PRE SOLICITATION RFP 74050233 EBT SERVICES

The California Department of Technology, on behalf of the California Health and Human Services Office of Technology and Solutions Integration, is soliciting proposals under RFP 74050233 for Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) services. The contract covers the State's Food and Cash programs, including SUN Bucks and the WIC program. The scope of work includes managing cardholder and retailer automated response units, call centers, web and mobile applications, and the production of compliant EBT cards. A critical component of the contract is the requirement for the contractor to execute an orderly transition-in and a subsequent one-year transition-out to a successor contractor. The procurement utilizes a point-based scoring system totaling 1,000 points, divided between narrative responses (570 points) and cost (400 points). Narrative requirements are evaluated as either mandatory pass/fail or mandatory scorable. Cost proposals must be submitted via detailed worksheets covering transition services, cost-per-case-month, and POS device costs. Bidders must adhere to strict technical standards, including ISO 7813, ISO 8583, and ANSI X9.58, and must provide a CISA Secure Software Development Attestation. Mandatory certifications include compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and a California Call Center Certification for Food and Cash services. Proposals must be submitted in two volumes—Administrative and Technical, and Cost—via a State-managed file-sharing site by December 18, 2026. Bidders can receive a 5% preference for small business status or for non-small businesses with at least 25% California-certified small business subcontractor participation. The State maintains rigorous inspection and acceptance protocols, with final acceptance of transition services withheld until all deliverables are approved.