Request for Qualifications (RFQ) #227

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), on behalf of all City Departments, and in partnership with the San Francisco Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a program within OEWD, is issuing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) #227 for business consultants to provide business counseling and training services to new and existing entrepreneurs in San Francisco.

This RFQ includes one (1) distinct program area with eleven (11) sub-areas, and the total amount of funding anticipated for grant awards is $1.5 Million.

The funding in this RFQ supports programs delivered through the Office of Small Business division.

Grant awards are anticipated to begin January 2024 or later.

Key Dates

The anticipated schedule for this RFQ is below. Check this page frequently for updates as the schedule is subject to change.

• RFQ is issued by the City: Monday, August 7, 2023
• Technical Assistance Conference (optional): Tuesday, August 15, 2023 from Noon – 2:00 PM
• Deadline for submission of written questions:* Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at Noon
• Answers to written questions posted online: Friday, August 25, 2023 by end of day
• Proposals due: Thursday, August 31, 2023 by Noon
• Minimum qualifications review: September 2023
• Grantee selection and award notification: Anticipated Tuesday, October 10, 2023 for programs beginning January 1, 2024
• Protest period ends: 3 business days following award notification
• Projects begin: January 1, 2024 or later

*Written questions:
The deadline to submit substantive questions is Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at Noon. Substantive questions are questions that seek to clarify expectations about the RFQ or administrative processes. However, you may continue to submit technical questions (e.g. "How do I complete the application?") to oewd.procurement@sfgov.org until the submission deadline and we will respond as soon as possible.

To ensure full transparency and the opportunity for all applicants to benefit from Departmental guidance, questions should only be submitted in writing. The answers to all questions asked by the deadline will be available for download in the Documents section below.
 

Apply

Go to the online application

View the questions that are in the application in Appendix A linked below. All elements of the proposal package must be submitted online by the application deadline on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at Noon.