RFQ #26-007 - Smartmatic VSR1 2.1 Voting System

The California Secretary of State is soliciting quotes under RFQ #26-007 for voting system test support services to evaluate the Smartmatic VSR1 2.1 voting system, with quotes due November 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM. A minimum Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation goal of 3% applies. The Secretary of State has waived incentive points for DVBE participation, but bidders must still meet the minimum percentage.

The contractor will serve as a state-approved testing agency, evaluating the system's suitability for use in California under Elections Code sections 19001 et seq. using the California Voting Systems Standards. Scope covers functional, software testing and source code review, security and telecommunications, usability and accessibility, and volume testing, with optional hardware testing. The contractor may subcontract no more than fifty percent of the work.

Mandatory qualifications include at least five years of voting technology system design and security experience, three years of experience with threats to voting systems, five years with Microsoft server and workstation operating systems, three years with Microsoft SQL Server, three years of proven voting technology testing, six years of source code review and analysis, and three years of government-level voting technology testing. Security and telecommunications testing staff require six or more years each in software engineering, information security, penetration testing, and voting technology system security. Two customer experience references demonstrating similar scope and complexity must accompany submission.

Pricing is lump sum and deliverable-based, covering all staffing, subcontractor, and software tool costs, with optional testing and additional services available on a time-and-materials basis. Evaluation is pass/fail for administrative and technical requirements, and award goes to the low-cost responsive bidder meeting all requirements. The anticipated award date is December 1, 2026, and the anticipated term runs January 2, 2027 through January 1, 2029. The contractor must commence work within ten business days of award. Deliverables include multiple test plans, draft and final reports, work papers, and status reports, with most testing deliverables due within three to six months of testing commencement.