2026 Community Survey

Location:	California
Posted:	Nov 19, 2025
Due:	Dec 9, 2025
Agency:	City of Berkeley
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	B - Special Studies and Analyses - Not R&D
Solicitation No:	26-11772-C
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Attachment Preview

Finance Department

General Services Division

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Specification No. 26-11772-C

FOR

2026 Community Survey

PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY

Dear Proposer:

The City of Berkeley is soliciting written proposals from qualified firms or individuals to assess voter satisfaction

with City of Berkeley provided services and to determine public opinion regarding various initiatives and/ or

revenue measures that may appear on the November 2026 ballot. As a Request for Proposal (RFP) this is not an

invitation to bid and although price is very important, other factors will be taken into consideration.

The project scope, content of proposal, and vendor selection process are summarized in the RFP (attached).

Proposals must be received no later than 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Proposals are to be sent via

email with the “Specification No. 26-11772-C and 2026 Community Survey clearly indicated in the subject line

of the email. Please submit one (1) PDF of the technical Proposal with the filename saved as, “Proposal: Vendor

Name - YY-#####, 2026 Community Survey.” Corresponding pricing proposal shall be submitted as a separate

document with the filename saved as, “Pricing: Vendor Name - YY-#####, 2026 Community Survey.”

Email Proposals to:

City of Berkeley

Finance Department/General Services Division

Solicitations@berkeleyca.gov

Proposals will not be accepted after the date and time stated above. Incomplete proposal or proposals that do not

conform to the requirements specified herein will not be considered. Issuance of the RFP does not obligate the City

to award a contract, nor is the City liable for any costs incurred by the proposer in the preparation and submittal of

proposals for the subject work. The City retains the right to award all or parts of this contract to several bidders, to

not select any bidders, and/or to re-solicit proposals. The act of submitting a proposal is a declaration that the

proposer has read the RFP and understands all the requirements and conditions.

For questions concerning the anticipated work, or scope of the project, please contact Carianna “Cari”

Arredondo, Assistant to the City Manager, via email at carredondo@berkeleyca.gov no later than Tuesday,

December 2, 2025. Answers to questions will not be provided by telephone or email. Answers to all questions or

any addenda will be posted on the City of Berkeley’s site at Bid & Proposal Opportunities | City of Berkeley

(berkeleyca.gov). It is the vendor’s responsibility to check this site. For general questions concerning the submittal

process, contact purchasing at 510-981-7320.

We look forward to receiving and reviewing your proposal.

Sincerely,

Henry Oyekanmi

Finance Director

2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 Tel: 510.981.7320 TDD: 510.981.6903

E-mail: purchasing@berkeleyca.org Website: cityofberkeley.info/finance/

City of Berkeley

2026 Community Survey

Specification No. 26-11772-C

Page 2 of 21

Release Date 11/19/2025

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY/or INTRODUCTION

The City of Berkeley is considering a number of potential initiatives and/or measures for the November 2026

ballot, some of which may include revenue-generating components. To determine the measures that may be most

viable for voter consideration and how the wording of such measures should be presented, the City seeks to engage

an experienced research and survey firm to assess public opinion among registered voters.

In addition to evaluating potential ballot measures, the City seeks to assess voter satisfaction with City services and

identify community priorities for future investments. The results of this research will assist the City Council in

understanding voter perspectives on City performance, service priorities, and willingness to support various funding

mechanisms.

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

A. Overview

Based on the ballot-measure development process in previous years, the City anticipates that two (2)

surveys will be necessary to support the development of potential ballot measures for the November 2026

election.

• Survey 1: Will assess voter satisfaction with City of Berkeley services; general support for

additional investments in specific project areas; and preferences for financing mechanisms (e.g.,

general-obligation bond or special tax).

• Survey 2: Will assess whether specific ballot measures being considered by the City Council

adequately address community priorities and gauge potential voter support at varying funding

levels and structures.

The scope of services outlined below serves as a general guide to the work expected and is not a

comprehensive listing of all services that may be required.

The selected firm will work closely with the Deputy City Manager and Assistant to the City Manager to

refine the final scope and schedule.

B. Project Objectives

Over the course of both surveys, the City seeks to:

• Gauge voter sentiment toward City of Berkeley services and overall performance.

• Identify community priorities.

• Assess support for potential policy or revenue measures being evaluated for the November 2026

ballot.

• For revenue-related measures:

o Test willingness to pay for maintaining or enhancing services;

o Identify which service components generate the most support or concern;

o Evaluate reactions to different cost levels and financing mechanisms; and

o Analyze the interaction of multiple potential measures on overall voter support.

C. Deliverables

Deliverable

Survey Instruments

Top-Line Reports

Cross-Tabulation Tables

Comprehensive Reports

Description

Two finalized survey instruments reviewed and approved by City

staff prior to pre-testing.

Summary of question-by-question response percentages.

Detailed analysis by demographic and geographic variables.

Narrative summaries interpreting results, highlighting trends, and

providing recommendations.

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

2026 Community Survey

Specification No. 26-11772-C

Page 3 of 21

Release Date 11/19/2025

Presentation Materials

Electronic Data Files

PowerPoint slides, executive summary handouts, and attendance at

Council meetings.

Complete raw datasets and documentation for City retention and

audit.

D. Methodology and Standards

The selected firm shall:

• Review prior City of Berkeley community and ballot measure surveys, including historical results

and voter data trends.

• Recommend a survey methodology appropriate for a diverse, urban electorate.

• Demonstrate understanding of Berkeley’s demographics, political context, and historical voting

patterns.

• Ensure that all survey questions are neutrally worded, statistically reliable, and compliant with best

practices in public opinion research.

• Follow the City’s accessibility, transparency, and privacy standards in all public-facing materials.

E. Schedule

The timeline below has been developed to allow sufficient time for development and consideration of both

surveys. The calendar below includes deadlines for reports and City Council meetings at which a

representative of the firm will be needed. This calendar may be adjusted by the City and in consultation

with the selected firm.

Tentative Schedule

December 2, 2025

Council Work Session

January 27, 2026

Council Meeting

Month of February

March 24, 2026

Council Meeting

Month of April

May 19, 2026

Council Meeting

Event

City Council to discuss possible ballot measures and revenue

measures to be included in the survey

Council gives direction on proposed ballot measure(s), revenue

measure(s), and options for funding mechanisms

1st survey development, including meetings with staff, survey to field

1st survey results presented;

Council provides direction on second survey

2nd survey development, including meetings with staff, survey to field

2nd survey results presented;

Council to provide specific direction on ballot measure and revenue

measure language

F. Work Tasks

The consultant shall perform, at minimum, the following core tasks. The City reserves the right to adjust or

add tasks as needed.

Survey Development and Pre-Test

• Collaborate with City staff to design clear, neutral, and accessible survey instruments.

• Conduct pre-tests to ensure accuracy and clarity.

• Incorporate staff feedback prior to survey implementation.

Survey Administration

• Implement each survey using a professional and statistically valid methodology that ensures broad

representation of Berkeley voters.

• Maintain quality control standards and document data collection procedures.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Analyze survey results and prepare clear, comprehensive reports summarizing key findings, trends,

and implications for policy and planning.

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

2026 Community Survey

Specification No. 26-11772-C

Page 4 of 21

Release Date 11/19/2025

• Provide deliverables that are accurate, visually clear, and suitable for public presentation and

Council decision-making.

Presentation of Results

• Present findings at City Council meetings or work sessions.

• Provide professional presentation materials and participate in discussion of results and

methodology.

• Submit all final deliverables and supporting documentation for City recordkeeping.

III. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All proposals shall include the following information, organized as separate sections of the proposal. The proposal

should be concise and to the point.

1. Contractor Identification:

Provide the name of the firm, the firm's principal place of business (see section VII, F. – Local Vendor

Preference), the name and telephone number of the contact person and company tax identification number.

2. Client References:

Provide a minimum of 3 client references. References should be California cities or other large public sector

entities. Provide the designated person's name, title, organization, address, telephone number, and the project(s)

that were completed under that client’s direction.

3. Price Proposal:

The proposal shall include pricing for all services. Pricing shall be all inclusive unless indicated otherwise.

Pricing proposals shall be a separate document. The Proposal shall itemize all services, including hourly rates

for all professional, technical and support personnel, and all other charges related to completion of the work

shall be itemized. Evaluation of price proposals are subject to the local vendor business preference (see section

VII.F.).

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

2026 Community Survey

Specification No. 26-11772-C

Page 5 of 21

Release Date 11/19/2025

4. Contract Terminations:

If your organization has had a contract terminated in the last five (5) years, describe such incident.

Termination for default is defined as notice to stop performance due to the vendor’s non-performance or poor

performance and the issue of performance was either (a) not litigated due to inaction on the part of the vendor,

or (b) litigated and such litigation determined that the vendor was in default.

Submit full details of the terms for default including the other party’s name, address, and phone number.

Present the vendor’s position on the matter. The City will evaluate the facts and may, at its sole discretion,

reject the proposal on the grounds of the past experience.

If the firm has not experienced any such termination for default or early termination in the past five (5) years,

so indicate.

5. (Other submission requirements needed to evaluate proposals and determine if contractor is qualified to do

project.)

IV. SELECTION CRITERIA

The following criteria will be considered, although not exclusively, in determining which firm is hired.

1. Project Approach

30%

2. Expertise & References

40%

3. Costs*

20%

4. Overall Quality of Proposal

10%

* Effective 1/1/2022. Local Vendor Preference. For the purposes of comparing pricing as part of this competitive

RFP for goods up to $100,000 or non-professional services up to $250,000, 5% shall be deducted from the bid price

proposal from any local Berkeley vendor.

A selection panel will be convened of staff to evaluate and score submittals.

V. PAYMENT

Invoices: Invoices must be fully itemized, and provide sufficient information for approving payment and audit.

Invoices must be accompanied by receipt for services in order for payment to be processed. Email invoices to

Accounts Payable and cc: carredondo@berkeleyca.gov; List on invoice, Attn: Carianna “Cari” Arredondo,

Assistant to the City Manager and reference the contract number.

City of Berkeley

Accounts Payable

P.O. Box 700

Berkeley, CA 94710-700

Email: AccountsPayable@berkeleyca.gov

Phone: 510-981-7310

Payments: The City will make payment to the vendor within 30 days of receipt of a correct, approved and

complete invoice.

VI. CITY REQUIREMENTS

RFP Revised Nov2022

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

2026 Community Survey

Attachment Preview

See also