11-K27-0002-25 - RFP - MD Court Help Centers.pdf

Solicitation No. K27-0002-25 – Maryland Court Help Centers – mdcourts.gov/procurement Rev. 03/25/2025

STATE OF MARYLAND

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS

PROCUREMENT, CONTRACT AND GRANT ADMINISTRATION

187 HARRY S. TRUMAN PARKWAY

ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

FOR

Maryland Court Help Centers

Solicitation No. K27-0002-25

To help us improve the quality of the Administrative Office of the Courts solicitations and to make our procurement process more responsive and business friendly, Offerors may provide comments and suggestions regarding this solicitation by utilizing the Intent to Bid under the Submission section of the solicitation.

The sole point of contact for this solicitation is the Procurement Officer. Offerors are specifically directed NOT to contact any other Maryland Judiciary personnel or its contracted consultants for meetings, conferences, or discussions that are specifically related to this RFP at any time prior to any award and execution of a contract. Unauthorized contact with any Maryland Judiciary personnel or the Maryland Judiciary’s contracted consultants may be cause for rejection of the Offeror’s proposal.

Unless otherwise stated in this solicitation, the Maryland Judiciary's Procurement Portal will be the sole method of communication during all phases of the solicitation and award process. We encourage Offerors to whitelist emails from the Procurement Portal to ensure relevant emails are not blocked and/or marked as spam. Additionally, Offerors are strongly encouraged to access the Procurement Portal on a regular basis to view and respond to relevant communications.

Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprises (VSBE) are encouraged to respond to this Request for Proposals.

KEY INFORMATION SUMMARY SHEET

Request for Proposals

Maryland Court Help Centers

Solicitation No. K27-0002-25

RFP Issue Date: 11/04/2025

RFP Issuing Office: Procurement, Contract and Grant Administration

Procurement Officer: Savannah Anderson Maryland Judiciary, Administrative Office of the Courts Department of Procurement, Contract and Grant Administration

187 Harry S. Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 410-260-2468 Savannah.Anderson@mdcourts.gov

Proposal Submission: Submissions are exclusively accepted electronically via the Procurement Portal.

Important Events: Refer to the project details and important events on the Procurement Portal for the date and time of the pre-proposal conference (as applicable), site visit(s) (as applicable), deadline for questions, and solicitation closing date & time.

Contract Term: Two (2) year base period from 07/01/2026 to 06/30/2028 with the AOC retaining the sole right to exercise three (3) one-year renewal options at its discretion.

MBE Subcontracting Goal: 0%

VSBE Subcontracting Goal: 0% https://www.mdcourts.gov/procurementportal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. SUMMARY STATEMENT

B. ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS

C. PROCUREMENT OFFICER

D. CONTRACT MANAGER

E. DURATION OF OFFER

F. REVISIONS TO THE RFP

G. CANCELLATIONS

H. PROTESTS/DISPUTES

I. MULTIPLE OR ALTERNATE PROPOSALS

J. ARREARAGES

K. VERIFICATION OF REGISTRATION AND TAX PAYMENT

L. FALSE STATEMENTS

M. PRESS RELEASES

N. PAYMENTS TO SUCCESSFUL OFFEROR

O. NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

P. DAMAGE TO STATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY

Q. OFFEROR SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

R. ACCESS TO AOC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

S. ACCESS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS

T. REQUIRED POLICIES, GUIDELINES, AND METHODOLOGIES

U. END OF CONTRACT TRANSITION

SECTION II. INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

A. CONTRACT TYPE

B. PROCUREMENT METHOD

C. AWARD BASIS

D. PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE

E. QUESTIONS

F. PROPOSAL CLOSING DATE & TIME

G. ORAL PRESENTATIONS & DISCUSSIONS

H. INCURRED EXPENSES

I. ECONOMY OF PREPARATION

J. PUBLIC ACCESS TO JUDICIAL RECORDS

K. OFFEROR RESPONSIBILITIES

L. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS & CONDITIONS

M. ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICES

N. DIVERSITY & OUTREACH PROGRAMS

O. INSURANCE

P. PROPOSAL AFFIDAVIT

Q. CONTRACT AFFIDAVIT

SECTION III. SCOPE OF WORK

A. SUMMARY

B. OFFEROR MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

C. SCOPE OF WORK

D. SERVICE LOCATIONS

C. PERSONNEL

E. DELIVERABLES

F. OWNERSHIP AND USE OF MATERIALS

G. EQUIPMENT

H. ACCESSABILITY OF SERVICES

I. INVOICING

SECTION IV. PROPOSAL FORMAT

A. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

B. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

C. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

SECTION V. EVALUATION PROCEDURE

A. EVALUATION COMMITTEE

B. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL CRITERIA

C. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL CRITERIA

D. SELECTION PROCEDURES

E. DEBRIEFING

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment A – Standard Contract Agreement Sample Attachment B – Proposal Affidavit Attachment C – Contract Affidavit Sample Attachment D – Pre-Bid/Proposal Conference Form Attachment E – Bid/Price Proposal Form Attachment E1 – Bid/Price Proposal Workbook Attachment F – Non-Disclosure Agreement Sample Attachment L – Bidder/Offeror Profile Attachment M – Bidder/Offeror Experience Attachment N – Knowledge Base Governance Agreement

SECTION I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. SUMMARY STATEMENT

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) issues this Request for Proposals (RFP) on behalf of Access to Justice to seek proposals from prospective Offerors to operate a statewide network of court help centers.

Maryland Court Help Centers (MCHCs) provide limited legal services to self-represented litigants with civil legal issues. These limited legal services include, but are not limited to, providing both legal advice and legal information (e.g., assistance completing forms), answering questions about legal topics, explaining court processes and procedures, helping litigants prepare for court hearings and mediation, and making referrals to other organizations. Maryland Court Help Centers do not provide representation in court.

B. ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS

For this RFP, the following abbreviations or terms have the meanings indicated below:

1. AOC – Administrative Office of the Courts

2. Contract – A formal, written agreement entered into by the Judiciary for the provision of materials, supplies, and/or services. A Contract sample is attached to this solicitation as Attachment A.

3. Contract Manager – The AOC representative that serves as the technical manager for the resulting contract. The Contract Manager monitors the daily activities of the contract and provides technical guidance to the Successful Offeror.

4. Diversity & Outreach Programs – Judiciary Program established to encourage and increase participation in Judiciary procurement by underrepresented or disadvantaged groups. The Program includes Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprises

(VSBE).

5. eMMA – eMaryland Marketplace Advantage online procurement platform used to connect the supplier community with contracting opportunities from with the state, county, and local government entities.

6. Extraordinary Personal Event – Leave under the Family Medical Leave Act; an incapacitating injury or incapacitating illness; or, other circumstances that in the sole discretion of the AOC warrant an extended leave of absence such as extended jury duty or extended military services that precludes the individual from performing their job duties under the contract.

7. Key Personnel – Offeror personnel or subcontractor personnel who are to be assigned to this contract, as identified in Section IV of this RFP, if the Offeror receives award.

8. Local Time – Time in the Eastern Standard Time Zone.

9. MBE – Minority Business Enterprise means any legal entity, other than a joint venture, organized to engage in commercial transactions, that is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are in a minority group (African American, Native American, Hispanic, women, or the physically or mentally disabled) that is socially and economically disadvantaged, and managed and operated by one or more of the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who own it, and is so certified by the Maryland Department of Transportation.

10. Offeror – An entity that submits a proposal in response to this solicitation.

11. Procurement Officer – The AOC representative responsible for this solicitation, for the determination of contract scope issues, and the only AOC representative who can authorize changes to the contract.

12. Procurement Portal – Strategic sourcing software allowing the Judiciary to receive and evaluate bids and proposals electronically.

13. RFP – Request for Proposals

14. Successful Offeror – The awarded Offeror.

15. VSBE - Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprise means any legal entity that meets the requirements set by the United States Small Business Administration, that is organized to engage in commercial transactions, and is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are Veterans, and who manage the operations of the business, and is so registered and certified in eMMA.

C. PROCUREMENT OFFICER

The sole point of contact in the AOC for purposes of this RFP is the Procurement Officer noted on the Key Information Summary Sheet. The AOC may change the Procurement Officer at any time by written notice to the Offeror. Only information communicated by the Procurement Officer shall be deemed the official position of the AOC. No other State of Maryland or AOC employee, official, or representative has the authority to change the requirements of this solicitation. Attempts by the Offeror to contact members of the evaluation committee, or otherwise circumvent this procedure in any manner may be grounds for disqualification.

D. CONTRACT MANAGER

The Contract Manager for post-award activities will be disclosed to the Successful Offeror. The AOC may change the Contract Manager at any time by written notice to the Successful Offeror.

E. DURATION OF OFFER

Proposals submitted in response to this RFP are irrevocable for 270 days following: (1) the closing date of proposals, (2) Best and Final Offers (BAFOs), if requested, or (3) the resolution date of any protest concerning this RFP. This period may be extended at the Procurement Officer’s request only with the Offeror’s written agreement.

F. REVISIONS TO THE RFP

1. The AOC reserves the right to amend this RFP at any time prior to the proposal closing date and time. If the RFP is revised prior to the proposal closing date and time, the AOC shall post any addenda to the RFP on the Procurement Portal and shall attempt to provide such addenda to all prospective Offerors that received the RFP or are otherwise known by the Procurement Officers to have obtained this RFP. It remains the responsibility of all prospective Offerors to review the Procurement Portal for any addenda issued prior to the submission of proposals.

2. If one (1) or more addenda are issued to this RFP, Offerors shall acknowledge receipt of all addenda on the Procurement Portal. Addenda issued after the closing date and time for proposals will be sent only to those Offerors who submitted a timely proposal.

3. Failure to acknowledge receipt of an addendum does not relieve the Offeror from complying with the terms, additions, deletions, clarifications, or corrections set forth in the addendum, and may cause the proposal to be deemed not reasonably susceptible of being selected for award.

G. CANCELLATIONS

The AOC reserves the right to cancel this RFP; accept or reject any and all proposals, in whole or in part, received in response to this RFP; or waive or permit cure of minor irregularities and conduct discussions with all Offerors in any manner necessary to serve the best interests of the AOC. The AOC also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to award a Contract based upon the written proposals received without prior discussions or negotiations.

H. PROTESTS/DISPUTES

Any protest or dispute related to this solicitation or the resulting Contract shall be subject to the provisions of the Judicial Branch Procurement Policy.

I. MULTIPLE OR ALTERNATE PROPOSALS

Neither multiple nor alternate proposals will be accepted.

J. ARREARAGES

By submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, each Offeror represents that it is not in arrears in the payment of any obligations due and owing the State of Maryland, including the payment of taxes and employee benefits, and that it shall not become so in arrears during the term of the Contract, if selected for Contract award.

K. VERIFICATION OF REGISTRATION AND TAX PAYMENT

1. Before an entity can do business in the State of Maryland, it must be registered with the Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), State Office Building, 123 Market Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. For registration information, visit:

https://www.egov.maryland.gov/businessexpress

2. It is strongly recommended that any potential Offerors complete the registration prior to the closing date for receipt of proposals. An Offeror’s failure to complete the registration with SDAT may disqualify an Offeror from final consideration and recommendation for Contract award.

L. FALSE STATEMENTS

Offerors are advised that in connection with a procurement contract, a person may not willfully: Falsify, conceal, or suppress a material fact by any scheme or device; make a false or fraudulent statement or representation of a material fact; use a false writing or document that contains a false or fraudulent statement or entry of a material fact; or aid or conspire with another person to commit any of the aforementioned acts.

M. PRESS RELEASES

The Successful Offeror shall issue no press release to any publication, including newspapers and social media outlets, regarding work being conducted under the resulting contract from this RFP, or utilize the Maryland Judiciary brand mark in any marketing materials, without the express written consent of the AOC.

N. PAYMENTS TO SUCCESSFUL OFFEROR

1. By submitting a response to this solicitation, the Offeror agrees to accept payments by electronic funds transfer unless the State Comptroller’s Office grants an exemption. The selected Offeror shall register using the COT/GAD X-10 Vendor Electronic Funds (EFT) Registration Request Form. Any request for exemption must be submitted to the State Comptroller’s Office for approval at the address specified on the COT/GAD X-10 form and must include the business identification information as stated on the form and include the reason for the exemption. The COT/GAC X-10 form can be downloaded at:

https://www.marylandtaxes.gov/forms/state-accounting/static-files/GADX10Form.pdf

2. Payments to the Successful Offeror shall be made not later than thirty (30) days after the acceptance of deliverables, and receipt of a proper invoice from the Offeror. Any charges of interest or the like for late payment are prohibited.

3. The AOC may consider adjustments to rates only upon submission of documented increases and decreases, not less than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of each contract term; however, in no case will increases or decreases exceed the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Customers (CPI-U) or Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as published by the Federal Government for the latest 12-month period.

O. NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

All Offerors are advised that if a contract is awarded as a result of this RFP, the Successful Offeror shall be required to complete a Non-Disclosure Agreement. A sample of this Agreement is included for informational purposes as Attachment F of this RFP. This signed Agreement must be provided with the Successful Offeror’s signed Contract.

P. DAMAGE TO STATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY

1. The Offeror, their employees, subcontractors, and agents shall be held directly responsible to repair, replace, or restore to its original condition, to the satisfaction of the AOC, curbs, roadway surfaces, wheel stops, shrubbery, trees, buildings, bollards, gates, light pole, sign poles or any other State-owned property which is damaged by the actions of the above-mentioned representatives.

https://www.egov.maryland.gov/businessexpress https://www.marylandtaxes.gov/forms/state-accounting/static-files/GADX10Form.pdf

2. The Offeror, their employees, subcontractors, and agents shall be held directly responsible for any damage caused by their action or inaction to privately-owned property and shall hold the State of Maryland harmless for such damages.

Q. OFFEROR SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

1. The Successful Offeror, and all Successful Offeror personnel and subcontractor personnel assigned to the Contract, must comply with all applicable federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and AOC policies and procedures for the duration of the contract.

2. The Successful Offeror must comply with the Judicial Information Systems (JIS) Information

Security Policy. The Information Security Policy closely aligns with guidelines published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The Information Security Policy is available online at: http://www.mdcourts.gov/procurement/index.html.

3. The AOC reserves the right to monitor all applicable computer and electronic equipment usage for compliance with its policies.

R. ACCESS TO AOC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

1. The Successful Offeror’s personnel shall complete all required paperwork as directed for access to any AOC information systems.

2. The Successful Offeror shall ensure the list of authorized Offeror personnel is always maintained and accurate. The system access rights of Successful Offeror personnel must be updated no later than twenty-four (24) hours after notification of the change in status; therefore, the Successful Offeror shall immediately notify the Contract Manager and JIS Information Security of any termination of Successful Offeror personnel or if any approved Successful Offeror personnel no longer require access to an AOC system. The AOC security identification badge and all issued AOC assets must be immediately returned to the Contract Manager.

3. To ensure compliance with the JIS Information Security Policy, the approval, configuration, and monitoring of secured remote access into AOC systems will be processed by JIS staff. All remote connections that utilize a shared infrastructure must utilize encryption for transmission of data and authentication.

4. Any software used to meet the requirements of this solicitation, on any AOC system, must be included in the Offeror’s technical proposal. Software must be assessed by JIS and approved by the JIS Chief Information Officer. At the discretion of JIS, proposed software may be determined to be a risk to system and information integrity security controls and therefore rejected. If software is to be used remotely, the Judiciary shall control the method of access to our network via Virtual Private Network (VPN), firewall configurations, and/or segregating remote machine access within our environment.

5. Offerors using an As-a-Service (e.g., infrastructure, software, platform, hardware) subservice hosting provider (e.g., Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform) must submit a current Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II report, or equivalent (as determined by the AOC), for the subservice and for the As-a-Service service provider. A SOC 2 Type II report for the subservice alone does not meet the requirements of this solicitation.

S. ACCESS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS

1. Successful Offeror may be required to submit the following information for AOC engagements for Successful Offeror personnel, subcontractors, third-party resources, temporary employees, and training candidates:

a. Full Name.

b. Phone Number.

http://www.mdcourts.gov/procurement/index.html

c. Personal/Private email with no connection to employer.

d. Emergency contact information.

2. Site visits to any AOC location must be coordinated by AOC staff with the designated site personnel in advance of any visit.

3. Any Successful Offeror personnel working at AOC locations, or on AOC systems or projects, or who have access to AOC or State criminal data or systems, must be approved in writing by the Procurement Officer prior to beginning work.

4. All Successful Offeror personnel working on AOC premises, property, systems or projects, contracts, or who have access to AOC or State criminal data or systems, may be required to obtain a Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) State and Federal criminal background check prior to beginning work. The AOC reserves the right to refuse to allow any Successful Offeror personnel to begin work based upon criminal records.

5. All Successful Offeror personnel assigned to work at AOC locations may be required to obtain an AOC security identification badge prior to beginning work, and annually thereafter. The Successful Offeror is responsible for any fees that may be incurred for initial issuance of the badge and for any replacement.

6. The security identification badge shall always be displayed while on AOC premises. To verify identity, the Successful Offeror personnel shall be prepared to provide photo identification upon request by an AOC employee.

7. Successful Offeror personnel are required to immediately notify the Contract Manager, the Administrative Official of the respective department or office or the Contract Manager, if their security identification badge is lost or stolen.

8. The Successful Offeror personnel must notify the Contract Manager, the Administrative Official of the respective department or office, within one (1) business day if any personnel have been arrested, indicted, served with a criminal summons, named in a peace or protective order, or named as a defendant in any civil case. The Successful Offeror personnel are also required to provide regular updated information regarding the status of any of these court actions.

9. The Contract Manager, in conjunction with the Chief of the Office of Security Administration and the Procurement Officer, may impose restrictive conditions in response to prior criminal convictions, pending criminal charges, or a violation of AOC procedures, including removal from the contract, and/or restricted access to AOC locations or systems.

10. In the event of a security incident or suspected security incident, the Successful Offeror personnel shall immediately notify the Contract Manager.

11. The Successful Offeror personnel shall cooperate fully in all security incident investigations.

12. During the contract, if necessary, for the delivery of goods and services, the Successful Offeror may be provided an AOC asset in the form of a cell phone, laptop, or other electronic device. All AOC devices are the property of the AOC and must be returned in working, acceptable condition at the contract’s conclusion. If said devices are not in working acceptable conditions, Successful Offeror may be responsible for the cost of said device(s). All devices must be regularly updated as specified by the manufacturer and JIS and must adhere to all confidentiality guidelines as provided by JIS and the AOC.

13. If the AOC determines that there is cause for the Successful Offeror’s work to be suspended, the Successful Offeror shall take the following steps:

a. Immediately cease to represent itself as providing services to the AOC.

b. Deliver to the AOC: (a) a report describing the current state of the Deliverables provided by the Successful Offeror under this Agreement and any applicable Statements of Work outstanding as of the date of termination; (b) all AOC Confidential information in its possession or, at AOC’s option, destroy all such AOC Confidential information; and (c) all work product to the AOC within seven (7) business days as of the date of termination. Work product includes, but is not limited to, works for hire and materials as described in §29.3.

c. The Successful Offeror is responsible for all AOC assets (including but not limited to, laptops, tablets, computers, cell phones, other portable electronic devices, accessories, and peripherals, etc.), that have been provided to the Successful Offeror at the AOC’s cost. All AOC issued assets are required to be surrendered to the AOC within five (5) business days of the termination of services. Assets will be subject to evaluation and can include normal and expected wear and tear but must be functional and operable. Assets that do not meet this condition may be subject to additional charge to the Successful Offeror. Successful Offeror shall be liable to the AOC for all assets not surrendered.

T. REQUIRED POLICIES, GUIDELINES, AND METHODOLOGIES

The Offeror shall be required to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines affecting information technology projects, which may be created or changed periodically by the AOC. The Offeror shall adhere to and remain abreast of current, new, and revised laws, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines affecting project execution. These may include, but are not limited to:

1. A System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology and framework based on best practices and industry standards, such as the incremental waterfall methodology, and the agile software development framework.

2. The Administrative Office of the Courts Judicial Information Systems Security Policy.

U. END OF CONTRACT TRANSITION

1. The Successful Offeror recognizes that the services under this Contract are vital to the AOC and must be continued without interruption and that, upon Contract expiration, a successor, either the AOC or another contractor, may continue them. The Successful Offeror shall:

a. Furnish phase-in training; and

b. Exercise its best efforts and cooperation to affect an orderly and efficient transition to a successor.

2. The Successful Offeror shall, upon written notice, (1) furnish phase-in, phase-out services for up to 90 days after the Contract expires and (2) coordinate in good faith a plan with the successor and Contract Manager to determine the nature and extent of phase-in, phase-out services required.

a. The plan shall specify a training program and a date for transferring responsibilities for each division of work described in the plan and shall be subject to the Contract Manager’s approval.

b. The Successful Offeror shall provide sufficient experienced personnel during the phase-in, phase-out period to ensure that the services called for by the Contract are maintained at the required level of proficiency.

END OF SECTION I.

SECTION II. INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

A. CONTRACT TYPE

The Contract that results from this RFP shall be based on Labor Hour, not-to-exceed (NTE).

B. PROCUREMENT METHOD

The Contract resulting from this RFP shall be awarded in accordance with the Request for Proposals (RFP) process under the Judicial Branch Procurement Policy.

C. AWARD BASIS

A contract shall be awarded to the responsible Offeror(s) submitting the proposal that has been determined to be the most advantageous to the AOC, considering price and evaluation factors set forth in this RFP, for providing the goods and/or services as specified in this RFP. The AOC intends to make a single award under this RFP.

D. PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE

1. A Pre-proposal Conference and site visit (as applicable) may be held on the date and time, and at the location (i.e., virtual or on-premises) indicated in the project details and important events sections of the solicitation on the Procurement Portal.

a. If the Pre-Proposal Conference is to be held on-premises, Offerors are encouraged to bring a copy of this RFP and a business card to help facilitate a more efficient sign-in process. To ensure adequate seating and other accommodations at the Pre-proposal Conference, please email the Pre-bid/proposal Conference Response Form (Attachment D) to the attention of the Procurement Officer no later than one (1) business day prior to the scheduled Pre-proposal Conference date and time.

b. If the Pre-proposal Conference will be held virtually, Offerors shall register using the registration link located in the important events section of the solicitation on the Procurement Portal.

2. Offeror’s attendance at the Pre-proposal Conference is encouraged to facilitate better preparation of proposals. If the solicitation includes an MBE or VSBE goal, failure to attend the Pre-proposal Conference will be taken into consideration as part of the evaluation of an Offeror’s good faith effort if there is a waiver request.

3. MBE & VSBE subcontractors are encouraged to attend the Pre-bid Conference to solicit their services to potential Bidders. In addition, all potential subcontractors, including potential MBE & VSBE subcontractors, are encouraged to submit as an interested subcontractor on the Procurement Portal for this specific opportunity under the Interested Contractor section.

4. If there is a need for sign language interpretation or other special accommodations due to a disability, please notify the Procurement Officer at least five (5) business days prior to the Pre-proposal Conference. The AOC will make a reasonable effort to provide such special accommodations.

E. QUESTIONS

1. Offerors shall direct all communication regarding this RFP to the Procurement Officer. Submit questions to the Procurement Officer through the opportunity Q&A section on the Procurement Portal no later than the date indicated on the solicitation.

2. The Procurement Officer, based on the availability of time to research and communicate, shall answer questions at their discretion prior to the proposal closing date and time.

3. Answers to all substantive questions that are not clearly specific only to one (1) Offeror will be answered via Addenda and will be furnished to all potential Offerors known to have received the RFP as posted on the Procurement Portal.

4. The statements and interpretations contained in responses to any questions, whether responded to verbally or in writing, are not binding on the AOC unless issued in writing as an addendum.

F. PROPOSAL CLOSING DATE & TIME

1. Proposals must be received through the Procurement Portal not later than the date and time indicated on the solicitation. Offerors shall allow sufficient time to complete the submission process on the Procurement Portal. Untimely proposals will not be considered.

2. Proposals may be modified or withdrawn by the Offeror through the Procurement Portal any time before the date and time set forth in the solicitation.

3. Unless specifically requested, proposals not submitted electronically through the Procurement Portal will not be accepted.

G. ORAL PRESENTATIONS & DISCUSSIONS

1. Offerors may be required to participate in oral presentations. Oral Presentations are considered part of the Technical Proposal. Material representations made by an Offeror during the oral presentation shall be submitted in writing. Any such representations will become part of the Offeror’s proposal and are binding if the Contract is awarded.

2. The AOC may hold discussions with all Offerors judged reasonably susceptible of being selected for award, or potentially so. However, the AOC also reserves the right to make an award without holding discussions. With or without discussions, the AOC may determine an Offeror to be not responsible and/or not reasonably susceptible of being selected for award, at any time after the initial closing date for receipt of proposals and prior to contract award.

H. INCURRED EXPENSES

The AOC will not be responsible for any costs incurred by an Offeror in preparing and submitting a proposal, in making an oral presentation, in providing a demonstration, or in performing any other activities relative to

I. ECONOMY OF PREPARATION

Proposals shall be prepared simply and economically providing a straightforward, concise description of the Offeror’s ability to meet the requirements of this RFP.

J. PUBLIC ACCESS TO JUDICIAL RECORDS

1. An Offeror shall specifically identify those portions of its proposal that it considers confidential, proprietary commercial information, or trade secret, and provide justification why such materials, upon request, shall not be disclosed by the AOC under Title 16, Chapter 900 of the Maryland Rules.

2. The inspection of Judiciary procurement documents shall be governed exclusively by the Judicial Branch Procurement Policy. Procurement documents are presumed to be open to the public for inspection, except as otherwise provided by the Judicial Branch Procurement Policy.

K. OFFEROR RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Offerors shall be responsible for all goods and/or services and requirements set forth in this RFP including the contract performance of any subcontractor participation.

2. All subcontractors must be identified and a complete description of their role relative to the proposal must be included in the Offeror’s proposal. If the Successful Offeror requires the use of a subcontractor during the life of the Contract that was not identified in the proposal or the role of an identified subcontractor otherwise changes, the Successful Offeror shall obtain approval from the Contract Manager. If applicable, subcontractors utilized in meeting the established MBE or VSBE participation goal(s) shall be identified as provided in the appropriate MBE/VSBE forms attached to

3. If an Offeror that seeks to perform or provide the services required by this RFP is the subsidiary of another entity, all information submitted by the Offeror such as, but not limited to, references and financial reports, shall pertain exclusively to the Offeror, unless the parent organization will guarantee the performance of the subsidiary. If applicable, the Offeror’s proposal must contain an explicit statement, signed by an authorized representative of the parent organization, stating that the parent organization consents to the terms of the RFP and will guarantee the performance of the subsidiary.

4. A parental guarantee of the performance of the Offeror under this section will not automatically result in crediting the Offeror with the experience or qualification of the parent under any evaluation criteria pertaining to the actual Offeror’s experience and qualifications. The Offeror will be evaluated on the extent to which the AOC determines that the experience and qualifications of the parent are applicable to and shared with the Offeror, any stated intent by the parent to be directly involved in the performance of the contract, and the value of the parent’s participation as determined by the

AOC.

5. The Successful Offeror will be required to follow all current Judiciary protocols referencing pandemic flu or other infectious diseases including, but not limited to, proof of vaccination, producing negative COVID tests, completing/passing an initial screening questionnaire, non-contact temperature taking, the wearing of personal protective equipment (e.g., face mask), and practicing appropriate social distancing. Failure to comply with any of the Judiciary’s protocol could result in being denied entry into Judiciary workspace, and mitigation up to and including contract termination.

L. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. By submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, the Offeror, if selected for award, shall be deemed to have accepted the terms and conditions of this RFP and the Standard Contract Agreement Sample attached hereto as Attachment A.

2. Any exceptions to the terms and conditions of this RFP or the Contract must be clearly identified in the Technical Proposal. All exceptions will be taken into consideration when evaluating an Offeror’s proposal.

3. A proposal that takes exception to these terms may be rejected and therefore determined to be not reasonably susceptible of being selected for award.

4. By submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, the Offeror, if selected for award, agrees that it will comply with all federal, State, and local laws applicable to its activities and obligations under the contract.

M. ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICES

1. The Contract Manager or his/her designated representative has authority to determine the acceptable level of service.

2. When the Contact Manager or his/her designee determines that the Successful Offeror service is unsatisfactory, the Successful Offeror shall return to the site at the request of the AOC, or an authorized designee, and resolve the issue at no additional cost to the AOC.

N. DIVERSITY & OUTREACH PROGRAMS

The objective of the Diversity & Outreach Programs is to encourage and increase participation in AOC procurements by Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprises

(VSBE).

1. Minority Business Enterprise

MBEs are encouraged to respond to this solicitation notice as Prime Contractors. To participate as an MBE in AOC procurements, MBEs must be certified by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). Additional information regarding certification can be located on the MDOT Website: https://www.mdot.maryland.gov/tso/Pages/Index.aspx?PageId=90

a. There is no MBE goal established for this solicitation.

2. Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprise

VSBEs are encouraged to respond to this solicitation notice as Prime Contractors. VSBEs must complete three (3) steps: Supplier Registration, Veteran Verification, and VSBE Certification through eMMA. These steps are outlined by the State of Maryland VSBE program. Additional information regarding certification can be located at:

https://gomdsmallbiz.maryland.gov/Pages/VSBE-Program.aspx

b. There is no VSBE goal established for this solicitation.

O. INSURANCE

1. The Successful Offeror shall maintain, at minimum, the insurance coverages outlined in this section, or any minimum requirements established by law, if higher, for the duration of the contract, including option periods, if exercised. Evidence that the required insurance coverage has been obtained may be provided by Certificates of Insurance duly issued and certified by the insurance company or companies furnishing such insurance.

2. All insurance policies shall be endorsed to provide that the insurance carrier will be responsible for providing immediate notice to the AOC in the event of cancellation or restriction of the insurance policy by either the insurance carrier or the Successful Offeror, at least sixty (60) days prior to any such cancellation or restriction. All insurance policies shall name as an additional insured the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts.

3. The requiring of any and all insurance as set forth in this RFP, or elsewhere, shall be in addition to and not in any way in substitution for all the other protection provided under the Contract for acceptance and/or approval of any insurance by the Procurement Officer, and shall not be construed as relieving or excusing the Successful Offeror from any liability or obligation imposed upon it by the provisions of the Contract.

4. The following type(s) of insurance and minimum amount(s) of coverage are required and may be satisfied by either individual policies or a combination of individual policies and an umbrella policy:

a. Commercial General Liability

(1) $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence for bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury, and $2,000,000 annual aggregate.

(2) A combined single limit per occurrence of $2,000,000 is acceptable.

b. Worker’s Compensation

(1) $500,000 each accident.

(2) $500,000 each disease for each employee.

(3) $500,000 each disease per policy limit.

(4) Coverage must be valid in all states where work is performed.

c. Comprehensive Automobile Liability

(1) $1,000,000 Bodily Injury

(2) $1,000,000 Property Damage https://www.mdot.maryland.gov/tso/Pages/Index.aspx?PageId=90 https://gomdsmallbiz.maryland.gov/Pages/VSBE-Program.aspx

(3) The Successful Offeror shall maintain Automobile and/or Commercial Truck Insurance (including owned, leased, hired, and non-owned vehicles) as appropriate with Liability, Collision, and PIP limits no less than those required by the State where the vehicle(s) is registered, but in no case less than those required by the State of Maryland.

d. Professional Liability/Errors & Omissions (E&O)

(1) $1,000,000 per combined single per occurrence.

(2) $2,000,000 annual aggregate.

e. The AOC reserves the right to modify, or remove in its entirety, any of the required coverages when in the best interest of the AOC.

5. The insurance required above shall provide adequate protection for the Successful Offeror against claims which may arise from the Contract, whether such claims arise from operations performed by the Successful Offeror or by anyone directly or indirectly employed by the Successful Offeror, and against any special hazards which may be encountered in the performance of the Contract. In addition, all policies required must not exclude coverage for equipment while rented to others.

6. If any of the work under the Contract is subcontracted, the Successful Offeror shall require any subcontractors to obtain and maintain comparable levels of coverage and shall provide the Procurement Officer with the same documentation as is required of the Successful Offeror.

P. PROPOSAL AFFIDAVIT

A proposal submitted by an Offeror must be accompanied by a completed Bid/Proposal Affidavit. A copy of this Affidavit is included as Attachment B of this RFP.

Q. CONTRACT AFFIDAVIT

All Offerors are advised that if a Contract is awarded as a result of this solicitation, the Successful Offeror will be required to complete a Contract Affidavit. A sample of this Affidavit is included for informational purposes as Attachment C of this RFP. This Affidavit must be provided within five (5) business days of notification of recommendation for award.

END OF SECTION II.

SECTION III. SCOPE OF WORK

A. SUMMARY

The AOC is seeking proposals from prospective Offerors to operate a statewide network of court help centers.

Maryland Court Help Centers (MCHC) provide limited legal services to self-represented litigants with civil legal issues. These limited legal services include, but are not limited to, providing both legal advice and legal information (e.g., assistance completing forms), answering questions about legal topics, explaining court processes and procedures, helping litigants prepare for court hearings and mediation, and making referrals to other organizations. Maryland Court Help Centers do not provide representation in court.

The AOC currently has an incumbent, Maryland Center for Legal Assistance, LLC, that received award on May 24, 2021, in the amount of $30,972,800.00 for five (5) years via Contract No. K21-0035-40. Please note, the AOC does not share budget information for current solicitations.

B. OFFEROR MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The Offeror must have three (3) years’ experience providing services of similar size and scope.

C. SCOPE OF WORK

1. Successful Offeror personnel shall provide the following services to self-represented litigants:

a. Legal Information Services:

(1) Legal information services may include, but are not limited to:

i Confirmation of case status and scheduling information.

ii Overviews of legal topics.

iii Explanations of court processes and procedures.

iv Selection of appropriate court forms.

v Assistance requesting an accommodation or spoken language interpreter.

vi Referrals to other service providers, including other court resources such as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Office or the creation of a Maryland Justice Passport.

vii Assistance using online MD Court Help tools, such as Guide & File interviews and Maryland Online Resolutions (MDOR).

viii Other general information that does not constitute legal advice.

b. Legal Advice Services:

(1) Legal advice services may include, but are not limited to:

i Explaining:

1. Options for resolving a legal issue outside of court.

2. Legal rights and obligations.

3. Potential consequences of a course of action.

4. The drafting of court forms, pleadings, and motions.

5. Procedural requirements.

6. Next steps and/or actions in a case.

ii Assistance:

1. Preparing for mediation, negotiations, trial, and hearings.

2. Drafting and evaluating mediated agreements.

3. Substantive legal questions relevant for e-filing.

(2) Other guidance applying legal knowledge and principles to the specific facts of a self-represented litigant’s unique situation.

(3) Successful Offeror personnel must provide all legal advice services in a manner consistent with Maryland Rule 19-306.5.

https://govt.westlaw.com/mdc/Document/N323A6DF03C0211E6ACAF9E5216076AB4?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)

c. Legal Issues:

(1) Successful Offeror personnel shall provide services to self-represented litigants with civil legal issues under Maryland state law, including, but not limited to:

i Access to Court Records (e.g., Shielding and Sealing).

ii Accommodations.

iii Administrative Appeals.

iv Appeals.

v Children & Family:

1. Alternatives to Guardianship.

2. Child Custody & Access.

3. Child Support.

4. Child in Need of Assistance.

5. Divorce.

6. Guardianship.

7. Judicial Declarations of Gender Identity.

8. Juvenile.

9. Name Changes.

10. Paternity.

11. Termination of Parental Rights.

vi Employment.

vii Expungement.

viii Fee Waivers.

ix Housing.

x Intimate Partner Violence.

xi Mandamus.

xii Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution.

xiii Money issues (e.g., debt collection, small and large claims).

xiv Return of Property (e.g., Replevin and Detinue).

xv Personal Safety (e.g., Peace Orders, Emergency Evaluations).

(2) If Successful Offeror personnel determines a litigant is seeking assistance for a legal issue that is too complex for self-representation, the personnel shall provide the litigant with the following:

i A brief explanation of why the issue is inappropriate for self-representation.

ii Procedural guidance.

iii Referrals for legal research and finding representation.

2. For the purposes of the MCHC program, a self-represented litigant does not include the following:

a. A business, including but not limited to, a:

(1) Sole proprietorship

(2) Partnership

(3) Limited liability company

(4) Corporation.

b. An attorney licensed to practice in Maryland, unless seeking advice regarding their own legal issue in an area outside their normal practice (e.g., a Maryland attorney who practices corporate law may receive program services for assistance with a family law issue).

3. Successful Offeror personnel may provide general information and referrals to anyone seeking services, regardless of whether they are considered a self-represented litigant.

4. The Maryland Court Help Center program currently operates through four models:

a. District Court Help Centers (DCHC): Provide in-person services to litigants with issues in the District Court of Maryland.

b. All Civil Help Centers (ACHC): Provide in-person services to litigants with issues in both the District Court of Maryland and circuit courts.

c. The Remote Services Center (RSC): Provide services entirely remotely via voice calls, live chat, email, and videoconferencing. The RSC serves litigants with issues in both the District and circuit courts but is not open to the public for in-person assistance.

d. Court Help Access & Information Centers (CHAI): Provide services remotely through public access computers in courts. Services at CHAIs include written legal information materials, printing services, and connecting with help center attorneys via videoconferencing, live chat, or email. These centers are often unstaffed.

5. The Successful Offeror shall provide services for the Maryland Court Help Centers, as needed, by the following methods:

a. In-person consult

b. Voice calls

c. Live chat

d. Email

e. Videoconference

D. SERVICE LOCATIONS

1. Service locations for the Maryland Court Help Centers shall include the following:

a. Baltimore City District Court Help Center.

(1) Location: District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City - Hubbard Courthouse.

(2) Hours of Operation: 8:30AM to 4:30PM EDT, Monday through Friday.

(3) Staffing Level: One (1) Supervising Attorney, three (3) Staff Attorneys, and one (1)

Administrative Assistant.

b. Cambridge District Court Help Center.

(1) Location: District Court of Maryland for Dorchester County.

(2) Hours of Operation: 8:30AM to 4:30PM EDT, Friday only.

(3) Staffing Level: Staffing is provided by the Salisbury office.

i One (1) staff attorney, whose primary location is the Salisbury office, shall provide in-person legal services at the Cambridge office each Friday. This staffing arrangement is designed to optimize regional coverage, maintain service accessibility, and support office operations where client demand may fluctuate.

c. Catonsville District Court Help Center

(1) Location: District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County (Catonsville).

(2) Hours of Operation: 8:30AM to 4:30PM EDT, Monday through Friday.

(3) Staffing Level: One (1) Supervising Attorney, two (2) Staff Attorneys, and one (1)

d. Glen Burnie District Court Help Center.

(1) Location: District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County (Glen Burnie).

(2) Hours of Operation: 8:30AM to 4:30PM EDT, Monday through Friday.

e. Hagerstown District Court Help Center.

(1) Location: District Court of Maryland for Washington County.

(2) Hours of Operation: 8:30AM to 4:30PM EDT, Monday only.

(3) Staffing Level: Staffing is provided by the Frederick office.

i One (1) staff attorney, whose primary location is the Frederick office, shall provide in-person legal services at the Hagerstown office each Monday.

This staffing arrangement is designed to optimize regional coverage, maintain service accessibility, and support office operations where client demand may fluctuate.

f. Rockville District Court Help Center.

(1) Location: District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County (Rockville).

(2) Hours of Operation: 8:30AM to 4:30PM EDT, Monday through Friday.

g. Upper Marlboro District Court Help Center.

(1) Location: District Court of Maryland for Prince George’s County (Upper Marlboro).

(2) Hours of Operation: 8:30AM to 4:30PM EDT, Monday through Friday.

h. Salisbury District Court Help Center.

(1) Location: District Court of Maryland for Wicomico County.

(2) Hours of Operation: 8:30AM to 4:30PM EDT, Monday through Friday.

i. Frederick All Civil Help Center

(1) Location: District Court of Maryland for Frederick County.

(2) Hours of Operation: 8:30AM to 4:30PM EDT, Monday through Friday.

j. La Plata All Civil Help Center.

(1) Location: District Court of Maryland for Charles County.

(2) Hours of Operation:…