Accelerate california innovation grant program fiscal agent - request for proposals

The California Governor's Office of Small Business Advantage (CalOSBA) is soliciting proposals through a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Fiscal Agent to serve as a third-party administrator for the Accelerate California Innovation Grant Program. The Fiscal Agent will be responsible for administering the grantmaking component of the program, which includes disbursing individual grants of up to $100,000 to eligible entrepreneurs and startup small businesses participating in the Accelerate California Inclusive Innovation Hubs through March 31, 2028. Key deliverables and objectives include application development, validation, verification, fraud prevention, grant disbursement, and compliance monitoring for a total of $4,400,000 in program funding. Required qualifications include demonstrated experience with CalOSBA in managing grant and loan programs, the ability to hold state funds in a bank, savings and loan association, or credit union outside the Centralized State Treasury System with collateral requirements of 110 percent of uninsured funds, and capability for rapid fund distribution through secure mechanisms such as ACH transfers and wire transfers. Proposals will be evaluated on a maximum of 85 points across five criteria: applicant experience and past performance (15 points), application validation and award distribution design (25 points), program implementation schedule (5 points), program management and staffing plan (10 points), and budget and financial management systems (30 points). The RFP application period opens April 9, 2026, with questions due by April 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM PST and answers posted by April 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM PST; all proposals must be submitted via email to GO-Biz.BSU@gobiz.ca.gov by April 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM PST, with the Notice of Intent to Award posted by April 30, 2026. The contract term runs from June 1, 2026 to March 31, 2028, with work commencing only after full execution of the agreement.

Eligible applicants include certified small businesses and microbusinesses, which are eligible for a five percent evaluation preference, and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (DVBEs) that meet participation requirements and are also eligible for a five percent evaluation preference. Fiscal Agents are permitted to request up to $220,000 (five percent of total program funding) for program administration costs, which will be processed monthly in arrears with final payment held until all disbursements and reports are complete. Applicants must comply with the State of California Drug-Free Workplace Certification requirements under Government Code Section 8355 and complete required state forms including the STD 21 Drug-Free Workplace Certification and the STD 204 Payee Data Record. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents. All unused funds must be returned to CalOSBA by March 31, 2028, and the state reserves the right to reject proposals if no acceptable bids are received or if submission deadlines are not met, with no extensions permitted.