Responses_to_Questions_-_DCSC-15-IB-0015_-_Gift_Cards_for_the_Crime_Victims_Compensation_Program_(CVCP).pdf

Solicitation Number: DCSC-16-IB-0015 Caption: “The Purchasing of Gift Cards For the District of Columbia Courts Crime Victims Compensation Program”

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS RECEIVED

Question #1: The vendor shall have at least one store located in each quadrant of the in each of the 4 quadrants of the District of Columbia. - What is the purpose of the "stores"? Can the gift cards simply be shipped to the courthouse? Is there some type of voucher system where victims need to pick up the card at a vendor store?

Response: The preference for at least one store in every quadrant of the District is to give victims of crime easy access and convenience to a grocery store that honors the gift card. Many of our clients are struggling financially, making the cost of transportation to and from a grocery store outside their community a financial hardship. The Crime Victims Compensation Program (CVCP) is sensitive to that reality and would like to eliminate that barrier by providing access to food, toiletries and other necessities to eligible clients close to their temporary housing if possible. CVCP does not offer clients a voucher or have a system in place to allow clients to use a voucher at a local grocery store. Instead, clients have to pick up gift cards at CVCP, so the distribution of these cards to our clients can be documented and tracked in our case management system.

Question: Is CVCP only looking for a grocery store or food store gift card solution?

We are a financial institution (i.e. no stores) and our prospective solution is a Visa or MasterCard branded gift card that could be used anywhere. Is that the wrong solution for this RFP?

Response: The Crime Victims Compensation Program (CVCP) would like to limit the use of gift cards to food items, baby products, and toiletries only. Section B. of the solicitation states “Clients placed in hotels are provided with “gift cards” to be used to purchase specific items such as food products, baby products, and toiletries.”

A Visa or MasterCard branded gift card could be used for items that fall outside our intended purpose, such as cigarettes and alcohol. CVCP would like to

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS RECEIVED