B-53581 Statewide Medical Cannabis Program Education and Training Services RFP.pdf

State of Illinois RFP V.26.2

Illinois Department of Public Health

Request for Proposal

Statewide Medical Cannabis Program Education and Training Services

27-482DPH-HLTHP-B-53581

Section A. SCOPE OF WORK

A.1. OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) seeks a qualified Offeror to provide Medical Cannabis Program education, training, and outreach services in support of program operations and public health objectives.

The State intends to establish a comprehensive and scalable education and outreach program that supports health care providers, patients, caregivers, Local Health Departments (LHD), and the public.

The Offeror shall be responsible for educational needs assessment, curriculum development, training delivery, and outreach services. The State will evaluate the Offeror’s proposed approach to delivering these services in an effective, consistent, and measurable manner.

A.2. DESIRED OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT/ENGAGEMENT

The Illinois Department of Public Health seeks to establish a comprehensive, consistent, and scalable Medical Cannabis Program education and outreach effort that effectively supports multiple stakeholder groups.

The State will achieve the following outcomes through this engagement:

• Development of a standardized education and training program aligned with Illinois statutes and administrative rules governing the Medical Cannabis Program

• Delivery of clear, accurate, and accessible training to health care providers, patients, caregivers, and the public

• Effective training coverage for all participating Local Health Departments, ensuring consistent understanding of program requirements and procedures

• Improved understanding and utilization of the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry System

• Increased awareness of medical cannabis safety, effectiveness, and responsible use

• Consistent delivery of program information that reduces confusion, improves compliance, and supports public health objectives

The Offeror shall propose an approach to achieve these outcomes. The proposal shall include:

• a methodology for conducting an initial needs assessment and identifying educational and training gaps

• a strategy for developing standardized curriculum and training materials

• an approach for delivering training and outreach activities across multiple audiences and formats

• a plan to ensure participation and engagement across target audiences, including

Local Health Departments

• a framework for measuring participation, engagement, and effectiveness of training activities

The Offeror shall identify measurable indicators of success and describe how outcomes will be tracked, reported, and used to inform ongoing program improvements.

A.3. SCHEDULE & BUDGET

The estimated schedule for the solicitation is as follows:

Publication Posting October 19, 2026

Vendor Questions Due November 2, 2026

Bid Opening Due Date November 30, 2026

Estimated Evaluation Completion February 8, 2027

Estimated Notice of Award February 24, 2027

Estimated Contract Start Date July 1, 2027

See Appendix D – Milestones and Deliverables for the anticipated schedule once the contract begins.

A.3.1. Budget and Pricing

The Offeror shall submit a comprehensive pricing proposal that includes all costs necessary to perform the services described in this Request for Proposal.

The State anticipates that the majority of development costs, including educational needs assessment and curriculum development, will occur during the initial contract term.

Renewal periods, if exercised, are expected to focus on continued delivery of training and outreach services and updates to materials as needed.

The State does not guarantee any minimum level of additional work beyond the services described in this Request for Proposal.

A.4. UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS

The Offeror must consider the following conditions when developing its proposal:

• The Medical Cannabis Program operates within a regulated public health environment and may be affected by changes to Illinois statutes, administrative rules, policies, and operational guidance. The Offeror must be able to adjust training content and materials as needed.

• Training and outreach activities must support multiple stakeholder groups, including health care providers, patients, caregivers, Local Health Departments, and the public. Scheduling availability and participation levels may vary.

• The Department will require review and approval of educational materials, presentations, and outreach content prior to use. The Offeror should account for review timelines and revisions.

• Services may be required in virtual, in person, or hybrid formats based on program needs identified during the needs assessment.

• The number of participating Local Health Departments may change during the contract term. The Offeror must be able to scale services accordingly.

• All services must be accessible and compliant with applicable State and federal requirements.

• The Offeror shall coordinate activities through the Department and shall not independently communicate official program guidance without prior approval.

A.5. TERM

A.5.1. TERM OF THIS CONTRACT: The contract resulting from this procurement will have an initial term commencing upon the last dated signature of the Parties and continuing for eighteen (18) months. In no event will the total term of the contract, including the initial term, any renewal terms, and any extensions, exceed ten (10) years. Vendor shall not commence billable work in furtherance of the contract prior to final execution of the contract except when permitted pursuant to 30 ILCS 500/20-80.

A.5.2. RENEWAL: Subject to the maximum total term identified above, the State has the option to renew for the following term(s): up to three additional one-year terms or any combination of one (1) year terms not to exceed three (3) years

A.5.2.1. Pricing for the renewal term(s), or the formula for determining price, is in the Pricing section of this solicitation.

Any renewal of the resulting contract is subject to the same terms and conditions that apply to the initial term of the contract unless otherwise provided. The State may renew the contract for any or all of the option periods specified, may exercise any of the renewal options early, and may exercise more than one option at a time based on continuing need and favorable market conditions, when in the best interest of the

State. The contract may neither renew automatically nor renew solely at the Vendor’s option.

Section B. CURRENT CONDITIONS

B.1. OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND

The Illinois Department of Public Health administers the Medical Cannabis

Program in accordance with applicable Illinois statutes and administrative rules.

The program includes responsibilities related to patient registration, provider participation, and coordination with Local Health Departments.

The Department currently provides education and outreach to health care providers, patients, caregivers, and the public; however, these efforts have been conducted through a combination of internal resources and limited structured activities.

As the Medical Cannabis Program continues to evolve, the Department has identified a need to establish a more consistent, standardized, and scalable approach to education, training, and outreach.

The Department is also implementing and maintaining the Medical Cannabis

Patient Registry System, which requires ongoing education and support for multiple user groups. Ensuring that stakeholders understand how to effectively use this system is critical to program operations.

Local Health Departments play a role in supporting the program through coordination and community engagement. Training and alignment across these partners is necessary to ensure consistent communication and program implementation statewide.

The Department is seeking to transition from ad hoc and internally managed efforts to a structured program supported by a Vendor that can provide:

• consistent delivery of training across multiple audiences

• standardized educational materials and messaging

• coordinated outreach and engagement activities

• ongoing support as program requirements and policies evolve

This procurement is intended to establish a long-term solution that improves program awareness, supports compliance with program requirements, and enhances the overall effectiveness of the Medical Cannabis Program.

B.2. VOLUMES & QUANTITIES

The Department anticipates ongoing education, training, and outreach needs across multiple stakeholder groups, including health care providers, patients, caregivers, Local Health Departments, and the public.

Based on current program expectations, the Department anticipates activity levels that will include:

• Twelve (12) education and training activities for health care providers during the initial contract term

• twelve (12) education and training activities for patients, caregivers, and the public during the initial contract term

• training for all participating Local Health Departments, which currently includes eight (8) Local Health Departments

Training activities may vary in format, including virtual, in person, or hybrid delivery, and participation levels may vary based on audience and scheduling considerations, depending on the findings of the needs assessment.

The Department anticipates that education and outreach needs may evolve over time due to program changes, legislative updates, or stakeholder demand. The Offeror must propose an approach that is capable of supporting variation in activity levels and delivery methods.

B.3. AREAS OF CONCERN/CHALLENGES

The Department has identified several areas that present challenges to the consistent and effective delivery of Medical Cannabis Program education and outreach.

• Current education and outreach efforts are not fully standardized across all audiences, resulting in variability in messaging and delivery.

• Coordination across multiple stakeholder groups, including health care providers, patients, caregivers, and Local Health Departments, can be complex and may impact participation and scheduling of training activities.

• Awareness and understanding of the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry System varies among users, creating a need for clear, consistent, and accessible training.

• Program requirements and policies may change due to legislative updates or administrative rule changes, requiring timely updates to training materials and outreach efforts.

• Participation levels in training and outreach activities may vary based on audience availability, geographic distribution, and level of engagement.

• The Department requires review and approval of educational materials, which may impact timelines for development and delivery.

• Ensuring accessibility and usability of training materials for diverse audiences presents an ongoing requirement for program delivery.

The Offeror must address these challenges in its proposed approach, including strategies for standardization, coordination, adaptability, and effective engagement across all target audiences.

B.4. STRENGTHS

The Department has established foundational elements within the Medical Cannabis Program that support education, training, and outreach efforts.

• The Department has defined program requirements, administrative rules, and guidance materials that provide a consistent framework for education and training.

• The Medical Cannabis Patient Registry System provides a centralized platform for program operations and user interaction.

• The Department maintains established relationships with key stakeholder groups, including health care providers and Local Health Departments, which support outreach and communication efforts.

• Existing program knowledge and internal subject matter expertise are available to support the development and review of educational materials.

• The Department has experience coordinating statewide public health initiatives, which supports implementation of structured education and outreach programs.

The Offeror should build upon these strengths and leverage existing program resources to enhance consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness of education and outreach activities.

B.5. FIGURES, DIAGRAMS, & REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

The Department may provide reference materials in Section G to support Offeror understanding of the Medical Cannabis Program and associated education and outreach needs.

• Reference materials may include, but are not limited to:

• program guidance documents

• administrative rules and statutory references

• sample educational materials or communications

• screenshots or user guidance related to the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry

System

These materials are provided for informational purposes only to assist Offerors in developing their proposals. Offerors shall not rely solely on these materials and are responsible for proposing a comprehensive approach that meets the requirements of this Request for Proposal.

Section C. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Only Electronic Submissions through BidBuy of Offers will be Accepted

C.1. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT

The Offeror shall submit the listed documents in BidBuy under the Attachments tab in the appropriate “Required Attachments” spaces.

• Vendor Disclosure or IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure

• Technical response

• Offer to the State of Illinois

• Commitment to Diversity

• BEP Utilization Plan

Blank documents may be found on the Chief Procurement Officer for General Service’s website at https://cpo-general.illinois.gov/solicitation-and-contract-templates.html and on the BidBuy posting under “File Attachments:”. Business Enterprise Program/Veterans Small Business Program

Utilization Plan may be downloaded from the Commission on Equity and Inclusion’s website at https://cei.illinois.gov/purchasing-entity-resources/compliance.html.

Failure to submit Vendor Disclosure or IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure, as applicable, and the Utilization Plan(s), as applicable, with the Offer submitted in BidBuy shall render the Offer non-responsive.

Offerors are required to submit their response to the State’s solicitation through BidBuy. Any information sent to the State outside of BidBuy, for example by US Mail, FedEx, UPS, e-mail, or hand delivery, will neither be accepted nor considered. Offeror submissions will only be considered if they are received through BidBuy and on or before the time and date indicated as the “Bid Opening Date” on the BidBuy posting. Any required attachments must be submitted via BidBuy.

https://cpo-general.illinois.gov/solicitation-and-contract-templates.html https://cei.illinois.gov/purchasing-entity-resources/compliance.html

Price entries on the Items tab will be locked automatically upon submission of the quote.

E n t e r i n g c o s t , p r i c i n g o r d i s c o u n t i n f o rm a t i o n i n t h e A l t e rn a t e

D e s c r i p t i o n m a y re s u l t i n d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n . If the agency requires pricing to be submitted in an attachment, Offeror shall upload pricing under the “Required Documents” section on the Attachments tab and check the box “Does the attachment contain any pricing, cost or discount information?”. Failure to check this box allows your pricing to be viewed when bids are opened and will result in disqualification of your offer. NOTE: Do not check “Does the attachment contain any pricing, cost or discount information” if the attachment does NOT include pricing, cost, or discount information.

Documents shall be submitted in an electronic format that is accessible and readable using

Microsoft Office suite software or Adobe Reader. Corrupted files shall not be considered. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to check that files are accessible and legible after uploading.

The Offeror is solely responsible for ensuring timely submission of their electronic solicitation response. Failure to allow adequate time prior to the Bid Opening Date to complete and submit a response to a solicitation, particularly in the event technical support assistance from the State is required, places the Offeror and their offer or response at risk of not being accepted.

The State encourages the Offeror to ensure that their BidBuy account is up-to-date. It is recommended that you access your BidBuy account prior to the solicitation due date and time to make sure that your company’s information is up-to-date and your password is current. Files may be uploaded at any time prior to submission.

File size may impact the uploading and downloading speed and may lead to browser time-outs, resulting in failed upload/download attempts. Please consider this dependency when attaching very large documents.

OFFEROR INSTRUCTIONS TO SUBMIT IN BIDBUY

Create Quote:

General Tab : Save and Continue

Items Tab Follow instructions in the Pricing section of the solicitation document as to whether pricing will be entered in the Unit Cost of the Items Tab or submitted as a separate Pricing Document in the Attachments Tab.

Note: any pricing entered in the Unit Cost of the Items Tab will be locked until after Technical Evaluations take place. Do not enter cost, pricing, or any discount information in the Alternate Description field. Entering cost, pricing or discount information in the Alternate Description may result in disqualification.

Terms and Conditions Tab

: Select “Yes”, “No”, or “Yes with Exceptions”

Note: If taking any exceptions to Standard Terms and Conditions an offeror must submit a redline version of the Standard Terms and Conditions with their proposal.

Attachments Tab For each required quote attachment listed:

: “Upload” (next to each required attachment) : “Choose File” Note: If a pricing document is required, mark the box next to the question, “Does this attachment contain any pricing, cost, or discount information?”

Failure to mark this box when attaching a pricing document will result in disqualification.

Check this box ONLY if a separate pricing document is required.

Do NOT check this box for any other required quote attachment such as the Technical Proposal, Vendor Disclosure / IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure, or Utilization Plan(s), or Offer.

Summary Tab : “Submit Quote”

Offerors may also view the “Request for Proposal (RFP) Vendor Submission Instructions

Video found at https://cpo-general.illinois.gov/vendor-resources.html

C.2. DUE DATE AND TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF OFFERS

Each solicitation contains the Offer due date and time, appearing as the “Bid Opening

Date:” on the BidBuy posting. Offeror shall submit Offers in BidBuy, and the State shall open Offers electronically in BidBuy on the “Bid Opening Date”. The Offer must remain firm for 180 days from opening.

C.3. CONFLICT BETWEEN INFORMATION IN ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS AND ON BIDBUY

If the State provides information in electronic documents (i.e., the RFP and other attachments) that is different or in conflict with the information the State provides on

BidBuy, then the information in electronic documents is presumed to represent the

State’s intent. If the Offeror provides information in electronic documents that is different or in conflict with the information the Offeror provides in BidBuy through their

Seller Account, then the information in electronic documents shall represent the

Offeror’s intended submission.

C.4. PUBLISHED PROCUREMENT INFORMATION

https://cpo-general.illinois.gov/vendor-resources.html

The State publishes procurement information, including solicitations, awards, and amendments, on the Chief Procurement Officer for General Services’ Illinois

Procurement Bulletin, known as the Bulletin or BidBuy

(https://www.bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso/). Procurement information may not be available in any other form or location. Offeror is responsible for monitoring BidBuy. The State will not be held responsible if Offeror fails to receive the optional e-mail notice of future amendments to the solicitation.

C.5. INFORMATION CONTACT

The individual listed in the “Info Contact:” field on the BidBuy posting shall be the single point of contact for this solicitation. Unless otherwise directed, Offeror should only communicate with the Information Contact. The State/Agency shall not be held responsible for information provided by or to any other person.

Suspected errors should be immediately reported to the Information Contact. Do not discuss, directly or indirectly, the solicitation or any Offer with any State officer or employee other than the Information Contact.

C.6. OFFEROR QUESTIONS AND AGENCY RESPONSE

All questions, other than questions raised at the Pre-Submission Conference, pertaining to this solicitation must be submitted in writing to the Information Contact no later than

11/2/26. Questions received and Agency responses may be posted as a Bid Amendment to the original solicitation on BidBuy; only these posted answers to questions shall be binding on the State. Offeror is responsible for monitoring BidBuy and BidBuy email notifications.

C.7. PRE-SUBMISSION CONFERENCE

The Agency may conduct a Non-Mandatory Pre-Submission Conference, listed in the

“Pre-Bid Conference:” field of the BidBuy posting. Please refer to BidBuy for this information.

If attendance is mandatory, Offeror (current contractor included) will be disqualified and considered non-responsive if Offeror does not attend, is not on time, leaves early, or fails to sign the attendance sheet. Offeror must allow adequate time to accommodate security screenings at the site.

C.8. SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE

In the Bulletin posting, if “Yes” is shown to the question “Is this a Small Business Set-

Aside Procurement?”, then Offeror must be registered by the Illinois Small Business Set-

Aside Program at the time Offers are due for the Offer to be evaluated. For https://www.bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso/ requirements on qualifying Offeror’s business in the Small Business Set-Aside Program, please go to the Chief Procurement Office for General Service’s website at https://cpo-general.illinois.gov/sell-2-illinois.html .

C.9. BUSINESS ENTERPRISE FOR MINORITIES, WOMEN, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

ACT PARTICIPATION AND UTILIZATION PLAN

The BidBuy posting indicates whether this solicitation contains a goal to include businesses owned and controlled by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. If this solicitation contains a goal, then failure to complete and submit a Utilization Plan, including documentation demonstrating good faith efforts when requesting a waiver, shall render the Offer non-responsive. 30 ILCS 575/4(e). All questions regarding the subcontracting goal must be directed to the Information Contact indicated in BidBuy no later 11/2/26.

The NIGP codes used to establish this goal are 918-38, 924-16, and 924-60.

BEP Goal: 7%

Go to https://cei.illinois.gov/vendor-resources/get-bep-certified.html for complete requirements for BEP certification. Go to State of Illinois Commission on Equity and

Inclusion at https://supplierdiversitymanagementportal.illinois.gov/home.aspx to search for certified BEP vendors.

Go to https://cei.illinois.gov/programs0/veterans-business-program.html for complete requirements for Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) or Service-Disabled Veteran

Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification. Go to State of Illinois Commission on

Equity and Inclusion at https://supplierdiversitymanagementportal.illinois.gov/home.aspx to search for certified VOSB and SDVOSB vendors.

C.10. SECURITY

Bid/Performance Bond: $ N/A. If a bond is required, Offeror must submit the Bid Bond with your offer or Performance Bond to the Information Contact within ten (10) days after contract execution. The bond must be from a surety licensed to do business in

Illinois. An irrevocable letter of credit is an acceptable substitute. The form of security must be acceptable to the State.

C.11. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Standard Terms and Conditions will become a part of any resulting contract. To view the

Standard Terms and Conditions, please go to https://cpo-general.illinois.gov/solicitation-and-contract-templates.html.

https://cpo-general.illinois.gov/sell-2-illinois.html https://cpo-general.illinois.gov/sell-2-illinois.html https://cei.illinois.gov/vendor-resources/get-bep-certified.html https://supplierdiversitymanagementportal.illinois.gov/home.aspx https://cei.illinois.gov/programs0/veterans-business-program.html https://supplierdiversitymanagementportal.illinois.gov/home.aspx https://cpo-general.illinois.gov/solicitation-and-contract-templates.html

Section D. EVALUATION PROCEDURES

D.1. EVALUATION PROCESS

The State assesses each Offer for Responsibility (E.10) and Responsiveness. The State considers the information provided and the quality of that information when assessing

Offers. If the State finds a failure or deficiency, the State may reject the Offer or reflect the failure or deficiency in the assessment.

There are three scored parts to each proposal – technical, commitment to diversity, and pricing. Each part of the proposal is evaluated and ranked independently of the other parts of the proposal. The results of the evaluation of all three parts shall be used in ranking the proposals.

The State may award to the most responsive and responsible offeror whose offer best meets the specified criteria.

D.2. RESPONSIVENESS

A responsive offeror is one who submits an offer that conforms in all material respects to the Request for Proposal and includes all required forms.

D.2.1. The State will determine whether the Offeror complied with the instructions for submitting offers. Except for late submissions, and other requirements that by law must be part of the submission, the State may require that an Offeror correct deficiencies as a condition of further evaluation.

D.2.2. Subcontractor Disclosure: If the Offer includes any subcontractors, then Offeror shall complete the Subcontractor Disclosure section of the Offer to the State of

Illinois.

D.2.3. If completing IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure, then responsiveness may include and may not be limited to:

• Active Illinois Procurement Gateway registration # with expiration date

• Certifications timely to this solicitation

• Disclosure of lobbyists for Offeror and parent entity(ies)

• Disclosure of pending and current contracts

D.2.4. If completing Vendor Disclosure, required parts may include and may not be limited to:

• Business and Directory Information: Offeror should complete and return the Business and Directory Information form in Vendor

Disclosure, Part 1.

• Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) Public Contracts

Number: Offeror shall complete and return the IDHR Public

Contracts Number form in Vendor Disclosure, Part 2.

• Authorized to Transact Business or Conduct Affairs in Illinois: A person (other than an individual acting as a sole proprietor) must be a duly constituted legal entity prior to submitting an Offer and authorized to transact business or conduct affairs in Illinois prior to execution of the contract. For more information, see

Authorized to Transact Business or Conduct Affairs in Illinois in

Vendor Disclosure, Part 3.

• Standard Illinois Certifications: Offeror shall complete and return the Standard Illinois Certifications form in Vendor Disclosure, Part

4.

• State Board of Elections Registration: Offeror may be prohibited from making political contributions and be required to register with the State Board of Elections. For more information, see State

Board of Elections in Vendor Disclosure, Part 5.

• Disclosure of Business Operations with Iran: Offeror should complete and return the Disclosure of Business Operations with

Iran form in Vendor Disclosure, Part 6.

• Financial Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest: Offeror shall complete and return the Financial Disclosures and Conflicts of

Interest form in Vendor Disclosure, Part 7.

• Taxpayer Identification Number: Offeror should complete and return the Taxpayer Identification form in Vendor Disclosure, Part

8.

D.2.5. The State will determine whether the Offer meets the stated Technical requirements. Minor differences or deviations that have negligible impact on the price or suitability of the supply or service to meet the State’s needs may be accepted or corrections allowed. If no offeror meets a particular Technical requirement, the State may waive that requirement.

D.2.6. When the specification calls for “Brand Name or Equal,” the brand name product is acceptable. Other products will be considered with proof that the other product meets stated specifications and is equivalent to the brand product in terms of quality, performance, and desired characteristics.

D.3. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

The Technical Requirements are described in Sections F.2., F.3., and F.5. The State evaluates the Technical Requirements without consideration of price.

D.3.1. Total Number of Points Available for Technical Requirements is: 1200

D.3.2. Offeror shall complete and return Sections F.1., F.2., F.3.

D.3.3. Relative Weight in Point Format

Technical Requirements Points Available

Contract Requirements 0; all must be met and are evaluated as pass or fail

Mandatory Requirements with Evidence 0; all must be met and are evaluated as pass or fail

Proposed Technical Solution (Desirable elements) 1000

Demonstration

D.4. COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY ELEMENTS

Sections 20-15 and 35-30 of the Illinois Procurement Code (30 ILCS 500/) require offerors to be evaluated on their commitment to diversity. The points available for Commitment to Diversity are described in Section F.4. and are equivalent to 20% of the Technical

Requirements points. The State evaluates Commitment to Diversity without consideration of price.

D.4.1. The total number of points for Commitment to Diversity is 240.

D.4.2. Offeror shall complete and return Section F.4 Commitment to Diversity

D.4.3. Commitment to Diversity Categories: The percentages at the end of each section reflect the weighted distribution of points available identified in D.4.1.

Commitment to Diversity Categories

Category 1 – BEP Compliance - Whether the Offeror meets the set goal for contracting or subcontracting with businesses owned by women, minorities, or persons with disabilities or completed a Good Faith Effort Waiver for this procurement. 5%

Category 2 – Subcontracting/Contracting with any WMD businesses (not limited to BEP vendors) - Whether the Offeror has contracted/subcontracted within the prior calendar year with businesses owned by women, minorities, or persons with disabilities. 10%

Category 3 – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Spend – Offeror’s percentage of business, education and/or community spend from prior calendar year gross revenue that involves businesses owned by women, minorities and/or persons with disabilities. The assisted businesses are not required to be certified in the Illinois Business Enterprise Program. 20%

Category 4 – DEI Time - Offeror’s hours spent in the prior calendar year on promoting DEI in the workplace, the community, education institutes, or supporting businesses owned by women, minorities, or persons with disabilities. The assisted business is not required to be certified in the Illinois Business Enterprise Program. The success or failure of each event does not impact the points achieved. The event may be voluntary or paid time. 20%

Category 5 – DEI Policies - The vendor has provided a written copy/screenshot of their current written workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) policy. The policy provided must be actionable plans, not overarching concepts around DEI. 10%

Category 6 – Diversity in Staffing - % of individuals on governing board and/ or Senior executives who identify as women, minorities or person with disabilities. 10% % of individuals in management /supervisor positions who identify as women, minorities or person with disabilities. 13% % of total staff who identify as women, minorities or person with disabilities. 12%

D.5. MINIMUM REQUIRED POINTS

Requests for Proposal may specify that offerors must receive a minimum number of points in their Technical and Commitment to Diversity proposals combined to be considered for price evaluation and award.

The State determines how well offers meet the Technical and Commitment to Diversity requirements and rank the offers from best to least qualified using a point ranking system (unless otherwise specified) as an aid in conducting the evaluation. Offerors who receive fewer than the minimum required points will not be considered for price evaluation and award.

D.5.1. The total number of available points for Technical and Commitment to Diversity is 1240.

D.5.2. A minimum of 868 of the available (Technical and Commitment to Diversity) points is required to be eligible for demonstrations.

D.6. PRICE

The State opens Price proposals after evaluating all Technical and Commitment to

Diversity proposals.

If the State does not consider the price to be fair and reasonable and negotiations fail to meet an acceptable price, the State reserves the right to cancel the award and take appropriate action to meet the needs of the State. The State determines whether the price is fair and reasonable by considering the offer, including the offeror's qualifications, the offeror's reputation, all price proposals submitted, other known prices, the project budget, and other relevant factors.

D.6.1. The total number of points for Price is 240

D.6.2. The State will determine Price points using the following formula:

Maximum Price Points X (Lowest Price/Offeror’s Price) = Total Price

Points

D.7. MAXIMUM AVAILABLE POINTS

The maximum number of points is 1200 (Technical) + 240 (Commitment to Diversity) +

240 (Price) = 1680 maximum available points.

Section E. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

E.1. GOVERNING LAW AND FORUM

Illinois law and rules govern this solicitation and any resulting contract. Offeror must bring any action relating to this solicitation or any resulting contract in the appropriate court in Illinois. This document contains statutory references designated with “ILCS”.

To view the full text, go to https://ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Chapters . The Illinois

Procurement Code (30 ILCS 500) and the Standard Procurement Rules (44 ILL. ADM.

CODE PART 1) are applicable to this solicitation. To view them respectively, go to

Illinois General Assembly - 30 ILCS 500/ Illinois Procurement Code and Illinois General

Assembly - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.

E.2. PUBLIC RECORDS AND REQUESTS FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT

Offers become the property of the State. All offers will be open to the public under the

Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 ILCS 140) and other applicable laws and rules, unless Offeror requests in its Offer that the State treat certain information as confidential. A request for confidential treatment will not supersede the State’s legal obligations under FOIA. The State will not honor requests to keep entire Offers confidential. Offerors must show the specific grounds in FOIA or other law or rule that support confidential treatment. Regardless, the State will disclose the successful

Offeror’s name, the substance of the Offer, and the price.

If Offeror requests confidential treatment, Offeror must submit additional copy/copies

(see Instructions for Submission of Offers in Section C.) of the Offer with proposed confidential information redacted. This redacted copy must tell the general nature of the material removed and shall retain as much of the Offer as possible. In a separate attachment, Offeror shall supply a listing of the provisions identified by section number for which it seeks confidential treatment and identify the statutory basis or bases under https://ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Chapters https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?ActID=532&ChapterID=7 https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?ActID=532&ChapterID=7 https://ilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/Sections?PartID=04400001&TitleDescription=TITLE%2044:%20%20GOVERNMENT%20CONTRACTS,%20GRANTMAKING,%20%20%20PROCUREMENT%20AND%20PROPERTY%20MANAGEMENT https://ilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/Sections?PartID=04400001&TitleDescription=TITLE%2044:%20%20GOVERNMENT%20CONTRACTS,%20GRANTMAKING,%20%20%20PROCUREMENT%20AND%20PROPERTY%20MANAGEMENT

Illinois law, including a detailed justification for exempting the information from public disclosure.

Offeror will hold harmless and indemnify the State for all costs or damages associated with the State defending Offeror’s request for confidential treatment. Offeror agrees that the State may copy the Offer to facilitate evaluation, or to respond to requests for public records. Offeror warrants that such copying will not violate the rights of any third party.

E.3. MINORITY CONTRACTOR INITIATIVE

The State requires a fee of $15 to cover expenses related to the administration of the

Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative. Any offeror awarded a contract of $1,000 or more under Section 20-10, 20-15, 20-25 or 20-30 of the Illinois Procurement Code (30

ILCS 500) is required to pay a fee of $15. The Comptroller shall deduct the fee from the first check issued to the Vendor under the contract and deposit the fee in the

Comptroller’s Administrative Fund. 15 ILCS 405/23.9.

E.4. FEDERAL FUNDS

The resulting contract may be partially or totally funded with Federal funds. Upon notice of intent to award, the percentage of supplies and/or services involved that are

Federally funded and the dollar amount of such Federal funds will be disclosed.

E.5. EMPLOYMENT TAX CREDIT

Offerors who hire qualified veterans and certain ex-offenders may be eligible for tax credits. 30 ILCS 500/45-67 and 45-70. Please contact the Illinois Department of

Revenue (217-524-4772) for information about tax credits [35 ILCS 5/216, 5/217].

E.6. RESERVATIONS

Offeror must read and understand the solicitation and tailor the Offer and all activities to ensure compliance. The State reserves the right to amend the solicitation, reject any or all offers, award by item/services, group of items/services, or grand total, and waive minor defects. The State may request a clarification, inspect Offeror’s premises, interview staff, request a presentation, or otherwise verify the contents of the Offer, including information about subcontractors and suppliers. The State may request Best &

Final Offers when appropriate. The State will make all decisions on compliance, evaluation, and terms and conditions, and shall make decisions in the best interests of the State and in accordance with the Illinois Procurement Code, rules and other applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations. This competitive process may require that Offeror provide additional information and otherwise cooperate with the

State. If an offeror does not comply with requests for information and cooperate, the

State may reject the offer as non-responsive to the solicitation. Submitting an offer does not entitle Offeror to an award or a contract. Posting a vendor’s name in a Bulletin notice does not entitle the vendor to a contract. The State is not responsible for and will not pay any costs associated with the preparation and submission of any offer.

Awarded Offeror(s) shall not commence and will not be paid for any billable work undertaken prior to the date all parties execute the contract, unless approved in writing in advance by the State Purchasing Officer or the Chief Procurement Officer (or designee).

E.7. AWARD

The State is not obligated to award a contract pursuant to this solicitation. If the State issues an award, the award will be made to the responsive and responsible offeror whose offer best meets the specified criteria unless otherwise permitted by the Illinois

Procurement Code and Illinois Administrative Code. However, if the State does not consider the price to be fair and reasonable and negotiations fail to meet an acceptable price, then the State reserves the right to cancel the award and take appropriate action to meet the needs of the State. The State will determine whether the price is fair and reasonable by considering the offer, including the offeror's qualifications, the offeror's reputation, all prices submitted, other known prices, the project budget and other relevant factors. The State will post a notice to the Bulletin identifying the apparent most responsive and responsible offeror.

E.8. INVOICING ADDRESS

The awarded Vendor shall invoice at the completion of the contract unless invoicing is tied in the contract to milestones, deliverables, or other invoicing requirements agreed to in the contract. The Bulletin posting contains the “Bill-to Address:” where invoices should be sent.

Vendor shall not bill for any taxes unless accompanied by proof that the State is subject to the tax. If necessary, Vendor may request the applicable Agency’s Illinois tax exemption number and Federal tax exemption information.

E.9. PROTEST REVIEW OFFICE

Offeror may submit a written protest to the Protest Review Office following the requirements of the Standard Procurement Rules. 44 ILL. ADM. CODE 1.5550. For protests related to specifications, the Protest Review Office must physically receive the protest no later than fourteen (14) days after the solicitation or related addendum was posted to the Bulletin. For protests related to rejection of individual proposals or awards, the protest must be received by close of business no later than fourteen (14) days after the protesting party knows or should have known of the facts giving rise to the protest.

The Protest Review Office’s information is as follows:

Chief Procurement Office

Attn: Protest Review Office

Email: cpogs.pro@illinois.gov

E.10. RESPONSIBILITY

A responsible Offeror is one who has the capability in all respects to perform fully the contract requirements and who has the integrity and reliability that will assure good faith performance. The State determines whether the Offeror is a “responsible” offeror;

an offeror with whom the State can or should do business. For example, the State may consider the following:

E.10.1. A “prohibited bidder” includes any person assisting an employee of the State of

Illinois by reviewing, drafting, directing, or preparing any invitation for bids, a request for proposal, or request of information, or providing similar assistance unless such assistance was part of a publicly issued opportunity to review drafts of all or part of these documents. For purposes of this section, an employee of the State of Illinois means one who, by the nature of his or her duties, has the authority to participate personally and substantially in the decision to award a

State contract. No person or business shall submit specifications to a State agency unless requested to do so by an employee of the State. No person or business that contracts with a State agency to write specifications for a particular procurement need shall submit a bid or proposal or receive a contract for that procurement need.

Nothing herein is intended to prohibit a vendor from bidding or offering to supply developing technology, supplies or services after providing the

State with a demonstration of the developing technology, supplies, or services; provided the subject of the demonstration to the State represents industry trends and innovation and is not specifically designed to meet the State's needs. Nothing herein is intended to prohibit a person or business from submitting a bid or offer or entering into a contract if the person or business: (i) initiates a communication with an employee to provide general information about products, services, or industry best practices and, if applicable, that communication is documented in accordance with Section 50-39 of the Illinois Procurement

Code or (ii) responds to a communication initiated by an employee of the

State for the purposes of providing information to evaluate new products, trends, services, or technologies.

E.10.2. Other factors that the State may use to evaluate to determine responsibility include, but are not limited to: political contributions, certifications, conflict of interest, financial disclosures, taxpayer identification number, past performance in business or industry, references (including those found outside the Offer), compliance with applicable laws, financial responsibility, insurability, effective mailto:cpogs.pro@illinois.gov equal opportunity compliance, payment of prevailing wages if required by law, capacity to produce or sources of supply, and the ability to provide required maintenance service or other matters relating to the offeror’s ability to deliver in the quality and quantity within the time and price as specified in this solicitation.

E.10.3. Awarded offerors must always have financial resources sufficient, in the opinion of the State, to ensure performance of the contract and must provide proof upon request. The State may require a performance bond if, in the opinion of the

State, it ensures performance of the contract. The State may terminate the contract, consistent with the termination for cause provision of the contract, if the vendor lacks the financial resources to perform under the contract.

E.10.4. The State may require that an offeror correct any deficiencies as a condition of further evaluation.

E.11. BidBuy Terminology and Guidance: BidBuy is an online e-procurement system. There may be some difference between the procurement terminology used in this solicitation and the terms used in BidBuy. Please learn more about BidBuy by accessing the online resources found here:

https://pathway2procurement.illinois.gov/bidbuy.html https://pathway2procurement.illinois.gov/bidbuy.html

Section F. PROPOSAL FORMS

Offeror must complete and return:

• The following three (3) tables include: Contract Requirements (Section F.1), and Technical Requirements: Mandatory Requirements with Evidence (Section F.2), and Proposed Technical Solution (Section F.3)

• Commitment to Diversity (Section F.4)

• Offer to the State of Illinois

Please read and follow each instruction carefully.

F.1. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

Please read each contract requirement carefully in F.1. These contract requirements shall be included in any contract resulting from this solicitation.

CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

F.1.1. The Offeror must be able to develop and implement education, training, and outreach strategies that support the needs of the Illinois Department of Public Health Medical Cannabis Program.

Agree

F.1.2. The Offeror must be able to conduct an initial educational needs assessment to identify target audiences, educational needs, and gaps in knowledge related to the Medical Cannabis Program, in the first six (6) months of the contract.

F.1.3. The Offeror must be able to develop standardized curriculum and educational materials aligned with Medical Cannabis Program requirements and administrative rules.

F.1.4. The Offeror must be able to deliver education and training activities for health care providers, patients, caregivers, and the public.

F.1.5. The Offeror must be able to deliver a minimum of twelve

(12) training activities for health care providers, with at least fifteen (15) attendees per session.

F.1.6. The Offeror must be able to deliver a minimum of twelve

(12) training activities for patients, caregivers, and the public, with at least twenty five (25) attendees per session, during the initial contract term.

F.1.7. The Offeror must be able to ensure that all participating Local Health Departments receive required training.

F.1.8. The Offeror must be able to develop and deliver training content that includes, at minimum, use of the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry System use, prevailing community standards of care with the use of medical cannabis, and program requirements as stipulated in the relevant statutes and Administrative Rules.

F.1.9. The Offeror must be able to deliver training and outreach activities using virtual, in person, or hybrid formats.

F.1.10. The Offeror must be able to coordinate training activities, including scheduling, participant engagement, and delivery logistics.

F.1.11. The Offeror must be able to provide outreach and engagement services to promote participation and awareness of the Medical Cannabis Program.

F.1.12. The Offeror must be able to develop materials that are readable and accessible to a wide variety of audiences, including meeting Americans with Disabilities Act standards and utilizing appropriate language based on the reading level and technical fluency of targeted audiences, and align with Department approved branding and messaging; and provide copies and documentation of all materials, presentations, and curriculum used. The Department will retain ownership of all materials generated.

F.1.13. The Offeror must be able to provide reporting for all activities, including attendance tracking, participant feedback, and evaluation summaries in the format required by the Department.

F.1.14. The Offeror must be able to submit pricing for all required services, including an optional renewal, at the time of proposal.

By submitting an offer to this solicitation. The offeror agrees that they will meet the contract requirements in Section F.1.

F.2. MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS WITH EVIDENCE

Please check “Met” to each of the mandatory requirements for the proposed solution. An

Offeror that does not provide substantiating evidence for each requirement will be disqualified and the rest of the proposal will not be scored.

These Mandatory Requirements shall be included in any contract resulting from this solicitation.

Please provide substantiating evidence in your Proposed Technical Solution. Use the column on the right to indicate the section and page number where your evidence/response to each item may be found. The State will evaluate Offeror’s evidence/response to verify the mandatory requirement is met.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS WITH EVIDENCE Proposal Section and Page Number

F.2.1 Relevant Experience in Education and Training

The Offeror must provide evidence of delivery of education, training, or outreach services in a public health, healthcare, or regulated program environment.

Evidence shall include:

• description of project(s)

• scope of services provided

• target audiences served

• outcomes or results achieved

Met

F.2.2 Duration of Experience in Education and Training

The Offeror must have a minimum of five (5) years experience developing and conducting educational programs for specialized…