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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: July 2, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Bill Gallardo, Interim City Manager;
C. Jeannie Fortune, Interim Director of Finance & Management Services
Department: Finance & Management Services
Subject: Approve a Professional Services Agreement with California Public Policy Group (CPPG) for
Professional Grant Writing Services in an amount not
to exceed $309,000 (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, Authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement between the City of San Bernardino and California Public Policy Group (CPPG), for professional grant writing services for an amount not to exceed $309,000 for a term beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, with an option to extend for two (2) additional years.
Executive Summary
The Grants Division within the Department of Finance & Management Services provides oversight of grant applications on behalf of the City and works with an external consultant for grant writing services through a professional services agreement. The current contract expired on June 30, 2025. Due to the continued priority to seek grant funding, the City released a Request for Proposal (RFP-F-25-1032) for Professional Grant Writing Services. The RFP closed on May 7th, 2025, and the bidder recommended for the award is California Public Policy Group (CPPG). There is sufficient funding in the FY25/26 budget for this agreement.
Background
On December 14, 2021, the City issued an RFP for Grant Resource Development where Renne Public Policy Group was awarded a contract beginning May 9, 2022 through December 1, 2022. As a heighted focus on grants emerged as a priority for the City, The Grants Division was established in mid-2022. With the goal of improved grants management and leveraging grant funding to offset the use of 2 7
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general funds, any awarded grants would enable more projects to be completed and increased outcomes for the residents of the City.
One of the positions created within the Grants Division was for a Grant Writer. Multiple failed recruitments created a shift to continue utilizing an external consultant for grant writing services. The agreement has been amended to extend services annually through June 30, 2025. Given the current Professional Services Agreement had been extended for a third time, staff opted to release an RFP in April 2025.
Discussion
Over the past 3 years, the City has utilized RPPG, professional grant writing consultants, to assist in the development of grant applications to the various local, state, and federal agencies. In October 2024, the grant writing arm of the RPPG firm, separated to form California Public Policy Group and assumed the contract for the remainder of the term (through 6/30/25). To date, the City has received $22.5M in grant awards with an additional $23.2M pending in application submissions with the help of RPPG/CPPG. These awards have provided funding for various projects including the Feldheym Library, street safety improvements, homeless encampment clean-ups, and the bridge assessment/master plan.
On April 9, 2025, the Finance Department issued an RFP (F-25-1032) for Professional Grant Writing Services, inviting qualified grant writing firms to submit their proposals to the City. The RFP was advertised on PlanetBids, the City’s online bid and management publication system. The RFP closed on May 7, 2025, with ten (10) vendors submitted proposals and all were deemed responsive. Proposals were evaluated based on criteria including experience, past performance, and pricing structure. A summary of the evaluation results is provided in the table below:
Vendor Name & Location Proposed Fee
Schedule
Evaluation
Score
(Max. 300
Points)
Blais & Associates LLC $106,960* (Yr. 1)
*grant consulting fees
dependent upon usage
259
California Consulting Inc. $75,000* (Yr. 1)
*Fee based on 500
hours
253
California Public Policy
Group
$102,000* (Yr. 1)
*flat-rate, monthly fee of
$8,500
277
Eleventh House Solutions $ Hourly Staff Rates*
*No annual base
259
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provided
Engineering Solutions
Services Inc.
$94,900* (Yr. 1)
*Average annual cost;
fees dependent upon
usage
248
Innovative Funding Partners $ Fees based on
Product*
*No annual base
provided
251
iParametric LLC $ Fees based on
Product*
*No annual base
provided
257
National Proposal Pros $240,000* (Yr. 1)
*Annual estimated
amount
206
The Ferguson Group LLC $96,000* (Yr. 1)
*Average annual cost;
cost based on usage
252
Villa Civil $ Hourly Staff Rates*
*No annual base
provided
226
Based on the evaluation criteria, staff recommend California Public Policy Group (CPPG) as the most qualified and cost-effective to provide professional grant writing services for the City. CPPG proposed a monthly flat-rate fee of $8,500 a month ($102,000 annually) in years one (1) and (2) and $8,750 a month ($105,000 annual amount) in year three (3) for a total of $309,000 for the 3-year term. The complete terms of the agreement, along with the full scope of services and fee schedule is attached to this staff report.
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
The proposed Professional Services Agreement between the City and CPPG aligns with Key Target Goal No. 1: Improved Operational & Financial Capacity by supporting the City’s ongoing work to secure additional revenue sources.
Fiscal Impact
There will be no fiscal impact to the General Fund associated with this item. There is sufficient funds in the FY25/26 budget for this agreement.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, Authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement between the City of San Bernardino and California Public Policy Group (CPPG), for professional grant writing services for an amount not to exceed 2 7
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$309,000 for a term beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, with an option to extend for two (2) additional years.
Attachments
Attachment 1 Professional Services Agreement - CPPG
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
None