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ADOPT A RESOLUTION AWARDING MULTIPLE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENTS FOR THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM BUILDING PROGRAM (PUR 26-004)
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a Resolution to:
1. Approve findings which support and justify an exception to the competitive bidding process pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code section 3.68.070(A)(3), where the City used a competitive Request for Proposals process.
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to enter into three (3) Professional Services Agreements with selected business service organizations for the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Building Program (PUR 26-004), funded through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, for a total of $307,290. The agreements will be for one-year terms beginning April 1, 2026, with the option to extend for up to one additional year, if funding allows; and
3. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to take appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this Resolution.
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Summary
The City of Stockton (City) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) (Attachment A - Request for Proposals (PUR 26-004)) for Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Building services, to identify qualified community-based organizations capable of delivering technical assistance and programming to support underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses within the City.
A total of $350,000 in CDBG funds was made available through this solicitation. The review panel, consisting of three evaluators representing the Economic Development Department and partner organizations, evaluated and scored all proposals in accordance with the criteria established in the RFP.
Based on the final scoring and available funding, three organizations are being recommended for award, totaling $307,290. Each selected organization will receive a Professional Services Agreement specifying a defined scope of work, budget, and reporting requirements.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Building Program supports the City’s ongoing efforts to expand inclusive economic opportunities consistent with the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and Economic Development Strategic Action Plan (2022).
The initiative is designed to strengthen Stockton’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by investing in local organizations that provide direct technical assistance, business training, and capacity-building for low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs and small businesses. The program seeks to address these gaps by:
1. Guiding entrepreneurs through business formalization
2. Enhancing digital and operational capacities
3. Improving access to financial resources
4. Fostering sustainable economic growth through targeted technical support
Present Situation
On September 4, 2025, the City issued a Request for Proposals (PUR 26-004) to provide entrepreneur and small business support services to local businesses. Proposals were due October 16, 2025, with a total of 11 proposals submitted by the deadline.
The evaluation panel, comprised of a reviewer from the Economic Development Department, Community Services Department, and a third-party industry expert; independently reviewed and scored each proposal based on criteria outlined in the RFP, including organizational capacity, project vision, program readiness, financial feasibility, and alignment with CDBG objectives.
Following the scoring process, staff recommends awarding contracts to the following organizations:
A Tavola Together Foundation
Award Amount: $102,500
Scope of Work: Facilitating the Stockton Community Kitchen Food Incubator program, which will provide a 16-week program with culinary classroom instruction, business development, and hands-on mentoring for early-stage food businesses. Through this program A Tavola Together Foundation aims to host a dedicated cohort with a 75-80% completion rate.
Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative
Award Amount: $81,540
Scope of Work: Creating a Small Business & Cooperative Development program that focuses on providing outreach, monthly workshops, and one-on-one advising and consulting to help Stockton’s small business and cooperatives owners, especially those from low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities. Through the program, Uptima aims to serve 100-120 business owners through our workshop series and provide intensive one-on-one advising and consulting to support the growth and retention of 20-30 small businesses and cooperatives.
San Joaquin Small Business Development Center
Award Amount: $123,250
Scope of Work: Launching the Stockton Incubator: Business Launch Accelerator program, which will include a one-week entrepreneurship “boot camp” - equipping participants with readiness training and the resources to formalize their business, followed by one-on-one advising for low- to moderate-income residents. Through this program, SBDC aims to serve 20 entrepreneurs being formally registered, with business websites and branded materials.
An additional $2,500 was added to each contract with the caveat that each organization would need to host a workshop or informational session about the contract activities during Stockton Small Business Week (May 2026). These funds will support any expenses and activities related to that event, including staffing costs, equipment rental, printed materials, or other supplies.
Each agreement will define program deliverables, measurable outcomes, and required documentation to ensure compliance with CDBG regulations, including quarterly reporting and verification of low-to-moderate-income beneficiaries.
Findings
The following findings justify and support the exception to competitive bidding, as stated under SMC Section 3.68.070:
1. Due to the specific nature of the project and industry, use of the RFP process is appropriate since it relies on evaluation of a service provider’s established professional experience, conduct, and performance as it relates to business support services and programing.
2. The scope involves a specialized field, and its success requires experienced professionals who have successfully implemented and performed such services.
Based on the above facts, staff recommends the award of funds to A Tavola Together Foundation; Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative; and the San Joaquin Small Business Development Center, which is operated by the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce for their entrepreneur support services.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The proposed amount of these contracts shall not exceed $307,290, collectively. Funding for these services is included in the FY 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant funds. All funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis consistent with federal grant requirements under 2 CFR Part 200 and 24 CFR Part 570.
Attachment A - Request for Proposals (PUR 26-004)