Amendment #1 SW 2023 SW Call Contact Center Services RFP 001B3600088.pdf

Amendment #1

Request for Proposals (RFP)

SW Call/Contact Center Services

RFP # 001B3600088

April 23, 2024

Ladies/Gentlemen:

The following Amendment is being issued to amend and clarify certain information contained in the above referenced RFP. All information contained herein is binding on all Offerors who respond to this RFP. The following changes/additions are listed below; new language has been double underlined and marked in red bold (i.e., new language) and language deleted has been marked with a strikeout (i.e., word).

1. Revision to Section 4.27 VSBE Goal to read as follows:

There is no VSBE participation goal for this procurement.

4.27 VSBE Goal

4.27.1 Purpose

A. The Contractor shall structure its procedures for the performance of the work required in the Contract to attempt to achieve the VSBE participation goal stated in this solicitation. VSBE performance must be in accordance with this section and Attachment E, as authorized by COMAR 21.11.13. The

Contractor agrees to exercise all good faith efforts to carry out the requirements set forth in this section and Attachment E.

B. A certified Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprises (VSBE) must be verified by the State Department of Veterans Affairs or US Department of

Veteran’s Affairs Vets First Verification Program (VetBiz) and registered as a VSBE on the State's eProcurement platform, eMaryland Marketplace

Advantage (eMMA). The listing of VSBEs is available through the “Vendor

Search” on eMMA.

https://www.va.gov/osdbu/verification/ https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?ReturnUrl=%2fpage.aspx%2fen%2fbuy%2fhomepage

4.27.2 VSBE Goal

A. A VSBE participation goal of the total Contract dollar amount has been established for this procurement as identified in the Key Information

Summary Sheet.

B. By submitting a response to this solicitation, the Offeror agrees that this percentage of the total dollar amount of the Contract will be performed by verified veteran-owned small business enterprises

4.27.3 Solicitation and Contract Formation

A. In accordance with COMAR 21.11.13.05 C (1), this solicitation requires

Offerors to:

1) Identify specific work categories within the scope of the procurement appropriate for subcontracting;

2) Solicit VSBEs before Proposals are due, describing the identified work categories and providing instructions on how to bid on the subcontracts;

3) Attempt to make personal contact with the VSBEs solicited and to document these attempts;

4) Assist VSBEs to fulfill, or to seek waiver of, bonding requirements;

and

5) Attempt to attend preProposal or other meetings the procurement agency schedules to publicize contracting opportunities to VSBEs.

B. The Offeror must include with its Proposal a completed VSBE Utilization

Affidavit and Prime/Subcontractor Participation Schedule (Attachment E-1) whereby the Offeror:

1) Acknowledges it: a) intends to meet the VSBE participation goal; or

b) requests a full or partial waiver of the VSBE participation goal. If the Offeror commits to the full VSBE goal or requests a partial waiver, it shall commit to making a good faith effort to achieve the stated goal; and

2) Responds to the expected degree of VSBE participation as stated in the solicitation, by identifying the specific commitment of VSBEs at the time of Proposal submission. The Offeror shall specify the percentage of contract value associated with each VSBE prim/subcontractor identified on the VSBE Participation Schedule.

An Offeror must properly complete and submit a separate Attachment E-1, VSBE Utilization

Affidavit and Prime/Subcontractor Participation Schedule, for EACH Service for which it is submitting a proposal. If an Offeror is submitting a proposal for two Service, the Offeror must submit two separate Attachment E-1s, one for each of the two Services.

C. As set forth in COMAR 21.11.13.05.B(2), when a verified VSBE firm participates on a Contract as a Prime Contractor, a procurement agency may count the distinct, clearly defined portion of the work of the contract that the

VSBE Prime Contractor performs with its own work force towards meeting up to one hundred percent (100%) of the VSBE goal.

D. In order to receive credit for self-performance, a VSBE Prime must list its firm in the VSBE Prime/Subcontractor Participation Schedule (Attachment

E-1) and include information regarding the work it will self-perform. For any remaining portion of the VSBE goal that is not to be performed by the VSBE

Prime, the VSBE Prime must also identify verified VSBE subcontractors used to meet the remainder of the goal.

E. Within 10 Business Days from notification that it is the apparent awardee, the awardee must provide the following documentation to the Procurement

Officer:

1) VSBE Project Participation Statement (Attachment E-2);

2) If the apparent awardee believes a full or partial waiver of the overall

VSBE goal is necessary, it must submit a fully-documented waiver request that complies with COMAR 21.11.13.07; and

3) Any other documentation required by the Procurement Officer to ascertain Offeror responsibility in connection with the VSBE participation goal.

If the apparent awardee fails to return each completed document within the required time, the

Procurement Officer may determine that the apparent awardee is not reasonably susceptible of being selected for award.

Date Issued: April 23, 2024 By: Ansonia Saunders

Procurement Officer