RFP-25-016 STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR CULTURAL RESILIENCE

The California Arts Council is seeking a single vendor to develop a new five- to seven-year strategic plan focused on cultural resilience, equity, and alignment with its mission and vision, with the current framework sunset in 2027. The contract, solicited under RFP-25-016, has a maximum initial budget of $49,999 and the potential for a supplemental award up to $40,001, making the total possible value $89,999. Proposals must be submitted electronically by June 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. PST to Procurement@arts.ca.gov, including a complete package of 18 mandatory attachments such as the Bidder/Proposer Certification Sheet, Cost Proposal Worksheet in Excel, Confidentiality Statement, Contractor Certification Clauses, Darfur Contracting Act compliance, Workers’ Compensation certification (if applicable), Payee Data Records STD 204, Intellectual Property & Copyright certification, and DVBE declarations if applicable. The evaluation is structured with a pass/fail administrative review followed by weighted scoring: 150 points for technical merit—including project narrative, team experience, capacity, references, and alignment with human-centered and racially equitable values—and 30 points for cost, calculated using a formula favoring the lowest bid. Services must be performed in California between June 30, 2026, and April 30, 2027, with deliverables including facilitation of staff workshops, development of an engagement protocol, research summaries, detailed timelines with Gantt charts, meeting documentation, and a finalized strategic plan with metrics and presentation materials. All vendors must comply with state and federal regulations including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, California Labor Code Section 3700, and the Darfur Contracting Act of 2008. Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, naming the State of California as an additional insured, with policies in force throughout the contract term and primary to any state-provided coverage. Intellectual property developed under the contract vests solely in the State, which retains full rights to use, reproduce, and distribute all materials. Payment is made in arrears within 45 days of invoice approval, contingent upon submission of properly documented invoices on letterhead, including contract number, dates of service, hours, rates, and alignment with the Cost Worksheet.