REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) – NO. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Neighborhood Branch
ISSUED BY
Northern California SBDC Lead Center
a program of
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Sponsored Programs Foundation
Questions about this RFP should be directed to:
Kristin Johnson, NorCal SBDC Executive Director
707-496-7079 or [email protected]
IMPORTANT DATES:
July 17, 2026 RFP Issuance Date
July 23, 2026
3:00-4:30 PM PT
Optional Bidders’ Conference #1 (ONLINE)
REGISTER HERE
July 24, 2026
12:00-1:30 PM PT
Optional Bidders’ Conference #2 (ONLINE)
REGISTER HERE
August 3, 2026
10:00 AM–12:00 PM PT
Optional Bidders’ Conference #3 (IN PERSON)
Courtyard by Marriott Palo Alto-Los Altos
4320 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA
August 4, 2026
10:00 AM–12:00 PM PT
Optional Bidders’ Conference #4 (IN PERSON)
Sheraton Grand Sacramento
1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA
August 18, 2026
5:00 PM PT
DEADLINE: Letter of Intent Submission
September 18, 2026
11:59 PM PT
DEADLINE: Proposal Submission
November 13, 2026 Partner Selections Announced
January 1, 2027 or July 1, 2027 Contract Start Date / Work Commences (Start Date Dependent upon Negotiations)
RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 2 of 19 Table of Contents
Table of Contents.....................................................................................................................3 List of Attachments..................................................................................................................3 Section 1. Program Evolution...................................................................................................4 Section 2. Introduction............................................................................................................ 5
1. Quick Facts............................................................................................................................ 5
2. Purpose................................................................................................................................. 5
3. Reasons for Considering this Solicitation.............................................................................. 6
4. Background Information....................................................................................................... 6
5. SBDC Services........................................................................................................................7
6. Partnership Model................................................................................................................ 7
7. Authorizing Legislation and Funding Sources....................................................................... 7
8. Applicant Eligibility................................................................................................................8
9. Service Territory and Funding Available................................................................................8
10. General Information............................................................................................................9
11. Bidder’s Costs....................................................................................................................10 Section 3. SBDC Program Overview and Host Requirements.................................................. 11
1. Focus on Economic Results................................................................................................. 11
2. Core SBDC Services............................................................................................................. 11
3. SBDC Workforce.................................................................................................................13
4. Host Requirements............................................................................................................. 13 Section 4. Proposal Submission Process................................................................................. 15
1. Letter of Intent.................................................................................................................... 15
2. Proposal Submission........................................................................................................... 15
3. Technical Proposal...............................................................................................................15
4. Certifications and Assurances............................................................................................. 16
5. Additional Supporting Documents......................................................................................16 Section 5. Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria...............................................................18
1. Selection Process................................................................................................................ 18
2. Proposal Evaluation Criteria................................................................................................18
3. Grounds for Rejection......................................................................................................... 19
4. Debriefing........................................................................................................................... 19 List of Attachments
Attachment 1 – Certification of Host Cash Match
Attachment 2 – Certification Regarding Lobbying
Attachment 3 – Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Exclusion RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 3 of 19 Section 1. Program Evolution
Beginning January 2027, the Northern California Small Business Development Center program (NorCal SBDC) will implement a revised service delivery model designed to meet the evolving demands of entrepreneurs and small business owners. Upcoming changes described below and throughout this document are in response to a number of economic factors, and aim to make NorCal SBDC a more sustainable and impactful program.
Through a combination of regional coordination, expanded neighborhood-based access points, and streamlined administrative support, NorCal SBDC aims to make it easier for businesses to connect with the right advisor, receive timely assistance, and access the full range of resources available throughout the network. At the same time, local communities will continue to benefit from dedicated support tailored to their unique economic and entrepreneurial needs.
The changes described below are intended to strengthen service delivery, expand collaboration, improve operational efficiency, and strategically position NorCal SBDC to be relevant and effective for years to come.
Summary of Changes from Existing SBDC Infrastructure
Introduction of SBDC
Neighborhood
Branches
20+ Neighborhood Branches will exist throughout the 36-county area, and report into the eight SBDC Centers. Each Neighborhood Branch will focus specifically on services to one city or community grouping.
Eight (8) SBDC
Centers with Larger
Territories
Each SBDC Center will oversee all SBDC services conducted within one of eight multi-county areas.
A separate RFP process to host an SBDC multi-county Area is underway. Please see RFP NO. 2026-SBDC-01 for additional details.
All Fiscal Hosting by
Cal Poly Humboldt
Sponsored Programs
Foundation (CPHSPF)
CPHSPF will be responsible for all budgeting, accounting, and will take on the burden of full cashflow needs for all Neighborhood Branches.
Local hosts to the Branches will not be responsible for accounting, fiscal reporting, or fiscal reviews/audits.
All Key Staff
Employed by CPHSPF
Each of the eight centers will have a locally-stationed Area Director and Associate Director, and there will be a pool of Program Assistants to coordinate activities in each area. All of these positions will be posted by CPHSPF, and all employees will report directly to the Lead Center of the NorCal SBDC.
All Business Advisors
Contracted through
CPHSPF
All business advisors in the NorCal SBDC program will become contractors of CPHSPF. The contracted business advisors will be located throughout the 36-county region. The eight SBDC Centers will RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 4 of 19 oversee the advisors.
A solicitation for Business Advisors is also underway. Please see RFQ NO. 2026-SBDC-03 for additional details.
Increased focus on
Innovation,
Technology and AI
NorCal SBDC will move towards offering tech and innovation assistance throughout the network– not solely from the Tech Futures Group SBDC. Each NorCal SBDC Center will actively make connections with incubators, accelerators and other technology-focused organizations.
NorCal SBDC will continue and increase integration of artificial intelligence (AI) as a topic of business assistance, as well as increase utilization of AI for network efficiency in operations.
Section 2. Introduction
1. Quick Facts
● Issuing Entity– California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt – Sponsored Programs Foundation (CPHSPF)
● Prime Funders – U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
● Announcement Type: Initial – Open
● RFP Number: 2026-SBDC-02
● Closing date for submissions: Proposals are due by 5 PM PST on September 18, 2026.
Entities planning to submit a proposal are strongly encouraged to first submit a letter of intent, no later than 5 PM PST on August 18, 2026.
● Funding Amount: Up to $2,000,000 is available for SBDC Neighborhood Branches.
Individual branches will be allocated between $35,000 and $100,000. ● Number of Awards: It is expected that 20+ individual agreements will be funded. ● Funding Cycle: Funding is on an annual cycle of either January to December-OR- July to June. Contracts will be eligible for annual renewal for up to six (6) years.
2. Purpose
This Request for Proposals (RFP) is being issued from the Northern California Small Business Development Center Program (NorCal SBDC) hosted by California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation (CPHSPF), which, through a shared cooperative agreement with the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), serves as host to the NorCal SBDC. This RFP is intended to identify local cities, counties and other partners to host the delivery of high-quality services to small businesses and new entrepreneurs, allowing them to start and grow businesses, create jobs, increase sales, and gain capital and investment. The goal of this RFP is to utilize a competitive process to RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 5 of 19 leverage resources and partnerships in a manner that will achieve the greatest outcomes for the small business community in Northern California while ensuring accountability, transparency, and impact for the state and federal taxpayer dollars used to fund the program.
3. Reasons for Considering this Solicitation
Small Business Development Centers provide direct and measurable economic benefits to the communities they serve. Established during the Carter administration, SBDCs are designed to stimulate business formation and contribute to long-term business success and survivability. The SBDC program is the largest federally designated technical assistance program focused on supporting startup and growing small businesses in all 50 states and U.S. territories. SBDC host organizations join a collaborative network that shares expertise, resources, and connections to strengthen economic development efforts and achieve shared goals.
Hosting an SBDC Neighborhood Branch enables an organization to advance their own economic development plan while expanding support for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Additional benefits include:
● An opportunity to leverage SBDC funding from federal, state, foundation, and corporate resources for mutually beneficial programming.
● A vehicle for providing focused, tailored services directly to a specific jurisdiction’s business community;
● Access to quantitative and qualitative data per jurisdiction on client service levels and business success outcomes for reporting, strategic planning, and stakeholder communications;
● Increased visibility for the organization within the region and state; ● A deeper understanding of business community needs;
● Expanded partnership opportunities with institutions of higher education and other economic development organizations in the region and state; ● Collaborative opportunities with strategic public and private sector partners; ● Enhanced digital presence for the organization through websites and social media; ● An ability to offer tangible benefits to local constituents.
This opportunity positions host jurisdictions and organizations to leverage significant resources, demonstrate measurable impact, strengthen regional partnerships, and become part of one of the nation's largest economic development networks.
4. Background Information
The NorCal SBDC Network is the collaborative partnership between the SBA, GO-Biz and CPHSPF, supporting businesses in the northernmost 36 counties in California, stretching from Santa Cruz to Crescent City, and from Stockton to Alturas, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and the Sacramento metro region. The NorCal SBDC Network provides technical services (advising and training) to existing and emerging small businesses with a focus on growth industries in the region. Each host organization for a local service RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 6 of 19 location becomes a partner in the NorCal SBDC Network via a contract with CPHSPF.
The administrative headquarters for NorCal SBDC is called the Lead Center. The Lead Center is the entity that is engaged via a Cooperative Agreement with the SBA, and via contract with GO-Biz to administer the network. The Lead Center for the NorCal SBDC Network is hosted by the Sponsored Programs Foundation of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, the northernmost university in the CSU system. The offices of the NorCal SBDC Lead Center are located in Arcata, California, and Kristin Johnson is the Northern CA SBDC Executive Director.
Per federal regulation, the NorCal SBDC Executive Director is granted the authority and is directly responsible for assigning and achieving the goals and objectives of the program. The Executive Director is the primary contact for strategic direction and for monitoring and overseeing the investments and outcomes of the program.
5. SBDC Services
Per its mandate, the SBDC program is designed to provide high-quality business and economic development assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs to promote business start-up, growth, expansion, innovation, profitability, management improvement, and job creation. Each local service location provides in-depth, high-quality assistance to small businesses in complex areas that require specialized expertise. These areas may include, but are not limited to: management, marketing, financing, accounting, strategic planning, regulation and taxation, capital formation, venture capital, procurement, human resource management, production, operations, economic and business data analysis, engineering, technology transfer, innovation and research, artificial intelligence (AI) integration, new product development or commercialization, product analysis, plant layout and design, agriculture, business law and referral, exporting, office automation, site selection, or any other areas of assistance required to promote small business growth, expansion and productivity. In addition to advising, the NorCal SBDC Network provides training, conducts special events, and provides business-specific research and referral services.
6. Partnership Model
The Northern California SBDC Network is a shared partnership among its various vested partners. The partnership concept stresses the participation of each partner in the strategic direction, operation, and service delivery of the network. Shared financial partnering is specifically defined as an SBDC characteristic. Local host partners are expected to contribute funding to support SBDC services and create lasting positive economic impact in their communities. Note that the term “partnership” does not mean the creation of a legal entity partnership, but rather the creation of a relationship that is characterized by mutual cooperation and responsibility for the achievement of common goals.
7. Authorizing Legislation and Funding Sources
The SBDC Program is authorized through Congress and partially funded by the U.S. SBA and RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 7 of 19 by GO-Biz. The NorCal SBDC is governed by Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. § 648), federal regulations 13 C.F.R. Part 130, and California Government Code Section 12100-12100.69. Although the Lead Center is responsible for the general management and oversight of the NorCal SBDC program, a partnership exists between SBA, GO-Biz, the Lead Center, and the local host partners for the delivery of assistance to the small business community in the region. SBDCs, under Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. § 648), are required to provide advising and training to small businesses, including working with the SBA to develop and provide informational tools to support business start-ups and existing business expansion. In addition, pursuant to 13 CFR Part 130.330(c), SBA may, from time to time, identify certain Special Emphasis Initiatives to be targeted for assistance by SBDCs. The NorCal SBDC Network maintains a strong working relationship with the SBA District Offices located in San Francisco and Sacramento, California.
All SBDC services are provided pursuant to the NorCal SBDC Network Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. SBA; Federal OMB circulars; U.S. SBA Guidelines and Regulations; Grant Agreements between GO-Biz and CPHSPF; and the CPHSPF Policy and Procedures Manual.
8. Applicant Eligibility
Eligible host organizations include:
● Local municipalities or counties;
OR
● Organizations that work closely with a specific jurisdiction in the area of economic development, including:
o Chambers of commerce
o Fully accredited institutions of higher education such as public and private universities, state and community colleges;
o Public economic development institutions such as workforce investment boards and economic development corporations; and
o Local incubators, accelerators or private nonprofit corporations engaged in economic development activities;
Proposals will only be accepted from organizations that:
● Are qualified to conduct business in the State of California; ● Are in good standing with the Secretary of State; and ● Have not been debarred or had contracts terminated by the federal government, State of California or local government.
● Are not a for-profit business.
9. Service Territory and Funding Available
The 36-county region is first split into eight service territories. Each of the eight territories maintains multiple Neighborhood Branches. The Lead Center intends to select 20+ Neighborhood Branches. In the proposal, each applicant must choose the level of SBDC services they desire to be focused on in their particular city/county. (See below.) The Lead RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 8 of 19 Center reserves the right to reallocate funding to best meet the needs of the business community. All funding amounts are projected and are subject to change based on availability of federal and state funds.
SBDC
Neighborhood
Branch Level Services Included
Annual
Base
Funding
from
CPHSPF
Annual
Funding from
Applicant
Organization
SBDC
Neighborhood
Branch
Operating
Budget
A Onsite advising, two days per week, 50 weeks per year $35,000 $35,000 $70,000 B
Onsite advising, two day per week, 50 weeks per year
Six training events- one every other month $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 C
Onsite advising, three days per week, 50 weeks per year Twelve (12) training events–one per month $75,000 $75,000 $150,000 D
Onsite advising, four days per week, 50 weeks per year
Twelve (12) training events– one per month $100,000 $100,000 $200,000
10. General Information
This RFP is for proposals to serve as SBDC Neighborhood Branch hosts for a six-year period commencing either January 1, 2027 and ending December 31, 2032 or commencing July 1, 2027 and ending June 30, 2033. Contracts will be issued annually. The first contracts between CPHSPF and the successful bidders are expected to begin on January 1, 2027 or July 1, 2027. SBDC Neighborhood Branch host partners demonstrating satisfactory collaboration will have their contracts renewed annually for up to five additional years, provided funding to do so is appropriated for this purpose in subsequent federal, state, and CPHSPF budgets. The Network anticipates issuing an RFP prior to awarding of contracts in 2033. The Lead Center reserves the right to terminate the contracts of organizations for noncompliance according to the terms of the contracts issued, as well as to add organizations prior to 2033 as needed to meet service delivery goals.
The bidding process for this procurement is competitive and proposals will be judged based on their compliance with RFP guidelines, and each respondent’s ability to meet stated requirements in Section 3, SBDC Program Overview and Host Requirements and Section 4, Proposal Submission Process. Only those proposals that meet these requirements will be evaluated according to the criteria in Section 5, Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria.
Further review may occur through interviews and/or site visits to one or more applicants.
Oral communications with CPHSPF officers and employees shall be non-binding on CPHSPF and shall in no way exclude the bidder of obligations as set forth in this package.
CPHSPF reserves the right to amend, alter or change the rules and conditions contained in this RFP prior to the deadline for submission of proposals.
CPHSPF reserves the right to negotiate with any qualified applicant, or to modify or cancel in RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 9 of 19 part or in its entirety contract provisions if it is in the best interest of CPHSPF to do so.
CPHSPF reserves the right to extend the submission deadline should this be in the best interest of CPHSPF. Proposing organizations will have the right to revise their proposals in the event that the deadline is extended.
Upon award of contracts to the successful bidders, the contract will be between CPHSPF and the applicant organization.
11. Bidder’s Costs
Costs for developing proposals are entirely the responsibility of the bidder and shall not be reimbursed by CPHSPF.
RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 10 of 19 Section 3. SBDC Program Overview and Host Requirements
1. Focus on Economic Results
A core differentiator between the SBDC and other federal, state, and local business assistance programs is the SBDC’s focus on economic results (quantifiable successes) produced by its services. All SBDC advising aims at creating measurable outcomes with each client business, including: business startups, increases in sales, obtaining loan financing or equity investment (capital infusion), job creation and job retention. Annually, more than 40% of NorCal SBDC business clients should achieve one of these measurable results.
Applicants should note that the SBDC is not a social, entitlement, or workforce development program. The Network’s business model is to serve small business owners and entrepreneurs. Training of employees (workforce) is not an eligible activity of the program.
SBDCs serve both startup and existing businesses. The primary focus of the NorCal SBDC Network is on existing (in business) companies. Sixty-five percent (65%) of all clients receiving services from the NorCal SBDC are small businesses that are beyond the startup phase of operations and are specifically looking for help growing their enterprises and responding to challenges and opportunities in their industries. The local SBDC Neighborhood Branch will deliver in-depth and high-quality confidential business advising and assistance with access to capital.
2. Core SBDC Services
a. Advising
The core service provided through SBDC is advising. The SBDC shall design and provide quality advising services through the Neighborhood Branches to improve the skills and knowledge of existing and prospective small business owners. All advising shall have an identified and measurable goal that is agreed upon by an advisor and a client.
Business assistance topics that will be available to clients at a Neighborhood Branch shall include: operations, manufacturing, engineering, evaluation and adoption of new technology solutions, artificial intelligence, personnel administration, marketing, sales, merchandising, accounting, loan readiness, technology commercialization, equity financing, securing loans, business strategy development and other disciplines required for small business growth, expansion, innovation, productivity, and/or management improvement.
Fees may not be charged for SBDC advising. If an applicant to this RFP serves fee-based clients, methods must be identified and clearly described for how referrals will be made to the SBDC and how the bidder will ensure conflicts will not arise between fee-based and free advising.
RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 11 of 19 b. Capital Access Assistance
All SBDC Neighborhood Branches will assist small businesses in obtaining growth capital through lending and equity investments. Services in this area shall include business plan development, financial statement preparation and analysis, cash flow preparation and analysis, understanding lending terms, loan application assistance, coaching on presentations for equity investors, etc.
c. Assistance to Innovation and Technology Companies
The SBDC Neighborhood Branch shall have access to specialized advising and commercialization assistance to innovation-driven and technology-based companies seeking to develop, launch, commercialize, and scale new products, services, and technologies. Opportunistically, the SBDC shall maintain relationships with universities, research institutions, incubators, accelerators, venture capital firms, angel investor groups, corporate innovation programs, and other technology ecosystem partners to connect clients with specialized resources and funding opportunities. d. Client Activity and Performance Tracking
The ability of the NorCal SBDC to measure and report client impact is essential to demonstrating program effectiveness. Client advising activity and economic outcomes are tracked on an ongoing basis to evaluate program performance and report the impact of services delivered throughout the network.
The NorCal SBDC utilizes NeoSerra, its proprietary client management and reporting system, to document client engagement, advising activity, and economic outcomes. The NorCal SBDC workforce is responsible for the collection, maintenance, and reporting of program performance data.
Program performance and client outcomes are regularly reviewed by Leadership and shared with Neighborhood Branch Hosts to evaluate service delivery and overall program impact. Neighborhood Branch Hosts are not responsible for entering or maintaining data within NeoSerra.
e. Training
Each SBDC Neighborhood Branch may offer local trainings/ workshops that are relevant to groups of business owners and/or entrepreneurs in their proposed service area.
Trainings can and should also be a good way to generate new advising leads. All local trainings should be co-sponsored with the private sector and other organizations, to extend outreach and productivity.
While local trainings provide education on topics that many small businesses have in common, trainings should be viewed as a secondary service of the SBDC, behind advising, capital access assistance, and assistance to innovation companies.
Regional online trainings presented by the Lead Center support businesses throughout RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 12 of 19 the 36-county footprint of NorCal SBDC and should not be duplicated at the local level, unless expressly requested by a partner organization.
3. SBDC Workforce
a. CPHSPF will directly employ an Area Director and an Associate Director who will work with the Neighborhood Branch host organization to coordinate services. Business Advisors providing 1-on-1 advising and training will all be CPHSPF contractors. Work of the contract advisors will be overseen by the Area Director and Associate Director. All employees and contractors will be recruited and selected by the Lead Center’s established hiring and procurement processes.
4. Host Requirements
a. Facilities
Each SBDC Neighborhood Branch shall maintain one or more visible, professional, fully-equipped office location(s) that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. A dedicated and secured area must be provided to meet with clients and must be adequate to protect client confidentiality. Each Neighborhood Branch must have access to adequate conference room facilities to accommodate group training sessions. Conference rooms may be at a different physical address from the office location(s). Each Neighborhood Branch facility shall have access to parking for business clients and employees.
b. Position inside host organization
A special note for counties and municipalities: When a county or municipality is the host organization for a Neighborhood Branch, services are usually managed within the unit of the county or municipality that is responsible for economic development, community development, and business permitting and/or workforce development. If a city or municipality is applying to host an SBDC that delivers services beyond its geographic borders, the bidder must have the authority to work outside these boundaries.
c. Participation in Centralized Intake
Participation in Centralized Intake is mandatory for all Neighborhood Branches. The NorCal SBDC leads the nation in its utilization of a centralized intake team, where incoming clients are registered by specially trained staff housed at the Lead Center. All prospective clients seeking SBDC services must be referred through the Centralized Intake process to ensure consistent registration, onboarding, and assignment to the most appropriate Advisor based on the client's needs and geography. This approach reduces administrative burden for Neighborhood Branches while providing a high-quality, consistent intake experience for new clients. e. Community Leadership & Partnerships
The Neighborhood Branch Host is expected to leverage its relationships and regional RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 13 of 19 presence to help increase awareness of the NorCal SBDC and facilitate connections with organizations that support entrepreneurship, innovation, and small business development within the community. The Host should maintain regular communication and collaborate with the NorCal SBDC Lead Center to strengthen community partnerships and expand awareness of SBDC services.
This may include connecting the NorCal SBDC with financial institutions, capital providers, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, colleges and universities, business associations, community-based organizations, and other strategic partners.
The Neighborhood Branch Host should also help identify opportunities to strengthen the visibility, reach, and long-term impact of the Neighborhood Branch within the community.
f. Local Financial Contribution
The Neighborhood Branch Host shall provide a local financial contribution equal to the selected SBDC investment level ($35,000–$100,000). The local contribution demonstrates the Host's commitment to supporting small business development within the community and ensures a shared investment in the success of the Neighborhood Branch.
All Neighborhood Branch funding and matching contributions shall be dedicated exclusively to the services and activities of that specific Neighborhood Branch.
RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 14 of 19 Section 4. Proposal Submission Process
1. Letter of Intent
Organizations wishing to submit a proposal in response to this RFP are strongly encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent to the NorCal SBDC Lead Center by 5:00 PM PDT on August 18, 2026.
Letters of Intent should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) or PDF, addressed to Kristin Johnson, Executive Director, and emailed to [email protected].
At a minimum, the Letter of Intent should include:
● Organization name and address
● Primary contact name, title, phone number, and email address ● The requested SBDC Neighborhood Branch city or county.
2. Proposal Submission
All proposals must be completed and submitted through the StartUpTree application portal:
https://norcalsbdc.startuptree.org/competitions
The application portal will open on July 17, 2026, at 12:00 AM PDT and will close at 5:00 PM PDT on September 18, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Applicants must first create a StartUpTree user account to access the proposal. Once logged in, complete all required questions and upload all requested documents through the StartUpTree portal. Some questions contain multiple prompts. Carefully review each question and ensure your response addresses all requested information.
Suggested word counts displayed within StartUpTree are provided for guidance only and are not enforced.
For the best experience, applicants are encouraged to draft responses in a separate Word or Google document before entering them into StartUpTree. Although applications may be saved and revisited before submission, applicants are strongly encouraged to maintain a separate copy of their responses.
3. Technical Proposal
Complete the following questions within StartUpTree and upload requested documentation.
Suggested response lengths are provided within the StartUpTree application to help applicants prepare concise, complete responses.
a. Organization Background
○ Provide a brief overview of your organization, including the community it serves and RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 15 of 19 its target constituents/clients.
○ If the applicant is not a municipality, describe the location(s) in which the organization operates and its relationship with the local municipality. ○ Does the organization have a preexisting relationship with the NorCal SBDC? If so, please elaborate.
b. Goal Alignment
○ Explain how hosting an SBDC Neighborhood Branch would align with your organization’s economic development priorities, business growth goals, CEDS plans, or other long-term economic initiatives.
c. Proposed Location(s)
○ Describe the proposed SBDC Neighborhood Branch location(s) and facilities, including how they will provide convenient access for the small business community being served.
○ For each proposed facility, indicate whether the space is currently under the control of the applicant or if it must be identified, negotiated, and/or leased. d. Facility Requirements
○ Select all facility requirements that can be accommodated at the proposed location(s).
i. ☐ Accessible for individuals with disabilities
ii. ☐ Ability to display temporary SBDC signage
iii. ☐ Private office space for one-on-one advising
iv. ☐ Accessible free or low-cost parking
e. Programming
○ Describe the specialty or emphasis areas the proposed SBDC Neighborhood Branch should focus on. Include any industries that should be prioritized and any language capabilities needed to best serve the local community.
f. Partnerships
○ Describe any significant existing relationships your organization has with lenders, venture capital firms, angel investors, or other capital partners that may be leveraged to support clients of the proposed SBDC Neighborhood Branch. ○ If your organization has existing partnerships with innovation/technology incubators, accelerators or similar, please describe them.
4. Certifications and Assurances
Applications submitted without these documents will be considered incomplete. a. Complete and upload Attachment 1 (“Certification of Host Cash Match”) b. Complete and upload Attachment 2 (“Certification Regarding Lobbying”) c. Complete and upload Attachment 3 (“Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion”)
5. Additional Supporting Documents
a. Upload any additional supporting documents you would like to include with your RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 16 of 19 application, such as letters of support or organizational collateral. If submitting more than one document, combine all files into a single PDF before uploading. Additional attachments are optional.
RFP No. 2026-SBDC-02
Small Business Development Center Program Announcement 17 of 19 Section 5. Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria
1. Selection Process
a. After the period has closed for receipt of proposals, each proposal will be evaluated to determine compliance with the requirements of this RFP. If a proposal does not meet all requirements, it will be considered nonresponsive and rejected from further evaluation. b. The evaluation committee will then review all responsive proposals against the evaluation criteria listed below. Proposals will be ranked based upon score. c. The evaluation committee reserves the right to designate one or more members of the committee to perform oral interviews with one or more finalists. The oral interviews will confirm information presented in the proposal.
d. The evaluation committee reserves the right to designate one or more members of the committee to perform in-person site visits with one or more finalists. The site visits will confirm information presented in the proposal and oral interviews. e. A contract will be awarded to applicants with highly scored proposals, and any additional information gathered from oral interviews and/or site visits, if deemed necessary. f. CPHSPF reserves the right not to award any awards.
g. Upon selection of proposed recipients, a Notice of Intent to Award will be posted for five (5) working days at the NorCal SBDC Lead Center Office, StartUp Humboldt, 876 7th St, Arcata, CA 95521. A Notice of Intent to Award will also be posted online at www.norcalsbdc.org. Winning bidders will be notified verbally or in writing as to their selection as the proposed contract awardee at the time CPHSPF posts the Notice of Intent to Award.
h. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing on the date CPHSPF posts the Notice of Awards.
i. Preliminary contract negotiations shall begin on the sixth workday after the date the Notice of Intent to Award is posted.
2. Proposal Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be reviewed and scored by an evaluation committee. Evaluation of proposals will be based on the criteria shown.
Criteria Points
HOST ORGANIZATION ALIGNMENT
Host organization’s goal alignment with SBDC programming and the local city/county economic development plans.
Up to 40
FINANCIAL STABILITY
Organization is well positioned to provide cash match funds for SBDC; capacity for growth; long-term sustainability of organization is not in question.
Up to 25
PROPOSED LOCATION(S)
Host organization’s office and training locations are accessible and reasonably simple for business owners to find. No or low cost parking is available.
Up to 20
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PARTNERSHIPS
Evidence of relationships with lenders, equity capital firms, or innovation/technology-related organizations.
Up to 15
Total Points Possible 100 points
3. Grounds for Rejection
a. CPHSPF reserves the right to waive any immaterial deviation in a proposal; however, the waiver of an immaterial deviation in a proposal shall in no way modify the document or excuse the bidder from full compliance with the proposal requirements after the bidder is awarded the contract.
b. A proposal shall be rejected if:
1) The proposal package is received after the time and date set for receipt of proposals.
2) The proposal contains false or misleading statements or references which do not support an attribute or condition contended by the bidder; and if, in the opinion of CPHSPF, such information was intended to erroneously mislead CPHSPF in its evaluation of the proposal.
3) The proposal is confidential, conditional, incomplete, or if it contains any irregularities.
4) The bidder does not meet the required cash match dollar amount. 5) The Certification of Local Match is incomplete.
6) The proposal does not include all Certifications and Assurances. 7) All signatures are not provided.
4. Debriefing
Written debriefings of the evaluation results will not be provided to unsuccessful proposals. Oral debriefings may be provided at CPHSPF's discretion.
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