Economic Advisory Services

The California State Controller's Office (SCO) is seeking a qualified contractor to provide comprehensive economic advisory services and monthly economic forecasting through Request for Proposal (RFP) Number ESAR90425. The primary deliverables include monthly economic forecasts, quarterly comprehensive reports on state economic conditions presented to the State Controller's Council of Economic Advisors, detailed analysis of California's economic trends focusing on employment, industry performance, consumer spending, and construction, monitoring of state, federal, and global economic conditions, development of short- and long-term economic forecasts, and real-time advisory services on emergent fiscal issues. The contractor will also assist the SCO in managing and monitoring state cash flows, refining forecasting models, and projecting future cash flows in the State's General Fund and borrowable funds, with particular focus on assessing the impact of state and federal policies on the economy and providing insights across technology, agriculture, and tourism sectors. Key staff must demonstrate at least ten years of experience within the past twenty years as a professional economist, consultant, or forecaster with expertise in economic trend analysis and state, federal, and global economic conditions, and at least one staff member must hold a doctorate degree in economics, finance, or public policy. The firm itself must have a minimum of ten years of experience within the past fifteen years performing similar economic consulting and forecasting services and ten years of direct experience working with a California state agency or other U.S. state or territory. The proposal due date is May 1, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, with interviews scheduled for May 11-15, 2026, and an anticipated award date of May 26, 2026. The evaluation criteria allocate 150 points (23.08%) for technical qualifications, 300 points (46.15%) for interviews, and 200 points (30.77%) for cost, with a maximum total of 650 points. All proposed key staff must pass a Live Scan background check and be physically located within the contiguous United States unless prior written approval is obtained.

The contract is open to all qualified vendors, though proposers may qualify for voluntary preference incentives including Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentives of 1-5% and Small Business (SB) preferences of 5%, provided they maintain current Department of General Services certification. The agreement term is three years beginning July 1, 2026, with options for amendments to add funds as deemed necessary by the SCO. No incumbent contractor or specific budget range is disclosed in the available documentation. Insurance requirements are substantial, including Commercial General Liability coverage of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, Workers' Compensation at statutory limits with $1 million employer's liability, Automobile Liability of $1 million, and Professional Liability of $1 million per claim and $2 million aggregate. The proposer with the lowest cost will receive maximum cost points, with other proposers' costs calculated proportionally, indicating that pricing competitiveness will significantly influence the final award decision. All responses must be submitted electronically, and proposers should note that any response received after the May 1, 2026 deadline will not be considered for review.