26-500-01 CalHR Employee Assistance Program

The California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) is seeking a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) contractor to serve approximately 245,000 state employees across 148 departments. The procurement involves a three-year contract with potential two one-year extensions, commencing July 1, 2026. The selected vendor will provide holistic EAP services addressing five well-being elements: career, physical, social, financial, and community, with tiered counseling session offerings based on employee roles (28 sessions for first responders, 12 sessions for specific support roles, and 3 sessions for other employees). Key deliverables include 24/7 access to licensed mental health professionals, digital wellness tools, work-life services, legal and financial support, and specialized resources for first responders. The evaluation process will use a complex scoring methodology totaling 1,250 points, with 625 points for technical proposal, 375 points for cost proposal, and 250 points potentially allocated for interviews. Critical response dates include an intent to bid deadline of July 18, 2025, and a proposal submission deadline of August 4, 2025, with an anticipated contract award on November 13, 2025.

The solicitation has waived Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) program requirements but encourages small business participation with a 25% subcontracting goal. Vendors must meet extensive minimum qualifications, including possessing a valid Knox-Keene license, demonstrating at least five years of experience with similar programs, and providing comprehensive service capabilities. The contract will cover approximately 441,000 eligible members, including employees, spouses, domestic partners, and dependents, with pricing requirements that encompass implementation, core platform support, work-life services, digital tools, account management, communication support, and critical incident response. The program mandates specific service requirements, including 225 annual training hours, 1,225 critical incident support hours, and unlimited peer support consultations. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the proposal structure allows up to 25% of fees to be at risk based on performance metrics such as network access, utilization, member satisfaction, and clinical outcomes.