RFP R005370 Quantitative Market Simulation Research Services

The California State Lottery is seeking qualified vendors to provide quantitative market simulation research services through RFP R005370, with proposals due May 7, 2026 by 3:00 p.m. The procurement encompasses consumer research studies utilizing spending exercises and market simulations to evaluate Scratchers concepts and other lottery products over an initial two-year contract period with two optional one-year extensions, with an effective date of August 3, 2026. Primary deliverables include written topline reports due no later than eight weeks after project kick-off, comprehensive written final reports with Key Performance Indicator tables, raw data files in SPSS-compatible format, and presentation of findings via Microsoft Teams conference call within four weeks of fielding close. Key objectives include identifying Scratchers concepts with the greatest sales and profit potential, estimating incremental trial, playership, sales, profits, and cannibalization effects at various price points, comparing appeal and player preferences across concepts, and conducting one to two spending exercise studies annually. Minimum qualifications require vendors to have completed at least three quantitative research studies with product concept testing and spending exercises within the past five years and possess the ability to conduct English-only online surveys with spending exercise methodologies requiring respondents to allocate spending across game menus containing a minimum of ten tickets. Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: mandatory submittals (pass/fail), research methodology and analysis (30 points), corporate and personnel qualifications (25 points), project management/deliverables/schedule (15 points), and cost sheet assessment (30 points), with award selection based on best value and highest combined points. The timeline requires intent to bid and written questions by April 20, 2026 by 3:00 p.m., responses posted April 30, 2026, an evaluation period of May 8-21, 2026, and notice of intent to award posted May 26, 2026.

The Lottery has established a 25 percent Small and Microbusiness Participation goal with potential preference up to 5 percent and a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise incentive up to 5 percent, with maximum combined incentives not to exceed $100,000. Pricing is submitted on a fixed cost sheet structure with established rates per survey type including Scratchers Concept Tests, Other Market Simulations, and Choice-Based Exercises, with all costs remaining fixed throughout the contract term; additional costs vary by incidence rate and sample size. All vendors must comply with the California State Lottery's Generative AI Impact Assessment Form (CSL 1499) requirements, which mandate vendors to complete and certify responses regarding any GenAI software solutions used as contract deliverables or to complete contract work, including provisions prohibiting unauthorized sharing of Lottery data with third parties, processing of personally identifiable information without safeguards, storage of data outside the Continental United States, and utilization of Lottery data for GenAI model training. The RFP does not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor does it specify an overall contract value or budget range, indicating that pricing will be evaluated competitively based on vendor cost submissions and the quality and capability of proposed research methodologies.