Due Diligence Posting of Notice of Intent to Accept a Best Value Offer

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts announces its intent to Accept a Best Value Offer, pursuant to the Commonwealth’s Due Diligence Posting policy, to contract for the following with Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (“Offeror”), pending the results of this Notice of Intent (“Notice”):

Description

Background

FY 27 Research Agenda The FY27 gaming research agenda allocates funding for youth research. The objective of this research is to advance the knowledge regarding the impact of the introduction of casinos and sports wagering on youth in Massachusetts. To partially fulfill this research mandate, the MGC seeks to gain further information about youth gambling in Western Massachusetts.

Proposed Study The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (PHIWM) in collaboration with the Chicopee Public Schools, Ludlow Public Schools, Holyoke Public Schools, Springfield Public Schools, and several community partners, will be administering youth health surveys to students in the Chicopee Public Schools, Ludlow Public Schools, Holyoke Public Schools, and Springfield Public Schools during the 2026-27 school year. This survey will include questions in order to better understand youth gambling behavior and how it may be impacted by risk and protective factors. PHIWM is uniquely qualified to conduct this research due to its established relationships with the partners above, including engaging in a planning process with the partners above to conduct the survey for the 2026-27 school year.

Survey Methods In these school districts, the Youth Health Survey will be administered to 8th grade students and the Youth Risk Behavioral Survey to 10th and 12th grade students. PHIWM will work with school representatives to distribute an information and opt-out form to parents. Students will take the surveys online during a two-week window during the school year. School partners will ensure that each school has identified a specified day/timeframe to ensure that all students in grades 8, 10, and 12 are administered the survey. PHIWM will design and modify implementation methodology in collaboration with school and community partners who are part of the process design team.

Budget The PHIWM is requesting $51,000 for the following activities:

· Convening community partner design team to plan and implement process

· Implement the survey (modify survey and coordinate with school representatives to conduct)

· Analyze and summarize results

· Dissemination – data summaries as well as online data portal

The Public Health Institute of Western MA has administered the Youth Health Survey and the Youth Risk Behavioral Survey on a bi-annual basis in Springfield and is expanding surveying to Chicopee, Ludlow, and Holyoke. Adding gambling related questions to these questionnaires is far less costly than administering a survey through other avenues. In addition, partnering with the PHIWM allows the gambling-related questions to be analyzed with other health questions.

The proposed Contract is for a 12-month term with no options to renew.

PHIWM is capable of providing all of the requisite qualifications listed below.

Posting The Department is posting this Notice rather than conducting a full procurement because the Department believes this opportunity represents best value to the Commonwealth and is utilizing this Due Diligence Posting to ensure that the process is open, fair and competitive.

Determination of Other Interested Vendors The intent of this posting is to determine if there are any other interested and qualified vendors. Any such vendors must:

· Submit documentation that they can provide a comparable or a better offer than $51,000

· Submit documentation of experience conducting similar surveys

· Submit documentation showing partnership with Chicopee Public Schools, Ludlow Public Schools, Holyoke Public Schools, and Springfield Public Schools to conduct youth health surveying during the 2026-27 academic year, including both gambling and health-related questions

· Cost must be equal to or better than the pricing provided by PHIWM.

Response Requirement and Deadline All Interested Vendors and Offerors interested in responding to this Notice, regardless of prior communications with the Department, must submit a Response to this posting containing evidence of their qualifications and interest as detailed above. All required information must be submitted by 5:00PM (prevailing Eastern Time) on Monday, August 31, 2026 as follows:

If, after the posting deadline has passed, interest is generated by this Notice, the Department will review all Responses and will determine whether they will: (i) withdraw the notice and not accept the Offeror’s offer (and cancel the Notice of Intent) or (ii) accept the offer from the Offeror or (iii) accept an offer from another vendor offering a comparable or better value than the Offeror in their Response or (iv) accept the offer from the Offeror and from any other offerors offering similar value in their response.

Additional Terms Required for Doing Business with the Commonwealth

Quote Submission Method Online Quote Submission via COMMBUYS is required. All Interested Vendors and Offerors must submit Quotes online using tools available only to Sellers registered in COMMBUYS. COMMBUYS provides Seller registration functionality at no charge. To register, go to www.COMMBUYS.com and click on the “Register” link on the front page. All Interested Vendors and Offerors who are awarded a contract resulting from this Notice, if any, will be required to maintain an active account during the duration of the Contract, by reviewing their registration information regularly and maintaining its accuracy.

COMMBUYS Quote Submission Training and Instructions The following resources are provided to assist Interested Vendors and Offerors in submitting Quotes:

· An online job aid on How to Create a Quote;

· Webcast video on How to Find Bids (Solicitations) and Submit Quotes (Responses) through COMMBUYS;

· Instructor-led trainings (ILT) and live webinar sessions on “How to Locate and Respond to Bids” may also be available. Check the OSD Training Courses schedule for Sellers/Business Entities for available locations, dates and times. Note that space is limited and pre-registration for trainings is required to attend. Follow instructions on the course schedule to register.

COMMBUYS Support Technical assistance is available during the procurement process. Every effort is made to respond to inquiries within one business day.

· Website: Go to www.mass.gov/osd/commbuys and select the COMMBUYS Resource Center link offered under Key Resources.

· Email: Send inquiries to the COMMBUYS Helpdesk at COMMBUYS@state.ma.us

· Telephone: Call the COMMBUYS Help Desk at 1-888-MA-STATE (1-888-627-8283). The Help Desk is staffed from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday Eastern Standard or Daylight time, as applicable, except on federal and state holidays.

Interested Vendors and Offerors are advised that COMMBUYS will be unavailable during regularly scheduled maintenance hours of which all users will be notified.

Revised: August 9, 2024