Request for Proposals (RFP) Impact Study of AB 42 California State Park Nonprofit Partner Operating Agreements Issued by: California State Parks Foundation   Release Date: DATE Proposal Due Date: DUE DATE 

Purpose: to engage a qualified consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive study of the impact and effectiveness of nonprofit operators and co-managers working in partnership with California State Parks. The selected consultant will prepare a detailed report that evaluates the scope, performance, benefits, challenges, and opportunities associated with nonprofit operating agreements, in alignment with Public Resources Code (PRC) 5080.42 and related partnership authorities.  This study is critical to understanding the impact and effectiveness of nonprofit partnerships in California state parks. It will examine best practices, financial and operational structures, and the long-term sustainability of nonprofit operator models. The report will : 

• Document accomplishments and challenges to date of nonprofit partner operating agreements with California State Parks 
• Trace the origins and evolution of nonprofit operator partnerships in California State Parks 
• Assess the value of nonprofit operator partnerships to California’s state park system 
• Provide actionable recommendations for state park collaborations. 

Background California State Parks manages the largest and most diverse state park system in the nation. Partnerships with nonprofit operators have become essential to sustaining park operations, enhancing visitor experiences, expanding equitable access, and fostering innovation. Since California created its first publicly funded park in 1902, the state has relied on partnerships to raise critical resources for land protection and conservation. Over the decades, local and federal agencies, Native American tribes, nonprofit organizations, foundations, businesses, volunteers, and private companies have all played vital roles in supporting parks through funding, programming, and services. By the early 2000s, however, funding for California State Parks was in steep decline. The Great Recession intensified these pressures, and General Fund revenue for State Parks dropped by more than 37 percent between fiscal years 2007–08 and 2012–13. This financial crisis led to a deferred maintenance backlog exceeding $1.3 billion by 2010, staffing shortages that compromised stewardship and public safety, and partial park closures across the state. In response, the Legislature and Governor advanced a series of policy and budget solutions. Among the most innovative was AB 42 (Huffman, Chapter 450, Statutes of 2011)—legislation conceived, sponsored, and championed by California State Parks Foundation (CSPF). AB 42 introduced a groundbreaking partnership model that authorized State Parks to enter into operating and co-management agreements with qualified nonprofits. These agreements enabled nonprofits to take on responsibility for the development, improvement, restoration, maintenance, administration, or operation of entire park units—or portions of them. Operating agreements empowered nonprofits to independently manage park operations with limited state park ​​​​staff involvement, while co-management agreements established shared responsibility between State Parks and nonprofit partners. Subsequent legislation extended this authority to January 1, 2019, then again to ​​​​January 1, 2025, and refined its ​​​​provisions, then on September 8, 2023, the sunset date was eliminated altogether. The framework established by AB 42 proved instrumental in averting park closures, safeguarding public access, and demonstrating the resilience and value of nonprofit–state partnerships during times of crisis. 

Scope of Work:  Project Requirements This RFP seeks to build on existing knowledge and resources by producing a comprehensive analysis that will: 

• Inform legislative policy priorities, 
• Establish system-wide standards to guide decision-making and partnership strategies, and 
• Identify the authorities and tools nonprofit partners need to effectively support California’s state parks. 

Milestone Date*

• RFP Release 1/12/2026 
• Proposal Submission Deadline 2/15/2026
•  Review Submissions 2/16 - 3/13/2026 
• Selection Notification  March 2026 
• Project Kickoff April  2026 
• Draft Report Due August 31, 2026
•  Final Report Due December 1, 2026 

* Subject to change Project Outcomes

1. Data Compilation & Review (estimated 20-35 hours) 

• ​​​Gather and analyze data from all 14 active nonprofit operating and co-​​​​management agreements.  
• Review ​​​​DPR 973 Annual ​​​​Reports, Operating Plans, PRC 5080.42 biennial reports, and other relevant documentation. 

2. Performance Assessment & Historical Context (estimated 10-20 hours) 

• Examine the events, policies, and conditions that precipitated the creation and evolution of the nonprofit partner operating agreement model. 
• Document and recognize what has been accomplished through the nonprofit operator model. 
• Evaluate the value and return on investment that nonprofit operators bring to the California state park system in terms of capacity, funding, innovative programming, volunteer programs, ​​resilience, and equitable access to state parks.  
• Comparative Analysis: Identify similarities/differences across models and compare to other states or public land systems, if relevant.

3. ​​​​​Standards & Authorities (estimated 10-20 hours) 

• Assess existing authorities within State Parks and clearly define which authorities nonprofit partners can take on, considering current political and legislative contexts. 
• Identify opportunities for standardization of agreements, reporting, and ​​operational practices to ensure consistency across the state. 

4. Interviews & Surveys (estimated hours listed in deliverables section) 

•  Engage stakeholders, including nonprofit leaders, park staff, local community partners, and policymakers through a combination of interviews and/or surveys. 
• This could include 3-6 of the following in each category: 

1. Policymakers 
2. Nonprofit and community‐based organization leaders 
3. California State Parks headquarters staff 
4. California State Parks Field staff  
5. Donors and philanthropic partners 
6. Recommendations & Solutions (estimated hours listed in deliverables section) 

• Provide a set of recommendations that identifies gaps and needed improvements to strengthen the nonprofit operator model, including governance, funding, policy, and operational alignment with State Parks.
• Address how recommendations can adapt to political realities and stakeholder interests. 

5. Deliverables 

• Workplan and timeline (within 30 days of contract start) (estimated 2-4 hours) 
• Interim progress reports (monthly or quarterly written reports and/or calls) (estimated 3-8 hours) 
• Interviews conducted and analyzed  (estimated 20-45 hours)
• Surveys developed and responses analyzed (estimated 10-20 hours) 
• Draft report for review and feedback (2 rounds of feedback)  (estimated 50-70 hours) 
• Comprehensive report including: 

1. Executive summary  
2. Recognition of accomplishments and value generated by nonprofit operators 
3. Historical context of the model 
4. Clear articulation of nonprofit authorities and their scope 
5. Analysis of standardization needs 
6. Set of actionable recommendations and a defined path to viable solutions to the ​​​​operations of state parks.  
7. Policy recommendations to improve and solidify the Nonprofit partner operating model in perpetuity.  
8. Documents for public release and legislative submission 
9. Dataset of all operating agreements, strategic plans, annual budgets, and annual reports 

Proposal Requirements Proposals must include: 

• Cover Letter summarizing interest and qualifications including relevant experience in public lands management and/or state park operations, nonprofit partnership analysis, and legislative reporting
• Approach and methodology detailing how the above outcomes will be achieved
• ​​​​​​​Work plan and timeline based on milestones and deliverables. 
• Key project members and their qualification​​s
• Budget and cost breakdown, including hourly rates and anticipated expenses 
• Three references from comparable projects 

Evaluation Criteria Proposals will be evaluated on: 

• Understanding of California State Parks and nonprofit partnerships’ framework and political context (5 points) 
• Demonstrates knowledge of the mission, structure, and operations of California State Parks, awareness of how nonprofit operating agreements function, and an understanding of the current political, policy and funding environment affecting these partnerships. 
• Experience with legislative and strategic reporting (10 points) 
• Proven ability to prepare comprehensive, policy-oriented reports that inform legislators, align with legislative requirements, and support long term strategic planning. 
• Methodology and feasibility (15 points) 
• Proposes a clear and achievable approach to completing the project, including realistic timelines, data collection methods, stakeholder engagement strategies, and potential challenges with alternative options to address potential challenges.  
• Quality of past work and references (8 points) 
• Previous high-quality, relevant work supported by strong references who can attest to the proposer’s performance, reliability, and professionalism. 
• Cost and budget (8 points) 
• Provides a detailed, transparent, and reasonable cost proposal that aligns with the scope of work. 
• Company / individual qualifications (8 points) 
• Outlines relevant skills, credentials, and experience of the company or individual team members, including any unique expertise that adds value to the proposal.