Cannabis Appellations Program (CAP) Education and Outreach, RFP 26-0007-A

The California Department of Food and Agriculture, Office of Grants Administration is requesting proposals for a consulting contractor to develop and implement a comprehensive outreach and education campaign for the Cannabis Appellations Program under RFP 26-0007-A, with proposals due June 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM PT. A mandatory 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirement applies; certified small businesses receive a 5% preference on evaluation scoring.

The scope encompasses marketing-materials development, speaker kits, market research to identify target audiences and optimal communication channels, stakeholder contact lists, media outreach across multiple platforms, coordination of retail displays with strategic partners, ADA-compliant online materials, and metrics and analytics for tracking program interest. All deliverables must be produced in English and Spanish where appropriate and submitted through no fewer than two rounds of contractor-approval review. The campaign targets cannabis cultivators, consumers, local officials, and industry members across five designated jurisdictions: Lake Riverside, Marin City, Twin Lakes, Hidden Valley Lake, and Yosemite Lakes CDPs.

The total contract budget is $100,000 for the initial two-year term ($50,000 annually) with an optional one-year renewal for $40,000 subject to available appropriations and annual approval by CDFA and the Department of General Services. The contract term runs from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2028, with the option extending to July 31, 2029. Travel costs are reimbursed at Federal GSA rates.

Proposals must include detailed cost breakdowns, samples of similar prior work, organizational charts, staff resumes, letters of reference, and identified subcontractors with detailed scope descriptions. A minimum score of 100 points out of 140 available points in technical evaluation is required for cost proposals to be reviewed. Written questions are due June 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM PT, with Q&A posted by June 25. Team evaluations are estimated for July 6–10, 2026.

Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, statutory workers' compensation, and professional liability of $1,000,000 per claim. All work products become the sole property of CDFA, including copyrights and trademarks.