IFB # 10223001 for Wilderness First Aid and River Safety Training

The California Department of Water Resources is requesting bids on Wilderness First Aid, Stream Safety, and River Safety Certification training for DWR employees under IFB #10223001, with sealed bids due November 9, 2026 at 3:00 PM PST and public bid opening November 10 at 11:00 AM PST via Microsoft Teams. Technical questions are due October 26 at 3:00 PM PST, with answers provided by November 2.

The scope includes Wilderness First Aid courses in 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day formats (maximum 18 students per class); River and Stream Safety training in 1-day format (maximum 12 students); and River Safety Certification courses in 2-day and 3-day formats (maximum 12 students per class). All training must comply with current American Heart Association or American Red Cross guidelines and include hands-on practice scenarios relevant to DWR operations. The contractor must provide all training materials, equipment, mannequins, textbooks, and safety gear including personal flotation devices and helmets.

Qualified instructors must hold current certifications from AHA, ARC, or equivalent providers and possess Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid Instructor certifications. Instructors for river and stream safety courses must additionally hold swift-water rescue certifications and either EMT or WFR certification with minimum two years of documented experience.

The anticipated contract term is three years, with services delivered at off-site locations throughout California and an anticipated start date of January 2027. Bidders submit pricing for each training course type on a provided Bid Sheet covering all direct and indirect expenses. Payment is made within 45 days of invoicing for satisfactory completion, with 10% retainage pending final completion.

The State applies Small Business (5% preference), Non-Small Business with Small Business subcontracting (5% preference when subcontracting 25% of bid to certified small business), and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (3–5% incentive based on participation level) preferences after evaluation of lowest responsible bidder. The State reserves the right to cancel scheduled courses up to seven days prior to start date and may terminate the contract without cause upon 30 days' advance written notice.