RFP - EDIS90126 Electronic Payment Services

The California State Controller's Office Disbursements Bureau is requesting proposals for Electronic Payment Services under RFP EDIS90126, with proposals due September 9, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time and a mandatory proposers' conference on August 18, 2026.

A five percent Small Business/Minority Business preference is available to certified SB/MB enterprises, and a voluntary Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise incentive of up to five percent applies. Proposers must meet minimum qualifications: at least five years of experience providing electronic payment services, demonstrated Originating Depository Financial Institution (ODFI) status with five years of experience originating at least five million direct deposit transactions monthly, and maintenance of a rolling three-day minimum dollar threshold of $15 billion. These qualifications filter the bidder pool to established financial institutions only.

The scope encompasses comprehensive payment services including direct deposit and Electronic Funds Transfer payments, global digital payments, customer portals, physical prepaid debit cards, digital disbursement platforms, digital checks, and push-to-card payments. Proposers must complete a Security Assessment Questionnaire based on NIST SP 800-53 (Rev. 5) Moderate security controls and provide proof of compliance with NACHA rules, Federal Reserve regulations, the California Information Practices Act, and relevant federal and state laws. All required attachments—organizational charts, financial documentation, and certifications—must accompany proposals; proposals containing links to external sources will be rejected.

The maximum agreement value is $8 million over an initial six-year term, with options to execute up to two additional two-year extensions. Cost proposals will only be opened for proposers achieving a minimum technical score of 1,130 points, and award will be made to the responsive, responsible proposal with the lowest cost. The agreement commences November 1, 2026. Written questions are due August 24, 2026. Interviews and presentations are scheduled for September 28 through October 2, 2026, with notice of intent to award on October 6, 2026.