Department of Public Service 112 State Street | Montpelier VT 05620 802-828-2811 phone |802-828-2342 fax http://publicservice.vermont.gov/

SEALED BID

Request For Proposal

Creation and Analysis of a Statistically Valid Survey and

Focus Group Facilitation for the Renewal of Comcast’s Certificate of Public Good

ISSUE DATE October 27, 2026 QUESTIONS DUE November 11, 2026 – 4:30 PM (EST) RFP RESPONSES DUE BY November 30, 2026 – 4:30 PM (EST)

Please be advised that all notifications, releases, and addendums associated with this RFP will be posted on the Department of Public Service’s Request for Proposals webpage (https://publicservice.vermont.gov/content/requests-proposals).

The State will make no attempt to contact interested parties with updated information. It is the responsibility of each bidder to periodically check the above webpage for any and all notifications, releases and addendums associated with this RFP.

STATE CONTACT: Christine Peterson, Consumer Affairs Specialist E-MAIL: Christine.Peterson@vermont.gov

This document is intended for professionals and academics with a background in preparing, conducting, and analyzing statistically valid surveys and facilitating multi-stakeholder focus groups. It contains complex technical information that assumes prior knowledge of issues related to the provision of cable television service and in the renewal of certificate of public goods issued in the State of Vermont. If you require assistance or accommodations to access this content, please contact our Accessibility Accommodation Contact (https://publicservice.vermont.gov/notice-nondiscrimination) for support.

http://publicservice.vermont.gov/

1. OVERVIEW:

1.1. SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Through this Request for Proposal (“RFP”) the Vermont

Department of Public Service (hereinafter the “Department” or “State”) is seeking to establish contracts with one or more companies that can conduct and analyze a statistically valid survey, a non-scientific survey, and also facilitate multiple stakeholder focus groups. The Department represents the public interest and Vermont ratepayers in utility cases before the Vermont Public Utility Commission (the “Commission” or “PUC”).

Pursuant to Commission Rule 8.231, the Department is charged with conducting a community needs assessment within the access service areas of incumbent cable operators seeking to renew Certificates of Public Good (the “CPG”). The selected contractor(s) will assist the Department in conducting a community needs assessment that pertains to the petition filed by Comcast of Connecticut/Georgia/Massachusetts/New Hampshire/New York/North Carolina/Virginia/Vermont, LLC (hereinafter “Comcast”), in Commission Case No. 25- 1216-PET, for the renewal of its CPG for the provision of cable television services in Vermont.

1.2. CONTRACT PERIOD: Contracts arising from this RFP will be for a period of two years with an option to renew for up to two additional twelve-month periods. The State anticipates the start date for such contract(s) will be January 7, 2027.

1.3. SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT: All communications concerning this RFP are to be addressed in writing to the State Contact listed on the front page of this RFP. Actual or attempted contact with any other individual from the State concerning this RFP is strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification.

1.4. BIDDERS’ CONFERENCE: A bidders’ conference will not be held.

1.5. QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD: Any bidder requiring clarification of any section of this RFP or wishing to comment on any requirement of the RFP must submit specific questions in writing no later than the deadline for question indicated on the first page of this RFP. Questions may be e-mailed to the point of contact on the front page of this RFP. Questions or comments not raised in writing on or before the last day of the question period are thereafter waived. At the close of the question period, a copy of all questions or comments and the State's responses will be posted on the Department of Public Service’s RFP website (https://publicservice.vermont.gov/document-categories/requests-proposals) . Every effort will be made to post this information as soon as possible after the question period ends, contingent on the number and complexity of the questions. All information provided by vendors during this process will be public and bidders shall not provide confidential information, except as described in

4.1 below.

1.6. CHANGES TO THIS RFP: Any modifications to this RFP will be made in writing by the State through the issuance of an Addendum to this RFP and posted online at the Department of Public Service’s RFP website (https://publicservice.vermont.gov/document-categories/requests-proposals).

Modifications from any other source are not to be considered.

2. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS/DESIRED OUTCOMES: The Department seeks proposals for contractor services that include developing and administering statistically valid as well as non-scientific community surveys, data analysis, planning and facilitating focus groups, and producing interim and final reports. The contractor(s) will provide these services primarily from January 7, 2027, to January 7, 2029, unless this period is extended, with the final report provided to the Department on a timeline dictated by the case schedule in Commission Case No. 25-1216-PET. The selected contractor(s) may also be required to provide testimony, live or in written form, in hearings before the Commission.

The contractor’s services will support the Department’s review of Comcast’s petition for CPG renewal and contribute to the Department’s determination of whether Comcast’s proposal is reasonable to meet the future cable-related community needs and interests in Comcast’s service territory. Contractors must be qualified and prepared to perform the tasks summarized in further detail in the Statement of Work (Attachment A to the draft Contract for Services included as an appendix to this RFP).

2.1. Language Access Services: Bidders must offer services that include meeting all language and communication needs. This includes support for:

· People who speak another language other than English.

· People who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, or DeafBlind.

· People who are blind or have trouble seeing.

· People who are non-verbal or have cognitive disabilities.

Services must be equitable for people with disabilities for Vermonters who communicate in non-English languages. This includes all digital communication. Services may include any method or combination of methods for accessibility, such as written, oral, and/or technologically assisted communication. Part VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against or exclusion of individuals on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Therefore, service providers must identify service recipients’ language needs, and offer seamless accessibility to people of all language abilities. All contractors should be able to meet or exceed baseline standards such as the WCAG 2.1 AA and the ADA, as well as any other applicable laws.

Interpreting and translating services should be available by request and receive timely responses. Interpreting can be live or remote, or a combination thereof. Translations must be offered to individuals who need them. Processes must include identifying language needs upon receipt of services.

Bidders must include cost estimates and budget for language and communication services and supports in their responses. This estimate should include:

· Language access costs for both written and verbal language services such as interpreting and translating.

· Any combination of live, telephonic, and remote options, any needed technological aids, as well as document translation into spoken languages and braille.

· Any accommodations or extra aids, such as technology or assistive equipment above and beyond what is required and already provided with meeting ADA / WCAG requirements.

· Relevant data on language needs of the community they serve. Examples of this may include: recent assessment of the community’s languages/deaf/Hard of Hearing/deafblind individuals, the number of individuals with language needs, the number of language-assisted service hours anticipated, recent service data such as numbers of hours of interpretation and number of documents translated, geographically relevant data from partners or collaborating service providers serving the community.

All services must meet ADA communication requirements WCAG 2.1 AA Minimum Standard, and the State of Vermont’s Language Access Policy.

Bidders must provide a plan that shows how they will:

· Embed language access for vital information into initial processes and development, for accessibility in Vermont’s top used languages.

· Have a process for identifying language needs and responding to specific language accessibility requests in a timely fashion.

· Implement and educate staff on best practices in offering these services.

· Work with experienced, knowledgeable people or entities to meet requirements and provide appropriate services.

· Train staff in identifying language and communication needs and providing access.

· Document and assess how well language services are working.

3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

3.1. PRICING: Bidders must price the terms of this solicitation at their best pricing. Any and all costs that Bidder wishes the State to consider must be submitted for consideration.

If applicable, all equipment pricing is to include F.O.B. delivery to the ordering facility.

No request for extra delivery cost will be honored. All equipment shall be delivered assembled, serviced, and ready for immediate use, unless otherwise requested by the State.

3.1.1. Prices and/or rates shall remain firm for the initial term of the contract. The pricing policy submitted by Bidder must (i) be clearly structured, accountable, and auditable and (ii) cover the full spectrum of materials and/or services required.

3.1.2. Cooperative Agreements. Bidders that have been awarded similar contracts through a competitive bidding process with another state and/or cooperative are welcome to submit the pricing in response to this solicitation.

3.2. STATEMENT OF RIGHTS: The State shall have the authority to evaluate Responses and select the Bidder(s) as may be determined to be in the best interest of the State and consistent with the goals and performance requirements outlined in this RFP. The State of Vermont reserves the right to obtain clarification or additional information necessary to properly evaluate a proposal. Failure of bidder to respond to a request for additional information or clarification could result in rejection of that bidder's proposal.

To secure a project that is deemed to be in the best interest of the State, the State reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, in whole or in part, with or without cause, and to waive technicalities in submissions. The State also reserves the right to make purchases outside of the awarded contracts where it is deemed in the best interest of the State.

3.2.1. Best and Final Offer (BAFO). At any time after submission of Responses and prior to the final selection of Bidder(s) for Contract negotiation or execution, the State may invite Bidder(s) to provide a BAFO. The state reserves the right to request

BAFOs from only those Bidders that meet the minimum qualification requirements and/or have not been eliminated from consideration during the evaluation process.

3.2.2. Presentation. An in-person or webinar presentation by the Bidder may be required by the State if it will help the State’s evaluation process. The State will factor information presented during presentations into the evaluation. Bidders will be responsible for all costs associated with providing the presentation.

3.3. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:

3.3.1. Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCOI): An OCOI arises when a bidder as a business entity has interests (for example, customers, partners, contracts) that could undermine, or reasonably be perceived to undermine, its faithful and unbiased performance of a contract with the State that may result from this solicitation.

3.3.2. Personal Conflict of Interest (PCOI): A PCOI arises when an interest held by an individual, agent or employee of a bidder could undermine, or reasonably be perceived to undermine, its faithful and unbiased performance of a contract with the State that may result from this solicitation.

3.3.3. Requirements: The State does not seek to contract with any individual or business entity having a conflict of interest which cannot be mitigated to the State’s satisfaction. To ensure the State’s awareness of actual, potential, or reasonably perceived PCOIs and OCOIs, bidders shall:

a) Prior to submitting a proposal, conduct an internal review of its current affiliations and activities and identify actual, potential, or reasonably perceived PCOIs or OCOIs relative to a contract with the State that may result from this solicitation.

b) Disclose in your proposal any actual or potential PCOI or OCOI or the existence of any facts that may cause a reasonably prudent person to perceive a PCOI or OCOI with respect to a contract with the State that may result from this solicitation.

Disclose, also, any actions proposed to mitigate the PCOI or OCOI.

3.3.4. The State shall have sole discretion to determine whether a PCOI or OCOI can be mitigated to the State’s satisfaction and may discuss the conflict with the bidder if and to the extent the State deems discussion necessary to its determination. The State reserves the right to (a) reject from further consideration any proposal having a PCOI or OCIO that cannot be mitigated to the State’s full satisfaction and (b) terminate a contract upon discovery that a contractor failed to disclose facts pertaining to a PCOI or OCOI in its proposal, or otherwise misrepresented relevant information to the State.

3.4. WORKER CLASSIFICATION COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS: In accordance with Section 32 of The Vermont Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Act No. 54), Bidders must comply with the following provisions and requirements.

3.4.1. Self Reporting: For bid amounts exceeding $250,000.00, Bidder shall complete the appropriate section in the attached Certificate of Compliance for purposes of self-reporting information relating to past violations, convictions, suspensions, and any other information related to past performance relative to coding and classification of workers. The State is requiring information on any violations that occurred in the previous 12 months.

3.4.2. Subcontractor Reporting: For bid amounts exceeding $250,000.00, Bidders are hereby notified that upon award of contract, and prior to contract execution, the State shall be provided with a list of all proposed subcontractors and subcontractors’ subcontractors, together with the identity of those subcontractors’ workers compensation insurance providers, and additional required or requested information, as applicable, in accordance with Section 32 of The Vermont Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Act No. 54). This requirement does not apply to subcontractors providing supplies only and no labor to the overall contract or project.

This list MUST be updated and provided to the State as additional subcontractors are hired. A sample form is available online at http://bgs.vermont.gov/purchasing-contracting/forms. The subcontractor reporting form is not required to be submitted with the bid response.

3.5. EXECUTIVE ORDER 05-16: CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS IN STATE

PROCUREMENTS:

For bid amounts exceeding $25,000.00 Bidders are requested to complete the Climate Change Considerations in State Procurements Certification, which is included in the Certificate of Compliance for this RFP.

After consideration of all relevant factors, a bidder that demonstrates business practices that promote clean energy and address climate change as identified in the Certification, shall be given favorable consideration in the competitive bidding process. Such favorable consideration shall be consistent with and not supersede any preference given to resident bidders of the State and/or products raised or manufactured in the State, as explained in the Method of Award section. But such favorable consideration shall not be employed if prohibited by law or other relevant authority or agreement.

3.6. METHOD OF AWARD: Awards will be made in the best interest of the State. The State may award one or more contracts and reserves the right to make additional awards to other compliant bidders at any time if such award is deemed to be in the best interest of the State. All other considerations being equal, preference will be given first to resident bidders of the state and/or to products raised or manufactured in the state, and then to bidders who have practices that promote clean energy and address climate change, as identified in the applicable Certificate of Compliance.

3.7. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Consideration shall be given to the Bidder’s project approach and methodology, qualifications and experience, ability to provide the services within the defined timeline, cost, and/or success in completing similar projects, as applicable, and to the extent specified below, including but not limited to: record of performance for similar services as determined through references; demonstrated knowledge and expertise of cable television topics nationally and in Vermont, and relating to areas including but not limited to, education, government, arts and culture, and non-profit organizations; demonstrated ability to work with and coordinate multiple and diverse stakeholders; competitiveness and reasonableness of fee structure;

exhibits a dedicated approach and commitment to fostering an equitable and genuine community engagement process; proven capability to create clear, precise, and compelling materials, encompassing written reports, web content, presentations, and various other collateral.

3.8. CONTRACT NEGOTIATION: Upon completion of the evaluation process, the State may select one or more bidders with which to negotiate a contract, based on the evaluation findings and other criteria deemed relevant for ensuring that the decision made is in the best interest of the State. In the event State is not successful in negotiating a contract with a selected bidder, the State reserves the option of negotiating with another bidder, or to end the proposal process entirely.

3.9. COST OF PREPARATION: Bidder shall be solely responsible for all expenses incurred in the preparation of a response to this RFP and shall be responsible for all expenses associated with any presentations or demonstrations associated with this request and/or any proposals made.

3.10. CONTRACT TERMS: The selected bidder(s) will be expected to sign a contract with the State, including the Standard Contract Form and Attachment C as attached to this RFP for reference. If IT Attachment D is included in this RFP, terms may be modified based upon the solution proposed by the Bidder, subject to approval by the Agency of Digital Services.

3.10.1. Business Registration. To be awarded a contract by the State of Vermont a bidder (except an individual doing business in his/her own name) must be registered with the Vermont Secretary of State’s office (https://sos.vermont.gov/business-services/business-filings/domestic-formation) and must obtain a Contractor’s Business Account Number issued by the Vermont Department of Taxes (http://tax.vermont.gov/) .

3.10.2. The contract will obligate the bidder to provide the services and/or products identified in its bid, at the prices listed.

3.10.3. Payment Terms. Percentage discounts may be offered for prompt payments of invoices; however, such discounts must be in effect for a period of 30 days or more in order to be considered in making awards.

3.10.4. Retainage. In the discretion of the State, a contract resulting from this RFP may provide that the State withhold a percentage of the total amount payable for some or all deliverables, such retainage to be payable upon satisfactory completion and State acceptance in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.

3.10.5. Quality. If applicable, all products provided under a contract with the State will be new and unused, unless otherwise stated. Factory seconds or remanufactured products will not be accepted unless specifically requested by the purchasing agency. All products provided by the contractor must meet all federal, state, and local standards for quality and safety requirements. Products not meeting these standards will be deemed unacceptable and returned to the contractor for credit at no charge to the State.

4. CONTENT AND FORMAT OF RESPONSES: The content and format requirements listed below are the minimum requirements for State evaluation. These requirements are not intended to limit the content of a Bidder’s proposal. Bidders may include additional information or offer alternative solutions for the State’s consideration. However, the State discourages overly lengthy and costly proposals, and Bidders are advised to include only such information in their response as may be relevant to the requirements of this solicitation.

4.1. Unsolicited Bidder-Confidential Information Prohibited. Bidders are hereby expressly directed not to include any confidential information in their proposal submissions, except as specifically permitted below. By submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, bidders acknowledge and agree to abide by the terms and conditions outlined in this document, including the prohibition on submitting confidential information. This prohibition reduces the burden on the State while preventing bidder-confidential information from entering the public record.

4.2. Disclosure under Public Records Act. All information received by the State in response to this solicitation will become part of the contract file and subject to public disclosure in accordance with the State’s Public Records Act, 1 V.S.A. § 315 et seq.

The State may also choose to publicly post responses to this solicitation and the resulting agreement(s), following conclusion of this procurement process.

4.3. Unsolicited Confidential Materials. This RFP does not solicit bidder confidential information and bidders are expressly prohibited from providing confidential information in response to this RFP. All materials furnished by bidders in response to this RFP, including those marked as confidential by bidders, are subject to disclosure if requested under the Public Records Act, or public posting.

4.4. State Not Responsible for Disclosure of Unmarked Bidder-Confidential Information. It is the sole responsibility of the bidder to ensure that, other than where specifically directed or permitted by this RFP and accordingly marked as described below, no information that should not be publicly disclosed is included in their proposal materials, including any 1) trade secrets or intellectual property, 2) proprietary financial or business information, 3) personal information, or 4) any other information that should not be disclosed to the public. For example, bidders should avoid including specific details of their proprietary technologies or methodologies that they consider confidential, and any references to previous client engagements should be presented in a manner that does not disclose the client's confidential information.

4.5. The bid should include a Cover Letter and Technical Response and Price Schedule.

4.6. COVER LETTER:

4.6.1. Exceptions to Contract Terms and Conditions. If a bidder wishes to propose an exception to any terms and conditions set forth in the Standard Contract Form and its attachments, such exceptions must be included in the cover letter to the RFP response. Failure to note exceptions when responding to the RFP will be deemed to be acceptance of the State contract terms and conditions. If exceptions are not noted in the response to this RFP but raised during contract negotiations, the State reserves the right to cancel the negotiation if deemed to be in the best interests of the State. Note that exceptions to contract terms may cause rejection of the proposal, and that the State’s non-rejection of a proposal on this basis does not indicate acceptance of the exceptions.

4.7. TECHNICAL RESPONSE. In response to this RFP, a bidder shall:

4.7.1. Provide details concerning your form of business organization, company size and resources.

4.7.2. Describe your capabilities and particular experience relevant to the RFP requirements.

4.7.3. If you have experience working with the State of Vermont, identify all current or past State projects. Provide the name of the Vermont department or agency and the project title or a brief description of the work. Do not include references or statements from State of Vermont agencies or employees.

4.7.4. Identify the names of all subcontractors you intend to use, the portions of the work the subcontractors will perform, and address the background and experience of the subcontractor(s), in response to the questions described above in this section.

4.7.5. A brief description of the respondent organization, which includes its history, organizational structure, and number of professional staff.

4.7.6. A discussion of the applicant's familiarity, expertise and experience with community needs assessments, focus group facilitation, outreach to community-based organizations, surveys and data analysis. Please include details of any projects similar to the one in the RFP.

4.7.7. A statement and discussion of the applicant’s analysis of the RFP scope and requirements. This should include:

4.7.7.1. A proposed survey method or combination of methods (telephone, internet, etc.) and how these methods will ensure that a statistically significant sample is captured.

4.7.7.2. Names and resumes with detailed qualifications and levels of competence of all individuals expected to perform services. This should include the estimated time to be spent by each person on each group of issues identified in Attachment A.

4.7.7.3. Statements and discussion of anticipated challenges with potential or recommended approaches for their solution.

4.7.8. A proposed work plan that describes each step, timelines for completion, and person(s) responsible.

4.8. REFERENCES. Provide the names, addresses, and phone numbers of at least three companies with whom you have transacted similar business in the last 12 months. You must include contact names who can talk knowledgeably about performance. Do not list a State of Vermont agency or employee as a reference.

4.9. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS: Provide a sample of any reporting documentation that may be applicable to the Detailed Requirements of this RFP.

4.10. PRICE SCHEDULE: Bidders shall submit their pricing information in the Price Schedule attached to the RFP.

4.11. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE: This form must be completed and submitted as part of the response for the proposal to be considered valid.

5. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

5.1. CLOSING DATE: Bids must be received by the State by the due date specified on the front page of this RFP. Late bids will not be considered.

5.1.1. The State may, for cause, issue an addendum to change the date and/or time when bids are due. If a change is made, the State will inform all bidders by posting at the webpage indicated on the front page of this RFP.

5.1.2. There will not be a public bid opening. However, the State will record the name, city and state for any and all bids received by the due date.

5.2. ELECTRONIC BIDS ONLY: All bids under this RFP must be submitted electronically in accordance with the submission requirements herein.

5.2.1. Electronic bids will be accepted via email submission to Christine.Peterson@vermont.gov. The subject line of the email submission must reference the Project Title as indicated on the front page of this RFP.

5.2.1.1. Bids must consist of a single email with a single, digitally searchable PDF attachment containing all components of the bid. Multiple emails and/or multiple attachments will not be accepted.

5.2.1.2. There is an attachment size limit of 40 MB. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to compress the PDF file containing its bid if necessary in order to meet this size limitation. It is also the Bidder's responsibility to ensure that their own email system can send and receive messages up to this size.

6. BID SUBMISSION CHECKLIST:

Cover Letter Technical Response Redacted Technical Response, if applicable References Price Schedule Signed Certificate of Compliance

7. ATTACHMENTS:

7.1. Certificate of Compliance

7.2. Price Schedule

7.3. Worker Classification Compliance Requirement; Subcontractor Reporting Form

7.4. Standard State Contract with its associated attachments, including but not limited to, Attachment C: Standard State Provisions for Contracts and Grants (February 13, 2026)

RFP/PROJECT:

DATE:

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

For your bid to be considered valid, this form must be completed in its entirety, executed by a duly authorized representative of the bidder, and submitted as part of the response to the proposal.

A. NON COLLUSION: Bidder hereby certifies that the prices quoted have been arrived at without collusion and that no prior information concerning these prices has been received from or given to a competitive company. If there is sufficient evidence to warrant investigation of the bid/contract process by the Office of the Attorney General, bidder understands that this paragraph might be used as a basis for litigation.

B. CONTRACT TERMS: Bidder hereby acknowledges that is has read, understands and agrees to the terms of this RFP, including Attachment C: Standard State Contract Provisions, and any other contract attachments included with this RFP.

C. WORKER CLASSIFICATION COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT: In accordance with

Section 32 of The Vermont Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Act No. 54), the following provisions and requirements apply to Bidder when the amount of its bid exceeds $250,000.00.

Self-Reporting. Bidder hereby self-reports the following information relating to past violations, convictions, suspensions, and any other information related to past performance relative to coding and classification of workers, that occurred in the previous 12 months.

Summary of Detailed Information

Date of Notification

Outcome

Subcontractor Reporting. Bidder hereby acknowledges and agrees that if it is a successful bidder, prior to execution of any contract resulting from this RFP, Bidder will provide to the State a list of all proposed subcontractors and subcontractors’ subcontractors, together with the identity of those subcontractors’ workers compensation insurance providers, and additional required or requested information, as applicable, in accordance with Section 32 of The Vermont Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Act

DATE: Page 2 of 4 No. 54), and Bidder will provide any update of such list to the State as additional subcontractors are hired. Bidder further acknowledges and agrees that the failure to submit subcontractor reporting in accordance with Section 32 of The Vermont Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Act No. 54) will constitute non-compliance and may result in cancellation of contract and/or restriction from bidding on future state contracts.

D. Executive Order 05 – 16: Climate Change Considerations in State Procurements Certification

Bidder certifies to the following (Bidder may attach any desired explanation or substantiation. Please also note that Bidder may be asked to provide documentation for any applicable claims):

1. Bidder owns, leases or utilizes, for business purposes, space that has received:

Energy Star® Certification LEED®, Green Globes®, or Living Buildings Challenge℠ Certification Other internationally recognized building certification:

2. Bidder has received incentives or rebates from an Energy Efficiency Utility or Energy Efficiency Program in the last five years for energy efficient improvements made at bidder’s place of business. Please explain:

3. Please Check all that apply:

Bidder can claim on-site renewable power or anaerobic-digester power (“cow-power”). Or bidder consumes renewable electricity through voluntary purchase or offset, provided no such claimed power can be double-claimed by another party.

Bidder uses renewable biomass or bio-fuel for the purposes of thermal (heat) energy at its place of business.

Bidder’s heating system has modern, high-efficiency units (boilers, furnaces, stoves, etc.), having reduced emissions of particulate matter and other air pollutants.

Bidder tracks its energy consumption and harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

What tool is used to do this? _____________________

Bidder promotes the use of plug-in electric vehicles by providing electric vehicle charging, electric fleet vehicles, preferred parking, designated parking, purchase or lease incentives, etc..

Bidder offers employees an option for a fossil fuel divestment retirement account.

Bidder offers products or services that reduce waste, conserve water, or promote energy efficiency and conservation. Please explain:

DATE: Page 3 of 4

4. Please list any additional practices that promote clean energy and take action to address climate change:

E. Executive Order 02 – 22: Solidarity with the Ukrainian People

By checking this box, Bidder certifies that none of the goods, products, or materials offered in response to this solicitation are Russian-sourced goods or produced by Russian entities. If Bidder is unable to check the box, it shall indicate in the table below which of the applicable offerings are Russian-sourced goods and/or which are produced by Russian entities. An additional column is provided for any note or comment that you may have.

Provided

Equipment or Product

Note or Comment

F. Certification Regarding Use of Contract Funds for Lobbying - Applicable to contracts over $100,000.00 when federal monies are involved - this clause must be included in all subcontracts over $100,000.00.

1. The prospective contractor certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, under the penalties of perjury under the laws of the State of Vermont and the United States that on behalf of the person, firm, association, or corporation he or she represents, that:

a. No Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the undersigned, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any Federal agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal grant, the making of any Federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, DATE: Page 4 of 4 amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.

b. If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any Federal agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form- LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying," in accordance with its instructions.

2. This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was made or entered into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by 31 U.S.C. 1352. Any person who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.

3. The prospective contractor also agrees that they shall require that the language of this certification be included in all lower tier subcontracts, which exceed $100,000 and that all such recipients shall certify and disclose accordingly.

Bidder Name: Contact Name:

Address: Fax Number:

Telephone:

E-Mail:

By: Name:

Signature of Bidder (or Representative) (Type or Print)

END OF CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

PRICE SCHEDULE

A. Rates by Deliverable:

Deliverable Payment

Task I - Statistical Survey & Interim Report $ Task II - Sector Survey & Interim Report $ Task III - Engagement, Focus Groups, & Interim Report $ Task IV - Final Report $ Task V - Written Testimony & Verbal Testimony at Evidentiary Hearing $

B. This contract can be extended up to two (2) additional 12-month period with mutual agreement between both parties.

C. Language Access Services:

The Contractor must report to the State:

· Data on language needs and language services provided for content.

· The language and communication services available by request, or already in use, for providing services to the community they plan to serve.

· Documentation of communication services provided. This may include language access plans, financial details, service usage, or other proof of communication services rendered.

· Specifics about community served, such as geographic areas, demographic data, and types of services offered.

· Any alternative services provided to meet language access requirements.

The Contractor must review and report on the community’s language needs annually, as well as any gaps or unmet needs annually to plan necessary adjustments to service provision.

Communication accommodations must be provided at no charge and in a timely manner to the people receiving them.

Name of Bidder:

Signature of Bidder:

Date:

DATE:

SUBCONTRACTOR REPORTING FORM

This form must be completed in its entirety and submitted prior to contract execution and updated as necessary and provided to the State as additional subcontractors are hired.

The Department of Buildings and General Services in accordance with Act 54, Section 32 of the Acts of 2009 and for total project costs exceeding $250,000.00 requires bidders to comply with the following provisions and requirements.

Contractor is required to provide a list of subcontractors on the job along with lists of subcontractor’s subcontractors and by whom those subcontractors are insured for workers’ compensation purposes. Include additional pages if necessary. This is not a requirement for subcontractor’s providing supplies only and no labor to the overall contract or project.

Subcontractor Insured By Subcontractor’s Sub Insured By

Date:

Name of Company: Contact Name:

Address: Title:

Phone Number:

E-mail: Fax Number:

By: Name:

Failure to adhere to Act 54, Section 32 of the Acts of 2009 and submit Subcontractor Reporting:

Worker Classification Compliance Requirement will constitute non-compliance and may result in cancellation of contract and/or forfeiture of future bidding privileges until resolved.

Send Completed Form to: Christine Peterson at Christine.Peterson@vermont.gov mailto:Christine.Peterson@vermont.gov

STANDARD CONTRACT FOR SERVICES

1. Parties. This is a contract for services between the State of Vermont, Department of Public Service (hereinafter called “State”), and _____________, with a principal place of business in _____________, (hereinafter called “Contractor”). Contractor’s form of business organization is _____________. It is Contractor’s responsibility to contact the Vermont Department of Taxes to determine if, by law, Contractor is required to have a Vermont Department of Taxes Business Account Number.

2. Subject Matter. The subject matter of this contract is services generally on the subject of creation and analysis of a statistically valid survey and focus group facilitation with regard to the renewal of Comcast of Connecticut/Georgia/Massachusetts/New Hampshire/New York/North Carolina/Virginia/Vermont, LLC’s (hereinafter “Comcast”) certificate of public good (“CPG”) as proposed in Vermont Public Utility Case Number 25-1216-PET. Detailed services to be provided by Contractor are described in Attachment A.

3. Maximum Amount. In consideration of the services to be performed by Contractor, the State agrees to pay Contractor, in accordance with the payment provisions specified in Attachment B, a sum not to exceed $________.00.

4. Contract Term. The period of Contractor’s performance shall begin on January 7, 2027, and end on January 7, 2029, with the option to renew up to two additional twelve-month periods.

5. Prior Approvals. This Contract shall not be binding unless and until all requisite prior approvals have been obtained in accordance with current State law, bulletins, and interpretations.

6. Amendment. No changes, modifications, or amendments in the terms and conditions of this contract shall be effective unless reduced to writing, numbered and signed by the duly authorized representative of the State and Contractor.

7. Termination for Convenience. This contract may be terminated by the State at any time by giving written notice at least thirty (30) days in advance. In such event, Contractor shall be paid under the terms of this contract for all services provided to and accepted by the State prior to the effective date of termination.

8. Attachments. This contract consists of ___ pages including the following attachments which are incorporated herein:

Attachment A - Statement of Work Attachment B - Payment Provisions Attachment C – “Standard State Provisions for Contracts and Grants” a preprinted form

(revision date 02/13/2026)

9. Order of Precedence. Any ambiguity, conflict or inconsistency between the documents comprising this contract shall be resolved according to the following order of precedence:

(1) Standard Contract

(2) Attachment C (Standard Contract Provisions for Contracts and Grants)

(3) Attachment A

(4) Attachment B

WE THE UNDERSIGNED PARTIES AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS CONTRACT

By the State of Vermont: By the Contractor:

Date: Date:

Signature: Signature:

Name: Name:

Title: Title:

ATTACHMENT A – STATEMENT OF WORK

Scope of Services Requested The Vermont Department of Public Service (“Department”) is contracting for community surveying and data analysis services to assist the Department in its review of Comcast’s petition to renew its Certificate of Public Good (“CPG”), which is currently pending before the Vermont Public Utility Commission (“Commission”) in Case No. 25-1216-PET. The Contractor must be available to conduct the requested services and provide interim and final reports to the Department during the period between January 7, 2027, to January 7, 2029, unless the timeline is extended. The timeline for completing individual tasks will depend on forthcoming schedules issued by the Commission in Case No. 25-1216-PET.

The Department expects that the required services will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the tasks summarized below.

Task I: Work with the Department staff to create a statistically valid survey that meets the requirements of Commission Rule 8.231. Conduct a statically valid survey of a representative sample of randomly selected households that measures, with regard to Public Educational Government (“PEG”) access, attitudes and behaviors such as, but not limited to, subscribers’ satisfaction, awareness, and use of PEG access, for eight or more PEG Access Management Organization (“AMO”) territories. Produce an interim report of survey outputs.

Task II: Develop and conduct a non-scientific survey of the educational, governmental, and non-profit organizational sectors in the PEG AMO service territories that measures the organizations’ communication needs, and other needs that may have reasonable cable-related communication solutions. Produce an interim report of survey outputs.

Task III: Work with Department staff to plan several regional in person or hybrid focus groups.

Conduct outreach to educational, governmental, and non-profit organizational sectors in the PEG AMO service territories for engagement and attendance purposes. Facilitate and record feedback from participants for each focus group. Produce an interim report describing the engagement activities and key messages gleaned from focus group activities.

Task IV: Analyze the data, engagement, and participation from surveys and focus groups and prepare a final report that describes and analyzes the results of the public engagement process (surveys, focus groups, and outreach) for the Department to use in its development of a Community Needs Assessment, which the Department submits to the Commission along with the Department’s prefiled written testimony.

Task V: Contractor may be called upon to testify at a Public Utility Commission hearing on the methods used to collect data, and on the analysis and results of its surveys, focus groups, and final reporting. The testimony may be live or in a prefiled written format.

Oversight

The contract will be managed by the Department's Consumer Affairs and Public Information Division and the Department’s Public Advocacy Division.

Contractor will work with the Department to create a timeline for deliverables that aligns with any schedules issued by the Commission. Contractor will coordinate and collaborate with Department staff throughout the Contract term, and including on the development of work plans, the selection of approaches to performing Contract tasks, and the format and content of reports. Contractor and be available to meet regularly with the Department via phone and videoconference.

Contractor will submit all deliverables to the Department according to an agreed-upon schedule, and in advance of Commission deadlines to allow adequate time for the Department’s review and production. Contractor will ensure that any final written work is well-written, clear, and thorough, without need for significant editing by the Department’s staff. Deliverables must also meet content expectations outlined by Department staff. In the event that live testimony is needed, Contractor will be thoroughly prepared and able to respond effectively to cross-examination and to questions from the Commission.

Language Access Services

Language Access Services: Contractor must offer services that include meeting all language and communication needs in communications with members of the public. This includes support for:

· People who speak another language other than English.

· People who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, or DeafBlind.

· People who are blind or have trouble seeing.

· People who are non-verbal or have cognitive disabilities.

Services must be equitable for people with disabilities for Vermonters who communicate in non- English languages. This includes all digital communication. Services may include any method or combination of methods for accessibility, such as written, oral, and/or technologically assisted communication. Part VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against or exclusion of individuals on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Therefore, service providers must identify service recipients’ language needs, and offer seamless accessibility to people of all language abilities. All contractors should be able to meet or exceed baseline standards such as the WCAG 2.1 AA and the ADA, as well as any other applicable laws.

Interpreting and translating services should be available by request and receive timely responses.

Interpreting can be live or remote, or a combination thereof. Translations must be offered to individuals who need them. Processes must include identifying language needs upon receipt of services.

ATTACHMENT B – PAYMENT PROVISIONS

The maximum dollar amount payable under this contract is not intended as any form of a guaranteed amount. The Contractor will be paid for products or services actually delivered or performed, as specified in Attachment A, up to the maximum allowable amount specified on page 1 of this contract.

1. Prior to commencement of work and release of any payments, Contractor shall submit to the State:

a. a certificate of insurance consistent with the requirements set forth in Attachment C, Section 8 (Insurance), and with any additional requirements for insurance as may be set forth elsewhere in this contract; and

b. a current IRS Form W-9 (signed within the last six months).

2. Payment terms are Net 30 days from the date the State receives an error-free invoice with all necessary and complete supporting documentation.

3. Contractor shall submit invoices for each milestone achieved and any other information and/or documentation appropriate and sufficient to substantiate the amount invoiced for payment by the State. All invoices must include the Contract # for this contract.

4. Contractor shall submit invoices to the State in accordance with the schedule set forth in this Attachment B. Unless a more particular schedule is provided herein, invoices shall be submitted not more frequently than monthly.

5. Invoices shall be submitted to the State by email to PSD.invoice@vermont.gov with a cc to Christine.Peterson@vermont.gov. The payment schedule for delivered products, or rates for services performed, and any additional reimbursements, are as follows:

Contractor shall be paid up to the following amounts for the complete delivery of, and invoicing for, each of the following activities and reports:

Deliverable Payment Task I - Statistical Survey & Interim Report Task II - Sector Survey & Interim Report Task III - Engagement, Focus Groups, & Interim Report

Task IV - Final Report Task V - Written Testimony & Verbal Testimony at Evidentiary Hearing

Delivery shall be considered complete when:

- The Department receives electronic Word and PDF copies of the document(s) at the following e-mail address: Christine.Peterson@vermont.gov

- The Department acknowledges the suitability of the documents. The Department’s acknowledgement shall not be unreasonably withheld and shall be communicated to the Contractor by Christine Peterson (or another Department delegate) no later than 5 business days after the Department receives the document(s) from the Contractor.

Contractor shall submit invoices not more frequently than monthly.

6. Language Access Services:

The…