1. Background
The U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC-CA), founded in 2002, brings more than two decades of experience in sustainability program management, environmental education and training, community engagement, and project management. Our work is powered by a dedicated team and a network of more than 1,000 members across the state.
USGBC-CA’s mission is to transform California through the built environment into a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable place for all. We advance this mission by leading, connecting, educating, and advocating, serving as a trusted convener for industry, government, and community partners.

With a strong regional presence throughout California, USGBC-CA collaborates closely with public agencies, utilities, educators, workforce organizations, and community-based partners to deliver programs that create measurable environmental, economic, and social impact. Equity, access, and climate justice are central to our mission and are embedded across our programming and partnerships.
More information can be found here. 

The SoCalREN Future Green Leaders Summit is an annual youth-focused event designed to inspire middle school students to explore careers in clean energy, sustainability, and climate solutions through interactive, hands-on, and creative learning experiences. The FGLS is supported through the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN), a collaboration of local governments working to advance energy efficiency and workforce development.

2. Purpose of the RFP
This request for proposal is prepared by the California Green Building Council, doing business as USGBC California, (“USGBC-CA”) on behalf of the Southern California Regional Energy Network.

USGBC-CA seeks proposals from qualified vendors to design and implement youth programming at the 4th Annual FGLS in Inyo and Kern Counties, with a strong emphasis on experiential learning, creativity, and alignment with California’s Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS).

The purpose of this RFP is to identify vendors (or group of vendors) to design, produce, and deliver an engaging, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate experience that excites middle school students (grades 6–8) about green energy and sustainability career pathways.

USGBC-CA is seeking innovative approaches that combine science, art, performance, and play while grounding learning outcomes in CA NGSS and real-world applications relevant to California’s climate and workforce priorities.

3. FGLS Overview

• Events: 2026 4th Annual SoCalREN Future Green Leaders Summit (2 events)
• Audience: Middle school students (grades 6–8), from Title 1 schools, Tribal and CalEnviroScreen Disadvantaged Communities.
• Format: In-person
• Two Locations: Inyo and Kern Counties (Bishop and Bakersfield TBC)
• Expected Attendance: Inyo: 100 students; Kern: 500 students
• Expected Timing: Fall 2026; ideally September/October

Program Goals:

• Increase student awareness of and interest in green energy and sustainability careers
•  Foster curiosity, creativity, and confidence in green energy career pathways
•  Connect schools to SoCalREN’s energy careers pathway programs
• Highlight equitable and community-centered climate solutions
• Support CA Next Generation Science Standards for middle school students

4. Scope of Work
The selected vendor(s) will design and implement an interactive, youth-centered program experience. The vendor is required to design and deliver one or more of the following:

• two (2) main stage performances (opening and closing)
• four (4) interactive workshops
• associated personnel, materials, and equipment to deliver the performances and/or workshops

The vendor(s) may choose to bid on the entire program; the main stage performances only; and/or one to four workshops.
1(A) Main Stage Performance

The vendor will design and produce two (2) 30 minute interactive main stage performances for all FGLS participants including students, teachers, and guest speakers. The performance should:

• Be engaging, inspirational, and developmentally appropriate for grades 6–8.
• Incorporate music, theatre, dance, movement, storytelling, acrobatics, or multimedia.
• Address themes of energy, climate, sustainability, and future green careers.
• Actively engage students through participation, call-and-response, or interactive elements.
• Incorporate an official SoCalREN welcome and guest speakers (10 minutes).

1(B) Interactive Workshops

• The vendor will design and implement up to (4) distinct interactive workshops, each offered (3) three times to allow student rotation. Workshops may include:
• Art installations and creative making
• Gaming, simulations, or role-playing activities
• World building (digital or analog) focused on sustainable futures
• Interactive musical, theatre, or movement-based experiences
• Cooking demonstrations with induction cooktops or food-system sustainability activities
• Hands-on science experiments related to clean energy, energy efficiency and heat transfer, waste, and/or water efficiency.
• Indigenous land stewardship, storytelling, or sustainable practices

 Each workshop must:

• Be interactive, participatory, and engaging to middle school students    
• Connect hands-on activities to real-world green energy or sustainability careers
• Accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities
• Align with CA NGSS

2. Equity, Accessibility, and Youth-Centered Design

• It is important that vendors design their workshop around equity and ensure their program is responsive to the needs of diverse youth participants. The vendor should demonstrate that their programming includes:
• Culturally responsive and inclusive activities
• Universal design principles and trauma-informed facilitation practices
• Accessibility for students with disabilities and varying learning needs
• Welcoming, engaging learning environments for all participants

3. Age-Specific Learning Outcomes (CA NGSS-Aligned)
Programming must support learning outcomes appropriate for California middle school students (grades 6–8) and align with at least one (1)  NGSS including:

• MS-LS2-5 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
• Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
• Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• MS-ESS3-2-5 Earth and Human Activity
• Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
• Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.*
• Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
• Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
• MS-ETS1-4 Engineering Design
• Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
• Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
• Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

In addition, workshops must include these learning outcomes:

• Practice collaboration, systems thinking, and problem-solving through hands-on, phenomena-based learning
• Identify California-relevant green energy and sustainability careers.

4. Production and Coordination
USGBC-CA will oversee the entire FGLS including school coordination, venue, group hotel, room setup, and provide basic A/V equipment (microphone, speaker, projector, screen). Vendors should specify any additional equipment, A/V, or materials necessary to implement their performance or workshop.

It is our expectation that the vendor will:

• Provide and manage trained facilitators, artists, performers, and educators the day of the event.
• Source specialty equipment or materials related to their workshop or performance.
• Provide cost estimates for additional A/V equipment or services required (in writing).
• Provide travel cost estimates for the number of crew/staff participating in the event (in writing) if not within commuting distance to the venue.
• Coordinate closely with USGBC-CA and SoCalREN partners to ensure alignment with FGLS goals including attending regular meetings and participating in orientation.

4. Evaluation and Reporting

• The vendor will participate in SoCalREN’s post-event surveys and contribute to reporting as needed.

5. Vendor Qualifications
Qualified vendors will demonstrate:

• Experience designing and delivering youth-centered, interactive, creative educational programming
• Understanding of sustainability, clean energy, climate, or green building topics
• A strong commitment to equity, access, and inclusion
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations, public agencies, utilities, and/or Title 1 schools
• Familiarity with CA NGSS and middle school instructional best practices

6. Proposal Requirements
Vendors must specify which programming elements they are including in their proposal. If applying as a group of vendors, specify the program each vendor will deliver.

Proposals must include:

• Executive summary
• Description of proposed approach and creative vision
• Description of main stage performances (max 2) and/or workshops (max 4)
• Identify the applicable CA NGSS the programming supports
• Budget and cost breakdown
• Relevant experience and examples of past work (e.g. website, videos, social media, testimonials)
• Key staff roles and qualifications
• Optional value-added elements or innovations

7. Budget
Proposals should include a detailed budget including staff/performer travel costs if not within commuting distance to the venues. USGBC-CA reserves the right to negotiate scope and cost based on available funding and program needs.

8. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated using the following scoring rubric, for a maximum total of 100 points. USGBC-CA reserves the right to adjust weighting as needed to support program goals and funding requirements.

A. Alignment with SoCalREN Event Goals (10 points)

• Alignment with the goals of the SoCalREN Future Green Leaders Summit and clean energy careers (10 points)

B. Quality and Creativity of Program Design (20 points)

• Quality, engagement level, and feasibility of the interactive programming (10 points)
• Use of creative, experiential, and age-appropriate approaches that excite middle school students (10 points)

C. CA NGSS Alignment and Educational Rigor (10 points)

• Clear identification of applicable CA NGSS Performance Expectations (10 points)

D. Equity, Accessibility, and Youth-Centered Design (15 points)

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive programming (10 points)
• Application of universal design principles and accessibility considerations (5 points)

E. Relevant Experience and Qualifications (25 points)

• Experience delivering comparable youth-focused, interactive, or arts-based educational programming (10 points)
• Experience with sustainability, clean energy, climate, nature-based solutions, or green building topics and partnerships (10 points)
• Based in Kern or Inyo County or contributes to regional workforce development / commits to local hires (5)

F. Budget and Cost Effectiveness (20 points)

• Budget clarity, completeness, and alignment with proposed scope (5 points)
• Cost effectiveness and appropriate use of resources (15 points)

9. RFP Timeline

• RFP Release Date: February 13, 2026
• Proposal Submission Deadline: March 13, 2026
• Anticipated Selection Date: April 1, 2026
• Contract Start Date: May 1, 2026

10. Submission Instructions
Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format by the stated deadline and include examples of previous work such as links to performances. Submit proposals below. Questions can be directed to training@usgbc-ca.org.

11. Terms and Conditions
USGBC-CA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to request additional information, and to modify the scope of work prior to contract execution. All proposals will become the property of USGBC-CA.