Plain-language communications and research for California agencies, available by purchase order.
When a mandate changes or a program needs to be understood by the people it’s for, we turn the technical and legal material into clear, accessible, multilingual communication. We’re on the CMAS schedule (Contract #4-25-09-1030, #1), so your agency can bring us on with a PO and skip a new RFP.
What we do for state and local agencies
We help you define and communicate your mission to policymakers, community partners, and the public, combining research and positioning with message development so your teams stay aligned.
Positioning and message development for departments, commissions, and programs
Constituent and CX research, including statewide surveys, from fieldwork through strategy
Focus groups: recruitment, moderation, and reporting, from a single session to a multi-session program
Plain-language, multilingual, and accessible guides, toolkits, reports, and video
Internal communications and leadership alignment
Public and stakeholder communications strategy
Campaign evaluation and impact measurement
All of these are available through CMAS Contract # 4-25-09-1030, #1, approved under Professional Services / Marketing and Communications and Business Administrative Consulting (541611 and 541613). Agencies can contract with us directly through a purchase order, with no new RFP.
Our work for California agencies:
CBH mixed-methods research: A survey of 300+ stakeholders fed 12 virtual focus groups with 60+ participants, and the groups showed that people felt invited to participate but doubted their input changed decisions.
CBH community toolkit: A dense policy manual became a plain-language toolkit that won a 2026 MUSE Silver Award and was translated into more languages than originally planned.
CalABLE enrollment research: A statewide survey and interviews led to step-by-step materials in Spanish, large-print, and screen-reader-compatible formats, now adopted statewide and shared nationally.
CalABLE marketing strategy: An annual statewide plan built to meet Government Code 7405 and 11135 and WCAG, with three campaigns whose videos and toolkits are still in use.
CBH early psychosis video: A four-minute explainer and two 60-second cutdowns for policymakers ran a Commission agenda item nearly 40 minutes over and went on the Commission’s newsroom blog the next day.
MHSOAC anti-bullying campaign: The “big idea” for a $5M statewide initiative, approved by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and rolled out in 2023, with elements now at allcove centers.
MHSOAC rebrand: A renaming and brand guide that turned the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission into the Commission for Behavioral Health, launched on time in January 2025.
“Based on both staff and Commissioner feedback, the quality of the deliverables exceeded expectations, were delivered on, if not in some cases ahead of schedule, and stayed within the budget provided by the terms of the contract.” — Andrea Anderson, Chief of Communications, CBH
“Program 11 was very responsive to our requests oftentimes going above and beyond the ask and provided a quality response by the end of the business.” — Anne Osborne, Deputy Executive Director, CalABLE
Sample scopes
Typical engagements run 2 to 3 months. Our sample scopes can be phased, starting at $10,000. Full packages start at $45,000 and are priced at our CMAS rates, so you’ll know what a PO needs to cover before we talk.
How to work with us through CMAS
Partnering with Program 11 through CMAS is straightforward:
Reference our CMAS Contract # 4-25-09-1030, #1 when initiating your purchase request.
Confirm your agency’s participation in the CMAS program. (Most state and local agencies already take part.)
Contact us to discuss your project scope and receive a quote or Statement of Work aligned with your purchasing authority.
Once the purchase order is approved, work can begin immediately — often within days, not months.
How CMAS works
The California Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS) program lets state and local agencies buy from pre-qualified vendors who have already met state standards for pricing, compliance, and service quality. That means less paperwork, faster contracting, and more confidence that public funds are well spent. You can learn more on the official California DGS website.
Our CMAS record lists a base schedule, which is the pre-approved pricing and terms DGS used to qualify our contract. Program 11 is the authorized CMAS contractor, and we deliver our own communications and research services independently, under the same or better pricing and compliance standards DGS approved. Our CMAS documentation is available here.
Let’s start the conversation
If your agency needs to:
Reposition after leadership or policy change
Communicate more clearly with the public
Hear directly from the people your program serves
Perform strategic research and user experience documentation
Align teams around shared priorities
Evaluate or strengthen existing communications and audience journeys
We can help, quickly and compliantly. Tell us what you need and we’ll send a quote: a Statement of Work and price proposal that outlines deliverables, rates, and contract terms, all consistent with our CMAS-approved rates.
We’ve performed research, designed strategies, and developed campaigns for:
-
![Portrait of a woman with blonde hair, glasses, and a dark blazer, smiling against a gray background.]()
"Thank you for your terrific partnership. We had an offsite meeting and your name came up as an agency who gets it and has collaborated terrifically.”
Lisa Daumeyer, Associate Director, Early Stage Biotech
-
![A man with a beard and short hair smiling, wearing a blue button-up shirt, indoors with wooden furniture in the background.]()
“Program 11 are such great partners to us, doing both strategic and creative work with attention to detail and a consistent eye on ROI. They feel like part of the team."
Wade Osborne, Providence Health
-
![Close-up of a woman smiling with medium-length brown hair, wearing a cream-colored top and a pearl necklace.]()
"Program 11's team were my most strategic partner when we needed to generate insights and personas. They have a breadth of markets they work across and are great collaborators – always starting with the problem we’re trying to solve."
Sam Reich, Marketing Director, Microsoft
-
![A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair smiling at the camera.]()
“You guys are terrific. After [our product manager] worked with you once, she only wanted to work with Program 11.”
Carole Moore, Epson America
What we also do for organizations:
Webinars, Workshops, and Courses
Invite your audiences to something that will successfully teach them how to best use your service, product, or program.
Toolkits, Guidebooks, Decks, and Playbooks
Educate your motivated audiences and partners with deeper “about” and “how-to” guides.
Training and Culture-Building
Bring people together for sessions that will encourage adoption and compliance.
Visual, Video, and Written Stories - at Scale
Give your audiences the content they’ll actually engage with, in the format that works best for them.
