202601009 Eval of RHTP - Final.xlsx

XLSX spreadsheet 37 KB Posted Mar 25, 2026

Attached to: Evaluation of Maine's Rural Health Transformation Program
Solicitation number: RFP - 10A - 202601009
Issued by: Maine

About this file

Written by GovTribe AI · Mar 30, 2026

This is a Question and Answer (Q&A) document for RFP #202601009 issued by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for the Evaluation of Maine's Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The RFP seeks a single contractor to provide comprehensive evaluation services including data collection, metric construction, performance objective measure development, annual reporting, and public-facing data dashboard development to assess the impact of RHTP funding across five major initiatives focused on population health, rural health workforce, care delivery modernization, healthcare affordability, and rural health ecosystem sustainability. The contractor will be responsible for collecting clinician participation data, developing and monitoring metrics on an ongoing basis as data become available, administering surveys, and calculating performance objective measures. The initial period of performance began December 29, 2025, and ends October 30, 2026, with a public-facing dashboard required by December 1, 2026. The contract will run from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2028, with two optional renewal periods extending through May 31, 2031. Written questions were due March 9, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., and proposals were due March 25, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. via the Vendor Self Service System, with an anticipated award notification in late April or early May 2026.

The contract structure uses a firm fixed-price model for the initial period and all renewal periods, with monthly invoicing based on work completed. Ad-hoc work will be compensated on a time and materials basis using hourly rates submitted by the bidder. The Department will not disclose an estimated budget, not-to-exceed amount, or anticipated funding range due to the competitive nature of the procurement. The Department will facilitate data use agreements with internal and external partners such as Maine Health Data Organization and HealthInfoNet and will provide access to aggregated, de-identified administrative data; all data will be provided in aggregate form with no PII/PHI shared with the evaluator. The Department will host and own the public-facing dashboard, and bidders must account for all costs necessary to conduct the work, including licensing for platforms such as Tableau or PowerBI, data transformation tools, and data storage solutions. No set-aside designations or incumbent contractor have been identified. Evaluation will be conducted on a 100-point scale with Organization Qualifications weighted at 35 points, Proposed Services at 40 points, and Cost Proposal at 25 points using a mathematical formula awarding the lowest bidder 25 points with proportionally fewer points for higher bids.

View the file

Other files

File	Type	Posted
AMD 2 RFP 202601009 Final.docx	DOCX document	Mar 25, 2026
RFP 202601009 RHTP Evaluation_Final.docx	DOCX document	Mar 25, 2026
17 Feb26_V4_SoM_RHTP_Project Narrative.pdf	PDF	Mar 25, 2026
AMD 1 RFP 202601009 Final.docx	DOCX document	Mar 25, 2026
RHTP Evaluation Cost Proposal Form.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Mar 25, 2026
RHTP Evaluation Proposed Services Response Form.docx	DOCX document	Mar 25, 2026
AMD 1 RFP 202601009 Final.docx	DOCX document	Mar 20, 2026
RHTP Evaluation Cost Proposal Form.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Mar 20, 2026
RHTP Evaluation Proposed Services Response Form.docx	DOCX document	Mar 20, 2026
RFP 202601009 RHTP Evaluation_Final.docx	DOCX document	Mar 20, 2026
RFP 202601009 RHTP Evaluation_Final.docx	DOCX document	Mar 2, 2026
RHTP Evaluation Proposed Services Response Form.docx	DOCX document	Mar 2, 2026
RHTP Evaluation Cost Proposal Form.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Mar 2, 2026

Show all 13

On GovTribe

Work with this file

Download the original file
Contacts named in this file
Similar government files
Ask GovTribe AI about this file

Try for free Login

Text version

The file's text, extracted by GovTribe without its formatting.

202601009 Eval RHTP

	Question		Answer
	1	a. Is RFP 202512169 (Administrative Support Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program) related to this current engagement?
b. Are there eligibility considerations that vendors should be aware of when responding to the Evaluation RFP?	a. Yes.

b. No.

	2	Part I
How will clinician participation data be collected for the initiative measuring the number of clinicians committing to work in rural communities?	Clinician participation data will come from the data sources listed under "Initiative 2 - Workforce" in the state's RHTP Project Narrative.
	3	Part I
Will data needed to track this metric be provided by the Department or another entity?	Data will be provided by the Department, providers (if not collected by the Department), and the Maine Health Data Organization.
	4	Part II, A.1. Page 8
What is the baseline period for the program?	Baseline period may vary depending on final set of metrics approved by CMS.
	5	Part II, A.1. Page 8
Can the Department confirm the implementation period for Program Year one?	Implementation for Program Year One began on December 29, 2025 and ends on October 30, 2026.
	6	Part II, A.1.a. Page 8
Will the Department facilitate access and introductions with data source partners, or is the contractor expected to independently coordinate all data acquisitions?	The Department will facilitate access and introductions where possible.
	7	Part II, A.1.c. Page 8
Can the Department please confirm that all survey responses will be provided and the contractor will not be required to administer surveys?	The Department anticipates the awarded Bidder will administer the surveys.
	8	Part II, A.2. Page 8
Should the contractor calculate and monitor metrics and performance objective measures on an ongoing basis as data become available to support more frequent performance tracking?	Yes.
	9	Part II, A.2. Page 8
Should the contractor calculate and report metrics only annually with the annual program report and dashboard?	The awarded Bidder will be expected to calculate and examine metrics as they become available, although formal public-facing reporting will generally be limited to the annual program report and dashboard.
	10	Part II, B.3.a. Page 9
Will the Department be responsible for hosting the dashboard (i.e., the contractor will provide a file that the Department will use to host on its own website)?	Yes.
	11	Part II, B.3.a. Page 9
If the program is beginning in 2026, what performance data are expected to be available by December 1, 2026?	Performance data will vary by metric/data source.
	12	Part II, B.3.a. Page 9
If a dashboard will be expected by December 1, 2026, will the contractor be expected to calculate any of the metrics or will the rates be readily available?	It will depend on data availability. If available, the awarded Bidder will calculate the metrics and present via dashboard.
	13	Part II, B.3.a.i.2. Page 9
Are the regular updates expected to be implemented annually, or does the Department anticipate more frequent updates to the dashboard?	The Department and awarded Bidder will determine a cadence.
	14	Part III, D.3. Page 13
May Bidders include a table of contents with each File?	It is at the Bidder's discretion
	15	Part IV, Intro, Page 14
Please confirm Bidder's proposals should use the same section and subsection headings from the RFP in its proposals.	Correct.
	16	Part IV, Section III, 1. Page 15
Please confirm if the Appendix F on pg. 28 should be included as a cover page and that the completed Proposed Services Response Form, job descriptions, etc. should follow.	Bidders should submit the Proposed Services Response Form and the job descriptions, Bidder's interactions with subcontractors, and staffing plan as File 3.
	17	Part IV, Section IV, 2.a. Page 15
Does the Department have an estimated budget to complete this work that it can provide?	As this is a competitive process, the Department declines to answer.
	18	Part VI, B.2. Page 20
Please confirm the State intends for the total fixed price to be invoiced in equal monthly installments over the applicable period of performance.	The Department anticipates a total fixed price invoiced monthly based on work completed within the prior month.
	19	Part II, A.1.a.
Will the Department facilitate data use agreements with external partners such as Maine Health Data Organization and HealthInfoNet, or should the awarded Bidder assume responsibility for establishing those agreements?	The Department will facilitate data use agreements with internal/external partners.
	20	Part II, A.
Claims data is listed as an example of data that will need to be cleaned and analyzed. Will the claims data or any other data contain PHI/PII?	No - these data will be provided in aggregate manner, although the awarded Bidder will work to determine what level of aggregation is appropriate for each metric.
	21	Part II, C.
Can the Department provide examples of ad-hoc work related to metrics and performance objective measures that may be requested?	At this time the Department does not have examples of ad-hoc work related to metrics and performance objective measure that may be requested.
	22	Part II, A.
Will data be expected to be collected and submitted through a centralized platform or will the method for collection and submission differ based on the party (i.e., sub-awardees, vendors, partners, etc.)?	The method of data collection and submission may differ based on the party.
	23	Part II, A.
Can the Department provide examples of tools, resources, and databases available to the State for collecting data, cleaning datasets, and developing dashboards?	At this time the Department does not have examples of tools, resources, or databases available for collecting data, cleaning datasets, and developing dashboards.
	24	Has CMS provided formal guidance or required evaluation frameworks beyond what is included in the State's initial RHTP application?	No.
	25	Are there required performance benchmarks already approved by CMS, or will the awarded vendor help refine benchmarks?	The Department is still waiting for CMS full approval, refer to the current Program Narrative available in VSS.
	26	To what extent is primary data collection anticipated versus reliance on administrative and secondary data?	This may vary depending on the metric and final confirmation of the metrics with CMS.
	27	Is there a not-to-exceed budget or anticipated funding range for this contract (annually and across the total 5 years)?	As this is a competitive process, the Department declines to answer.
	28	Should pricing assume full five-year funding at award, or is renewal funding contingent and uncertain?	Bidders must submit a cost proposal that covers the Initial Period of Performance and all Renewal Periods as defined in Part I of the RFP. In addition, Bidders must provide ad-hoc rates.
	29	What is the anticipated award notification date?	Anticipated award notification is late April/early May.
	30	Will baseline (Program Year 1) data be available at contract start, or will data acquisition begin after June 1, 2026?	This will vary depending on the data and metric.
	31	Is the December 1, 2026 dashboard deadline flexible depending on timelines for data access?	No.
	32	Who comprises the RHTP Governance Committee, and how frequently are formal presentations expected?	The RHTP Governance Committee members and frequency of formal presentations will be provided to the awarded Bidder once determined.
	33	Are in-person presentations anticipated, or is virtual engagement acceptable?	Virtual is acceptable.
	34	Is there an expectation for community-facing dissemination materials beyond the annual report and dashboard (e.g., briefs, fact sheets)?	The Department will work with the awarded Bidder on dissemination.
	35	Are reports and other dissemination materials desired at the activity/sub-activity level, or more broadly at the initiative level?	The Department will work with the awarded Bidder to determine if reports and other dissemination materials will be at the activity/sub-activity level or more broadly at the initiative level.
	36	Does DHHS have an existing preferred platform (Tableau vs. PowerBI), or internal licensing constraints that should guide dashboard platform selection?	No.
	37	Will dashboard hosting occur within State infrastructure, or should the vendor propose hosting and maintenance?	The Department will host the dashboard.
	38	Is long-term dashboard maintenance expected to transfer to the Department, or remain with the contractor through all renewal periods?	The Department will host all dashboards.
	39	Are there existing DHHS dashboards whose style, accessibility standards, or branding this dashboard must align with?	No.
	40	Are accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG compliance) required for the public-facing dashboard and reports?	Refer to the MaineIT Digital Accessibility and Usability Policy available a the link below.
			Digital Accessibility and Usability Policy
	41	To what extent will the Department facilitate data sharing agreements with entities such as Maine Health Data Organization, HealthInfoNet, and other partners?	The Department will facilitate data use agreements with internal/external partners.
	42	Will the contractor receive case-level data, or only aggregate datasets?	For all metrics that are sourced from PHI, the contractor will receive aggregate datasets.
	43	Are there centralized data systems available, or will the vendor be responsible for integrating data across disparate systems?	The awarded Bidder will be responsible for integrating data across disparate systems.
	44	Part VI
Does award of this scope of work create any contractual exclusivity, right of first refusal, or other restrictions that would limit our ability to pursue similar work in the future (including with other vendors)?	No.
	45	Are there anticipated CMS or state data security requirements beyond those referenced in the IT-Service Contract?	The Department cannot speak on CMS data security requirements. For Maine, no additional security requirements outside of those reference in the State's IT-Service Contract will be required.
	46	Is there an existing data dictionary or documentation for the metrics proposed in the RHTP application?	Not outside of the Project Narrative.
	47	Appendix C

a. Are samples of project deliverables desired to be included?

b. If yes, please confirm that these should be submitted as full attachments, and cannot be submitted as a link to a deliverable? a. Project samples will be accepted as part of Appendix C only.

b. Project samples submitted as part of Appendix C's Projects One through Three must be submitted as full attachments and not as a link to a deliverable.

	48	Part II, Page 9
The RFP references Tableau or PowerBI - does the state have a preferred platform and existing licenses/hosting environment?	No.
	49	Part II, Page 9
Beyond Tableau and PowerBI, which other tools are used by the State of Maine for data transformation, data collection, and data storage?	Bidders should propose tools for data transformation, data collection, and data storage.
	50	Part II, Page 9
Are there required standards for public-facing dashboards (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA), bilingual needs, or FOAA-ready archiving?	Refer to the MaineIT Digital Accessibility and Usability Policy available a the link below.
			Digital Accessibility and Usability Policy
	51	Part II, Page 9
For the Dec 1, 2026 dashboard deadline, is an initial release (e.g., MVP) acceptable with phased enhancements, or does DHHS expect full metric coverage at launch?	The Department and awarded Bidder will determine the approach. However, Bidders should propose a best approach.
	52	Part II, Page 8
What are the existing mechanisms for community-based reporting to State/vendor?	Currently there is not existing mechanisms for community based reporting for RHTP services. Reporting may vary.
	53	Part II, Page 8
Will DHHS centralize data access (statewide DUAs/MOUs and standardized feeds) from MHDO, HealthInfoNet, DHHS offices, and sub-awardees, or should the evaluator negotiate agreements with each?	The Department will facilitate data use agreements with internal/external partners.
	54	Part II, Page 8
Is there an expected timeline for establishing data agreements and data sharing capabilities?	The Department will facilitate data use agreements with internal/external partners.
	55	Part II, Page 8
For metrics without an existing source, what is DHHS's expectation of the evaluator's role (e.g., designing new data collection instruments vs. coordinating with a third party vs. funding/executing collection)?	This will vary depending on the metric. If there is a required metric, the awarded Bidder will be required to collect it.
	56	Part II, Page 8
Will DHHS provide the awarded bidder with a data-source inventory and existing agreements (e.g., with Maine Health Data Organization, HealthInfoNet, MaineCare/OMS, Maine CDC), including named points of contact?	Yes.
	57	Part II, Page 8
Are there specific required datasets DHHS expects to be included in the required reporting (e.g., MHDO APCD, hospital discharge, HIE feeds, MaineCare claims/encounters, survey instruments, workforce/training systems)?	Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	58	Part II, Page 9
Will DHHS provide benchmark/goal values for each metric, and if those change over time, what is the required change-control documentation?	Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	59	Part II, Page 8
"Cadence as directed by the Department": what is the expected data refresh frequency per source (monthly/quarterly/annual), and are there any sources requiring more than annual collection?	The Department will work with the awarded Bidder on the expected data refresh frequency per source, and any sources requiring more than annual collection.
	60	Part II, A.1. and 2.
Will the Department provide a defined set of baseline metrics and methodology from the RHTP application, or is the vendor expected to fully design the evaluation framework?	Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	61	Part II, Page 9
Will the public-facing dashboard be hosted on an existing site hosted by the State, a new site hosted by the State, or a vendor-hosted site? Who will own/administer the production environment?	The Department will host the dashboard and own/administer the production environment.
	62	Part II, A.1.
Will the Department provide the complete approved RHTP plan and supporting documentation to the awarded Bidder at the start of the contract?	Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	63	Part II, Page 9
Will DHHS provide Tableau/Power BI licensing, or should the bidder price licenses, hosting, and ongoing platform costs?	Bidders must account for all cost necessary to conduct the work outlined in Part II of the RFP.
	64	Part II, Page 9
Will DHHS provide licensing required for data transformation, data collection, and data storage tools?	No.
	65	Part II, A.1.a.
Will the Department facilitate data sharing agreements with these entities, or will the awarded Bidder be responsible for independently negotiating these agreements?	The Department will facilitate data use agreements with internal/external partners.
	66	Part II, Page 9
For "ad-hoc work," can DHHS provide examples of likely requests and expected turnaround times (e.g., legislative questions, emergent CMS asks, additional stratifications)?	No.
	67	Part II, A.1. and 2.
Does the Department maintain an existing inventory of data sources or datasets relevant to the RHTP initiatives that will be made available to the awarded Bidder?	Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	68	Part II, Page 10

The RFP states sensitive data will be aggregate/de-identified; however, if PII/PHI is collected electronically, the vendor must implement MaineIT-equivalent controls.

Does DHHS anticipate any PII/PHI will be shared w/ the evaluator?	The Department does not intend to share PII/PHI with the evaluator.
	69	Part II, Page 10

The RFP states "The State will not consume any awarded Bidder application, nor will the awarded Bidder consume any State application."

How should we interpret this with respect to dashboard hosting, ETL pipelines, or data platforms?	The Department will feed the Dashboard, in compliance with MaineIT Data Exchange Policy.
	70	Part II, B.3.a.i.1)
Will the Department provide existing Tableau or PowerBI licenses for use in developing the dashboard, or should bidders include software licensing costs within their cost proposal?	Bidders must account for all cost necessary to conduct the work outlined in Part II of the RFP.
	71	Part II, C
Can the Department provide an estimated level of effort or anticipated volume of ad-hoc tasks to inform bidder pricing?	The Department cannot predict the estimated level of effort or anticipated volume of ad-hoc tasks at this time.
	72	Part II, A.1.a.

a. Is there a required timeframe for how many years of historical data we will be reviewing/evaluating? Certain periods may not represent a reliable baseline due to COVID-related impacts.

b. Also, who is responsible for validating the accuracy of the data we receive? a. It will depend on the specific data source and metric.

b. It will depend on the data source and metric.

	73	Will the Department provide the required environments and tools (e.g. cloud/on-prem infrastruct., data storage, ETL, BI platforms and licenses/tenants, security services), or is the vendor expected to provide, host, license, and manage these?	Yes, the Department expects to provide the required environments and tools.
	74	Can the Department confirm that all public-facing dashboards & analytics will be hosted within the State's existing infrastructure, & that the vendor's role is to support integration rather than procure or manage a separate public-facing environment?	All public-facing dashboards and analytics will be hosted within the State's existing infrastructure, and the awarded Bidder's role will be to support integration rather than procure or manage a separate public-facing environment.
	75	Can the Department confirm if guidelines exist for public-facing dashboards (cell suppression, ADA compliance, mobile-ready) or if the vendor will help define these with the State?	Refer to the MaineIT Digital Accessibility and Usability Policy available a the link below.
			Digital Accessibility and Usability Policy
	76	Part I, D.1. and D.3. Page 10
The RFP indicates that sensitive data will be provided in aggregate form, but also references that some metrics may require access to more sensitive datasets (i.e., PII, PHI, and/or other confidential data).	As no question is asked, the Department declines to answer.
	77	Part II, B.3.a.i. page 9
Does the Department expect the awarded bidder to host the public-facing dashboard environment, or will the State provide an environment for hosting the visualization platform?	The Department will provide an environment for hosting the visualization platform.
	78	Part II, B.3.a.i.1) page 9
Will the evaluator need to implement the same type of dashboard platform (Tableau, PowerBI) as the administrative vendor?	No.
	79	State of Maine RHTP Proposal, page 53
Will the evaluator be tasked with conducting the practice surveys?	Yes.
	80	Page 3 of the State of Maine RHTP proposal, it states "detailed data tables are provided in the other supporting documentation".
Can you please direct us to the data tables referenced, as we can't find them in the Other Supporting Documentation?	The Department will share with the awarded Bidder if/when appropriate.
	81	If an organization or an individual is involved in either the RHTP administration or implementation of specific initiatives, are they eligible to respond to the evaluation RFP?	Yes.
	82	Part II, B.3.a.i.1) Pg 9
Will the dashboard for this scope need to integrate with or share data with other dashboards created through RHTP funds (e.g., the Administrative Vendor RFP dashboard or other MHDO dashboards)?	No.
	83	Part II, A.1. Page 8
Does the State have additional technical specifications or details for each of the performance objective measures and metrics that will be made available to the winning bidder?	Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	84	Appendix G, Cost Proposal Form, Schedule 1 - Total Cost
Please confirm if the instructions should state "In addition, provide hourly rates associated with any ad-hoc work.", as opposed to providing "cost" for ad-hoc work.	Bidders are to provide hourly ad-hoc rates.
	85	RHTP Project Narrative, Section 6. Metrics and Evaluation Plan, Page 53.
Are "primary care practices" defined by the State? Or will the winning bidder assist in creating the definition?	Primary care practices include provider practices that deliver primary care services, include family medicine, internal medicine, general medicine, pediatrics, and geriatric medicine practices. For the purposes of RHTP evaluation efforts, the Department will identify a list of Maine primary care practices.
	86	RHTP Project Narrative, Section 6. Metrics and Evaluation Plan, Page 53

a. How does the State define the "uninsured pool"?

b. Is the data for this population provided in the MaineCare 3038 claims data feed? a. Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.

b. The Department will provide the awarded Bidder will specific information related to the MaineCare 3038 claims data feeds.

	87	RHTP Project Narrative, Section 6. Metrics and Evaluation Plan, Page 52
Approximately how many EBP trainings are conducted each year?	The annual number of EBP trainings have not yet been determined.
	88	Sec 6, p54

a. For potential CMS-led monitoring & evaluation activities, will the winning bidder be expected to engage in those CMS-led activities?

b. If so, what will the winning bidder's involvement look like those CMS-led monitoring & evaluation activities? a. The Department has not yet determined.

b. N/A

	89	Part II, A.1. Page 8
Is the State's final Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) plan currently available to bidders?	Yes, refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	90	Part II, A.1. Page 8
Does the State anticipate material differences between the State's initial RHTP application project narrative and the State's final RHTP plan with regards to performance objective measures/ and metrics?	Bidders should refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	91	Part II, A.1.a. Page 8
Will the State execute DUAs/MOUs on behalf of the vendor for third-party data sources (e.g., MHDO/APCD, HealthInfoNet), or is the vendor expected to independently secure all data sharing agreements?	The Department will facilitate data use agreements with internal/external partners.
	92	Part II, A.1.a. Page 8
If the vendor is responsible for securing data sharing agreements, please provide an estimated timeline for DUA/MOU execution for the primary data sources.	N/A
	93	Pages 51-54.
Are there any historical reports or presentations available to bidders that would be indicative of the scope, nature, and/or format of measures and metrics reporting sought in this RFP?	No.
	94	Pages 51-54.
Are there any existing documents available to bidders that would provide additional details or specifications for any of the measures and metrics identified in the State's RHTP application project narrative?	Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	95	Pages 51-54.
What type of evaluation tools and/or reports (manual or automated) are currently being utilized by the State to monitor the measures and metrics identified in the State's RHTP application project narrative?	None.
	96	Pages 51-54.
For metrics where the APCD is identified as a data source, what type of data is required from the APCD that is not available in the MaineCare claims data?	All payer claims data involves all payers, (i.e. MaineCare + other payers), while MaineCare claims are limited to MaineCare members.
	97	Does Maine have an estimated budget for this program, and if so can that estimate be provided to offerors?	As this is a competitive process, the Department declines to answer.
	98	Part II, B. Page 9
Does Maine require access to the underlying data and dashboard tools created by the contractor for this contract for their own purposes?	The Department may require access to the underlining data and dashboard tools.
	99	Please confirm whether the proposed cost should include anticipated fees charged by third-party data custodians (e.g., MHDO/APCD extract fees, HealthInfoNet access fees), or whether the State will cover such fees outside of the contract.	Bidder cost proposals should not include third-party data custodian fees.
	100	Part II, A.2. Page 8
Will specific criteria necessary to "construct metrics and performance objective measures" be provided to the vendor?	Yes.
	101	Part II, B. Page 9.
If the contractor has challenges obtaining data from an entity under contract with the State of Maine, what responsibility does the state have in mitigating those challenges?	The Department will work with the awarded Bidder to facilitate data sharing.
	102	Part II, A.2. Page 8,
Is development of the measures/metrics (i.e., determining the specific criteria for defining the measures/metrics) outside the scope of work for this RFP?	No.
	103	Part II, D.
Can the State confirm that Offerors may be in compliance with all insurance requirements upon award instead of at proposal submission?	The awarded Bidder will be required to provide a certificate of insurance on a standard ACORD form (or the equivalent) evidencing its general liability, professional liability, and any other relevant liability insurance policies that might be associated with the services provided as part of the contract resulting from this RFP, refer to Part VI, A. paragraph 6 of the RFP.

However, Bidder must describe the methods and resources the Bidder will use and how each task involved, including obtaining appropriate insurance, will be accomplished and describe how the expectations and/or desired outcomes, including obtaining/maintaining appropriate insurance, as a result of these services will be achieved, refer to the instruction on the Proposed Services Response Form.

	104	Part II, A.1. page 8
The application project narrative regarding evaluation describes "Incorporating stakeholder feedback" - will the evaluator need to conduct primary data collection such as focus groups/key informant interviews to gather this feedback?	Yes.
	105	Part II, A.1.a. Page 8
Will awardee contracts establish requirements for their reporting of data?	Yes.
	106	Part II, A.1.a. Page 8
Will DHHS be providing TA to awardees to help them collect and report required data?	Yes.
	107	Part II, A.1.a. Page 8
Will the evaluator be responsible for determining whether awardee-submitted data is complete and accurate, and working with them on resubmission?	Yes, in partnership with the Department.
	108	Part II, A.1. page 8
Will the evaluator be expected to conduct primary qualitative research (e.g., focus groups, interviews, surveys), or will the Department provide stakeholder feedback data for analysis?	Yes, in partnership with the Department.
	109	Part II, A.2.a. indicates data will be collected annually and item A.2.d. indicates data will be collected on a cadence as directed by the Dept.
Do you anticipate some of the measures/metrics will require data collection more frequently than once per year?	Yes, to the extent possible.
	110	Part II, B.1. Page 9
Does the reference to comparing current year metrics and measures "to all prior years' metrics and measures" involve any comparisons to time periods prior to the baseline time period (Program Year 1)?	Limited to baseline period.
	111	Part II, page 8
The RFP references 4 overarching performance objectives tied to 5 initiatives, but the objectives are not defined in the RFP. Please provide the specific performance objectives and metrics framework from the State's RHTP.	Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	112	Part II, page 8
The RFP notes that CMS or DHHS may revise metrics during the program period. What governance process will be used for approving metric changes, and how frequently are revisions anticipated?	The Department declines to answer.
	113	Part II, B.3.a. Page 9
Is the 12/1/26 due date for the public-facing dashboard a "go-live" date (i.e., when it will be published with data and analytics) or is this the date for mock-ups to be presented to the State?	Go-live.
	114	Part II, B.3.a. Page 9
Please confirm which Program Year(s) data and metrics must be available and displayed in the dashboard by December 1, 2026.	It will vary depending on data availability and final approved metrics.
	115	Part II, A.1. page 8
How does the Department define successful program performance for each initiative?	Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	116	Part II, A.1. page 8
Have specific quantitative benchmarks or targets been established for each metric; if so, can the State share?	Refer to the State's current RHTP Program Narrative available in VSS.
	117	Part II, page 8
What historical data will be available to construct baseline measures for Program Year 1 and what time period will those datasets cover?	It will vary depending on metric
	118	Part II, page 8
How many sub-awardees, vendors, or implementation partners are anticipated under the RHTP initiatives?	Approximately 60-80.
	119	Part II
Has any vendor or contractor previously assisted the Department in developing the RHTP evaluation framework or scope included in this RFP?	As this is outside the scope of the RFP, the Department declines to answer.
	120	Pages 51-54, indicates that a subset of MaineCare claims will be used for timely reporting due to APCD reporting lag.

a. When will APCD data becomes available?

b. Will previously reported MaineCare-based metrics need to be retrospectively recalculated? a. It will vary

b. No.

	121	Cost Proposal Form. Can the State provide an estimated or not-to-exceed budget range for this evaluation contract?	As this is a competitive process, the Department declines to answer.
	122	Part II, A.1. page 8
What data sharing agreements, if any, are already in place with MHDO, HealthInfoNet, and other named data partners?	There are no current data sharing agreements specific to the Rural Health Transformation Program.
	123	Part II, B.3.a. Page 9
How often is the vendor expected to incorporate "regular updates" to the data dashboard? Are updates to the dashboard expected to be made more frequently than once per year by 12/1?	The Department will work with the awarded Bidder to define regular updates.
	124	Part V, B. page 17
What specific sub-criteria will the evaluation team use to score Section II (Org Qualifications, 35 pts) and Section III (Proposed Services, 40 pts)?	The evaluation team will judge the merits of the proposals received in accordance with the criteria defined in the RFP, refer to Part V, A. of the RFP.
	125	Part II, B.3.a.
Will different measures/metrics have different refresh cycles?	Yes.
	126	Part II, A.1. page 8 The RFP states "Establishing contact with, and requesting data from, various sub-awardees, vendors, partners, and subcontractors"
Who are the vendors and their sub-awardees, and what data will they be required to provide?	The Department will share vendors, partners, sub awardees, and contractors with the awarded Bidder once identified.
	127	Part II, C. page 9
For pricing purposes, how is "ad-hoc work" defined, and is there an anticipated volume estimate?	The Department cannot predict the estimated level of effort or anticipated volume of ad-hoc tasks at this time.
	128	Part I, A. page 5
Is there an expected minimum or maximum number of measures to be developed per major initiative each year or is it determined by the contractor?	The expected minimum or maximum number of measures to be developed per major initiative each year will be determined in partnership with the Department and awarded Bidder.
	129	Part II, A.1. page 8
Will state provide access to any data sources?	Yes.
	130	Part II, A.1. page 8
What are the approved data sources that will be made available to the contractor for the purposes of this evaluation work?	The Department will work with the awarded Bidder to facilitate data sources.
	131	Page 10 Part II D. D.1 indicates that sensitive data will be provided in the aggregate (de-identified) form. However, D.3 indicates the vendor may collect or handle PII/PHI. Will the vendor receive or process any identifiable (non-aggregated) data?	The Department does not intend to share PII/PHI with the vendor.
	132	Part II, A.1. page 8
For the approved data sources, will the state provide access to the data or will the contractor have to obtain access?	The Department will facilitate access.
	133	Part II, D. page 10
If the vendor will handle PII/PHI, will they be permitted to store such data in a vendor-controlled environment, or must identifiable data remain within State or State-approved systems?	If the awarded Bidder handles or collects PII/PHI they will be required to maintain Cyber Insurance Liability and implement risk assessment and vulnerability scanning policies and procedures, at minimum to be equivalent to current MaineIT Policies & Standards for:

a. Risk Assessment Policy & Procedures (RA-1); and

b. Vulnerability Scanning Procedure (RA-5).

	134	Part II, B. page 9
Can the state provide an estimate of the number of concurrent users who will need access to dashboards?	It is unknown at this time.
	135	RHTP Evaluation Cost Proposal Form.xlsx. May Bidders edit the template (i.e.: add rows or columns) to fit their pricing solution?	Yes, Bidder may add rows to the applicable categories (i.e., salaries, subcontractors, travel, supplies) in order fit their pricing solution.
	136	Our 2024 audited financial statement contains the three-year period (2022-2024) in a single PDF file. Would it be acceptable to provide a publicly accessible link to this single PDF?	No, Bidders must include all required documents as part of the proposal submission specific to each file.
	137	Cost Form, Cell B10 on Schedule 2 - Initial Period, Schedule 3 - Renewal 1, and Schedule 4 - Renewal 2 reads "Salaries".
Are Bidders expected to input salaries into the below cells, or LCAT/position titles?	Bidders are expected to list the positions titles.
	138	Pg 15. Please confirm if submitting the link is allowed or if you require the individual files to be uploaded separately	Bidder must submit their proposals documents in accordance with Part III, D.3. of the RFP. In addition, refer to Part III, D.2.c., d., and e. of the RFP.
	139	Is a Firm Fixed Price contract type anticipated for the work to be performed on the Initial Period of Performance and all Renewal Periods?	Yes.
	140	Will the Ad-Hoc Work be reimbursed on a Time & Materials basis?	Yes.
	141	Pages 51-54
Is it appropriate to assume that for all measures/metrics where a baseline value is identified in the "Measurable Outcomes" tables, the specific criteria have already been developed and will be provided to the vendor?	No.
	142	Part II, C. page 9
Please clarify if the Ad-Hoc Work will be procured under additional RFPs or Work Orders under this contract or another format?	Ad-hoc work will be requested on an as needed bases under the contract resulting from this RFP.
	143	Pages 51-54
For any measures and metrics where the specific criteria have not already been defined, will the State provide the specific criteria to the vendor once they have been defined?	Yes, in partnership with the awarded Bidder.
	144	Part II, B.3.a.i.1) page 9 requires a dashboard using "a platform such as Tableau or PowerBI".
Are licensing costs for these tools to be included in the Bidder's price, or will the State provide platform licenses?	Bidders must account for all cost necessary to conduct the work outlined in Part II of the RFP.
	145	Pages 51-54, many metrics rely on data sources that are not claims.

a. Which datasets will the State provide directly to the vendor?

b. Will the State supply survey data? a. The Department will provide aggregated data outcomes from administrative data.

b. No 145 Pages 51-54

a. Is the vendor responsible for constructing and/or conducting surveys?

b. If survey data is to be provided to the vendor, will it be provided in a consistent electronic format? a. Yes

b. N/A 147 Pages 51-54. For metrics that rely on non-claims-based data, such as those listed under Initiatives 1 and 2:

a. Is the State collecting any of the data already; and

b. If so, will the State provide that data to the vendor? a. Yes.

b. The Department will provide applicable/available data to the awarded Bidder.

	148	Part II, A. page 8 requires the contractor to establish contact w/ and request data from multiple external organizations.
If the organizations charge data access/extraction fees, should we include those costs in the pricing as ODCs?	No.
	149	Part II, A. page 8 requires the contractor to establish contact w/ and request data from multiple external organizations.
If the organizations charge data access/extraction fees, will the State cover the costs directly?	Yes.
	150	Page 52
Will the "number of students enrolled in health certificate and degree programs in rural communities" be provided to the vendor by each of the Health Care Training for ME Partners or will the info be provided in a consolidated format to vendor?	Each parter will provide their data which can be consolidated.
	151	Page 52
Approximately how many Health Care Training for ME Partners are there?	Five partners
	152	Part IV, Section II, page 15 states "Bidders must provide the three (3) most recent years of Financial Statements audited or reviewed by a Certified Public Accountant."
Will Maine accept audited financial statements from the entity's parent company?	Yes.
	153	Part IV, Section II, page 15 states "Bidders must provide the three (3) most recent years of Financial Statements audited or reviewed by a Certified Public Accountant."
Can Maine amend the financial statement require to 2 years of statements?	No.
	154	Part IV, Section II, page 15
If the bidder does not have 3 years of audited statements, will Maine accept all available audited statements and compiled statements for the remaining years?	Yes, however, Bidders must provide an explanation as to why 3 years of audited statements are not available.
	155	Cost Form Schedule 1
Should Total Cost in D10 match Schedule 2 cell H27?	Yes. Additionally, the Total Cost on Schedule 1 must reflect the combined Total Cost in Schedule 2, 3, and 4.
	156	Part II, D.5.
Will State staff need access to analytics tools, and how many?	No.
	157	Are there any page limits for the sections?	No.
	158	Part II, D.5.
How does "no application consumption" apply to the dashboard?	The Department will feed the Dashboard, in compliance with MaineIT Data Exchange Policy.
	159	Should staff names be provided as part of the staffing plan?	No.
	160	Part II, D.3.
Is RA1/RA5 equivalency certification or documentation required?	Those are policies which the awarded Bidder must adhere to when collecting sensitive information (PII, PHI, and/or other confidential data) electronically.
	161	Can vendors include project team resumes as an appendix?	No.
	162	Part II
Does the state anticipate the evaluator will conduct stakeholder engagement and qualitative analysis as part of the evaluation?	Yes.
	163	Part II, D.1.
Will data arrive deidentified, or must bidders deidentify it?	The Department intends to provide deidentified data.
	164	Is there an anticipated budget for this award?	As this is a competitive process, the Department declines to answer.
	165	Part II, B.3.a.i.
Who publishes the dashboard publicly, vendor or State?	The Department.
	166	Part II
Will the Department facilitate data use agreements and access to State partners (e Maine Health Data Organization, other State offices/departments, HealthInfoNet) or is the contractor expected to facilitate?	The Department will facilitate data use agreements with internal/external partners and access and introductions where possible.
	167	Part II, B.3.a.i.
Will bidders host the public dashboard, or will the State?	The Department.
	168	Part II, 2.a.i.
Should geographic reporting be county-level or does the Department expect additional rural classification frameworks.	Geographic reporting will depend on measure/metric, data availability, and cell suppression requirements.
	169	Part II. A.2.a.
Will historical data be available, and what lookback applies?	Yes, if data is available, otherwise the Department will work with the awarded Bidder to establish baseline metrics where currently unavailable.
	170	Part II, A.1.c.
What secure data exchange methods are currently used?	Refer to 6.6 through 6.8 of the MaineIT Data Exchange Policy available a the link below.
			Data Exchange Policy
	171	Part II, A.1.a.
Will the State handle DUAs with MHDO and HealthInfoNet?	The Department will facilitate data use agreements with internal/external partners.
	172	Part II, A.1.
What APCD subset and data lag should bidders assume?	APCD subset and data lag may vary.
	173	Part II, A.-D.
Would the Department consider proposals that include a technology solution to deliver a more comprehensive data integration and analytics approach to performance measurement that goes beyond the scope of services outline.	No, the Department is not procuring a technology solution.
	174	Part II, A.-D.

It appears there is no technology component to this request (e.g. the cost sheet only identifies resources and supplies).

Is it the Department's intention to exclude technology for aggregating and analyzing data from this request?	It is at the Bidder's discretion how it intends to aggregating and analyzing data based on the services outlined in the RFP.
	175	Part II, A.1.
Are bidders responsible for any data request costs from partners?	No.
	176	Part II, A.
How should bidders use data to explain drivers of measure performance?	Bidders should propose how they intend to use data to explain drivers of performance measures.
	177	Part II, A.1. page 8 Maine intends to track progress through 4 performance objectives.
Will the eval vendor be responsible for creating and running these measures, or for receiving this data in aggregate from other entities?	Both.
	178	RHTP proposal metrics, page 52
Can the State clarify which are the evaluator's responsibility to produce from patient/provider-level data; and which will be produced by a data holder (e.g. MHDO) or the project implementer via a table?	The awarded Bidder will generally receive aggregated deidentified administrative data but would be responsible for surveying practices.
	179	Part I, B.
Does signing Appendix A meet the 180-day requirement or is another statement needed?	Yes.
	180	In the 5 Initiatives' Implementation Plan & Timeline, several milestones list a "vendor" as responsible (RHTP Prop, p.43).
Is the eval vendor expected to track or evaluate any of these milestones -e.g., evaluate effectiveness & expand rural engagement?	The awarded Bidder must deliver services based on the requirements of the RFP.
	181	Part II, A.1. and A.2.a.
What baseline period and measurement windows should bidders assume for Program Year 1 baseline measures and for subsequent ongoing annual measures?	Baseline period and measurement windows will vary depending on data availability and final set of metrics approved by CMS.
	182	Can the Department provide an anticipated budget range or not-to-exceed amount for the evaluation contract, or indicate whether the Department has a target annual or total budget for these services?	As this is a competitive process, the Department declines to answer.
	183	Part I, B.8. Page 8
May proposers submit a redacted copy of the proposal files containing confidential information as a separate attachment?	Bidders may mark some portion of their proposal as confidential. If a Bidder marks some portion of their proposal as confidential then the Department will provide the Bidder with a reasonable opportunity to object to public disclosure of the proposal. The Department, however, provides no assurance regarding whether any portion of the proposal will ultimately be determined to be confidential and not publicly disclosed.
	184	Part III, D.3. page 13
Please clarify whether File 4 - Cost Proposal should be submitted as two separate attachments, or if Appendix G and the Cost Proposal Form can be submitted together as one PDF.	Cost proposal forms may be submitted as one PDF file.
	185	Part II, B.3.a.i. and Table 1
Can you clarify any requirements or preferences for the public-facing dashboard, including hosting, accessibility, licensing, and maintenance?	The Department will host the public-facing dashboard.
	186	Part II, A.1.a.
Will you provide data use agreements, points of contact, or introductions for key data partners, or will the awarded bidder be expected to establish these arrangements independently?	The Department will facilitate data use agreements.
	187	Part II, A.1.a.i.
For metrics without an existing data source, should bidders design new data collection instruments or reporting templates, or recommend feasible approaches and work with you and partners to identify a data source?	Bidders should propose new data collection instruments or reporting templates, or recommend feasible approaches and work with you and partners to identify a data source.
	188	Part VI, A .1. page 19
Please advise which specific contract documents and forms are applicable for this engagement.	Refer to the Department's Division of Contract Management, Contract Documents webpage at the link below. Select DHHS State Services - Service Contract Template
			Division of Contract Management, Contract Documents webpage
	189	Part VI, A.1 (Page 19) Bidder notes that “All exceptions will be negotiated between the awarded Bidder(s) and the State. The State will not accept any proposed exceptions as part of this RFP process….”

a. Please clarify at what stage Bidder should submit its exceptions to the contract documents for the State’s consideration.

b. Should Bidder include its requested exceptions as part of its proposal?

c. Does the State have a preferred format in which to review any such exceptions? a. During contract negotiations.

b. No.

c. The Department and awarded Bidder will negotiate the terms of the contract during contract negotiations.

	190	Regarding the Scope of Services, is there is a system of record for this opportunity?	The Department does not understand this question, therefore declines to respond.
	191	Appendix F, A.1.
Does Maine DHHS intend the Evaluation Vendor to function solely as an independent evaluator, or also as an embedded performance measurement partner supporting continuous program improvement during implementation?	Independent evaluator.	I think we need to change this to both.
	192	Appendix F, A.1.
How does the Department anticipate using evaluation findings during the program period (e.g., formative feedback for course correction versus summative assessment for accountability)?	The Department will use evaluation findings consistent with the requirements of the CMS NOFO.
	193	Appendix F, A.1.
What is the expected frequency and format of Evaluation Vendor engagement with the RHTP Governance Committee and/or the RHTP Advisory Committee?	The Department does not anticipate the awarded Bidder will directly engage with either.
	194	Appendix F, A.1.
To what extent will CMS prescribe or influence evaluation methodology, metric definitions, or reporting formats beyond those outlined in the State's final RHTP plan?	The Department cannot speak for CMS.
	195	Data Sources and Access: Which datasets are guaranteed to be available to the Evaluation Vendor (e.g., MaineCare claims, APCD extracts, HIN data), and which are subject to future approval or availability?	At this time, the Department does not know which datasets are guaranteed to be available or which will be subject to future approval or availability.
	196	Data Sources and Access
Beyond the stated 1-2 year lag for APCD data, are there anticipated delays or limitations that evaluators should account for in annual reporting timelines?	None known at this time.
	197	Data Sources and Access
Are there minimum cell-size suppression or confidentiality rules that may limit reporting at the ZIP code or county level, particularly in highly rural or frontier areas?	Yes, although the anticipated goal is to present metrics at the most granular geographic level available.
	198	For metrics where baseline values are noted as "not currently available," is the Evaluation Vendor expected to construct retrospective baselines, or will baselines begin with Program Year 1 data collection?	Likely a combination of both, depending on the timing of data availability.
	199	Should bidders assume that the performance objectives and metrics outlined in the final RHTP plan will remain stable across the five-year program period, absent CMS-directed changes?	The Department is unable to predict if performance objectives and metrics will remain stable across the five-year program period.
	200	Given the multi-initiative structure of the RHTP, what level of attribution is expected when assessing outcomes influenced by overlapping initiatives?	Performance metrics are initiative-specific.
	201	Does Maine DHHS expect evaluators to benchmark outcomes against non-rural Maine populations, other states, or national rural benchmarks, and if so, are preferred comparison sources identified?	The Department will discuss this approach with the awarded Bidder.

This is the start of the file's text. The full file is on GovTribe.

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated Mar 30, 2026.