2026 RFQ MEDICAL.PSYCOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS - FINAL.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

RFx Number: RFQ 3120003341

To Provide: Medical and Psychological Consulting Services

Issue Date: June 30, 2026

CLOSING LOCATION

Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation

1281 Highway 51 North

Madison, Mississippi 39110

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS COORDINATOR

Lee Shirley, Director of Contracts

Telephone: (601) 853-5217

Email: LShirley@mdrs.ms.gov

CLOSING DATE AND TIME

Qualifications must be received by July 31, 2026, 10:00 AM CST.

SECTION 1. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS OVERVIEW

1.1 Qualifications Acceptance Period

The original and 1 copy of the statement of qualifications, 2 copies total, shall be signed and submitted in a sealed envelope or package to 1281 Highway 51 North, Madison, Mississippi 39110 no later than the time and date specified for receipt of statement of qualifications. Timely submission is the responsibility of the respondent. Statement of qualifications received after the specified time shall be rejected and shall remain unopened in the procurement file. The envelope or package shall be marked with the Request for qualifications opening date and time, and the number of the Request for Qualifications. The time and date of receipt shall be indicated on the envelope or package by the Director of Policy and Contracts. Modifications or additions to any portion of the procurement document may be cause for rejection of the statement of qualifications. The

Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) reserves the right to decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether to reject a statement of qualifications with modifications or additions as non-responsive. As a precondition to statement of qualifications acceptance, MDRS may request the respondent to withdraw or modify those portions of the statement of qualifications deemed non- responsive that do not affect quality, quantity, price, or delivery of the service.

1.1.1 Timeline

• Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Issue Date: June 30, 2026

• Deadline for Vendor Questions to MDRS: July 10, 2026 5:00 PM CST

• Anticipated Posting of Answers to Questions: July 17, 2026 5:00 PM CST

• Statement of qualifications Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026, 10:00 AM CST

• Selection Completed: Prior to August 4, 2026

1.1.2 Rejection of Qualifications

Statement of qualifications which do not conform to the requirements set forth in this Request for

Qualifications may be rejected by MDRS. Qualifications may be rejected for reasons which include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) The statement of qualifications contains unauthorized amendments to the requirements of the

Request for Qualifications.

2) The statement of qualifications is conditional.

3) The statement of qualifications is incomplete or contains irregularities which make the statement of qualifications indefinite or ambiguous.

4) The statement of qualifications is received late.

5) The statement of qualifications is not signed by an authorized representative of the party.

6) The statement of qualifications contains false or misleading statements or references.

7) The statement of qualifications does not offer to provide all services required by the Request for Qualifications.

1.2 Expenses Incurred in Statement of Qualifications

MDRS accepts no responsibility for any expense incurred by the respondent in the preparation and presentation of a statement of qualifications. Such expenses shall be borne exclusively by the respondent.

1.3 Proprietary Information

The respondent should mark any and all pages of the statement of qualifications considered to be proprietary information which may remain confidential in accordance with Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 25- 61-9 and

79-23-1 (1972, as amended). Any pages not marked accordingly will be subject to review by the general public after award of the contract. Requests to review the proprietary information will be handled in accordance with applicable legal procedures.

1.4 Registration with Mississippi Secretary of State

By submitting a statement of qualifications, the respondent certifies that it is registered to do business in the

State of Mississippi as prescribed by the Mississippi Secretary of State or, if not already registered, that it will do so within seven (7) business days of being offered an award. Sole proprietors are not required to register with the Mississippi Secretary of State.

1.5 Debarment

By submitting a statement of qualifications, the respondent certifies that it is not currently debarred from submitting statements of qualifications for contracts issued by any political subdivision or agency of the State of Mississippi or Federal government, and that it is not an agent of a person or entity that is currently debarred from submitting statements of qualifications for contracts issued by any political subdivision or agency of the

State of Mississippi.

1.6 Competitive Qualifications

Discussions may be conducted with respondents who submit qualifications determined to be reasonably susceptible of being selected for award. Likewise, MDRS also reserves the right to accept any qualifications as submitted for contract award, without substantive negotiation of proposed terms, services or prices. For these reasons, all parties are advised to propose their most favorable terms initially.

1.7 Additional Information

Questions about the award agreement or technical portions of the procurement document must be submitted in writing to Lee Shirley, Director of Contracts at Post Office Box 1698, Jackson, Mississippi 39215-1698 or

LShirley@mdrs.ms.gov. Respondents are cautioned that any statements made by contact persons that cause a material change to any portion of the procurement document shall not be relied upon unless subsequently ratified by a formal written amendment to the procurement document. All questions and requests for clarifications must be submitted by the deadline specified in Section 1.1.1 and made in writing. The person submitting the question or request for clarification is responsible for its timely delivery. All questions, request for clarifications, and answers received by the deadline shall be published as an amendment on the agency website and onto the Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal in a manner that all will be able to view by the deadline specified in Section 1.1.1.

1.8 Acknowledgement of Amendment

Should an amendment to the RFQ be issued, it will be posted on the MDRS website (http://www.mdrs.ms.gov) and the Mississippi Transparency website (http://www.transparency.mississippi.gov) in a manner that all respondents will be able to view. Further, respondents must acknowledge receipt of any amendment to the solicitation by signing and returning the amendment with the bid package, by identifying the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on the bid form, or by letter. The acknowledgment should be received by MDRS by the time and at the place specified for receipt of bids as reflected in Section 1.1 and

Attachment A. It is the respondent’s sole responsibility to monitor the website for amendments to the RFQ.

1.9 Type of Contract

Compensation for services will be in the form of a firm fixed-price agreement.

1.10 Written Statement of Qualifications

All statements of qualifications shall be in writing.

SECTION 2. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE OF PROCUREMENT

2.1 Compensation for Services

The compensation for services will be as follows:

• Case Rating and Consultation:

o Forty-Seven Dollars ($47.00) per non-CDR case o Fifty-Five Dollars ($55.00) per CDR case

• Review and Signing of Pre-Prepared Assessments:

o Thirty-Four Dollars ($34.00) per non-CDR case o Forty-Two Dollars ($42.00) per CDR case

• Determination Signing:

o Five Dollars ($5.00) per end line case review/signature

• Rating Correction:

o MDRS will make no payment to the Contractor for correction or completion of errors or omissions found in a quality assurance review process or by other administrative review.

• Other Activities:

o Sixty Dollars ($60.00) per hour.

o Other activities include training beyond two hours per month, preparing and presenting training, and any other administratively requested or required activity other than case rating or determination signing.

o Any hours related to the activity of training as stated above must be approved by the Director of the

DDS program, in consultation with the Executive Director, prior to such hours being incurred. Approval must be documented in writing and signed by the DDS Director and the Contractor. Any training hours not approved by the DDS Director prior to such hours being incurred may be deemed by MDRS as ineligible for payment.

o In special situations and with prior approval by MDRS, MDRS will reimburse costs, at state rates, of http://www.mdrs.ms.gov/ travel expenses incurred by the Contractor when performing “other activities”, including Sixty Dollars

($60.00) per hour for travel time. Total time spent performing “other activities”, including travel time, shall not exceed eight (8) hours per day.

• Special Reviews:

o Sixty Dollars ($60.00) per non-CDR and CDR case

2.2 Purpose

The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services is seeking to establish a contract for consulting medical and psychological services. The Consulting Specialists will carry out the prescribed procedures relating to a part of the documentation requirements necessary in completing disability determinations on applications for Social Security Disability Benefits. It is understood that any contract resulting from RFQ

3120003341 requires approval by the Public Procurement Review Board. If any contract resulting from RFQ

3120003341 is not approved by the Public Procurement Review Board, it is void and no payment shall be made.

2.3 Scope of Services

In carrying out the responsibilities of a consulting specialist, the Consultant will provide services including, but not limited to:

• Determination of the severity of impairments by reviewing and evaluating medical evidence obtained in conjunction with applications for disability benefits under provisions of the Social Security Act. This includes written evaluations and completion of specified forms as required by Social Security regulations.

• Review of case records and provide written evaluation of the adequacy of documentation and make recommendations for further development.

• Review of and signed execution of completed determinations.

• Upon request, assist in rebuttal preparations by providing analysis on relevant medical issues.

• Maintenance of an accuracy rate of 95% or higher.

• Attend, watch, prepare or present, without compensation, up to two (2) hours per month of required training for SSA and MDRS in program and administrative policy. May also participate in other activities (excluding case ratings or determination signing) as requested by MDRS Administration including but not limited to preparation/presentation of training, discussion of program and/or administrative issues, etc.

Participation in excess of two (2) hours will be compensated as described below in Exhibit “C”.

• Make adequate contributions to the medical unit queues by contributing a minimum of 15-20 hours per week

(average of 2 cases per hour) in efforts to assist the agency in maintaining appropriate medical review timelines in accordance with SSA standards.

2.4 Term

The anticipated term of the contract is tentatively September 9, 2026 through September 8, 2027. Upon written agreement of both parties at least fifteen (15) days prior to each contract anniversary date, the contract may be renewed by MDRS for a period of four (4) successive one-year period(s) under the same prices, terms, and conditions as in the original contract subject to approval by the PPRB. The total number of renewal years permitted shall not exceed four (4).

SECTION 3. INSURANCE

3.1 Insurance

The successful vendor shall maintain workers’ compensation insurance as required by the State of Mississippi which shall inure to the benefit of all the Contractor’s personnel provided hereunder. The Mississippi

Department of Rehabilitation Services reserves the right to request from carriers, certificates of insurance regarding the required coverage. Insurance carriers must be licensed or hold a Certificate of Authority from the Mississippi Department of Insurance.

SECTION 4. PROCURMENT EVALUATION AND AWARD

4.1 Written Statements of Qualifications Shall Contain the Following Minimum Information

1) The name of the respondent, the location of the respondent’s principal place of business and, if different, the place of performance of the proposed contract;

2) The age of the respondent’s business and average number of employees over a previous period of time, as specified in the Request for Qualifications;

3) The qualifications, including licenses, certifications, education, skills, and experience of all persons who would be assigned to provide the required services; and,

4) A listing of other contracts under which services similar in scope, size, or discipline to the required services were performed or undertaken within a previous period of time, as specified in the Request for

Qualifications.

4.2 Minimum Qualifications

A Medical Consultant (MC) or Psychological Consultant (PC) is a member of the DDS or SSA team that makes disability determinations. The MC and PC provide expertise in evaluating medical issues.

• An MC must be an acceptable medical source. MCs who are not physicians are limited to evaluating the impairments for which they are qualified. The MC must meet any appropriate qualifications for his or her specialty. Acceptable medical sources are:

o Licensed physicians (medical or osteopathic doctors);

• The PC is a psychologist with the same responsibilities as an MC but the PC only evaluates mental impairments in cases where there is evidence of a mental impairment. The PC must be a qualified psychologist. For disability program purposes, a psychologist is qualified if he or she:

o is licensed or certified as a psychologist at the independent practice level of psychology by the State in which he or she practices; and either o possesses a doctorate degree in psychology from a program in clinical psychology of an educational institution accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, formerly the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation; or o is in a national register of health service providers in psychology which the Commissioner of Social

Security deems appropriate; and o possesses two years of supervised clinical experience as a psychologist, at least one year of which is post master’s degree.

4.3 Nonconforming Terms and Conditions

A statement of qualifications that includes terms and conditions that do not conform to the terms and conditions in the Request for Qualifications is subject to rejection as non-responsive. The Mississippi Department of

Rehabilitation Services reserves the right to permit the respondent to withdraw nonconforming terms and conditions from its statement of qualifications response prior to a determination by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services of non-responsiveness based on the submission of nonconforming terms and conditions.

4.4 Conditioning Statement of Qualifications Upon Other Awards

Any statement of qualifications which is conditioned upon receiving award of both the particular contract being solicited and another Mississippi contract shall be deemed non-responsive and not acceptable.

4.5 Evaluation Procedure

4.5.1 Step One:

Statements of qualifications will be reviewed to assure compliance with the minimum specifications.

Statements of qualifications that do not comply with the minimum specifications will be rejected immediately, receiving no further consideration.

(1) Responsive Respondent

Respondent must submit a statement of qualifications which conforms in all material respects to this Request for Qualifications, RFQ 3120003341, as determined by MDRS.

(2) Responsible Respondent

Respondent must have capability in all respects to perform fully the contract requirements and the integrity and reliability which will assure good faith performance, as determined by MDRS.

4.5.2 Step Two:

Statements of qualifications that satisfactorily complete Step One will be reviewed and analyzed to determine if the statement of qualifications adequately meets the needs of MDRS. Factors to be considered are as follows:

Evaluation Factors

Each Statement of Qualification shall be evaluated and scored as follows:

• Cost (Price) [40 points]

• Management Phase I- Interview or Performance Evaluation [30 points] o Performance evaluations shall only be allowed when an applicant has previously performed medical or psychological consulting services of this type for the Office of Disability

Determination Services in MDRS.

• Management Phase II- Education, Work History and Experience [30 points]

4.5.3 Step Three:

The MDRS Executive Director or his/her designee will contact the respondents with the statements of qualifications which best meets MDRS needs (based on factors evaluated in Step Two) and attempt to negotiate an agreement that is deemed acceptable to both parties.

4.5.4 Award

The contract will be awarded by written notice, within fifteen days, to the highest ranked respondents whose statements of qualifications meets the requirements and criteria set forth in this Request for

Qualifications.

4.5.5 Notification

All participating vendors will be notified of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services intent to award a contract. In addition, the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services will identify the selected vendors. Notice of award is also made available to the public.

SECTION 5. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

SPECIFICATIONS

5.1 Statement of Qualifications Requirements

The following response format shall be used for all submitted statement of qualifications:

• Statement of Qualifications Cover Sheet (Attachment A);

• Authorization and Acknowledgements Form (Attachment B) – The Consulting Specialist Services

Contract Rate MUST be accepted as indicated by the applicant’s signature. Failure to complete and/or sign this form may result in the individual being determined nonresponsive.

• Certifications and Assurances Form (Attachment C);

• Statement of Qualifications Form (Attachment D) – At the top of the form, the vendor should indicate the category of consulting for which he or she qualifies and is applying (may apply/qualify for more than one category).

• Written resume or vitae indicating the individual’s education and work experience;

• The applicable certification(s) and/or license(s) from the applicable certifying authority; and

• Copy of applicable insurance certificate.

5.2 Statement of Qualifications Submission

The original and 1 copy of the statement of qualifications, 2 copies total, shall be signed, placed in a sealed envelope or package, and submitted as listed below, on or before 10:00 AM CST, Friday, July 31, 2026

Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services Attention: Lee Shirley, Director of Contracts 1281 Highway 51 North Madison, Mississippi 39110 Request for Qualifications for Medical and Psychological Consulting Services

RFQ No. 3120003341 Opening Date: 10:00 AM CST, Friday, July 31, 2026

SEALED STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS PACKAGE – DO NOT OPEN

SECTION 6. POST-AWARD PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION

6.1 Request for Reconsideration

Any actual or prospective respondent or contractor who is aggrieved in connection with this solicitation or the outcome of the Request for Qualifications may file a request for reconsideration with the Request for

Qualifications Coordinator, Lee Shirley, Director of Contracts. The request for reconsideration shall be submitted on or before August 7, 2026, 5:00 PM CST, in writing after such aggrieved person or entity knows or should have known of the facts giving rise thereto. All requests for reconsideration must be in writing, dated, signed by the respondent or an individual authorized to sign contracts on behalf of the respondent, and contain a statement of the reason(s) for the request, citing the law(s), rule(s) or regulation(s), and/or procedure(s) on which the request is based. The written request for reconsideration letter shall contain an explanation of the specific basis for the request. The requesting respondent must provide facts and evidence to support the request.

A request for reconsideration is considered filed when received by the Request for Qualifications Coordinator, Lee Shirley, Director of Contracts, via either U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or personal delivery. Requests filed after August 7, 2026, 5:00 PM CST will not be considered.

6.2 Required Contract Terms and Conditions

Any contract entered into between a Contracting Agency and a vendor/respondent shall include the required clauses found in Attachment E, Exhibit A, and those required by the Office of Personal Service Contract

Review Rules and Regulations as updated.

6.3 Optional Contract Terms and Conditions

Any contract entered into between a Contracting Agency and a vendor/respondent may have, at the discretion of the Contracting Agency, the optional clauses found within the Office of Personal Service Contract Review

Rules and Regulations as updated.

6.4 Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal

This Request for Qualifications, and the questions and answers concerning this Request for Qualifications, are posted on the Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal.

6.5 Attachments

The attachments to this Request for Qualifications are made a part of this Request for Qualifications as if copied herein in words and figures.

6.6 The request for qualifications, its amendments, the offeror’s qualifications and the best and final offer shall constitute the contract.

ATTACHMENT A

Statement of Qualifications Cover Sheet

The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services is seeking statements of qualifications from qualified contractors to provide Medical and Psychological Consulting Services throughout the State of Mississippi for students who are served by MDRS.

Statements of Qualifications are to be submitted as listed below, on or before 10:00 AM CST, Friday July 31, 2026.

PLEASE MARK YOUR ENVELOPE:

Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services

Attention: Lee Shirley, Director of Contracts

1281 Highway 51 North

Madison, Mississippi 39110

Request for Qualifications for Medical and Psychological Consulting Services RFQ No. 3120003341

Opening Date: 10:00 AM CST, Friday, July 31, 2026

SEALED STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS PACKAGE – DO NOT OPEN

** List either “medical” or “psychological” as the consultant category.

Company Name:

Address:

City/State/Zip:

Telephone:

Fax Number:

E-Mail Address:

Printed Name of Authorized Signer:

Signature and Date:

ATTACHMENT B

Authorization and Acknowledgements

By signing below, the Company Representative certifies that he/she has authority to bind the company, and further acknowledges on behalf of the company:

1. That he/she has thoroughly read and understands this Request for Qualifications, RFQ 3120003341, and the attachments herein;

2. That the company meets all requirements and acknowledges all certifications contained in this Request for

Qualifications, RFQ 3120003341, and the attachments herein;

3. That the company agrees to all provisions of this Request for Qualifications, RFQ 3120003341, and the attachments herein;

4. That the company can and will meet all required laws, regulations, and/or procedures related to confidentiality and represents that its workers are licensed, certified, and possess the requisite credentials to perform the transition services; and

5. That the company has, or will secure, at its own expense, applicable personnel who shall be qualified to perform the duties required to be performed under this Request for Qualifications.

6. That the company understands that should an amendment to this RFQ be issued, it will be posted on the MDRS website (www.mdrs.ms.gov) in a manner that all proposers will be able to view. Proposers shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment to the solicitation by signing and returning the amendment with the statement of qualifications, by identifying the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on this form. The acknowledgment must be received by MDRS by the time and at the place specified for receipt of statement of qualifications. It is the company’s sole responsibility to monitor the website for amendments to the

RFQ.

Name and Title:

ATTACHMENT C

Certifications and Assurances

I/We make the following certifications and assurances as a required element of the offer to which it is attached, of the understanding that the truthfulness of the facts affirmed here and the continued compliance with these requirements are conditions precedent to the award or continuation of the related contract(s) by circling the applicable word or words in each paragraph below:

1. Representation Regarding Contingent Fees.

Contractor represents that it [ HAS or HAS NOT ] retained a person to solicit or secure a state contract upon an agreement or understanding for a commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee, except as disclosed in Contractor’s statement of qualifications.

2. Representation Regarding Gratuities.

The Respondent or Contractor represents that it [ HAS or HAS NOT ] violated, is not violating, and promises that it will not violate the prohibition against gratuities set forth in Section 6-204 (Gratuities) of the Mississippi

Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal service Contract Review Rules and Regulations.

3. Certification of Independent Price Determination.

The Respondent certifies that the prices submitted in response to the solicitation [ HAVE or HAVE NOT ] been arrived at independently and without, for the purpose of restricting competition, any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other respondent or competitor relating to those prices, the intention to submit a statement of qualifications, or the methods or factors used to calculate price.

4. Prospective Contractor’s Representation Regarding Contingent Fees.

The Prospective Contractor represents as a part of such Contractor’s statement of qualifications that such

Contractor [ HAS or HAS NOT ] retained any person or agency on a percentage, commission, or other contingent arrangement to secure this contract.

Name and Title:

Note: Please be sure to circle the applicable word or words provided above. Failure to circle the applicable word or words and/or to sign the statement of qualifications form may result in the statement of qualifications being rejected as nonresponsive. Modifications or additions to any portion of this statement of qualifications document may be cause for rejection of the statement of qualifications.

ATTACHMENT D

Statement of Qualifications Questionnaire

Service Category—Applicant must mark each category for which he or she wishes to be considered.

Medical Consultant Psychological Consultant

Please answer the following questions regarding your qualifications and experience:

Provide the age of your business as well as the number of years your company has been performing medical/psychological services. Does your company have a specific area of expertise in the field, and if so, how many years of experience?

Please provide the average number of employees maintained by your business over the past year.

List all degrees and specialized education of all persons who would be assigned to provide the required services requested in this RFQ. Please provide the name of the schools as well as the dates of graduation.

List all licenses, permits and/or certifications of all persons who would be assigned to provide the required services requested in this RFQ. Additionally, please provide copies of all applicable licenses, permits and/or certifications with the submission packet.

Has your company had any prior experience evaluating Social Security disability eligibility claims? If yes, list any other contracts, providing the name of your previous employers and the number years these services were provided.

Company Name: __________________________________________________

ATTACHMENT E

Required Clauses for Service Contracts Resulting from this RFQ Required Clauses for Service

Contracts Resulting from this Request for Qualifications

1. Applicable Law. The contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the

State of Mississippi, excluding its conflicts of laws provisions, and any litigation with respect thereto shall be brought in the courts of Mississippi.

2. Availability of Funds. It is expressly understood and agreed that the obligation of the Agency to proceed under this agreement is conditioned upon the appropriation of funds by the Mississippi State

Legislature and the receipt of state and/or federal funds. If the funds anticipated for the continuing fulfillment of the agreement are, at any time, not forthcoming or insufficient, either through the failure of the federal government to provide funds or of the State of Mississippi to appropriate funds or the discontinuance or material alteration of the program under which funds were provided or if funds are not otherwise available to the Agency, the Agency shall have the right upon ten (10) working days written notice to Contractor, to terminate this agreement without damage, penalty, cost or expenses to the Agency of any kind whatsoever. The effective date of termination shall be as specified in the notice of termination.

3. Compliance with Laws. Contractor shall comply with, and all activities under this agreement shall be subject to, all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as now existing and as may be amended or modified.

4. Compliance with Equal Opportunity in Employment Policy. Contractor understands that MDRS is an equal opportunity employer and therefore, maintains a policy which prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, physical handicap, disability, genetic information, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. All such discrimination is unlawful, and Contractor agrees during the term of the agreement that Contractor will strictly adhere to this policy in its employment practices and provision of services.

5. Contract Rights. Contract rights do not vest in any party until a contract is legally executed. MDRS is under no obligation to award a contract following issuance of this solicitation.

6. E-Payment. Contractor agrees to accept all payments in United States currency via the State of

Mississippi’s electronic payment and remittance vehicle. The agency agrees to make payment in accordance with Mississippi law on “Timely Payments for Purchases by Public Bodies,” which generally provides for payment of undisputed amounts by the agency within forty-five (45) days of receipt of invoice. Mississippi Code Annotated § 31-7-301.

7. E-Verification. If applicable, Contractor represents and warrants that it will ensure its compliance with the Mississippi Employment Protection Act and will register and participate in the status verification system for all newly hired employees. Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 71-11-1 and 71-

11-3. Contractor agrees to provide a copy of each verification upon request of the [Agency] subject to approval by any agencies of the United States Government. Contractor further represents and warrants that any person assigned to perform services hereafter meets the employment eligibility requirements of all immigration laws.

The breach of this clause may subject Contractor to the following: (1) termination of this contract and exclusion pursuant to Chapter 15 of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service

Contract Review Rules and Regulations; (2) the loss of any license, permit, certification or other document granted to Contractor by an agency, department, or governmental entity for the right to do business in Mississippi; or (3) both. In the event of such termination, Contractor would also be liable for any additional costs incurred by the Agency due to Contract cancellation or loss of license or permit to do business in the state.

8. Expenses Incurred in the Procurement Process. All parties participating in the procurement process with regard to this solicitation shall bear their own costs of participation, pursuant to Section 1.4.4 of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and

Regulations.

9. Minor Informalities and Irregularities. MDRS has the right to waive minor defects or variations of a qualification from the exact requirements of the specifications that do not affect the price, quality, quantity, delivery, or performance of the services being procured and if doing so does not create an unfair advantage for any offeror. If insufficient information is submitted by an offeror for MDRS to properly evaluate the offer,MDRS has the right to require such additional information as it may deem necessary after the submission deadline, provided that the information requested does not change the price, quality, quantity, delivery, or performance time of the services being procured and such a request does not create an unfair advantage for any offeror. (Information requested may include, for example, a copy of business or professional licenses, or a work schedule.)

10. Paymode. Payments by MDRS using the state’s accounting system shall be made and remittance information provided electronically as directed by the state and deposited into the bank account of

Contractor’s choice. MDRS may, at its sole discretion, require Contractor to electronically submit invoices and supporting documentation at any time during the term of this Agreement. Contractor understands and agrees that the Agency is exempt from the payment of Mississippi taxes. All payments shall be in United States currency.

11. Procurement Regulations. This solicitation shall be governed by the applicable provisions of the

Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and

Regulations, a copy of which is available on the Mississippi Department of Finance and

Administration’s website (www.dfa.ms.gov). Any offeror responding to a solicitation for personal and professional services and any contractor doing business with a state Agency is deemed to be on notice of all requirements therein.

12. Property Rights. Property rights do not inure to any Offeror until such time as services have been provided under a legally executed contract. No party responding to this RFQ has a legitimate claim of entitlement to be awarded a contract or to the provision of work thereunder. MDRS is under no obligation to award a contract and may terminate a legally executed contract at any time.

13. Representation Regarding Contingent Fees. Contractor represents that it has not retained a person to solicit or secure a state contract upon an agreement or understanding for a commission, percentage, brokerage, or contingent fee, except as disclosed in Contractor’s statement of qualifications.

14. Representation Regarding Gratuities. Offeror represents that it has not, is not, and will not offer, give, or agree to give any employee or former employee of MDRS a gratuity or offer of employment in connection with any approval, disapproval, recommendation, development, or any other action or decision related to the solicitation and resulting contract. Offeror further represents that no employee or former employee of MDRS has or is soliciting, demanding, accepting, or agreeing to accept a gratuity or offer of employment for the reasons previously stated; any such action by an employee or former employee in the future, if any, will be rejected by offeror. Offeror further represents that it is in compliance with the Mississippi Ethics in Government laws, codified at Mississippi Code

Annotated §§ 25-4-101 through 25-4-121, and has not solicited any employee or former employee to act in violation of said law.

15. Required Public Records and Transparency. Upon execution of a contract, the provisions of the contract which contain the personal or professional services provided, the unit prices, the overall price to be paid, and the term of the contract shall not be deemed to be a trade secret or confidential commercial or financial information pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated § 25- 61-9(7). The contract shall be posted publicly on www.transparency.ms.gov and shall be available for at the Agency for examination, inspection, or reproduction by the public. The [bidder, offeror, applicant, contractor] acknowledges and agrees that the MDRS and this contract are subject to the Mississippi Public

Records Act of 1983 codified at Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 25-61-1, et seq. and its exceptions, Mississippi Code Annotated § 79-23-1, and the Mississippi Accountability and Transparency Act of

2008, codified at Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 27-104-151, et seq.

16. Stop Work Order. MDRS may, by written order to Contractor at any time, require Contractor to stop all or any part of the work called for by this contract. This order shall be for a period of time specified by MDRS. Upon receipt of such an order, Contractor shall forthwith comply with its terms and take all reasonable steps to minimize any further cost to MDRS. Upon expiration of the stop work order, Contractor shall resume providing the services which were subject to the stop work order, unless

MDRS has terminated that part of the agreement or terminated the agreement in its entirety. MDRS is not liable for payment for services which were not rendered due to the stop work order.

17. Termination.

Termination for Convenience. MDRS may, when the interests of the Agency so require, terminate this contract in whole or in part, for the convenience of the Agency.MDRS shall give written notice of the termination to Contractor specifying the part of the contract terminated and when termination becomes effective. Contractor shall incur no further obligations in connection with the terminated work and on the date set in the notice of termination Contractor will stop work to the extent specified. Contractor shall complete the work not terminated by the notice of termination and may incur obligations as are necessary to do so.

Termination for Default. If MDRS gives the Contractor a notice that the personal or professional services are being provided in a manner that is deficient, the Contractor shall have 30 days to cure the deficiency. If the Contractor fails to cure the deficiency, MDRS may terminate the contract for default and the Contractor will be liable for the additional cost to MDRS to procure the personal and professional services from another source. Termination under this paragraph could result in Contractor being excluded from future contract awards pursuant to Chapter 15 of the Public Procurement Review

Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations.

18. Trade Secrets, Commercial and Financial Information. It is expressly understood that Mississippi law requires that the provisions of this contract which contain the commodities purchased or the personal or professional services provided, the price to be paid, and the term of the contract shall not be deemed to be a trade secret or confidential commercial or financial information and shall be available for examination, copying, or reproduction.

19. Approval Clause. It is understood that if this contract requires approval by the Public Procurement

Review Board and/or the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration Office of Personal

Service Contract Review and this contract is not approved by the PPRB and/or OPSCR, it is void and no payment shall be made hereunder.

20. Acknowledgment of Amendments. Bidders shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment to the solicitation by signing and returning the amendment with the bid, by identifying the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on the bid form, or by letter. The acknowledgment must be received by MDRS by the time and at the place specified for receipt of bids.

21. Certification of Independent Price Determination. By submitting a qualification, the offeror certifies that the prices submitted in response to the solicitation have been arrived at independently and without any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other offeror or competitor for the purpose of restricting competition.

22. Offeror’s Representation Regarding Contingent Fees. By responding to the solicitation, the offeror represents that it has not retained any person or agency on a percentage, commission, or other contingent arrangement to secure this contract. If the offeror cannot make such a representation, a full and complete explanation shall be submitted in writing with the offeror’s response.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES CONTRACT

FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

1. Parties. The parties to this contract are the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (hereinafter

“MDRS”) and [Contractor Name] (hereinafter “Contractor”).

2. Purpose. The purpose of this contract is for MDRS to engage Contractor to provide certain professional services as set forth in RFQ 3120003341, issued by MDRS and incorporated herein by reference. Contractor is one of the vendors selected through the above referenced RFQ.

3. General Terms and Conditions. This contract is hereby made subject to the terms and conditions included in Exhibit “A”, attached hereto and incorporated herein, captioned “General Terms and Conditions.”

4. Scope of Services. Contractor will perform and complete in a timely and satisfactory manner the services described in Exhibit “B”, attached hereto and incorporated herein, captioned “Scope of Services.”

5. Consideration. As consideration for the performance of the services referenced in Exhibit “B”, MDRS agrees to compensate Contractor as provided in Exhibit “B”, attached hereto and incorporated herein, captioned “Compensation.”

6. Period of Performance. This contract will become effective for the period beginning September 9, 2026 and ending on September 8, 2027, upon the approval and signature of the parties hereto. MDRS has the option to renew the contract for four (4) successive one-year period(s) not to exceed a maximum of five (5) year contract period of performance.

7. Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given under this agreement must be in writing and personally delivered or sent by certified United States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the party to whom the notice should be given at the address set forth Exhibit “C”, attached hereto and incorporated herein, captioned “Notifications.”

In witness whereof, the parties hereto have affixed, on duplicate originals, their signatures on the date indicated below, after first being authorized so to do.

_________________________ By: ________________________________________________

DATE Samandra Murphy, Chief of Staff

_________________________ By: ________________________________________________

DATE

Contract #27-331-6000-XXX

EXHIBIT A

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Anti-assignment/subcontracting. Contractor acknowledges that it was selected by the State to perform the services required hereunder based, in part, upon Contractor’s special skills and expertise. Contractor shall not assign, subcontract, or otherwise transfer this agreement, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the State, which the State may, in its sole discretion, approve or deny without reason. Any attempted assignment or transfer of its obligations without such consent shall be null and void. No such approval by the

State of any subcontract shall be deemed in any way to provide for the incurrence of any obligation of the State in addition to the total fixed price agreed upon in this agreement. Subcontracts shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this agreement and to any conditions of approval that the State may deem necessary. Subject to the foregoing, this agreement shall be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties.

2. Applicable Law. The contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of

Mississippi, excluding its conflicts of laws, provisions, and any litigation with respect thereto shall be brought in the courts of the State. Contractor shall comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

3. Approval. It is understood that if this contract requires approval by the Public Procurement Review Board

(“PPRB”) and/or the Department of Finance and Administration Office of Personal Service Contract Review

(“OPSCR”), and this contract is not approved by PPRB and/or OPSCR, it is void and no payment shall be made hereunder.

4. Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses. Subject to other terms and conditions of this agreement, in the event Contractor defaults in any obligations under this agreement, Contractor shall pay to the State all costs and expenses

(including, without limitation, investigative fees, court costs, and attorney’s fees) incurred by the State in enforcing this agreement or otherwise reasonably related thereto. Contractor agrees that under no circumstances shall the customer be obligated to pay any attorney’s fees or costs of legal action to Contractor.

5. Availability of Funds. It is expressly understood and agreed that the obligation of MDRS to proceed under this agreement is conditioned upon the appropriation of funds by the Mississippi State Legislature and the receipt of state and/or federal funds. If the funds anticipated for the continuing fulfillment of the agreement are, at any time, not forthcoming or insufficient, either through the failure of the federal government to provide funds or of the State of Mississippi to appropriate funds or the discontinuance or material alteration of the program under which funds were provided or if funds are not otherwise available to MDRS, MDRS shall have the right upon ten (10) working days written notice to Contractor, to terminate this agreement without damage, penalty, cost or expenses to MDRS of any kind whatsoever. The effective date of termination shall be as specified in the notice of termination.

6. Compliance with Equal Opportunity in Employment Policy. Contractor understands that MDRS is an equal opportunity employer and therefore, maintains a policy which prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, physical handicap, disability, genetic information, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. All such discrimination is unlawful, and Contractor agrees during the term of the agreement that Contractor will strictly adhere to this policy in its employment practices and provision of services.

7. Compliance with Laws. Contractor shall comply with, and all activities under this agreement shall be subject to, all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as now existing and as may be amended or modified.

8. Conflict of Interest. Contractor represents, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that this contract does not present the Contractor with a conflict of interest with respect to any past, current, or potential contract or employment such that the Contractor would be unable to perform impartially and without bias. Contractor must also refrain from using confidential or protected personally identifiable information for any other purpose other than to perform the duties required by this contract.

9. Disputes. Any dispute concerning a question of fact arising under this Contract shall be disposed of by good faith negotiation between duly authorized representative of MDRS and the Contractor. Disputes that cannot be resolved in this manner shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in Hinds County, Mississippi.

Pending final decision of a dispute, the Contractor shall proceed diligently with the performance of its obligation in this agreement.

10. E-Payment. Contractor agrees to accept all payments in United States currency via the State of Mississippi’s electronic payment and remittance vehicle. The Agency agrees to make payment in accordance with Mississippi

“Timely Payments for Purchases by Public Bodies” laws, which generally provide for payment of undisputed amounts by the Agency within 45 calendar days of receipt of invoice. Mississippi Code Annotated § 31-7-301, et seq

11. E-Verification. If applicable, Contractor represents and warrants that it will ensure its compliance with the

Mississippi Employment Protection Act and will register and participate in the status verification system for all newly hired employees. Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 71-11-1 and 71-11-3. Contractor agrees to provide a copy of each verification upon request of the Agency subject to approval by any agencies of the United States

Government. Contractor further represents and warrants that any person assigned to perform services hereafter meets the employment eligibility requirements of all immigration laws.

The breach of this clause may subject Contractor to the following: (1) termination of this contract and exclusion pursuant to Chapter 15 of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review

Rules and Regulations; (2) the loss of any license, permit, certification or other document granted to Contractor by an agency, department, or governmental entity for the right to do business in Mississippi; or (3) both. In the event of such termination, Contractor would also be liable for any additional costs incurred by the Agency due to Contract cancellation or loss of license or permit to do business in the state.

12. Entire Agreement. This Contract constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein and supersedes and replaces any and all prior negotiations, understandings and agreements, written or oral, between the parties relating thereto.

13. Failure to Deliver. In the event of failure of Contractor to deliver…