Forensic Handwriting Analysis Services

The California Secretary of State's Election Division is seeking a forensic handwriting analysis contractor through Invitation for Bid (IFB #16-002) to support voter fraud investigations. The primary objective is to identify suspected writers of forged documents related to election code violations, including analyzing fictitious voter registrations, petitions, and other election documents. Qualified bidders must be certified as a Questioned Document Examiner by the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners and possess a minimum of three years of relevant experience performing similar forensic document analysis services. The bid submission deadline is May 6, 2016 at 4:00 p.m., with a public bid opening scheduled for May 9, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. The contract will be a one-year term, running from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, with services to be provided during standard working hours (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays). Pricing will be structured on an hourly rate with pro-rated costs for work less than 45 minutes, and billing can be conducted monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.

The procurement includes a mandatory 3% Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirement, with no additional incentives offered for exceeding this threshold. While the exact contract amount is currently listed as "TBA" in the sample agreement, the contract will be awarded to a qualified vendor capable of meeting the specified forensic handwriting analysis requirements. The contractor will be expected to support criminal investigations by providing expert document examination services that can help identify potential election code violations. No incumbent vendor information is explicitly provided in the procurement documents. Bidders must demonstrate technical competence through professional certification, practical experience, and the ability to conduct detailed forensic document analysis that can potentially support legal proceedings related to election fraud investigations.