Low Carbon Fuel Standard Information and Operations Nexus (LION) Software as a Service (SaaS)

Background
The State of California, through the Department of General Services Procurement Division, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Low Carbon Fuel Standard Information and Operations Nexus (LION) Software as a Service (SaaS). This initiative aims to establish a mandatory contract to provide a web-based, Contractor-hosted SaaS solution that will facilitate registration, transaction, and reporting services for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program. The goal is to furnish quality software and services at the lowest price available in a timely and efficient manner.

Work Details
The selected contractor will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive SaaS solution that includes:
- Registration of alternative fuel production facilities
- Submission of attestation letters
- Fuel pathway application and validation processes
- Annual Fuel Pathway Report submission and verification
- Development and execution of project management plans, including project schedules, testing plans, deployment strategies, training plans, and maintenance operations.

The contractor must also ensure compliance with functional requirements as specified in Attachment 2 and non-functional requirements in Attachment 3. Key deliverables include monthly status reports, weekly status meetings, business requirements review sessions, and various documentation such as the Solution Design Document and System Security Plan.

Period of Performance
The contract term will be five (5) years with options to extend for two additional two-year periods. If mutual agreement cannot be reached for extensions, the contract will expire at the end of the current term.

Place of Performance
The performance location is primarily within California as required by CARB for the LCFS program.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must comply with several mandatory requirements including:
- Proof of Seller’s Permit number and Secretary of State certification if applicable.
- Certifications regarding compliance with California Civil Rights Laws, Iran Contracting Act, Federal Debarment Certification, and Generative Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Notification.
- Demonstration of experience through three relevant projects completed for governmental or private organizations. Key staff qualifications must meet specified criteria outlined in Exhibit 5.