This procurement is exempt from Part 2 of Division 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of the Public Contract Code. 

The purpose of this Solicitation is to request competitive proposals from eligible, experienced agencies to conduct high-quality surveys related to the tobacco retail environment (including three waves of the CTRSS and two waves of the flavored tobacco products campaign retail observation survey), as well as to analyze retail scanner data and support an online mapping tool of tobacco retailers. The selected Contractor will develop the surveys, oversee data collection training, conduct data collection, conduct data analysis, report findings for the surveys, analyze scanner data, and develop and maintain an online mapping tool of tobacco retailers.

Goals and Tasks

CDPH/CTCP seeks to contract with an established and accomplished agency to monitor tobacco product marketing in the retail environment and evaluate CDPH/CTCP retail campaigns through conducting multiple surveys for distinct purposes in California, purchasing and analyzing scanner data, and developing and maintaining an online GIS mapping tool.

The tasks of this project are to:

1. Conduct three waves of the CTRSS survey to track changes in tobacco marketing practices over time, monitor trends, and identify new practices that may promote the uptake and maintenance of tobacco use in California.
2. Conduct two waves of the Flavored Tobacco Products Campaign Evaluation Retail Observation Survey in Matched Communities to examine the availability, price, and promotion of flavored tobacco products in jurisdictions with a strong policy regulating the sale of flavored tobacco and matched comparison communities. (Note: AT the discretion of CDPH/CTCP, the focus of this survey may shift to jurisdictions with policies regulating vaping product sales or to jurisdictions with policies prohibiting the sale of all tobacco products depending upon the current tobacco retail policy landscape and CDPH/CTCP priorities.)
3. Purchase and analyze retail scanner data at two time points during the contract period to monitor trends in tobacco product availability and price statewide and develop a summary report of trends over time.
4. Develop and maintain an online tool using GIS to map tobacco retailers. The tool will be used to generate state and local-level maps on tobacco retailer density and retailers near schools.
5. Disseminate CTRES study findings to local agencies, stakeholders and other public health professionals, participate in regular meetings, submit regular six-month progress reports to CDPH/CTCP.

• Eval 20-10188 California Tobacco Retail Environment Studies Funding Alert (PDF - 266.05 Kb)

Organizational Type and Conditions

The following entities and organizations are invited to apply for this Solicitation:

1. Any public, private nonprofit, or for-profit entity that is currently operating a full-service office based in California. Non-profit organizations must certify their eligibility to claim non-profit status. For an example, see Appendix 2: Sample Non-Profit Status Letter.
2. Agencies able to certify that no conflict of interest with tobacco, e-cigarette, cannabis, or related industries exist. (See Appendix 1: Certification of Non-Acceptance of Tobacco Funds). The form can also be downloaded from the Online Tobacco Information System (OTIS). See Part II. F, Additional Documents for details.
3. Agencies able to certify that they are in good standing, fiscally stable, and qualified to conduct business with the State of California.

By submitting a proposal, agencies acknowledge and agree to comply with all terms and conditions in the Solicitation.

Required Experience

Proposer should demonstrate the following qualifications, with a minimum of five years of experience for each qualification:

1. Managing statewide projects with a budget of $700,000 per year or greater.
2. Working in California assessing tobacco product availability and marketing in the retail environment statewide of at least 500 stores or more per survey.
3. Developing and executing complex study design, data cleaning, and data analysis within the retail environment using a variety of statistical software programs and applications.
4. Developing online mapping tools using GIS software.
5. Designing survey instruments to assess tobacco product availability and marketing in the retail environment.
6. Working with local and statewide tobacco control audiences, groups, and organizations in California related to tobacco control-specific surveillance (including experience working with retail scanner data) and evaluation activities such as training and technical assistance, translation and dissemination of research, or policy development.

• Addendum Letter - Solicitation EVAL 20-10188 (PDF - 230.03 Kb)


• 20-10188 California Tobacco Retail Environment Studies (PDF - 0.79 Mb)


• 20-10188 APPENDIX 1_Certification of Non-Acceptance of Tobacco Funds (PDF - 36.16 Kb)


• 20-10188 APPENDIX 2_Sample_Non-Profit_Status_Letter (PDF - 230.89 Kb)


• 20-10188 APPENDIX 3_ Non-Mandatory Letter of Intent (PDF - 172.11 Kb)


• 20-10188 APPENDIX 4_Tobacco_Control_Funding_Opportunities_And_Resources-TCFOR-User_Instructions (PDF - 1.73 Mb)


• 20-10188 APPENDIX 5_CTRES_Detailed_Proposed_Scope_of_Work (PDF - 183.28 Kb)


• 20-10188 APPENDIX 6_Budget_Proposal (PDF - 128.37 Kb)


• 20-10188 APPENDIX 7_Cost_Proposal_And_Narrative (PDF - 122.78 Kb)


• 20-10188 APPENDIX 8_Instructions_For_Accessing_The_OTIS_Applicant_Training_Course (PDF - 270.91 Kb)


• 20-10188 APPENDIX 9_Non-Small_Business_Subcontractor_Preference_Instructions (PDF - 282.81 Kb)


• 20-10188_APPENDIX 10_Commercially Useful Function-CUF-Certification (PDF - 261.11 Kb)


• 20-10188 APPENDIX 11_Follow-On_Consultant_Contract_Disclosure (PDF - 137.47 Kb)


• 20-10188_APPENDIX 12_Contractors Confidentiality Statement (PDF - 119.51 Kb)


• 20-10188_APPENDIX 13_Bidders Declaration_GSPD_05_105 (PDF - 157.62 Kb)


• 20-10188_APPENDIX 14_Darfur Contracting Act (PDF - 151.53 Kb)

The California Department of Public Health, California Tobacco Control Program intends to award a contract to The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University in response to Solicitation EVAL 20-10188, California Tobacco Retail Environment Studies.

• 20-10188_Exhibit_A (PDF - 155.24 Kb)


• 20-10188_Exhibit_B (PDF - 118.56 Kb)


• 20-10188_Exhibit_C (PDF - 164.05 Kb)


• 20-10188_Exhibit_D (PDF - 157.14 Kb)


• 20-10188_Exhibit_E (PDF - 165.79 Kb)


• 20-10188_Exhibit_F (PDF - 139.89 Kb)


• 20-10188_STD213 (PDF - 155.67 Kb)

• Eval 20-10188 California Tobacco Retail Environment Studies Webinar


• EVAL_20-10188_California Tobacco Retail Environment Studies_Q&A (PDF - 168.25 Kb)

Key Action Dates:

Up to $3,500,000 is available to fund the activities required in this survey. Proposals must be for the entire five-year period and shall not exceed $3,500,000. Unexpended funds do not carry over from one state fiscal year to the next fiscal year without prior approval and a contract amendment. The state fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30 of the following year. Funding is contingent upon available revenues, appropriation by the Legislature and the Governor, multi-year spending authority, and CDPH/CTCP funding priorities and/or legal or administrative limitations. Continued funding for the contract will be dependent upon successful Contractor performance. Performance will be evaluated based on required progress reports.

Written questions on this solicitation will be accepted through Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 5:00 p.m., PDT* by email: (CTCPEvaluation@cdph.ca.gov). Responses will be posted to the https://tcfor.catcp.org/ website on Wednesday, June 24, 2020*. Verbal questions will not be accepted.

*Dates and times are tentative