlined in the evaluation or protest procedures.

B. Proposers (including any agent, owner, employee, board members, or other such affiliates) shall not offer any gift, favor, or other personal benefit to any County officer or employee during the procurement process for this agreement, including during the solicitation period and contract negotiations.

Violation of the foregoing prohibitions may result in a proposer being found non-responsible and barred from participating in this or future procurements.

6.3. Contract Award

A. Award Procedure

Contract negotiations are neither an offer nor guarantee that a contract will be executed. A contract award, if any is made, will be to the responsive, responsible proposer offering the overall best value to the County for the services and goods described in this solicitation, or as applicable, for a specific portion of the services and goods described. Any agreement reached will be memorialized in a formal agreement using the attached template, executed by the appropriate authority.

B. Notice of Intent to Award

If a decision is made to take steps to enter into an agreement with one or more proposers, the

County will post a Notice of Intent to Award or otherwise notify proposers the remaining proposers of their non-selection. Notice may instead be provided by including approval of the agreement as an item on an agenda for a meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

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C. Commencement of Performance

After all parties have signed the agreement, the County will notify the contractor and performance may proceed. Prior to execution of the agreement by the County, no County employee may authorize work under the agreement. Any work performed prior to the full execution of the Agreement may not be compensated.

D. Levine Act DisclosureThe Levine Act (California Government Code Section 84308) imposes certain requirements on parties contracting with the County of San Mateo related to campaign contributions to County “officers,” including elected County officers and candidates seeking elective office, who may participate in making a decision on certain County contracts. Elected

County officers in San Mateo County include: the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, County Controller, Coroner, District Attorney, Sheriff, and Tax

Collector-Treasurer.Generally, under current County policy, approval by the Board of

Supervisors is required for any agreement for services above $200,000, and agreements for services below that threshold may be approved by Department heads.If your proposal is selected, you will be required to certify compliance with the Levine Act.As part of this process, you will need to certify and warrant that you have fully complied, and will remain in full compliance, with all applicable requirements of the Levine Act in connection with the

Agreement, including making any required disclosures of campaign contributions to County

Officers, which includes but may not be limited to elected County Officers. Elected County

Officers include members of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, as well as the

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, Controller, Coroner, District Attorney, Sheriff, and Tax

Collector-Treasurer. Any campaign contribution required to be disclosed under the Levine Act in connection with this Agreement shall be disclosed on the County of San Mateo Levine Act

Disclosure Form, a copy of which is available from the County upon request.Parties are solely responsible for accurate certification and disclosure. The Levine Act is complex, and this brief description is not legal advice. For example, certain contributions must be aggregated when determining whether contributions have exceeded the $500 threshold. If your proposal is selected, you are urged to review the Levine Act and consider consulting an attorney.

6.4. Term

County Executive's Office is issuing Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 2027-RFP-00003 for San Mateo

County Economic Development Strategic Plan.

The agreement shall have a term of three (3) years. The County’s standard contract template has been included with this solicitation. The awarded contractor will be expected to sign an agreement prepared by the County using this template. Please ensure that your firm has completed legal review of these contract terms. If your firm wishes to request exceptions to these standard terms, submit a Contract Exceptions

Request by the Deadline for Questions, Comments and Contract Exceptions listed in the Solicitation

Schedule below. The County will consider Contract Exceptions Requests but reserves the right to reject requested modifications to its standard terms.

7. Terms and Conditions for Receipt of Proposals

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7.1. Errors, Omissions and Inquiries regarding the RFP

Proposers are responsible for reviewing all portions of this RFP. Proposers are to notify the department, in eProcurement portal, if the proposer discovers any ambiguity, discrepancy, omission, or apparent error in the RFP. Such notification should be made promptly after discovery, but in no event later than five business days prior to the deadline for receipt of proposals. Modifications and clarifications will be made by addenda as provided below.

Inquiries regarding the RFP should be lodged in eProcurement portal.

7.2. Objections to RFP Terms

Should a proposer object on any ground to any provision or legal requirement set forth in this RFP, the proposer must, not more than ten calendar days after the RFP is issued, provide written notice to the department, via eProcurement portal, setting forth with specific grounds for the objection.

7.3. Addenda

The County may cancel, revise, or reissue this RFP, in whole or in part, for any reason. Revisions will be posted as Addenda on eProcurement portal. No other revision of this RFP is valid. Proposers shall be responsible for ensuring that their proposals reflects any and all Addenda issued by the County prior to the proposal due date regardless of when a proposal is submitted. Therefore, the County recommends that proposers consult eProcurement portal frequently, including shortly before the proposal due date, to confirm that all Addenda have been downloaded.

7.4. Term of Proposal

Submission of a proposal signifies that the proposed services and prices are valid for the duration of the proposed agreement term and that the quoted prices are genuine and not the result of collusion or any other anti-competitive activity.

7.5. Revision or Withdrawal of Proposal

A proposer may revise a proposal on the proposer’s own initiative at any time before the deadline for submission of proposals. The proposer must submit the revised proposal in the same manner as the original on or before the proposal due date.

A proposer may withdraw a proposal at any time before the deadline for submission of proposals. After that time, whether or not a new RFP is issued for the same subject matter, withdrawal of a proposal may preclude the proposer from participating in the procurement as a proposer or subcontractor, except that an original equipment manufacturer may participate indirectly through a reseller.

7.6. Errors and Omissions in Proposal

The County will not be liable for any errors in proposals. Proposals may be rejected as unresponsive if they are incomplete, are missing pages or information, or cannot be opened for any reason. The County may waive minor irregularities, but such waiver will not modify any of the remaining RFP requirements.

7.7. No Commitment

Neither submission of a proposal nor the County’s receipt of proposal materials confers any right to the proposer nor any obligation on the County. This RFP does not commit the County to award a contract.

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7.8. Financial Responsibility

The County shall have no financial responsibility for any costs incurred by a firm in responding to this

RFP or participating in any presentations or negotiations.

7.9. Estimated Quantity

If the RFP results in an indefinite quantity or a requirements agreement, the goods and services actually requested by the County may be less than the maximum value of the agreement and there is no guarantee, either expressed or implied, as to the actual quantity of goods and services that will be authorized under the agreement.

7.10. Public Record

A. General

1. All proposals, protests, and information submitted in response to this solicitation will become the property of the County and will be considered public records. As such, they may be subject to public review.

2. Any contract arising from this RFP will be a public record.

3. The County is not seeking proprietary information and will not assert any privileges that may exist on behalf of the proposer.

4. Submission of any materials in response to this RFP constitutes:

▪ Consent to the County’s release of such materials under the Public Records Act without notice to the person or entity submitting the materials; and

▪ Waiver of all claims against the County and/or its officers, agents, or employees that the

County has violated a proposer's right to privacy, disclosed trade secrets, or caused any damage by allowing the proposal or materials to be inspected; and

▪ Agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the County for release of such information under the Public Records Act; and

▪ Acknowledgement that the County will not assert any privileges that may exist on behalf of the person or entity submitting the materials.

7.11. Confidential Information

A. Proposers are responsible for asserting any applicable privileges or reasons why a document should not be produced in response to a public record request.

B. If submitting information protected from disclosure as a trade secret or any other basis, identify each page of such material subject to protection as “CONFIDENTIAL.” If requested material has been designated as confidential, the County will attempt to inform the proposer of the public records request in a timely manner to permit assertion of any applicable privileges.

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C. Failure to seek a court order protecting information from disclosure within ten days of the

County’s notice of a request to the proposer will be deemed agreement to disclosure of the information and the proposer agrees to indemnify and hold the County harmless for release of such information.

D. Requests to treat an entire proposal as confidential will be rejected and deemed agreement to

County disclosure of the entire proposal and the proposer agrees to indemnify and hold the

County harmless for release of any information requested.

E. Trade secrets will only be considered confidential if claimed to be a trade secret when submitted to the County, marked as confidential, and compliant with Government Code Section 6254.7.

7.12. Reservations of Rights by the County

The issuance of this RFP does not constitute an agreement by the County that any contract will actually be entered into by the County. The County expressly reserves the right at any time to:

• Waive or correct any defect or informality in any response, proposal, or proposal procedure;

• Reject any or all proposals;

• Reissue an RFP;

• Prior to submission deadline for proposals, modify all or any portion of the selection procedures, including deadlines for accepting responses, the specifications or requirements for any materials, equipment or services to be provided under this RFP, or the requirements for contents or format of the proposals;

• Procure any materials, equipment or services specified in this RFP by any other means; or

• Determine that no project will be pursued.

7.13. No Waiver

No waiver by the County of any provision of this RFP shall be implied from any failure by the County to recognize or take action on account of any failure by a proposer to observe any provision of this RFP.

7.14. Cooperative Agreement (Piggyback)

This competitive solicitation is being conducted as a Cooperative Procurement. The services, terms and conditions of any agreement resulting from this solicitation may be used by other organizations as a

Cooperative Agreement.

This provision in no way commits any affiliate to procure services from any awarded contractor, nor does it guarantee that any additional orders will result. At their discretion, and subject to their own procurement policies, interested organizations may make use of this competitive procurement and contract directly from the awarded contractor.

8. Protest Procedures

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8.1. Protest of Non-Responsiveness Determination

Within five (5) working days of the County's issuance of a notice of non-responsiveness, any firm that has submitted a proposal and believes that the County has incorrectly determined that its proposal is non-responsive may submit a written notice of protest. Such notice of protest must be received by the County on or before the fifth working day following the County's issuance of the notice of non-responsiveness. The notice of protest must include a written statement specifying in detail each and every one of the grounds asserted for the protest. The protest must be signed by an individual authorized to represent the proposer, and must cite the law, rule, local ordinance, procedure or RFP provision on which the protest is based. In addition, the protestor must specify facts and evidence sufficient for the County to determine the validity of the protest.

8.2. Protest of Contract Award

Within five (5) working days of the County's issuance of a notice of intent to award the contract, any firm that has submitted a responsive proposal and believes that the County has incorrectly selected another proposer for award may submit a written notice of protest. Such notice of protest must be received by the

County on or before the fifth working day after the County's issuance of the notice of intent to award.

The notice of protest must include a written statement specifying in detail each and every one of the grounds asserted for the protest. The protest must be signed by an individual authorized to represent the proposer, and must cite the law, rule, local ordinance, procedure or RFP provision on which the protest is based. In addition, the protestor must specify facts and evidence sufficient for the County to determine the validity of the protest.

8.3. Delivery of Protests

All protests must be received by the due date. If a protest is mailed, the protestor bears the risk of non-delivery within the deadlines specified herein. Protests should be transmitted by a means that will objectively establish the date the County received the protest. Protests or notice of protests made orally

(e.g., by telephone) will not be considered. Protests must be delivered to:

Protests@smcgov.org

Subject: San Mateo County Economic Development Strategic Plan, 2027-RFP-00003