RFP-24-005 Creative Economy Regional Engagement Partners

The California Arts Council (CAC) is seeking multiple regional partners through RFP-24-005 for the Creative Economy Regional Engagement Partners (CEREP) initiative, aimed at supporting community engagement around the Creative Economy Strategic Plan. The procurement is designed to award contracts to up to 8 vendors who will lead regionally specific community engagement efforts, conduct community research, collect stories, and contribute to developing a final Addendum document. Qualified bidders include California Independent Contractors, Individuals, Sole Proprietors, Partnerships, California Certified Small Businesses, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, 501(c)(3) organizations, private for-profit organizations, and organizations with joint powers agreements based in California. The proposal submission deadline is May 26, 2025, by 5 PM PST, with a final contract due date of June 13, 2025. Evaluation will be conducted using an attached scoring rubric, and bidders must comply with specific instructions outlined in the RFP document. Proposers are required to submit various mandatory attachments, including a Region Preferences Form, Confidentiality Statement, Cost Proposal Worksheet, and several certification documents.

The contract opportunity includes specific set-aside and preference provisions for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE), with incentive forms available for participants. Each regional partner will receive a maximum budget of $21,750 for their engagement efforts, with separate cost proposals required for multiple region bids. The procurement encompasses a wide range of California jurisdictions, from major counties like Los Angeles and San Diego to smaller regions and census-designated places. Bidders must complete comprehensive documentation, including Contractor Certification Clauses, a GenAI Notification Clause, and various state-mandated forms such as the Payee Data Record and Workers' Compensation Certification. Additional requirements include compliance with the Darfur Contracting Act and submission of detailed business documentation. The CAC has also provided supplementary resources like a FAQ document and Q&A document to assist potential bidders in understanding the full scope of the engagement opportunity.