RFP no. CFF 7783

First 5 California (F5CA) is issuing Request for Proposal No. CFF 7783 to procure comprehensive evaluation services for the Improve and Maximize Programs So All Children Thrive (IMPACT) Legacy initiative, with proposals due by 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on May 19, 2026. The procurement seeks an experienced evaluation firm to assess IMPACT Legacy's implementation across focus areas including expanding access to quality early care and education for priority children and educators, culturally responsive family engagement, and support for multilingual learners. Key deliverables include a detailed evaluation plan with measurable indicators, quarterly and annual progress reports, a final comprehensive evaluation report due by December 31, 2027, data visualizations, policy briefs, and raw datasets in Excel, SAS, or Microsoft SQL Server formats. Qualified bidders must demonstrate at least four years of experience conducting large-scale evaluations, maintain an operational physical office in California where key personnel work, obtain a certificate of good standing from the California Secretary of State, and provide a client reference letter. The technical proposal will be evaluated on 245 points across seven sub-criteria: Agency Capability (30 points), Agency Strengths (50 points), Multicultural and Specific Target Audience Experience (35 points), Collaboration Experience (30 points), Relevant Experience (50 points), Account Staffing Organization Chart and Resumes (25 points), and Evaluation Plan (25 points), with an additional 105 points allocated to the cost proposal. The contract term runs for two years from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with an optional extension of up to twelve additional months, and the Notice of Intent to Award will be issued June 1, 2026, with agreement award on June 9, 2026.

The procurement includes mandatory Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation requirements with a minimum 3% participation level and a potential DVBE participation incentive of up to 5% of total evaluation points. Small Business and Targeted Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) preferences are also available to qualified applicants. The awarded contractor will receive access to prior evaluation reports, briefs, Annual Performance Reports, and Common Data File data, with the understanding that additional data collection may be required through collaboration with Quality Counts California partner agencies and local implementation agencies. All proposal materials must comply with accessibility standards including WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance, and bidders must disclose any potential conflicts of interest with F5CA, IMPACT Legacy, or Quality Counts California funding. Generative Artificial Intelligence use must be disclosed if it materially impacts the proposal as defined by California Government Code 11549.64. The maximum fiscal amount for this agreement is $1,500,000.00, with all costs including personnel, travel, materials, and indirect expenses to be fully detailed in the cost proposal, and a 10 percent withhold will be applied to all contract payments and released per terms specified in the awarded agreement.