Program Evaluation Services for the Local Community Benefits Fund

The Air District, governing air quality across nine Bay Area counties, seeks program evaluation services for its Local Community Benefits Fund through solicitation 2026-026, with proposals due by August 7, 2026. The contract, valued at $200,000 for Phase A, is structured as a potential six-year Master Services Contract with Phase B extending beyond the initial year, though no maximum ceiling for Phase B funding is specified. The work involves providing technical assistance to approximately 30 community-based grantees in Phase A, focusing on logic model development, indicator definition, and data collection planning, followed by systematic performance tracking, data analysis, and evaluation reporting in Phase B. Evaluation of proposals is based on a weighted point system emphasizing expertise (20%), experience (20%), and methodology (20%), with cost serving only as a tiebreaker among technically equal offerings. Proposals must demonstrate experience working with governmental agencies and communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution, and firms must self-certify that their headquarters are located within the nine-county jurisdiction to qualify for local business preference points. A pass/fail requirement applies to this certification, which directly impacts scoring. The work requires adherence to California laws, including mandatory disclosure of generative AI use in proposal development or contract performance, and all working papers and data produced must be retained for five years and become the exclusive property of the Air District. Proposers must disclose any conflicts of interest by listing all clients served in the past three years, identify all subcontractors with scope and effort estimates, and indemnify the Air District against liability for improper confidentiality claims. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the OpenGov Procurement Portal by the deadline; encrypted files are prohibited, and failure to provide accessible files will result in disqualification. The contracting office is in San Francisco, CA, and while no named COR, COTR, or PCO is identified, the Executive Officer serves as the final contract approver. No formal contract clauses are included in the solicitation, but mandatory representations and submission requirements are clearly outlined across sections, emphasizing transparency, equity, and responsiveness to community needs.