Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Outreach & Education Coordinator, RFP 26-0026

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is soliciting proposals for a Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Outreach and Education Coordinator to conduct public outreach and education on Pierce's Disease and its vectors under RFP 26-0026, with proposals due June 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM PT. Mandatory DVBE (Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise) certification at 3% participation is required; non-DVBE bidders may pursue a 3% to 5% DVBE incentive. Small business certification provides an additional 5% preference with a maximum adjustment of $50,000.

The contractor will develop and deliver a comprehensive outreach and education program targeting winegrape growers, winery owners, industry members, pest control advisors, educational institutions, and legislative officials across Lake Riverside, Marin City, Twin Lakes, Hidden Valley Lake, and Yosemite Lakes CDPs in California. Key deliverables include a detailed work plan, artwork and graphics, monthly email updates and quarterly newsletters, stakeholder distribution lists, media update guides and press releases, marketing materials for trade shows and websites, speaker kits with talking points, and a media outreach strategy. Materials must be produced in English and Spanish as appropriate. The contractor must demonstrate an established record developing and delivering agricultural outreach and education programs within California, with familiarity with the state's winegrape industry and desirable knowledge of Pierce's Disease and GWSS.

The contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with no renewal option. The contract is federally funded and requires contractor registration with SAM.gov and a valid Unique Entity ID. Travel is reimbursed at Federal GSA rates. Printing services require waivers from the Department of General Services, Office of State Publishing.

Evaluation is scored on 140 points across Responsiveness of Proposal (50 points), Statement of Understanding (45 points), and Qualifications of Personnel (45 points), with a 98-point minimum threshold for cost proposal evaluation. Cost proposals account for 30% of total possible points, with set-asides and preferences adding up to 20 additional points. Written questions are due June 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM PT, with answers posted June 10. Team evaluations are estimated for June 19, 2026.