25MLD007 IFB - Lab Equipment Calibration

The State of California, through the HOPE (Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment) for Children Trust Account Program Board, is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consulting services to develop and implement a statewide financial literacy program. The procurement seeks a qualified consultant to design a developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed financial literacy curriculum for youth ages 13-26, establish youth-centered financial coaching and mentorship services, develop multi-channel participant support systems, and engage community-based organizations in regional delivery. The consultant must deliver curriculum materials, digital learning modules, training resources, and evaluation summaries across three phased implementation stages: Phase 1 covering planning and pilot delivery, Phase 2 addressing statewide rollout, and Phase 3 focusing on program expansion and sustainability. Required qualifications include a minimum of three years' experience providing the specified services, California business qualification status, and freedom from conflicts of interest with TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. or other program administration contractors. Proposals must follow a specified cost worksheet format with a maximum of 200 annual staff hours and $10,000 in annual travel costs, with constant hourly rates throughout the contract term. Evaluation will be based on background and personnel information (25 points), experience and expertise in financial literacy consulting (35 points), cost proposal (30 points), and oral interview performance (10 points). The proposal submission deadline is April 14, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time, with oral interviews anticipated for April 20-21, 2026, and notice of intent to award on April 22, 2026. The agreement term runs from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027, with an optional one-year extension available.

The procurement includes set-aside incentives for small businesses, microbusinesses, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs), and organizations under the Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA). The maximum contract value for the initial one-year term is $300,000, with hourly rates and cost structures remaining fixed throughout the contract period. All deliverables, including curriculum materials, digital learning modules, training resources, and evaluation summaries, become the property of the HOPE Program upon completion. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are specified in the available documentation. The procurement does not reference any existing infrastructure or technology platforms requiring integration, though proposers should address how their digital learning modules will support the multi-channel participant support systems required by the program.