Outreach and Advertising Services, RFP # 26CROB-001S

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) # 26CROB-001S for Outreach and Advertising Services to support three consumer protection programs: the California Low-Cost Auto Insurance Program (CLCA), Patient and Provider Protection Act (PPPA), and Life and Annuity Consumer Protection Program (LACPP). The selected contractor will develop and execute integrated marketing, communications, and community engagement campaigns designed to increase consumer enrollment and awareness across these programs through regional, in-language, and culturally specific outreach throughout California. Key deliverables include developing outreach plans for community-based organizations and certified producers, creating integrated advertising and social media campaigns, conducting research and analysis, holding evaluation meetings, and providing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports. The contractor must demonstrate a minimum of five years' experience in developing and placing advertisements and managing public awareness outreach, with key personnel requiring specific expertise in public relations, outreach, translation/interpretation, and project management. The RFP evaluation process includes interviews scheduled for March 25-31, 2026, with a notice of intent to award on April 17, 2026, and a proposed award date of April 24, 2026. Written questions must be submitted by February 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM, with final proposals due March 4, 2026, at 4:00 PM, and contract performance commencing no later than July 1, 2026. The contract term is three years with one optional 12-month extension.

CDI intends to award one contract and has established preference programs including a 5 percent small business preference and a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentive of 3-5 percent based on participation level, with a minimum 3 percent DVBE subcontractor participation requirement calculated across all four contract years. Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) eligibility may also apply to qualified respondents. The cost proposal structure reimburses actual expenditures for direct labor at fixed hourly rates (including overhead and fringe benefits), media buys with agency fees capped at 10 percent, direct costs, and subcontractor costs, with 10 percent of invoiced amounts withheld until final satisfactory completion of each project year. The maximum budget is $1,226,250 per year for the three-year base term, totaling $3,678,750, with an additional $1,226,250 available for the optional fourth year, bringing the total potential contract value to $4,905,000. All proposals must be submitted in searchable PDF format to BMB_Procurement@insurance.ca.gov, with a 100-page limit, and must include completed certification forms addressing Commercially Useful Function (CUF) compliance, Small Business or DVBE status, and Darfur Contracting Act requirements. No incumbent vendor information or existing infrastructure integration requirements are specified in the available documentation.