Farm to School Outreach and Education, RFP 26-0018

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork is issuing Request for Proposal 26-0018 for comprehensive farm to school outreach and education services to be delivered statewide across California. The procurement encompasses three distinct projects with specific deliverables: Project 1 requires coordination and execution of the 2026 California Statewide Farm to School Conference (a 1-3 day in-person event with virtual programming) and 8-24 regional farm to school convenings ($800,000); Project 2 demands completion of a food education landscape analysis including case studies, data collection, and a detailed report with recommendations on hands-on food education implementation ($250,000); and Project 3 requires development of storytelling and communications services through multimedia content and narrative pieces to communicate program activities and outcomes ($250,000). The successful contractor must demonstrate a minimum of five years of relevant experience, provide detailed cost breakdowns and organizational charts, submit resumes and qualifications of key personnel, furnish three reference letters from similar clients, and include work samples and required compliance documentation. Proposals must achieve a minimum threshold of 98 points out of 140 available points across evaluation categories (Responsiveness of Proposal, Statement of Understanding, and Qualifications of Personnel) to have the cost proposal evaluated. The contract timeline is critical: written questions are due by April 17, 2026, with answers posted by April 24, 2026; proposals must be submitted via email no later than 2:00 PM Pacific Time on May 11, 2026; and evaluations are scheduled for May 18-22, 2026. The contract term extends from July 1, 2026 (or upon final approval, whichever is later) through December 31, 2029, with no renewal options available.

The procurement includes a mandatory 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirement, and qualified small business bidders are eligible for a 5% preference advantage in the evaluation process. The contractor is responsible for all labor and benefit costs, including workers' compensation and unemployment insurance at rates established by the Employment Development Department, and must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including commercial general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate), automobile liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), workers' compensation at statutory rates, and professional liability insurance ($1,000,000 per claim/$2,000,000 aggregate). The maximum combined budget allocation across all three projects is $1,300,000, with monthly progress check-ins required with CDFA staff and invoicing submitted monthly or quarterly with reimbursement at federal GSA travel rates. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the procurement documents, indicating this represents a new contract opportunity. The procurement jurisdiction is limited to five specific California CDPs: Lake Riverside CDP, Marin City CDP, Twin Lakes CDP, Hidden Valley Lake CDP, and Yosemite Lakes CDP, though the services will benefit farm to school efforts throughout California.