IFB #25-011 - 2026 Elections Temporary Staffing

The California Secretary of State's Elections Division is seeking a temporary staffing contractor through Invitation for Bid (IFB) #25-011 to support election operations during the 2026 election cycle. The procurement covers temporary staffing needs from December 8, 2025, through April 9, 2027, spanning both primary and general elections. The contract requires staffing for two primary functions: a Voter Hotline requiring 15-25 workers and a Candidate Filing and Election Night Reporting team of 3 workers. Required staff responsibilities include answering voter and candidate inquiries, performing data entry, document proofing, mail processing, and supporting administrative election-related tasks. Bidders must demonstrate at least three years of experience in temporary staffing services and provide bilingual staff, particularly proficient in English and Spanish. The bid response deadline is August 29, 2025, with a bid opening scheduled for September 4, 2025, and anticipated contract award on September 18, 2025. Evaluation will consider the bidder's experience, staffing capabilities, and ability to meet the specified requirements.

The solicitation mandates a minimum of 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation and requires bidders to have robust capabilities in providing professional, customer-service-oriented temporary staff. The California Secretary of State will provide work areas, necessary equipment, and election-specific training at their Sacramento headquarters. Compensation for the winning bidder will be based on hourly rates for regular, overtime, and double overtime work, with specific rates to be detailed in the bid submission. The state reserves significant contract flexibility, including the ability to amend the contract scope, increase costs up to 30%, and extend the contract term by up to one year based on service needs. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive staffing requirements suggest a potentially significant contract value, particularly given the extended timeframe and staffing volume needed to support critical election infrastructure and operations across multiple California jurisdictions, including Sacramento County and San Francisco City.