California Wildfire Safety and Risk Mitigation Program (Research and Education Center & Public Wildfire Catastrophe Model), RFE # 26CSB-014

The California Department of Insurance is issuing a Request for Expertise (RFE # 26CSB-014) to establish a California Wildfire Safety and Risk Mitigation Program, which will include both a Research and Education Center and a Public Wildfire Catastrophe Model. The Department intends to award primary responsibility to one Lead University for a contract period of up to three years. The procurement seeks expertise in wildfire risk assessment, mitigation strategies, research development, and public education related to catastrophic wildfire events and safety measures. Key deliverables are expected to include research findings, educational materials, and a publicly accessible catastrophe model that can inform policy decisions and risk management strategies. Written questions regarding the RFE must be submitted by April 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST to bmb_procurement@insurance.ca.gov, and all responses and proposals are due by June 22, 2026, at 4:00 PM PST via the same email address.

This procurement is restricted exclusively to California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) system campuses, as specified under Public Contract Code sections 10335(a) and 10340(b)(3) and Government Code section 11256. Only accredited institutions within these two university systems are eligible to submit responses to this RFE. The opportunity does not appear to include set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or small businesses, as the procurement is limited to the CSU and UC systems. No incumbent vendor information, existing infrastructure requirements, or specific budget ranges have been identified in the available documentation. Interested universities should consult the complete RFE documentation available in the event package for additional details regarding evaluation criteria, technical requirements, and anticipated award value.