Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under chapter 120, Florida Statutes.

State of Florida

Department of Financial Services

Request for Proposals (RFP) Number: 2526-01 RFP AA

License Examination Development and Administration Services

Procurement Officer:

Rebecca D. Hale

Government Analyst II Department of Financial Services

Office of Purchasing and Contractual Services 200 E. Gaines Street, Larson Building

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0347 Email: DFSpurchasing@myfloridacfo.com

RFP # 2526-01 RFP AA

Rev. 1/6/2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1. Introduction

SECTION 2. RFP Process

SECTION 3. Response Instructions

SECTION 4. Selection Methodology

SECTION 5. Award

Appendices

Letter

Name

Attachment

Sub-components, If Any

To Be Completed and Returned

Attached for

Reference Only

A Standard Contract Contract Signature Page

Attachment 1, Special Contract Conditions

Attachment 2, Statement of Work

Attachment 3, Price Response

Attachment 4, PUR

Attachment 5, Data Security Requirements

Attachment 6, Relevant Portions

Rev. 1/6/2025 of Contractor’s Response

(This document is not yet available.)

Attachment 7, Mandatory Criteria Certification Form

Attachment 8, DFS-to-Contractor- Licensing- Authorization Transfer File

Attachment 9, Score Data Transfer File

B Questions Template

C Evaluator Score Sheet

D Award Preferences Form

E Exhibits 1-6 Current Testing Volume for Insurance Examinations

Bail Bond License Identification Cards Issued

History of DFS Testing Volumes

Testing Content

Bail Bond Testing Volumes

Call Center Statistics

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F Exhibit 1 Current Testing Volumes for the Division of State Fire Marshal - Bureau of Fire Prevention, Bureau of Fire Standards and Training, and Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services

-Remainder of this Page is Intentionally Left Blank-

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SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose and Background

The Department of Financial Services (Department), an agency of the state of Florida (State), is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to establish a contract for the development and administration of insurance license examination and other services related to the licensing process for the Division of Insurance Agents and Agencies. These examinations are a part of determining eligibility for licensure and are given to prospective licensees to ensure that only qualified individuals serve the citizens of Florida. Review Appendix E, Exhibits 1 – 6 for information related to test volume, type, and frequency needed for this service. In addition, the vendor will provide development and administration examination services to the Division of State Fire Marshal-Bureau of Fire Standards and Training and Bureau of Fire Prevention, and Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services. Review Appendix F, Exhibit 1 for information related to the test volume, type, and frequency needed for this service for the Division of State Fire Marshal-Bureau of Fire Standards and Training and Bureau of Fire Prevention and Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services. The solicitation will be administered through the Vendor Information Portal (VIP). The submitted Response must comply with the terms and conditions stated in this RFP.

The Department intends to enter into a Contract (Contract) using Appendix A, Standard Contract, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The Department intends to award the Contract as provided in Section 5, Award, of this solicitation document.

1.2 Term

The initial term of the Contract will be five (5) years beginning on the date last signed (Effective Date).

The Contract may be renewed, in whole or in part, for up to five (5) years in accordance with section 287.057(14), Florida Statutes (F.S.). Renewal(s) will be made at the renewal pricing specified in the Contract.

1.3 Definitions

The following definitions apply to this RFP document:

Business Days – Monday through Friday, inclusive, except for State government holidays and Department office closures.

Buyer’s Premium - Percent charged by the Respondent to each winning bidder at the time of sale.

Confidential Information – Any documents, data, or records that are confidential and not subject to disclosure pursuant to chapter 119, F.S., the Florida Constitution, or any other legal authority.

Contract – The agreement that results from this competitive solicitation, if any, between the Department and the awarded Respondent.

Contractor – The Respondent that executes a Contract with the Department pursuant to this RFP.

Respondent – An entity that submits a Response to this RFP.

Response – A formal response to this RFP.

State - The state of Florida.

Vendor Information Portal (VIP) - The State’s internet-based vendor information system at https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

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If more than one contract is awarded, then the use of the terms “Contract,” “Contractor,” “Response,” and “Respondent,” includes the plural when applicable.

1.4 Procurement Officer

Pursuant to section 287.057(25), F.S., the Department’s Procurement Officer (Procurement Officer) is the sole point of contact for this solicitation.

The Procurement Officer is:

Rebecca D. Hale Government Analyst II

Office of Purchasing and Contractual Services Department of Financial Services Email: DFSpurchasing@myfloridacfo.com

***PLACE THE SOLICITATION NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF ALL EMAILS TO THE

PROCUREMENT OFFICER.***

Please note that questions will NOT be answered by telephone. All inquiries must be directed to the Procurement Officer in writing. For expediency, the Procurement Officer at his sole discretion may initiate phone calls to Respondents to resolve procedural or administrative issues. As all questions should be submitted in writing, the Department is under no obligation to acknowledge or respond to oral inquiries, and potential Respondents are not entitled to rely upon any clarification or change to this RFP, or answer to any vendor question, except as may be provided in writing by the Department in response to questions submitted pursuant to Section 2.4, Question and Answer Period of the RFP or in an addendum to this RFP.

Respondents to this solicitation or persons acting on their behalf may not contact, between the release of the solicitation and the end of the 72-hour period following the agency posting the notice of intended award, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and State holidays, any employee or officer of the executive or legislative branch concerning any aspect of this solicitation, except in writing to the procurement officer or as provided in the solicitation documents. Violation of this provision may be grounds for rejecting a Response.

Any such contact by any person with a relevant business relationship with a Respondent or an existing or prospective subcontractor to a Respondent is assumed to be contact on behalf of a Respondent unless shown otherwise.

1.5 Special Accommodations

Any person requiring a special accommodation due to a disability should contact the Department’s Procurement Officer. Requests for accommodations for meetings must be made at least five (5) Business Days prior to the meeting. A person who is hearing or speech impaired can contact the Procurement Officer by using the Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8771 (TDD).

1.6 Cooperation with Inspector General

By providing a Response to this solicitation, the Respondent understands its duty, pursuant to section 20.055(5), F.S., to cooperate with the Inspector General in any investigation, audit, inspection, review, or hearing, in the event Respondent is awarded the Contract. The Respondent will comply with this duty and ensure that subcontracts issued under the Contract, if any, impose this requirement, in writing, on its subcontractors.

mailto:DFSpurchasing@myfloridacfo.com

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1.7 Convicted Vendor List

Pursuant to section 287.133(2)(a), F.S., “[a] person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity; may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work; may not submit bids, proposals, or replies on leases of real property to a public entity; may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity; and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in [section 287.017, F.S.] for CATEGORY TWO for a period of 36 months following the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list.”

1.8 Discriminatory Vendor List

Pursuant to section 287.134(2)(a), F.S., “[a]n entity or affiliate who has been placed on the discriminatory vendor list may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity; may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work; may not submit bids, proposals, or replies on leases of real property to a public entity; may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity; and may not transact business with any public entity.”

1.9 Antitrust Violator Vendor List

Pursuant to section 287.137(2)(a), “[a] person or an affiliate who has been placed on the antitrust violator vendor list following a conviction or being held civilly liable for an antitrust violation may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply for any new contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity; may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply for a new contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work; may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on new leases of real property to a public entity; may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a new contract with a public entity; and may not transact new business with a public entity.”

1.10 Scrutinized Companies.

The following paragraph applies regardless of the dollar value of the goods or services provided:

In accordance with the requirements of section 287.135, F.S., the Contractor certifies that it is not participating in a boycott of Israel. At the Department’s option, the Contract may be terminated if the Contractor is placed on the Quarterly List of Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel (referred to in statute as the “Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List”) or becomes engaged in a boycott of Israel.

The State Board of Administration maintains the “Quarterly List of Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel” at the following link:

https://www.sbafla.com/governance/global-governance-mandates/.

The following paragraph applies only when the goods or services to be provided are $1 million or more:

In accordance with the requirements of section 287.135, F.S., the Contractor certifies that it is not on the Scrutinized List of Prohibited Companies (referred to in statute as the “Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List” and the “Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List”) and, to the extent not preempted by Federal law, that it has not been engaged in business operations in Cuba or Syria. At the Department’s option, the Contract may be terminated if such certification (or the certification regarding a boycott of Israel) is false, if the Contractor is placed on the Scrutinized List of Prohibited Companies, or, to the extent not preempted by Federal law, if the Contractor engages in business operations in Cuba or Syria. The State Board of Administration maintains the “Scrutinized List of Prohibited Companies” under the quarterly reports section at the following link: https://www.sbafla.com/reporting/.

https://www.sbafla.com/governance/global-governance-mandates/ https://www.sbafla.com/reporting/

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SECTION 2. RFP PROCESS

2.1 Overview of the RFP

The RFP is a method of competitively soliciting a commodity or contractual service under chapter 287, F.S. Under this RFP, there will not be a pre-Response conference. Vendors may submit questions regarding this RFP to the Department during the Question and Answer Period described further in Section

2.4 below.

Respondents must submit Responses by the deadline listed in Section 2.2, Timeline. The Department will open Responses at a public opening. After the public opening, the Procurement Officer will review Responses in accordance with Section 4.1, Review of Mandatory Responsiveness Requirements.

Responses that the Procurement Officer determines are responsive to the RFP will be evaluated by the evaluation team. After evaluation, the Procurement Officer will compile the final evaluation scores and add the points awarded for price, as further detailed below. If the Department awards a Contract resulting from this RFP, the Department will award the Contract to the responsible and responsive Respondent whose Response is deemed the most advantageous to the State based upon the criteria set forth in the RFP, as determined by the total points awarded (i.e., the highest scoring Respondent).

This section is only intended to be an overview. Read the solicitation in its entirety for further details.

In the event of a conflict between this overview and another section of this RFP document, the other section of the RFP document will control.

2.2 Timeline

The following timeline will be strictly adhered to in all actions relative to this solicitation. The Department reserves the right to adjust this timeline by posting addenda on the VIP. It is the Respondent’s responsibility to check VIP on a regular basis for such updates.

Event Event Time Eastern Time

(ET)

Event Date

RFP posted on the VIP. N/A May 8, 2026

Deadline to submit questions to Procurement Officer. 5:00 P.M. May 13, 2026

Anticipated date to post answers to Respondents’ questions on VIP. 3:30 P.M. May 19, 2026

Deadline to submit Responses and all required documents to the Department.

NOTE: Please see Section 3.4, How to Submit a Response, for complete instructions. ELECTRONIC RESPONSES WILL NOT

BE ACCEPTED.

3:30 P.M. June 2, 2026

Public Response opening.

Department of Financial Services 200 E. Gaines Street, Larson Building Tallahassee, FL, 32399

NOTE: The public opening will also be conducted via conference call. To attend the public opening call 888-585-9008 and when prompted use

3:45 P.M. June 2, 2026

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2.3 Pre-Response Conference

The Department will not hold a pre-Response conference.

2.4 Question and Answer Period

Vendors may submit written questions to the Procurement Officer by the deadline listed in Section 2.2, Timeline. Questions may include requests for clarification regarding the terms, conditions, and requirements of the RFP and its appendices, and any processes described in those documents. If terms included in Appendix A, Standard Contract, are impractical or, for legal or operational reasons, impossible, vendors must submit a question requesting modification of the Standard Contract terms, and the Department will issue an addendum to this RFP if such modifications are acceptable to the Department.

***PLACE THE SOLICITATION NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF ALL EMAILS

CONTAINING QUESTIONS.***

Submit questions using Appendix B, Questions Template, which is posted to the VIP with this RFP.

Questions do not constitute a formal protest of the specifications or of the solicitation.

The Department will provide an answer to all questions that are timely submitted through an addendum that is posted on the VIP. If modifications are made to the RFP document or attachments, the Department will post the changes in an addendum on the VIP.

2.5 Public Opening of Responses

The Department will open the Responses in a public opening at the date, time, and location noted in Section 2.2, Timeline. Please note, the public opening will also be conducted via conference call as stated in Section 2.2, Timeline.

2.6 Addenda to the RFP

The Department reserves the right to make changes to this RFP by posting addenda on the VIP. It is the Respondent’s responsibility to check for any posted addenda on the VIP.

2.7 Contract Formation

The Department will enter into a Contract with the awarded Respondent pursuant to Section 5, Award.

The Contract will consist of the of the documents listed under Appendix A, Standard Contract, in this RFP document’s Appendices Table. The Department will not accept any modification or proposed modifications and/or exceptions to the documents listed under Appendix A, Standard Contract, unless modified by the Department in an addendum posted to the VIP.

Event Event Time Eastern Time

(ET)

Event Date

Conference No.: 819-252-704. Attendance at this public opening is not required.

Anticipated date to post Notice of Intent to Award on VIP. N/A June 22 2026

Anticipated Contract start date. N/A July 1, 2026

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The Respondent shall bring any perceived inconsistencies among any of the provisions of the RFP and its appendices to the attention of the Department prior to the submission of its Response. At any time during the solicitation, the Department may specifically identify and incorporate by reference any additional documents which are to be incorporated into the Contract.

SECTION 3. RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

3.1 Instructions to Respondents

This section contains the General Instructions (PUR 1001) and Special Instructions to Respondents. The PUR 1001 can be accessed at State Purchasing (PUR) Forms / State Agency Resources / State Purchasing / Business Operations - Florida Department of Management Services (myflorida.com).

The Special Instructions are in the remainder of Section 3 of this RFP document. In accordance with Rule 60A-1.002, F.A.C., in the event any conflict exists between the Special Instructions and General Instructions, the Special Instructions will prevail.

Section 13 of the PUR 1001 is replaced by Section 5.3 of the RFP. Sections 3, 5, and 9 of the PUR 1001 are replaced with the following:

Section 3. Electronic Submission of Responses.

Responses shall be submitted in accordance with Section 3.4, How to Submit a Response, of the RFP document.

Section 5. Questions.

Questions shall be submitted in accordance with Section 2.4, Question and Answer Period, of the RFP document.

Section 9. Respondent’s Representation and Authorization.

(a) In submitting its Response, the Respondent understands, represents, and acknowledges the following:

• The Respondent is not currently under suspension or debarment by the state of Florida or any other governmental authority.

• The Response is made in good faith and not pursuant to any agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any firm or person to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive response.

• The prices and amounts have been arrived at independently and without consultation, communication, or agreement with any other Respondent or potential Respondent; neither the prices nor amounts, actual or approximate, have been disclosed (and will not be disclosed prior to the solicitation opening) to any Respondent or potential Respondent.

• The Respondent will conform to the terms and conditions of the Standard Contract without exception, or, where an exception is made by Respondent, will provide an alternative that is equivalent to or exceeds the Department’s terms and conditions.

• If an award is made to the Respondent, the Respondent agrees that it intends to be legally bound to the Contract that is formed with the Department.

• The Respondent has made a diligent inquiry of its employees and agents responsible for preparing, approving, or submitting the Response, and has been advised by each of them that he or she has not participated in any communication, consultation, discussion, agreement, collusion, act, or other conduct inconsistent with any of the statements and representations made in the Response.

https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/state_agency_resources/state_purchasing_pur_forms https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/state_agency_resources/state_purchasing_pur_forms

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• The Respondent shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Department and its employees against any cost, damage, or expense which may be incurred or be caused by any error in the Respondent’s preparation of its Response.

All information provided by, and representations made by, the Respondent may be considered material and may be relied upon by the Department in awarding the Contract.

Any misstatement may be treated as fraudulent concealment from the Department of the true facts relating to submission of the Response. A misrepresentation shall be punishable under law, including, but not limited to, chapter 817, F.S.

(b) In submitting a Response, the Respondent understands, represents, and acknowledges the following (NOTE: If the Respondent cannot certify to any of following, the Respondent shall submit with its Response a written explanation of why it cannot do so. The Respondent’s explanations may result in the Respondent being found to not be a responsible or responsive vendor as defined in sections 287.012(25) and (27), F.S.):

• To the best of the knowledge of the person signing the Response, the Respondent, its affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, officers, and employees are not currently under investigation by any governmental authority and have not in the last ten (10) years been convicted or found liable for any act prohibited by law in any jurisdiction, involving conspiracy or collusion with respect to bidding on any public contract.

• Respondent currently has no delinquent obligations to the state of Florida, including a claim by the state of Florida for liquidated damages under any other contract.

• The Respondent has fully informed the Department in writing of all convictions of the firm, its affiliates (as defined in section 287.133(1)(a), F.S.), and all directors, officers, and employees of the firm and its affiliates for violation of state or federal antitrust laws with respect to a public contract and for violation of any state or federal law involving fraud, bribery, collusion, conspiracy or material misrepresentation with respect to a public contract.

This includes disclosure of the names of current employees who were convicted of contract crimes while in the employ of another company.

• Neither the Respondent nor any person associated with it in the capacity of owner, partner, director, officer, principal, investigator, project director, manager, auditor, or position involving the administration of federal funds:

o Has within the preceding three years been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them or is presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged for: commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a federal, state, or local government transaction or public contract; violation of federal or state antitrust statutes; or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property; or o Has within a three-year period preceding this certification had one or more federal, state, or local government contracts terminated for cause or default.

3.2 Mandatory Responsiveness Requirements

A Respondent whose Response does not meet the mandatory responsiveness requirements listed below will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for Contract award.

The mandatory responsiveness requirements are as follows:

1. The Response must include a completed Attachment 3, Price Response.

2. The Response must include an Attachment 7, Mandatory Criteria Certification Form, that meets the requirements provided in Section 3.3.3(A), Mandatory Criteria Certification.

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The Department will not evaluate a Response from a Respondent that does not meet the mandatory responsiveness requirements. A Response that meets the mandatory responsiveness requirements listed above is presumed to conform in all material respects to the solicitation. The Department reserves the right to re-evaluate its responsiveness determination at any time during the solicitation.

3.3 Contents of the Response

Submit the Response in the following format. Refer to Sections 4.2 – 4.3 of this RFP for how Responses will be evaluated during the evaluation phase.

3.3.1 Volume 1: General Information

The Respondent must:

A. Cover Letter Submit a cover letter on the Respondent’s letterhead that contains the following information:

1. The name and principal place of business of the Respondent;

2. The Respondent’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN); and

3. The name, title, mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the Respondent’s contact person for purposes of the RFP and, if available, an alternate contact person.

B. Responses or Disclosures Required by the PUR 1001.

1. Submit any disclosures required by Section 6 of the PUR 1001.

2. Submit any disclosures required by Section 9 of the PUR 1001, as modified by Section 3.1 of this RFP. If unable to certify to any of the provisions of part (b) of Section 9 of the PUR 1001, as modified by Section 3.1 of this RFP, submit a written explanation of why the Respondent cannot do so. The Respondent’s explanations may result in the Department finding the Respondent not to be a responsible or responsive vendor as defined in sections 287.012(25) and (27), F.S. No exceptions to part (a) of Section 9 of the PUR 1001, as modified by Section 3.1 of this RFP document, will be accepted.

C. Award Preferences Form Submit a completed Appendix D, Award Preferences Form. (Refer to Section 5.2, Award Preferences for Identical Evaluation of Responses, for further information on how this form will be used.) A Respondent who fails to submit a completed Appendix D, Award Preferences Form, as part of its Response will be considered to have no award preference if the Department’s evaluation results in two (2) or more Responses receiving an identical highest score.

3.3.2 Volume 2: Technical Response

The Respondent must:

A. Narrative on Experience and Ability

1. Provide a narrative of the Respondent’s prior relevant experience with providing these services. The experience described should demonstrate the Respondent’s organizational ability to perform the services sought in this RFP.

2. Provide an organizational chart and identify the Respondent’s key personnel who will perform or supervise the services solicited by this RFP. Include a summary of the background of these personnel which demonstrates their suitability for any designated role. The summary should include a discussion of key personnel’s knowledge of the program area; education and training; and management experience with the Respondent or any subcontractor(s).

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Provide a list of Information Technology staff that would direct the work required to fulfill the primary technical and business analyst’s functions in regard to obligations of this Contract. The resumes should include the staffs’ previous supervisory experience, education, and work experience deemed relevant to the responsibilities and function to be performed by the respective individuals. In addition, the Respondent should clearly identify the specific major technical and business analysts’ roles that will be performed by each of the individuals for whom the Contractor submits resumes.

3. Provide examples of similar services provided by the Respondent within the last ten (10) years. Examples to include IT work previously performed by Respondent that was similar in scope and/or size to the obligations of the Contract that may result from this RFP. The examples of work previously performed by the Respondent should include sufficient detail to determine whether the work is similar to the obligations of the Contract that may result from this RFP and whether the organization for which the work was done is comparable to the Florida Department of Financial Services in terms of its nature, size, and mission.

B. Respondent’s Proposed Approach

1. Provide Respondent’s plan for carrying out the services required by this RFP and specified in Attachment 2, Statement of Work. The Respondent should fully describe its plan for:

a. Meeting the IT obligations of the Contract to include a description of the specific hardware and software the Respondent would use to perform the IT services. The Respondent will include the following documentation and/or policies as part of the plan:

i. Documentation that clearly demonstrates the IT services that the Respondent would perform to fulfill the obligations of this Contract, the Respondent has an appropriate testing systems environment in addition to the Respondent’s production systems environment. This testing systems environment must be used to test ALL system application modifications prior to the implementation of these modifications in the Contractor’s production systems environment.

ii. Documentation regarding the testing procedures the Respondent would use in its development of the system applications that would support the obligations of the contract that may result from this RFP.

iii. Copy of the Respondent’s current Information Systems Development Methodology (ISDM).

iv. The Respondent must include all proposed software to use to fulfill the obligations of the Contract that may result from this RFP. Any proposed software license agreement, service level agreement (SLA), or any other draft agreement submitted in the Response shall not contain any provisions, unless such provisions are expressly negated in the Response, which:

o are inconsistent with Florida law o exclude, prohibit, or negate other contract documents o subject the state of Florida to jurisdiction of another state; and o provide that the state of Florida will indemnify the Contractor or any other person.

b. Examination Development:

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i. The plan must indicate a rate by which the Respondent proposes to increase or enhance the size of each item pool specified in each of the following program areas:

o Florida All Lines Adjuster o Florida Public All Lines Adjuster o Florida Bail Bond/Limited Surety o Florida General Lines Agent o Florida Health Agent o Florida Health and Life and Annuity (incl. Var. Contracts) Agent o Florida Life and Annuity (incl. Variable Contracts) o Florida Personal Lines Agent o Florida Surplus Lines Agent o Florida Title Agent

ii. The plan must also include information sufficient to inform the Department how the following test development, measurement, research, and evaluation requirements will be performed:

o preparation of test specifications o selection and training of item writers and item reviewers and numbers to be used for each category of examination o frequency of and standards for item writing/review workshops o development and editing processes for test items o establishment and maintenance of item banks o pre-testing and evaluation of items o test bias review process o pretest and post-test item analyses o equating procedures for all or recommended categories of examinations o cut score procedures o validity and reliability studies o review and development of equated forms for each line of authority requiring an examination o produce bail bond licenses (without examination)

iii. Examination Administration. In addition to providing all information sufficient to inform the Department of the Respondent’s expertise and abilities in examination administration, the plan must inform the Department of how the following administration requirements will be provided and/or selected:

o administration staff o testing sites o testing facilities o testing conditions o testing instructions o pre-test informational materials o security procedures and protocols

v. The Respondent must include a detailed description of the following as part of the Examination Administration Plan:

o proposed security equipment o practices and procedures relative to protection of Department-owned test item banks

Rev. 1/6/2025 o procedures to prevent a candidate from taking the same version of a test when re-testing a failed test o testing center procedures including, but not limited to, examination administration o adequacy of the call center and website to effectively and timely provide information and make appointments for candidates

iv. ADA Requirements. The Respondent plan for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Response shall address at a minimum how the Contractor will provide the examination to individuals with, but not limited to, the following disabilities:

o blind o deaf o physical impairment prohibiting sitting in a chair o amputated arms or fingers o dyslexia, requiring the questions to be read to the candidate o allergies that prohibit entering the testing room

2. Provide a detailed and thorough description of the Respondent’s plan for:

a. Regarding inquiries by the Department about potential problem areas, e.g., instances of incorrect enforcement of business rules by the Contractor or transfer of incorrect and/or incomplete data by the Contractor to the Department. The Contractor’s initial response to the Department must include information as to what the Contractor has thus far identified with regard to the reported problem and also the Contractor’s overall plan, projected time frame, and current status regarding resolving the problem. The plan should include the response time in regard to an inquiry (i.e. 24 hours, 48 hours, etc.).

b. Fee collection to include all policies and procedures.

c. The Respondent must provide all policies and procedures for scheduling exams, including, but not limited to scheduling examinations, change/cancel policy, absence/lateness policy, weather delays and cancellations, and procedures to assist candidates in a case of an emergency that prevents utilizing the change process established.

d. The Respondent shall include the Contractor’s hiring policy and their background check screening policy for new hire and current employees.

e. If the Respondent anticipates engaging any third-party vendors for the administration of examinations, the Contractor shall submit its policies governing such engagements.

3.3.3 Volume 3: Mandatory Responsiveness Requirements

The Respondent must:

A. Mandatory Criteria Certification Submit an Attachment 7, Mandatory Criteria Certification Form, that provides a “Yes” Certification Answer for each Certification Question. A Respondent’s failure to provide a “Yes” Certification Answer for each Certification Question will result in the Respondent being deemed non-responsive.

Additionally, Respondents must complete the Vendor Certification Form (beginning on page 2 of the Mandatory Criteria Certification Form) by choosing the appropriate “Vendor Indicator” from the dropdown menu. Respondents must also complete and submit any attestations associated with the requirements of the Vendor Certification Form.

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B. Price Response Submit a completed Attachment 3, Price Response.

3.4 How to Submit a Response

Submit the following:

• One (1) printed UNREDACTED version of the entire Response.

• Three (3) printed UNREDACTED copies of Volume 2, Technical Response.

• One (1) scanned copy of the complete UNREDACTED Response on a flash drive, with large files scanned as separate .pdf files.

If the Respondent intends to assert trade secret or confidentiality protections on any portion of the response (see Section 3.5 Disclosure of Response Contents and Section 3.6, Confidential Response Materials and Redacted Submissions), the Respondent must also provide the following:

• One (1) printed REDACTED version of the Response if redactions are required.

• One (1) scanned copy of the complete UNREDACTED Response on a flash drive, with large files scanned as separate .pdf files.

• One (1) scanned copy of the complete REDACTED Response on a flash drive, if applicable (see

Section 3.5 Disclosure of Response Contents and Section 3.6, Confidential Response Materials and Redacted Submissions). The Respondent must ensure that all metadata has been removed from the files in the redacted copy.

NOTE: The printed copies of the Response must be bound. The Respondent may use an alternate method of binding other than a binder and include separate tabs or other methods of separation of the volumes of the Response in lieu of separate binders.

Responses must be sent in sealed packages to the Department of Financial Services at 200 East Gaines Street, Larson Bldg., Office of Purchasing and Contractual Services, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0347 by the deadline listed in Section 2.2, Timeline. The Respondent must clearly label the outside of the sealed packages with the RFP number and Respondent’s name.

SECTION 2.2, TIMELINE, SPECIFIES THE DEADLINE AND LOCATION FOR RESPONSE

SUBMISSION. RESPONSES SUBMITTED BEYOND THE DEADLINE OR TO A

DIFFERENT LOCATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

3.5 Disclosure of Response Contents

All documentation submitted as a Response to the RFP will become the exclusive property of the Department and will not be returned to the Respondent. Responses received by the Department may be disclosed pursuant to a public records request, subject to any confidentiality claims and the timeframes identified in section 119.071(1)(b), F.S. The Department has the right to use any or all ideas or adaptations of the ideas presented in any Response. Selection or rejection of a Response will not affect this right.

Pursuant to chapter 119, F.S., it is the policy of the state that all state records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person. If the Respondent considers any portion of its Response to contain trade secrets or otherwise Confidential Information, such assertions must be made in writing upon submission of the Response.

3.6 Confidential Response Materials and Redacted Submissions

In addition to the public records requirements of the PUR 1001, section 19, if the Respondent considers any portion of its Response to be Confidential Information or exempt from disclosure under Chapter 119, F.S., or other legal authority (Public Records Law), then the Respondent must simultaneously provide

Rev. 1/6/2025 the Department with an unredacted version of the materials and a separate redacted electronic copy of the materials. If providing both a redacted and unredacted copy, the Respondent should mark the unredacted version of the document as “Unredacted Version – Contains Confidential Information” and place such information in an encrypted electronic form or a sealed separate envelope. If the Respondent fails to submit a Redacted Copy of its Response, the Department is authorized to produce the entire unredacted Response submitted to the Department in response to a public records request.

3.6.1 Redacted Submissions

If submitting a redacted version of its Response, the Respondent should mark the redacted electronic copy with the Respondent’s name, Department’s RFP name and number, and the words “Redacted Copy.” The Redacted Copy should only redact those portions of material for which a Respondent can legally support a claim that the information is Confidential Information or exempt from disclosure pursuant to Public Records Law. In the Redacted Copy, the Respondent shall redact and maintain in confidence any materials the Department provides or seeks regarding security of a proposed technology system or information subject to sections 119.011(14), 119.071(1)(f), and 119.071(3), F.S.

In addition, the Respondent must submit a separate index listing the Confidential Information or exempt portions of its Response. The index should briefly describe in writing the grounds for claiming exemption from the Public Records Law, including the specific statutory citation for such exemption.

The Redacted Copy will be used to fulfill public records and other disclosure requests and will be posted on the FACTS website. The Department will follow the procedures identified in the Standard Contract’s Attachment 4, PUR 1000, if the Department receives a further request for Confidential Information or exempt material that has been clearly identified as such in writing by the Respondent.

3.6.2 Respondent’s Obligations to Defend its Claims

The Department is not obligated to agree with a Respondent’s claim of exemption or Confidential Information. By submitting a Response, the Respondent agrees to defend its claim that each and every portion of its redactions is exempt from inspection and copying under Florida’s Public Records Law. By submitting a Response, the Respondent agrees to protect, defend, and indemnify the Department for any and all claims arising from or relating to the Respondent’s determination that the redacted portions of its Response are Confidential Information or otherwise not subject to disclosure. The Department may use the counsel of its choosing to defend any such claims, and the Respondent shall promptly pay the Department’s invoices for legal services on a monthly basis for all costs and expenses, including legal fees, incurred in defending such claims.

3.7 Withdrawal and Modification of Responses

The Respondent may modify its Response at any time prior to the submittal deadline by submitting a request to the Procurement Officer. A submitted Response may be withdrawn from consideration by the Department if the Respondent submits a signed, written request for withdrawal to the Procurement Officer within seventy-two (72) hours after the deadline for Response submittal.

3.8 Reservations

In addition to any other rights reserved or afforded to the Department under this RFP and under applicable law, the Department reserves the right to:

1. Cancel this RFP at any time prior to the Department’s execution of the Contract, without incurring any cost obligations or liabilities.

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2. Accept or reject any Response at any time.

3. Terminate evaluation of any Response at any time.

4. Modify any dates set or projected in this RFP.

5. Waive minor irregularities in Responses.

3.9 Additional Information

At any time during the solicitation process, the Department may request, and the Respondent must provide, supporting information or documentation. Failure to supply supporting information or documentation as required and requested may result in the disqualification or rejection of the Response.

The Department reserves the right to seek information from outside sources regarding the Respondent and the Respondent’s offerings, capabilities, references, or performance, if the Department determines that such information is pertinent to the RFP. The Department may consider such information throughout the solicitation process including, but not limited to, when determining whether the award is ultimately in the best interest of the State. This may include, but is not limited to, the Department engaging consultants, subject matter experts, and others to ensure that the Department has a complete understanding of the information provided by Respondents in response to the RFP.

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SECTION 4. SELECTION METHODOLOGY

4.1 Review of Mandatory Responsiveness Requirements

The Procurement Officer will review each Response to determine whether the Response satisfies the requirements of Section 3.2, Mandatory Responsiveness Requirements. Only those Responses that meet the mandatory responsiveness requirements will be evaluated. A Respondent who submits Response that does not satisfy the requirements of Section 3.2, Mandatory Responsiveness Requirements, will be deemed non-responsive, will not be will not be scored, and will not be considered for contract award.

4.2 Evaluation Team

The Department’s evaluation team will consist of at least three (3) persons who collectively have experience and knowledge in the program area and service requirements for the contractual services sought under the RFP. Each evaluator will independently evaluate and score each Responsive Response according to the criteria laid forth in Section 4.3, Evaluation Criteria, below.

4.3 Evaluation Criteria

Each Response will be evaluated as set forth in the remainder of this Section 4.3, Evaluation Criteria.

The Procurement Officer will add a Respondent’s Technical Response Score (as described in 4.3.1) and Price Response Score (as described in 4.3.2) to determine the total points awarded to the Respondent.

The total number of points available to a Respondent for this RFP is 145 points. The total points awarded for each Respondent will be used to determine the final ranking of the Respondents.

4.3.1 Evaluation of Technical Response

Each evaluation team member will independently evaluate each Respondent’s Volume 2: Technical Response against the evaluation criteria set forth in Appendix C, Evaluator Score Sheet. The maximum available points for the Technical Response is 120 points. The Procurement Officer will add the score awarded by each evaluator for a Respondent and divide the total by the number of evaluators to determine a Respondent’s Technical Response Score.

4.3.2 Price Response

The Procurement Officer will score Attachment 3, Price Response. Price Responses will be evaluated by averaging the renewal term pricing for each renewal year together, then adding that number to the initial term pricing to calculate a single Price Response Total. Pricing for the initial Contract term will count for 70% of the Price Response total and renewal pricing will count for 30% of the Price Response total. Price Responses will be awarded a maximum of 25 points based on the following formula:

(Lowest Respondent’s Price Response Total/Respondent’s Price Response Total) x (Maximum Number of Points available) = Points Awarded for Price Response

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SECTION 5. AWARD

5.1 Basis of Award

If the Department awards a Contract resulting from this RFP, the Department will award the Contract to the responsive and responsible Respondent whose Response is deemed the most advantageous to the State based upon the criteria set forth in the RFP, as determined by total points awarded (i.e., the highest scoring Respondent). The Department intends to award one (1) Respondent but reserves the right to make no award under this RFP.

The Department reserves the right to determine which Responses are responsive and responsible at any time during the solicitation. The Department may reject a Response, if it fails to demonstrate the Respondent has the capability, integrity, or reliability to fully and in good faith perform the requirements of the Contract. See section 287.012(25), F.S., and section 287.057(1)(b)4., F.S. The Department may request additional information pertaining to the Respondent’s ability and qualifications to accomplish all services described in this RFP as deemed necessary during the RFP or after contract award.

The Department reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Responses, or separable portions of Responses.

The Department will not give preference to a Respondent based on the Respondent’s social, political, or ideological interests.

5.2 Award Preferences for Identical Evaluations of Responses

As used in this Section, the term “Identical Respondents” means the Respondents whose Responses were evaluated as having the same score.

If the Department’s evaluation results in identical evaluations of Responses, the Department will review the Attachment D, Award Preferences Form, to the Respondents with Responses that resulted in the identical evaluations. If more than one Respondent is entitled to a statutory preference, the Department will apply the preferences in the order shown on Attachment D, Award Preferences Form.

5.3 Agency Decision

The Department intends to award the Contract to the responsive and responsible Respondent whose Response receives the highest total score for the evaluation criteria described in the RFP. The Department’s intended decision will be posted on the Florida Vendor Information Portal at https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/ on the date specified in the Timeline (as may be modified by any subsequent Addenda) and will remain posted for a period of seventy-two (72) hours. Any Respondent who is adversely affected by the Department’s recommendation award or intended decision must file the following with the Department of Financial Services, Agency Clerk, Office of the General Counsel, 200 E. Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL or DFSAgencyClerk@myfloridacfo.com:

1. A written notice of protest within seventy-two (72) hours after posting of the intended decision, the notice of protest filed to the street address or email above, and

2. A formal written protest and protest bond in compliance with Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, within ten (10) days of the date on which the written notice of protest is filed to the street address or email above. At the time of filing the formal written protest, a bond (a cashier’s check or money order may be accepted) payable to the Department must also be submitted in an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the estimated contract amount based on the contract price submitted by the protestor.

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Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes.

Additionally, if the Department decides to reject all Responses at any time during the solicitation, the Department will post a notice to that effect on the VIP.

5.4 MyFloridaMarketplace (MFMP) Registration

The awarded Respondent must have a current vendor registration in MFMP, at https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/, prior to…