Cannabis Integration System (CSI) - DCC

The California Department of Cannabis Control is seeking to consolidate its two legacy Accela-based systems—the Cannabis Licensing, Enforcement, and Reporting (CLEaR) system and the Cultivation Licensing System (CLS)—into a single unified Cannabis Integration System (CSI) to streamline licensure, compliance, and enforcement activities across all cannabis sectors in the state. The CLEaR system currently manages retail, distribution, laboratory, transportation, microbusiness, event, and manufactured cannabis operations, while the CLS is dedicated exclusively to cultivation licensing and oversight. The new CSI will centralize data and operations into a cloud-based SaaS platform, enhancing operational efficiency, improving data-driven decision-making, accelerating regulatory compliance, and delivering a more cohesive customer experience for license applicants and stakeholders. The contractor will be responsible for configuring, developing, implementing, and migrating all functionality from the legacy systems under a phased approach, with deliverables including a Functional Design Document, Test Management Plan, Maintenance and Operations Plan, Disaster Recovery Plan, and comprehensive data migration outputs, all governed by strict State standards including cloud computing and data security specifications. The solicitation, issued under number 0000039409 with a response deadline of April 14, 2027, requires full compliance with state-specific administrative and technical protocols, including the submission of 19 attachments covering bidder qualifications, key personnel credentials, references, confidentiality, workers’ compensation, and socioeconomic certifications such as Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) status. Proposals must be structured into two volumes: Volume 1 containing administrative and technical responses limited to 60 pages with specific font and formatting requirements, and Volume 2 containing an encrypted MS Excel cost workbook submitted via a secure state portal. Evaluation is weighted 60% toward non-cost factors—primarily the narrative response, ease of use, workflow automation, and expected results—with key staff qualifications, bidder references, and administrative compliance playing critical roles in scoring. Cost accounts for 40% of the total evaluation, and awards will be determined through a trade-off process rather than lowest price technically acceptable. The estimated contract value ranges from $2.48 million for the base term to $4.905 million with optional years, with payment processed electronically through the Department’s designated email. All work must comply with mandatory security requirements including background checks, non-disclosure agreements, and staff training, and full system acceptance requires 45 consecutive days of stable post-production operation, culminating in formal written sign-off by the