Credit Management Services RFP - 10203603

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Credit Management Services (Solicitation #10203603) seeking a contractor to provide comprehensive counterparty assessment and monitoring services to support the State Water Project's financial risk management objectives. The primary services include assessing, monitoring, and tracking up to 200 entities simultaneously, providing creditworthiness scores, probability of default calculations for short-term and long-term periods, credit limits, term limits, and collateral requirement analyses—with particular focus on power-related contracts subject to Senate Bill 1020 "net zero" or "100% renewable" resource requirements. Prospective contractors must submit technical questions by March 10, 2026, at 3:30 p.m., with DWR providing responses by March 13, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Proposals are due March 25, 2026, by 3:30 p.m., with a public opening scheduled for April 1, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. The anticipated contract start date is May 1, 2026, with an initial three-year term and a state option to renew for three additional years under the same terms and conditions. To qualify, contractors must demonstrate a minimum of five continuous years of experience in power and energy contracting and financing, with assigned staff possessing at least three years of direct experience in credit and risk management, financial statement analysis, probability of default calculations, and counterparty monitoring. The evaluation criteria prioritize the lowest responsible proposer achieving a passing score of at least 37 points, and pricing follows a tiered subscription model based on the number of actively monitored counterparties (Tiers A through E, ranging from 50 to 200+ entities). Selected contractors must maintain Technology Professional Liability/Errors and Omissions insurance with limits of not less than $5,000,000 per occurrence.

This procurement includes mandatory Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation with a minimum three percent commitment requirement, which significantly impacts proposal evaluation and award decisions. The RFP application includes Small Business and DVBE incentive preferences that factor into the final scoring and selection process. DWR has provided a DVBE Subcontractor Contacts List identifying three certified vendors available for partnership—Celeritas Innovative Solutions LLC, Sinclair Performance Institute, and Ross Infrastructure Development LLC—though prospective bidders may identify additional qualified DVBE vendors through the California eProcure supplier search portal. No incumbent vendor or existing contractor information is specified in the solicitation materials. The pricing structure is submitted under separate cost proposal sections with tiered rates based on actively monitored counterparty volumes, though specific budget ranges or award values are not disclosed in the RFP documentation. All proposals must be submitted in sealed envelopes with distinct documentation and cost sections, and all selected contractors will be subject to contract execution within specified timeframes following award notification.