Merchant Credit Card Services

County of San Mateo Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office, hereafter referred to as "TTC" is seeking a Request for Proposals "RFP" from interested and qualified providers of Merchant Credit Card Services for the County of San Mateo. The target start date and term for the proposed services is December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2028, subject to negotiations of a final agreement. The period of the term is also subject to change, however the term itself will not exceed three years from start date to end date.

San Mateo County Treasurer-Tax Collector Sandie Arnott is an elected Official who is statutorily providing the banking services for the County departments, school districts, community college districts and certain special districts on behalf of the County of San Mateo (hereafter referred to as the “County”).

The Treasurer-Tax Collector is seeking pricing information and scope of work from qualified respondents to provide Merchant Credit Card Services for use by all County departments.

The County currently accepts debit/credit card payments at a number of Departments including: County Clerk-Recorder and Elections, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Building, Public Works (County Garage & San Carlos Airport), Sheriff’s Office, San Mateo County Health (Aging and Disability Services, Behavioral Health Recovery Services, Emergency Medical Services, Environmental Health, Public Health, Policy, and Planning "PHPP", and San Mateo Medical Center (public hospital and clinic system which includes 14 separate sites), and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)/Catering Connection.

Collectively, our County departments require a provider which can process Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and debit card transactions. Acceptance of payment vary from standalone POS card readers to more sophisticated connections such as those through electronic payment gateway processing through systems of record either in the office or online through a website. In addition, several County departments also process E-Check options through our existing options.

It is anticipated additional County departments may express an interest in providing this payment option in the near future and a suitable provider will need to be able to scale up to meet future demand.

To learn more about the Treasurer's Office, please refer to the following link: https://www.smcgov.org/treasurer.

In an effort to clarify any questions regarding this RFP, we will respond to questions that are presented in writing only. These questions will be answered and posted through this posting in OpenGov for all respondents to review.

All proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by an RFP evaluation committee. The Treasurer-Tax Collector reserves the right to reject any and all proposals received as a result of the RFP process. Any proposal judged to be incomplete will be rejected. The following areas will be considered in making such a recommendation:

• Qualification including experience, financial and legal (contracting) capabilities
• Service capability and approach
• Fees

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Additional Terms, nothing in the Master Agreement will be construed to preclude the provider from providing to, or the County from another entity products and services similar to the Products and Services requested in this RFP.

Unless stated otherwise, all deadlines in this RFP are in Pacific Standard Time.