70CNR-S3609 - request-for-proposals - 2025 12 30 - Final.docx

Nevada State Purchasing Division Department of Administration 515 E Musser St Ste 300 Carson City, NV 89701 purchasing.nv.gov nevadaepro.com

Request for proposals 70CNR-S3609

Release Date January 8, 2026

Solicitation number 70CNR-S3609

Single point of contact name Annette Morfin

Single point of contact email amorfin@admin.nv.gov

Single point of contact phone 775-531-3301

Soliciting agency Nevada State Purchasing Division

Contracting agency Nevada Division of Environmental Protection/Bureau of Water Quality Planning

Deadline for submissions February 10, 2026 @ 1:00 PM

For deaf and hard of hearing, call 711 and ask the relay agency to dial the single point of contact phone number above.

This request for proposals is available at nevadaepro.com as a bid solicitation.

Table of Contents

Applicable regulations governing procurement

Statute and code. All applicable Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) and Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) documentation can be found at: www.leg.state.nv.us/law1.cfm.

Single point of contact. Vendors and their representatives shall only contact the single point of contact or use the electronic procurement system regarding this solicitation until after a notice of award (NOA) has been issued. Failure to observe this restriction may result in disqualification of a response per NAC 333.155(3).

Ethics. Prospective vendors are advised to review Nevada’s ethical standards requirements, including but not limited to NRS 281A, NRS 333.800, and NAC 333.155.

Project overview

The Nevada State Purchasing Division on behalf of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP)/Bureau of Water Quality Planning (BWQP) is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide Taxonomic Identification and Enumeration of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, Taxonomic Identification and Enumeration of Periphyton Samples, Quality Assurance (QA) / Quality Control (QC) of Selected Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Samples, and QA/QC of Selected Periphyton Samples – services as described below and in the scope of work and attachments.

The State intends to award up to two (2) contracts in conjunction with this request for proposals (RFP), as determined in the best interests of the State. NDEP/Bureau of Water Quality Planning shall administer the contract(s) resulting from this solicitation. The resulting contract(s) are expected to be for a contract term of four (4) years, subject to Board of Examiners approval. Contract is anticipated to begin upon Board of Examiners (BOE) approval and expire on April 30, 2030.

Contracting agency background

Aquatic Benthic Macroinvertebrates: The NDEP/BWQP collects aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates on a statewide basis to assess the aquatic health of the State’s streams and rivers. The field work is performed using the “reach wide/composite” field protocols developed under U.S. EPA Western EMAP and U.S. EPA National Rivers and Streams Assessment.

Approximately 45-50 samples are collected annually, primarily in the late spring through late summer months, using a D-frame 500-micron net.

The samples are stored in 95% ethanol.

Each sample generally consists of a composite of 11 transects from one sampling site unless otherwise noted and are only slightly cleaned with the removal of large debris and rocks in the field.

General sample size is approximately 1 liter including ethanol; however, this may vary depending on the sample site.

Samples are submitted to a qualified laboratory for 600-count taxonomic identification and enumeration along with a Chain of Custody indicating the number of transects per sample and number sample containers from each site.

Periphyton: The NDEP/BWQP collects periphyton on a statewide basis to assess the aquatic health of the State’s streams and rivers. The field work performed using the “reach wide/composite” field protocols developed under U.S. EPA Western EMap and U.S. EPA National Rivers and Streams Assessment.

Approximately 45-50 samples are collected annually, primarily in the late spring through late summer, concurrent with macroinvertebrate samples.

One (1) sample consists of the composited collection from 11 transects unless otherwise noted.

Composite samples can consist of periphyton collected from the benthic sediment/water interface and/or scraped from hard substrate.

Samples are preserved with 2 mL formalin in a 45 mL aliquot in the field.

Samples are submitted to a qualified laboratory for the identification of 300 live, non-diatom (soft algae) cells to genus or species level where possible, and 300 diatom cells to species where possible, along with a Chain of Custody indicating the number of transects per sample and number sample containers from each site.

Re-Identification and Enumeration: Per NDEP quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) specifications, approximately 5-10 samples each of the aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate and periphyton are submitted each year for re-identification and enumeration.

Goals and objectives

This solicitation will provide analysis of biota samples to characterize the ecological conditions of surface waters in support of the agency’s statewide surface water quality monitoring program.

Scope of work

NDEP/BWQP is seeking proposals from a qualified laboratory to identify and enumerate biological samples collected in the field. The Scope of Work (SOW) is broken into four components according to sample type:

Aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates, Periphyton, Aquatic macroinvertebrate QA/QC, and Periphyton QA/QC.

Proposals will be accepted on all or any combination of the four (4) tasks described above.

Aquatic Benthic Macroinvertebrate Tasks and Deliverables

The selected laboratory will receive from NDEP up to 50 preserved and site-composited macroinvertebrate samples per year for up to a four (4)-year period for identification and enumeration.

Identification and Enumeration prior to the commencement of work, the laboratory shall provide NDEP/BWQP with an updated electronically submitted Aquatic Benthic Macroinvertebrate Laboratory QA/QC document.

The QA/QC document should follow standard acceptable laboratory analysis protocols for benthic macroinvertebrates.

Enumeration and identification shall be a 600- organism count per sample.

If 600 organisms are not counted within the sample, then the complete sample will be identified and enumerated.

Identification levels will be, at the minimum, the taxonomic effort provided in the Southwest Association of Freshwater Invertebrate Taxonomists (SAFIT) Level II which is attached as a separate file.

Laboratories should refer directly to the SAFIT document attached this this proposal for bidding and aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate identification clarification.

Results Delivery and Notifications At a minimum, half of a given year’s samples will be identified, enumerated and the results submitted to NDEP/BWQP within the first six (6) months of the delivery date of the samples to the laboratory.

The remaining samples will be identified, enumerated and the results submitted to NDEP/BWQP within twelve (12) months of the delivery date of the samples to the laboratory.

Each year will follow the same progression for the total contract period.

Results of the enumeration and identification of all samples will be provided to NDEP/BWQP in electronic Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format including standard index calculations, unless other arrangements are made.

NDEP/BWQP shall be advised immediately by email or written notification if samples contain any known “invasive” such as Potamopyrgus antipodarum (New Zealand mudsnail), Dreissena rostriformis bugensis (quagga mussel) and or/ Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel).

NDEP/BWQP shall be advised immediately by email or written notification if any of the macroinvertebrates contained in a sample have anomalies (e.g., deformities, lesions) of the organism.

Normal structural damage due to collection, storage and/or transportation is not considered to be anomalies.

Post-analysis Process Completed identified samples are to be placed into vials (vouchers) containing 90% ethanol, separated by taxon and sample site, labeled with NDEP’s/BWQP’s site identification number, organism identification and number of organisms in the vial and the year collected.

The vouchers are to be returned to NDEP/BWQP before payment of services will occur.

In addition, a reference collection of each individual year shall be supplied to NDEP/BWQP upon completion of that year’s identification.

The reference collection shall consist of preserved specimens identified and labeled to the appropriate SAFIT Level II.

Empty macroinvertebrate sample containers originally delivered to the laboratory are to be returned to NDEP/BWQP along with the vouchers, reference collections and final identification and enumeration results.

Remnants (i.e., un-analyzed) samples may be disposed of by the laboratory upon completion of the laboratory QA/QC procedures.

Periphyton Tasks and Deliverable

The selected laboratory will receive from NDEP up to 50 preserved and site-composited periphyton samples per year for up to a 4-year period.

Enumeration and Identification Prior to the commencement of work, the laboratory shall provide NDEP/BWQP with an updated electronically submitted Periphyton Laboratory QA/QC document. The QA/QC document should follow standard acceptable laboratory analysis protocols for periphyton.

Enumeration and identification shall be the identification of 300 live non-diatom (soft) algae to genus or species where possible, and 300 diatom cells to species where possible.

If 600 cells are not contained within the sample, then the complete sample will be identified and enumerated.

Soft body algae will be identified by cell count and identified to genus or species when possible.

Live cyanobacteria with indistinct cells and for coenocytic algae without cell walls, a 10 µm filament will serve as the counting unit. Total algal cell density (number of cells/counting units per unit area) will also be calculated and provided to NDEP.

In addition, each taxon density, per sample, will also be calculated based on the number of counts for the individual taxon.

Diatoms will be identified to species, where possible and slide mounted and/or digital photographs taken for identification purposes.

Results Delivery and Notifications Results of the enumeration and identification of all samples will be provided to NDEP in electronic Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format including standard index calculations, unless other arrangements are made.

At a minimum, half of a given year’s samples will be identified, enumerated and the results submitted to NDEP within the first six (6) months of the delivery date of the samples to the laboratory.

The remaining samples will be identified, enumerated and the results submitted to NDEP in the following six (6) months.

Each year will follow the same progression for the total contract period.

NDEP/BWQP shall be advised immediately by email or written notification if samples contain any known “invasive” periphyton such as Didymosphenia geminate (Didymo).

Post-analysis Process An approximate 20 mL periphyton sample will be returned to NDEP/BWQP for QA/QC purposes and archiving.

Slides and/or digital photographs from each processed diatom sample will be returned to NDEP/BWQP for voucher/reference collection and for QA/QC purposes.

The laboratory may also retain slides (sample replicates) for their own archiving.

The specimens are to be returned to NDEP/BWQP sorted by sample site and then taxon.

Aquatic Benthic Macroinvertebrate QA/QC Tasks and Deliverables

The selected laboratory will receive from NDEP/BWQP approximately 5-10 total site vouchers per year for up to a four (4)-year period of previous enumerated and identified aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate samples by a separate laboratory.

Enumeration and Identification Prior to the commencement of work, the laboratory shall provide NDEP with an updated electronically submitted Aquatic Benthic Macroinvertebrate Laboratory Quality Assurance and Quality Control document.

The QA/QC document should follow standard acceptable laboratory analysis protocols for benthic macroinvertebrates.

The laboratory’s responsibility will be to QA/QC for the re-identification and enumeration of the samples.

It is estimated that over the contract period approximately 40 samples will be delivered for QA/QC purposes to the laboratory.

Samples are collected using EMAP-type field protocols (one (1) sample is a composite of 11 transects per sampling site) and previously identified at the 500 count per sample basis.

The QA/QC laboratory will be provided with vials separated by site and taxon and/or mounted slides for re-identification purposes.

Vials and slides may or may not contain taxa identification information.

Identification levels will be, at the minimum, the taxonomic effort provided in the Southwest Association of Freshwater Invertebrate Taxonomists (SAFIT) Level II.

Upon completion of the QA/QC identification and enumeration, the lab will request from NDEP/BWQD, the original aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate laboratory results.

The QA/QC laboratory will provide NDEP/BWQP with an electronic spreadsheet consisting of a side-by-side comparison of the primary macroinvertebrate laboratory results and the QA/QC laboratory results.

It will be the responsibility of the QA/QC laboratory to contact the primary macroinvertebrate laboratory when discrepancies are found.

Both labs are to reconcile the differences as much as feasible.

The QA/QC laboratory will provide a brief factual electronic report to NDEP/BWQP discussing the discrepancies, QA/QC recommendations, and if the laboratories reach a reconciliation regarding the discrepancies.

The laboratory shall provide NDEP/BWQP with an electronically submitted Laboratory Quality Assurance and Quality Control document specifically addressing the quality assurance and quality control element of re-identifying macroinvertebrate samples from another laboratory.

Results Delivery and Notifications The QA/QC results of the re-enumeration and re-identification of all samples will be provided to NDEP/BWQP in electronic Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format unless other arrangements are made.

A hard copy to NDEP/BWQP shall also be provided.

All vouchers provided by NDEP/BWQP to the QA/QC laboratory are to be returned to NDEP/BWQP and all results submitted to NDEP/BWQP before payment for services can be completed.

The results of the macroinvertebrate QA/QC shall be submitted to NDEP/BWQP within six (6) months of delivery of the samples.

Periphyton QA/QC Tasks and Deliverables

The selected QA/QC laboratory will receive from NDEP/BWQP the digital photograph reference collection from previously enumerated and identified samples by a separate laboratory.

Enumeration and Identification Prior to the commencement of work, the laboratory shall provide NDEP with an updated electronically submitted Periphyton Laboratory Quality Assurance and Quality Control document.

The QA/QC document should follow standard acceptable laboratory analysis protocols for periphyton.

The QA/QC laboratory’s responsibility will be to perform QA/QC for the identification of the reference collection.

It is estimated that over the contract period approximately 40 samples will be delivered for QA/QC purposes to the laboratory.

NDEP/BWQP will compare the taxonomic results from each laboratory’s identification. Percent of similarity, should not be ≤70.

Upon completion of the QA/QC identification, the laboratory will request, from NDEP/BWQP, the original periphyton laboratory results and percent of similarity results.

It will be the responsibility of the QA/QC laboratory to contact the primary periphyton laboratory when discrepancies are found.

Both labs are to reconcile the differences as much as feasible.

The QA/QC laboratory will provide a brief factual electronic report to NDEP/BWQP discussing the discrepancies, QA/QC recommendations, and if the laboratories reached a reconciliation regarding the discrepancies.

If a reconciliation cannot be reached, an independent third-party may be required for identification.

Results Delivery and Notifications The laboratory shall provide NDEP/BWQP with an electronically submitted Laboratory Quality Assurance and Quality Control document specifically addressing the quality assurance and quality control element of re-identifying periphyton samples from another laboratory.

The QA/QC results of the re-identification of the reference collection will be provided to NDEP/BWQP in electronic Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format unless other arrangements are made.

All results must be submitted to NDEP/BWQP before payment for services can be completed.

The results of the periphyton QA/QC shall be submitted to NDEP/BWQP within six (6) months of delivery of the samples.

quote/proposal content

Project Title

Provide General Organization Background Information as described in Primary Vendor Information

Name of Organization, Address, and Contact Information Project Management and Key Personnel Describe your management structure and organization Qualifications State applicant qualifications for both management and laboratory personnel.

Identify any subcontractors and provide their qualifications, references, and contact information.

References Provide a list of several previous clients with contact information including name, address, phone number and email address.

Private (non-government) Laboratories must submit verification of the following with the proposal:

Current Certificate of Insurance showing all liabilities and worker’s compensation.

Scope of Work and Deliverables

Describe each major task and each deliverable and your understanding of this proposal request.

Describe and give an example of the electronic and hardcopy format of the taxonomic results that will be delivered to NDEP/BWQP.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP):

Describe in detail the applicant’s SOB and QA/QC procedures.

Schedule

Provide a time schedule for deliverables to NDEP/BWQP.

Budget

Include an overall budget for the entire project based on the four subtasks described above.

Itemize costs per sample.

Total budget should be based on the maximum number of samples provided.

Attachments

Attachments incorporated by reference. To be read and not returned.

Terms and conditions for services

Attachments for review. To be read and not returned (unless redlining).

Standard form contract Insurance schedule

Attachments for response. To be completed and returned.

Reference questionnaire Vendor information response Cost schedule Certification regarding lobbying

Timeline

Questions. All questions regarding this solicitation shall be submitted using the bid Q&A feature at nevadaepro.com.

Timeline. The following represents the proposed timeline for this project.

All times stated are Pacific Time (PT).

These dates represent a tentative schedule of events.

The State reserves the right to modify these dates at any time.

The deadline for submissions is the nevadaepro.com bid opening date and time. Late quotes will not be accepted.

Evaluation

Evaluation and scoring are conducted in accordance with NRS 333.335 and NAC 333.160-333.165.

Responses shall be kept confidential until a contract is awarded.

In the event the solicitation is withdrawn prior to award, responses remain confidential.

The evaluation committee is an independent committee established to evaluate and score qualitative evaluation factors for the solicitation.

The State, at its option, may limit participation in cost scoring, presentations, or both to vendors above a natural break in relative scores.

Financial stability shall be scored on a pass or fail basis.

Responses shall be consistently evaluated and scored based upon the following factors and relative weights.

Cost factor. The cost factor score is based on the following equation, unless the subject solicited requires alternative scoring. The highest proposed cost from any vendor and the lowest proposed cost from any vendor will be added together to generate a combined total. For each vendor, that proposed cost will be subtracted from the previously combined total. This number is then divided by the highest proposed cost. The resulting number is multiplied by the cost factor weight to generate a weighted cost score.

Presentations. The State may require vendors to make a presentation. The State reserves the right to add additional criteria for presentations. The State reserves the right to forego presentations and select vendor(s) based on written responses submitted.

Best and final offers. Pursuant to NAC 333.165, the State reserves the right to permit revised responses or add criteria to obtain the best offers. Vendors are encouraged to submit their best offer at time of initial response.

Nevada-based business preference

The State awards a five percent (5%) preference to Nevada-based businesses pursuant to NRS 333.3351 to 333.3356, inclusive.

Nevada-based business is defined in NRS 333.3352(1).

The term ‘principal place of business’ has the meaning outlined by the United States Supreme Court in Hertz Corp v. Friend, 559 U.S. 77 (2010), typically meaning a business’s corporate headquarters.

To claim this preference a vendor must indicate it on their vendor account and submitted quote in nevadaepro.com.

This preference cannot be combined with any other preference, granted for the award of a contract using federal funds, or granted for the award of a contract procured on a multi-state basis.

Inverse preference

The State applies an inverse preference to vendors that have a principal place of business in a state other than Nevada and that state applies an in-state preference not afforded to Nevada based vendors, pursuant to NRS 333.33695.

The amount of the inverse preference is correlated to the amount of preference applied in the other state.

Vendors who meet this criterion must indicated it on their submitted quote in nevadaepro.com.

This preference cannot be combined with any other preference, granted for the award of a contract using federal funds, or granted for the award of a contract procured on a multi-state basis.

Mandatory minimum requirements

Pursuant to NRS 333.311 a contract cannot be awarded to a response that does not comply with the requirements listed in this section. Response shall include confirmation of compliance with all mandatory minimum requirements.

Nevada Law and State indemnity. Pursuant to NRS 333.339, any contract that is entered into may not: (1) require the filing of any action or the arbitration of any dispute that arises from the contract to be instituted or heard in another state or nation; or (2) require the State to indemnify another party against liability for damages.

No Boycott of Israel. Pursuant to NRS 333.338, the State of Nevada cannot enter a contract with a company unless that company agrees for the duration of the contract not to engage in a boycott of Israel. By submitting a response, vendor agrees that if it is awarded a contract, it will not engage in a boycott of Israel as defined in NRS 333.338(3)(a).

nevadaepro.com vendor registration. Pursuant to NRS 333.313, vendor must be registered at nevadaepro.com to respond to the solicitation. Vendor information must match Nevada business license and sam.gov entity registration. Vendor information in nevadaepro.com will be used for contract formation. Email address(es) associated with general mailing address or default bid mailing address (if different from general mailing address) in nevadaepro.com will be used for formal notifications. If a vendor has a different contact name and email for negotiations, that should be indicated on the title page(s) of their response.

Nevada business license. Pursuant to NRS 353.007, prior to contract execution awarded vendor must hold a state business license pursuant to NRS chapter 76 unless exempted by NRS 76.100(7)(b). Business license must match nevadaepro.com vendor registration.

System for Award Management (sam.gov) Prior to contract award vendor must hold an active entity registration in sam.gov. Entity registration must match nevadaepro.com vendor registration.

Contract responsibility. Awarded vendor shall be the sole point of contract responsibility. The State shall look solely to the awarded vendor for the performance of all contractual obligations which may result from an award based on this solicitation, and the awarded vendor shall not be relieved for the non-performance of any or all subcontractors.

Data encryption and stateside data. State IT requires that data be encrypted in transit and in rest. State IT requires that State data assets must be maintained in the United States and data will not be held offshore.

Confidentiality and certification of indemnification

Submitted responses, which are marked confidential in their entirety, or those in which a significant portion of the submitted response is marked confidential may not be accepted. Pursuant to NRS 333.333, only proprietary information may be labeled a trade secret as defined in NRS 600A.030(5). All proposals are confidential until the contract is awarded; at which time, both successful and unsuccessful vendor proposals become public information.

Vendors shall submit proprietary information and confidential business information in separate files, flagged as confidential in nevadaepro.com. The State is not responsible for any information contained within a response; responses shall be released as submitted.

By submitting a response vendor acknowledges its responsibility to act in protection of labeled information and agrees to defend and indemnify the State of Nevada for honoring such designation. Failure to so act shall constitute a complete waiver, and all submitted information shall become public information; additionally, failure to label any information that is released by the State shall constitute a complete waiver of any and all claims for damages caused by the release of the information.

Vendor certifications

Vendor understands and acknowledges that the representations within their response are material and important and are relied on by the State in evaluation of the response. Any vendor misrepresentations can be treated as fraudulent concealment from the State of the true facts relating to the response.

Any and all prices that may be charged under the terms of the contract do not and shall not violate any existing federal, State, or municipal laws or regulations concerning discrimination or price fixing. Vendor agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold the State harmless from liability for any such violation.

All response terms, including prices, shall remain in effect for a minimum of 180 days after the response due date. In the case of the awarded vendor, all response terms, including prices, shall remain in effect throughout the contract term.

The price(s) and amount of this response have been arrived at independently and without consultation, communication, agreement or disclosure with or to any other contractor, vendor, or potential vendor. No attempt has been made at any time to induce any firm or person to refrain from proposing or to submit a response higher than this response, or to submit any intentionally high or noncompetitive response. All responses shall be made in good faith and without collusion.

The information included in this response has been arrived at independently and without non-public information obtained from State officials, staff, or their agents.

All employees and contractors assigned to the project are authorized to work in this country.

Vendor has a written equal opportunity policy that does not discriminate in employment practices with regard to race, color, national origin, physical condition, creed, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, developmental disability or disability of another nature.

Vendor has a written policy regarding compliance for maintaining a drug-free workplace.

Critical items

In addition to the scope of work and attachments, the items listed in this section are critical to the success of the project. These items will be used in evaluating and scoring responses. Vendor response should address items in this section in enough detail to provide evaluators an accurate understanding of vendor capabilities. Responses that fail to sufficiently respond to these items may be considered non-responsive.

Standard form contract. The State strongly prefers vendors agree to the terms of the attached standard form contract as is. Ability to agree to contract terms is a high priority to the State. Vendors who cannot agree to the contract as is must include a redlined Word version of the attached standard form contract with their response, with comments justifying the benefit to the State for each requested change. To the extent a vendor has prior contractual dealings with the State, no assumption should be made that terms outside those provided herein have any influence on this project.

Indemnification. Required contract terms on Indemnification: "To the fullest extent permitted by law, Contractor shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend, not excluding the State’s right to participate, the State from and against all liability, claims, actions, damages, losses, and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, arising out of any breach of the obligations of Contractor under this contract, or any alleged negligent or willful acts or omissions of Contractor, its officers, employees and agents. Contractor’s obligation to indemnify the State shall apply in all cases except for claims arising solely from the State’s own negligence or willful misconduct. Contractor waives any rights of subrogation against the State. Contractor’s duty to defend begins when the State requests defense of any claim arising from this Contract."

Limited liability. Required contract terms on Limited Liability: "The State will not waive and intends to assert available NRS Chapter 41 liability limitations in all cases. Contract liability of both parties shall not be subject to punitive damages. Damages for any State breach shall never exceed the amount of funds appropriated for payment under this Contract, but not yet paid to Contractor, for the Fiscal Year budget in existence at the time of the breach. Contractor’s tort liability shall not be limited."

Insurance schedule. The State strongly prefers vendors agree to the terms of the attached insurance schedule as is. Vendors who cannot agree must explain which areas are causing non-compliance and attach a redline if necessary. Awarded vendor shall maintain, for the duration of the contract, insurance coverages as set forth in the fully executed contract. Work on the contract shall not begin until after the awarded vendor has submitted acceptable evidence of required insurance. Failure to maintain any required insurance coverage or acceptable alternative method of insurance shall be deemed a breach of contract.

Vendor background

Provide a background, history, and why vendor is qualified to provide the services described in this solicitation. Background should include, at a minimum, the location(s) of the office(s) that would perform the work and the number of employees locally and in total. History should include, at a minimum, the number of years in business and company headquarters location. Provide a brief description of the length of time vendor has been providing services described in this solicitation to the public or private sector. If your company has worked with the State previously, include information about those engagements.

No marketing material desired. Unnecessarily elaborate brochures or other presentations beyond those requested and sufficient to present a complete response are not desired.

Key personnel. Provide a resume free of photos or overly stylized formatting for proposed key personnel, whether employed directly or through a subcontractor.

Current or former employees. If you employ (a) any person who is a current employee of an agency of the State of Nevada, or (b) any person who has been an employee of an agency of the State of Nevada within the past two (2) years, and if such person is performing or producing the services which you shall be contracted to provide under this contract, you must disclose the identity of each such person in your response, and specify the services that each person shall be expected to perform.

Exclusions. All conditions and provisions of this solicitation are deemed to be accepted by the vendor and incorporated by reference in the response, except such conditions and provisions that the vendor expressly excludes in the response. Any exclusion shall be in writing and included in the response at the time of submission.

Subcontractors

Subcontractors are defined as a third party, not directly employed by the contractor, who shall provide services identified in this solicitation. This does not include third parties who provide support or incidental services to the contractor.

Vendor shall disclose all proposed subcontractors. Response should include a vendor information response form for each proposed subcontractor.

Vendor shall not allow any subcontractor to commence work until all insurance required of the subcontractor is provided to the vendor.

Vendor shall certify that subcontractors comply with mandatory minimum requirements except contract responsibility.

Vendor response shall identify specific requirements of the project for which each subcontractor shall perform services.

How the work of any subcontractor(s) shall be supervised How channels of communication shall be maintained How compliance with contracts terms and conditions will be assured Previous experience with subcontractor(s)

Confidential business information

The information requested in this section is designated as confidential business information by the Administrator pursuant to NRS 333.020(5)(b) and is not public information pursuant to NRS 333.333.

This information should be submitted as a separate attachment, flagged as confidential in nevadaepro.com.

Dun and Bradstreet number. Vendor shall provide their Dun and Bradstreet Number.

Disclosure. Vendor shall provide complete disclosure of any alleged significant prior or ongoing contract failures, contract breaches, any civil or criminal litigation or investigations pending which involves the vendor or in which the vendor has been judged guilty or liable.

Conflict of interest. Vendor shall disclose any existing or potential conflict of interest relative to the performance of the contractual services resulting from this solicitation. Any such relationship that might be perceived or represented as a conflict shall be disclosed. By submitting a response in response to this solicitation, vendors affirm that they have not given, nor intend to give at any time hereafter, any economic opportunity, future employment, gift, loan, gratuity, special discount, trip, favor, or service to a public servant or any employee or representative of same, in connection with this procurement. Any attempt to intentionally or unintentionally conceal or obfuscate a conflict of interest shall result in disqualification of a vendor response. An award shall not be made where a conflict of interest exists. The State shall determine whether a conflict of interest exists and whether it may reflect negatively on State vendor selection. The State reserves the right to disqualify any vendor on the grounds of actual or apparent conflict of interest.

Client references

Vendor may be asked to provide reference questionnaire attachment to client references from similar projects performed for private or public sector clients within the last five years.

The single point of contact may receive up to three complete reference questionnaire documents directly from the client references via email, if determined to be required for evaluation of the work solicited.

The purpose of these references is to document relevant experience and aid in the evaluation process.

Reference questionnaire will not be accepted directly from proposing vendors.

Client references are not to be requested from the contracting agency.

The State will not disclose client references, but may confirm the quantity of reference questionnaires received.

The State reserves the right to contact client references during evaluation or negotiations.

Submission checklist

This section identifies documents that vendors can submit to be considered responsive. Vendors are encouraged to review all requirements to ensure all requested information is included in their response.

This is a general request for most solicitations. There may be additional instructions within the body of the solicitation that require scope specific response documents. Vendors are encouraged to thoroughly review all requirements.

Responses must be submitted as a quote through nevadaepro.com.

Vendors are encouraged to submit a single file attachment per section where possible.

Technical proposal information and cost proposal information are not to be included in the same attachment.

Cost proposal attachment needs to be a not be flagged as confidential in nevadaepro.com.

Additional attachments may be included, but are discouraged and should be kept to a minimum.

Technical proposal

Title page Table of contents Signed certification regarding lobbying Response to mandatory minimum requirements Response to critical items Response to scope of work Other informational material

Proprietary information. If necessary. Attachment should be flagged confidential in nevadaepro.com.

Title page Table of contents Trade secret information, cross referenced to the technical proposal (alternatively, a redacted technical proposal and a full confidential technical proposal can be submitted)

Cost proposal

Confidential business information. Attachment should be flagged confidential in nevadaepro.com.

Other attachments. If necessary, not recommended.

Client references. Not submitted directly by vendor.

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