Through this RFP, DEO seeks a demonstrated technical assistance and education services provider to deliver 1:1 support and cohort-based training to businesses and workers to enable successful transition and launch of shared ownership models, such as worker cooperatives, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), and employee ownership trust-(EOT)-owned businesses, which will support outcomes of business resilience, job quality, and wealth-building, particularly in historically underserved communities. 

The selected proposer will lead the EWOI’s advisory and business support activities and coordinate with the Marketing and Financing Services providers. Services will include providing direct education to participating businesses in EWOI programs; assessing businesses’ viability for transitioning to an employee or worker ownership model; and providing qualifying entrepreneurs, workers, and businesses access to general business technical assistance as well as legal, accounting, and technical support necessary to launch, transition, or scale. These services are aligned with DEO’s goals to expand participation in EWOI programs, transition graduates into these business models, and ultimately to advance economic mobility in the region. 

Eligible entities and qualifications to propose for the EWOI Technical Assistance and Education Services RFP, include but are not limited to:   

• A minimum of three consecutive years of experience within the past five years delivering technical assistance, business advisory services, or comparable consulting support to small and medium-sized businesses 

• A physical location in LA County available for in-person services  

• Ability to deliver linguistically appropriate services in both English and Spanish  

• Compliance with all County requirements 

This RFP is the second of three RFPs that DEO will be releasing as part of the EWOI, which was created in response to a September 2023 motion introduced by the LA County Board Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Lindsey P. Horvath to advance inclusive, community-rooted economic development in LA County. The final forthcoming RFP to be released this February is for a EWOI Financing Services provider to help develop and administer program(s) to finance business expansions and transitions to employee or worker ownership models.  

Key Dates for the Technical Assistance and Education RFP: 

• Applications open: Friday, February 6th, 2026 

• Proposer’s Briefing: Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 at 10:00AM (PST) via Zoom at https://bit.ly/BidConfFeb17 

• Questions due: Wednesday, February 18th, 2026, by 12:00 PM (PST) 
  Questions and answers will be released via an Addendum by Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 

• Proposals due: Friday, March 6th, 2026, by 12:00 PM (PST) 

• Anticipated contract term: June 2026–May 2028 

Learn more about the EWOI by visiting DEO’s website at: opportunity.lacounty.gov/ewoinitiative/.  

For all details on the RFP, including detailed eligibility and proposal requirements, please download the EWOI Technical Assistance and Education Services RFP (EWOI-TA-01) at doingbusiness.lacounty.gov/open-solicitations/.