Adult Education Professional Development
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Question and Answer Document

All references to Request for Proposals (RFP) in this document are to the Adult Education Professional Development (AEPD) Request for Proposals that was released on October 29, 2025. The answers have been organized by sections of the RFP, as submitted by the potential bidders, without reference to the individual or company asking the question.

Section 2 – General Proposal Information

1. Section 2.1: When the RFP states "In the event the bidder is subcontracting more than 25 percent to any one subcontractor" - is that 25% referring to labor or a percentage of funding?
   
   Answer: Please refer to the last paragraph in Section 2.1 in its entirety. “The bidder responding to this RFP must serve as the Prime Contractor and will be the entity responsible for ensuring that all tasks and activities are competently and successfully completed. In the event the bidder is subcontracting more than 25 percent to any one subcontractor, then that subcontractor must also meet the minimum qualifications listed in Section 2.2 below. (Refer to RFP – Section 2.8 for the definition of “Prime Contractor.”)”
   
   
2. Section 2.2: Can the required bidder's experience come from a team of people?
   
   Answer: Pursuant to Section 2.1, eligible bidders may be “sole proprietorships, partnerships, public or private agencies, unincorporated organizations or associations.” Also, from Section 2.2, “The bidder responding to this RFP must serve as the Prime Contractor and therefore must meet the Minimum Qualifications for Bidders as stated in this section. The Prime Contractor must have the experience and qualifications to provide oversight to all proposed subcontractors and review and approve work products created by all proposed subcontractors.”
   
   
3. Section 2.2: Can the required bidder's experience come from subcontractors?
   
   Answer: Please refer to Section 2.2, “The bidder responding to this RFP must serve as the Prime Contractor and therefore must meet the Minimum Qualifications for Bidders as stated in this section. The Prime Contractor must have the experience and qualifications to provide oversight to all proposed subcontractors and review and approve work products created by all proposed subcontractors.”
   
   
4. Section 2.2: The RFP states that the bidder must have experience working with adult educators in a variety of contexts with five listed (adult schools, public libraries, correctional facilities, CBOs, and community colleges) is the successful bidder required to have experience in all six of those contexts?
   
   Answer: Yes. Refer to Section 2.2, “bidders must have experience working with adult educators in a variety of contexts such as adult schools, public libraries, correctional facilities, CBOs, and community colleges.”
   
   
5. Section 2.2: How can we connect with a prime contractor?
   
   Answer: Subcontractors or prime contractors may look for or post ads on the main Cal eProcure RFP advertisement at https://caleprocure.ca.gov/event/6100/0000037121. See Cal eProcure FAQs: https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/faq.aspx.

Section 3 – Proposal Specifications

6. Section 3.1.3: Fiscal Manager - Can this person be a "subcontractor" or is the "employee" relationship a strict requirement?
   
   Answer: Please refer to Section 3.1.3 Organization Structure and Personnel Resources, Paragraph 3. Fiscal Manager. “The Fiscal Manager must be an employee of the Prime Contractor.”
   
   
7. Section 3.3.4.A: Are fringe/benefits to be shown as part of labor lines or as a separate line?
   
   Answer: It can be shown in labor or as a separate line. Please refer to Section 3.3.1, “The total contract bid amount must be for all tasks and subtasks specified in the scope of the project (Refer to Section 7, Scope of Project, for required tasks and subtasks), including work performed by subcontractors, independent consultants, and all related labor costs, travel, overhead or indirect costs. No costs, direct or indirect, shall be omitted from the Cost Proposal. Failure to provide detailed costs by prime/subcontractor and by task and subtask, and by fiscal year may result in the disqualification of the bidder’s proposal. Detailed costs must correlate with the tasks and subtasks set forth in Section 7 of this RFP.”
   
   
8. Section 3.3.4.C: Is there an acceptable indirect cost rate cap and is there a federally negotiated indirect rate agreement required as part of the submission?
   
   Answer: There is no cap. Overhead and indirect costs must meet the terms of this RFP and all “Costs/rates must be reasonable. Every component of the cost is subject to the reasonableness of cost justification to Department of General Services (DGS), who may approve it at its discretion. If any portion of the cost is rejected by DGS, then the entire bid may be rejected.” (Section 3.3.1)
   
   
9. Section 3.3.4.D: Any special approval process for out-of-state travel?
   
   Answer: Please refer to Section 8.5 Prior Approval of Out-of-State Travel.
   
   
10. Section 3.3.4.E: Does CDE have specific limitations regarding the hourly rates for facilitators and trainers hired as consultants by the vendor for this task?
    
    Answer: There are no limitations for hourly rates for facilitators and trainers, however, requirements of the RFP must be met for subcontractors performing services and all “costs/rates must be reasonable. Every component of the cost is subject to the reasonableness of cost justification to Department of General Services (DGS), who may approve it at its discretion. If any portion of the cost is rejected by DGS, then the entire bid may be rejected.” (Section 3.3.1)