Document Remediation Services IFB.pdf

Document Remediation Services Solicitation #: BPM055168 IFB Document

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STATE OF MARYLAND

STATE RETIREMENT AGENCY

(SRA)

INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB)

DOCUMENT REMEDIATION SERVICES

IFB NUMBER: BPM055168

ISSUE DATE: FEBRUARY 4, 2026

A Prospective Bidder that has received this document from a source other than eMarylandMarketplace

Advantage (eMMA) https://procurement.maryland.gov should register on eMMA https://emma.maryland.gov/

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

SMALL BUSINESS RESERVE PROCUREMENT

This is a Small Business Reserve Procurement for which the award will be limited to certified small businesses.

Only businesses that meet the statutory requirements set forth in State Finance and Procurement Article, §§14- 501—14-505, Annotated Code of Maryland, and that are certified by the Department of Social and Economic Mobility’s (DoSEM) Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs (OSBA) Small Business Reserve Program are eligible for award of a contract. Before awarding a contract under a procurement designated as a small business reserve procurement, the Procurement Officer shall verify that the apparent awardee is certified by the OSBA as a certified small business through eMMA. However, if small businesses do not show interest in this solicitation, the Procurement Officer has the right to remove the SBR designation via an Amendment on eMMA.

MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESPOND TO THIS

SOLICITATION.

https://procurement.maryland.gov/ https://emma.maryland.gov/ https://gomdsmallbiz.maryland.gov/Pages/sbr-program.aspx https://gomdsmallbiz.maryland.gov/Pages/sbr-program.aspx

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KEY INFORMATION SUMMARY SHEET (KISS)

Invitation for Bids Services - Document Remediation Services

Solicitation Number:

BPM055168

IFB Issue Date: February 4, 2026

IFB Issuing Office:

State Retirement Agency (SRA or the "Agency")

Procurement Officer:

Jane Noble State Retirement Agency 120 East Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21202

Email: jnoble@sra.state.md.us

Bids are to be sent to:

Submit on emma.maryland.gov under Solicitation Number BPM055168 To submit a bid, bidders must first register on emma.maryland.gov. We recommend registering in advance to become acquainted with the site.

No Bid Notice Feedback Form

If you are not submitting a bid for this solicitation, submit Attachment 1 with your reasons why.

Pre-Bid Conference:

None Scheduled

Questions Due Date and Time:

February 13, 2026, at 5:00PM Local Time

Bid Due (Closing) Date and Time:

February 19, 2026, at 5:00PM Local Time Bidders are reminded that a completed Feedback Form is requested if a no-bid decision is made (see Appendix 8 - No Bid Notice/Vendor Feedback Form).

Public Bid Opening Date, Time, and Location

February 20, 2026, at 10:00AM Local Time Via Microsoft Teams.

Contact the Procurement Officer with a list of attendee’s email addresses for invitation to the Public Bid Opening. Presence at this event is not required.

mailto:jnoble@sra.state.md.us

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MBE / DBE

Subcontracting Goal:

Not Applicable

VSBE

Subcontracting Goal:

Not Applicable

Procurement Method:

A Contract will be awarded in accordance with the Competitive Sealed Bidding method under COMAR 21.05.02.

Multiple or Alternate Bids:

Multiple or alternate Bids will not be accepted.

Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price

Contract Duration:

Two (2) year base period with zero option periods.

Primary Place of Performance:

Primary Place of Performance

To Be Proposed by Bidder

SBR Designation: Yes

Federal Funding: No

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Table of Contents - IFB

1 Minimum Qualifications

1.1 Bidder Minimum Qualifications

2 Contractor Requirements: Scope of Work

2.1 Summary Statement

2.2 Background and Purpose

2.4 Supplemental Category of Work Requirements and Responsibilities

3 Standard Terms and Conditions

3.1 Contract Initiation Requirements

3.2 End of Contract Transition

3.3 Invoicing

3.4 Liquidated Damages

3.5 Work Orders

3.6 Payments by Electronic Funds Transfer

3.7 Prompt Payment Policy

3.8 Federal Funding Acknowledgement

3.9 Conflict of Interest Affidavit and Disclosure

3.10 Non-Disclosure Agreement

3.11 Maryland Healthy Working Families Act Requirements

3.12 The State of Maryland’s Commitment to Purchasing Environmentally Preferred Products and Services

(EPPs)

3.13 Insurance Requirements

4 Bid Submission Information and Instructions

4.1 eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA)

4.2 Electronic Means

4.3 Pre-Bid Conference

4.4 Questions

4.5 Bid Due (Closing) Date and Time

4.6 Receipt, Opening and Recording of Bids

4.7 Duration of Bids

4.8 Revisions to the IFB

4.9 Cancellations

4.10 Incurred Expenses

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4.11 Protest/Disputes

4.12 Bidder Responsibilities

4.13 Acceptance of Terms and Conditions

4.14 Compliance with Laws/Arrearages

4.15 Verification of Registration and Tax Payment

4.16 False Statements

4.17 Confidentiality of Bids / Public Information Act Notice

4.18 Use of Bidder’s Form Not Binding on State

4.19 Attachments and Documents Required with the Bid (Table A)

4.20 Bid Delivery Instructions

4.21 Bid Evaluation Criteria and Award Basis

4.22 Tie Bids

4.23 Reciprocal Preference

4.24 Small Business Preference

4.25 Documents Required upon Notice of Recommendation for Contract Award (Table B)

5 IFB Appendices and Exhibits

5.1 Appendices (Table C)

5.2 Exhibits (Table D)

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1 Minimum Qualifications

1.1 Bidder Minimum Qualifications

There are no Bidder Minimum Qualifications for this procurement.

THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

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2 Contractor Requirements: Scope of Work

2.1 Summary Statement

2.1.1 This Invitation for Bids (IFB) is issued to procure the goods or services, as specified in this Section 2, from a contract between the successful bidder(s) and the State of Maryland (“State”): The Maryland State Retirement Agency seeks a qualified vendor to remediate documents in compliance with the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1 AA) accessibility requirements for publication on its public-facing website.

It is the State’s intention to obtain goods and services, as specified in this IFB, from a contract between the selected Bidder and the State.

2.1.2 This is a single award IFB. See IFB Section 4.21 Bid Evaluation Criteria and Award Basis for more Contract award information.

A Contract award does not ensure a Contractor will receive all or any State business under the Contract.

2.2 Background and Purpose

In compliance with the Americans with Disability act, revised standards for public websites, this IFB addresses changes which impose increased technical standards on state and local governments for website and mobile app accessibility. Per the rule, state and local governments must comply with the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (“WCAG 2.1”) Level A and AA standards.

2.3 Contractor Responsibilities and Tasks

The Contractor shall provide the following to the State:

2.3.1 Remediation Activities (Core Services)

A. Remediate all forms supplied from the current state to a remediated version that meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

B. The remediated source documents should be returned so that SRA have access to make future updates to the compliant source document, requiring minimal or no additional pdf remediation effort when converting to a PDF for publishing on the web.

C. A Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF version of the remediated document is to be returned.

D. For any documents which may require re-work or reformatting which significantly changes the document in order to become compliant, the vendor should discuss the challenge and proposed solution with the Agency for agreement on a workable solution.

E. Remediated forms should be returned within 5 business days of submission.

F. Remediated source documents may be returned within 10 business days.

2.3.2 Accessibility Remediation Tasks

A. Accessibility Remediation must be in compliance with the WCAG 2.1 Level AA technical standards.

This standard includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Proper tagging structure (headings, lists, tables)

2. Reading order correction

3. Alt text for images, charts, and graphics

4. Color contrast adjustments (if applicable)

5. Form field labeling and tab order

6. Table header associations

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7. Bookmark creation

8. Language attributes

9. Removal of artifacts

10. OCR correction for scanned documents

2.3.3 File-Specific Remediation

A. The documents subject to remediation are primarily MS Word source documents, which are converted to PDF for publishing on the web (both source and PDF versions should be compliant), but may also include the following:

1. PDFs

i. PDF/UA compliant tagging

ii. Accessibility checks using PAC, Acrobat, and assistive tech

2. Microsoft Office

i. Styles and headings

ii. Accessible tables and charts

iii. Alt text

iv. Proper document structure before PDF conversion

2.3.4 Document Inventory & Volume

A. Estimated number of documents- 75 B. Page counts (per document and total) - Up to 300 pages (NTE) C. File formats and versions- PDFs, Spreadsheets and Word documents, including agency specific forms D. Source quality (born-digital vs. scanned) Source documents are primarily digital Microsoft Word format E. Language(s): English F. Complexity levels are varied: most forms layouts include a header with logo and fillable fields for user input, the notary section of forms is an image.

2.3.5 Quality Assurance & Testing

A. The vendor shall provide documentation of the accessibility report and scores from accessibility checking software, including but not limited to Adobe Acrobat, PDF Accessibility Checker, etc.

B. Additional Quality Assurance & Testing may include, but is not limited to:

1. Automated testing tools used

2. Manual inspection processes

3. Screen reader testing (e.g., NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)

4. Sampling methodology (e.g., 100% or %-based QA)

5. Error correction process

2.3.6 Deliverables

A. The vendor shall provide the following:

1. Fully remediated accessible documents

2. Original and remediated file versions

3. Accessibility conformance reports (ACR/VPAT if required)

1. Issue logs or remediation summaries

2. File naming and version control standards

B. The returned, remediated source documents should be returned so that additional updates to the compliant source document can be made.

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2.3.7 Standards & Compliance Requirements

A. The following requirements must be met:

1. WCAG 2.1 Level AA

2. Section 508

3. PDF/UA (ISO 14289)

4. ADA Title II/III (if applicable)

5. Client-specific branding or formatting rules

2.3.8 Roles & Responsibilities

A. The vendor assumes responsibility for the following:

1. Remediation of supplied documents to meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards to AA level;

2. Shall conduct QA testing

3. Shall provide reporting and documentation to reflect evidence of remediated documents to meet accessibility standards; and shall securely transmit the remediated documents, including source documents.

4. Secure file handling

B. SRA shall provide the following:

1. The vendor with the designated source files/documents at the agreed upon date for remediation;

2. Shall provide approval of remediated documents within 5 business days of receipt of file;

3. shall provide necessary files and information to ensure remediated forms include SRA approved style guide standards, including SRA branding.

2.3.9 Timeline & Milestones

A. The following is an estimate timeline:

1. Document intake and assessment by February 23, 2026.

2. Pilot remediation batch within 10 business days of document intake.

3. Full production remediation within 30 business days of document intake.

4. QA and revisions March 30, 2026.

5. Final delivery April 15, 2026.

2.3.10 Acceptance Criteria

Remediated documents are subject to successful testing of accessibility to meet WCAG 2.1 AA level accessibility standards. SRA shall sign off on received remediated documents and may return for correction within 5 business days if the document fails to meet automated or manual accessibility checks.

2.3.11 Pricing Structure

SRA shall only be charged a rate per page on documents submitted and returned after being processed; and may only be charged per page on documents that are remediated. Rush or priority fees on documents may be applied for documents submitted after the contracted date of the commencement of designated documents subject to full remediation.

2.4 Supplemental Category of Work Requirements and Responsibilities

2.4.1 Information Technology Security

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A. Contractors shall comply with and adhere to the State IT Security Manual, Policies and Standards.

These policies may be revised from time to time and the Contractor shall comply with all such revisions. Updated and revised versions of the State IT Policy and Standards are available online at:

Policies, Standards, and Guidelines.

B. The Contractor shall not connect any of its own equipment to a State LAN/WAN without prior written approval by the State as directed and coordinated with the Contract Monitor.

The Contractor shall:

1. For IT Security Policies and Standards that are no covered by the State IT Security Manual, the Contract shall Implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect State data that are no less rigorous than accepted industry best practices for information security such as those listed below (see Section 1.6.5)

2. Ensure that all such safeguards, including the manner in which State data is collected, accessed, used, stored, processed, disposed of and disclosed, comply with applicable data protection and privacy laws as well as the terms and conditions of the Contract; and

3. Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, State, and local laws, rules and regulations concerning security of Information Systems and Information Technology.

4. Ensure State data is not processed, transferred, or stored outside of the continental United States (“U.S.”). The Contractor shall provide its services to the State and the State’s end users solely from data centers in the U.S. Unless granted an exception in writing by the State, the Contractor shall not allow Contractor Personnel to store State data on portable devices, including personal computers, except for devices that are used and kept only at its U.S. data centers. Contractor Personnel may access State data remotely only as required to provide technical support and with the prior approval of the State.

5. Ensure that anti-virus and anti-malware software is installed and maintained on all systems and end points supporting the services provided under the Contract; that the anti-virus and anti-malware software is automatically updated; and that the software is configured to actively scan and detect threats to the system for remediation. The Contractor shall perform routine vulnerability scans and take corrective actions for any findings.

2.4.2 Required Project Policies, Guidelines and Methodologies

The Contractor must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines affecting Information Technology projects, which may be created or changed periodically. These include, but are not limited to:

Reference Regulations, Policies, Guidelines and Methodologies

A The State of Maryland System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology https://doit.maryland.gov/SDLC/Pages/agile-sdlc.aspx

B The State of Maryland Information Technology Security Policy and Standards at:

https://doit.maryland.gov/policies/Pages/ContractPolicies.aspx http://doit.maryland.gov/SDLC/Pages/agile-sdlc.aspx http://doit.maryland.gov/policies/Pages/ContractPolicies.aspx

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Reference Regulations, Policies, Guidelines and Methodologies

C The State of Maryland Information Technology Non-Visual Standards at:

https://doit.maryland.gov/policies/Pages/nva.asp

D The State of Maryland Information Technology Project Oversight at:

https://doit.maryland.gov/epmo/Pages/ProjectOversight.aspx

E The Contractor shall follow project management methodologies consistent with the most recent edition of the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide.

F Hardware and Software hardening procedures by Center for Internet Security (CIS) guides https://www.cisecurity.org/ or Security Requirements Guides (SRG) http://www.nist.gov

G

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS), “Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules”, FIPS PUB 140-3:

https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/fips/140/3/final https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/cryptographic-module-validation-program/fips-140- 3-standards

H Purchasing and Recycling Electronic Products https://dgs.maryland.gov/Pages/GreenPurchasing/Resources/Electronics.aspx https://doit.maryland.gov/policies/Pages/nva.asp http://doit.maryland.gov/epmo/Pages/ProjectOversight.aspx https://www.cisecurity.org/ http://www.nist.gov/ https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/fips/140/3/final https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/cryptographic-module-validation-program/fips-140-3-standards https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/cryptographic-module-validation-program/fips-140-3-standards https://dgs.maryland.gov/Pages/GreenPurchasing/Resources/Electronics.aspx

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3 Standard Terms and Conditions

3.1 Contract Initiation Requirements

Once all approvals have been obtained and the Contract is fully executed, the Procurement Officer may schedule a kickoff meeting to be held prior to commencement of Contract performance.

3.2 End of Contract Transition

The Contractor shall cooperate in the orderly transition of services from it to a subsequent contractor at the end of the contract term or upon receipt of a Notice of Termination from the State. Transition shall be provided in a prompt and timely manner and shall proceed in accordance with the schedule provided to the Contractor by the State in the Notice of Transition. Additional instructions regarding transition services may be provided in the event of a Notice of Termination issued by the State.

3.3 Invoicing

Submission of an invoice constitutes the Contractor’s verification that the information in the invoice is accurate as of the time of submission.

An invoice not satisfying the requirements of a Proper Invoice (as defined in COMAR 21.06.09) will not be processed for payment. To be considered a Proper Invoice, invoices must include the following information, without error:

A. Contractor name and address;

B. Remittance address;

C. Federal taxpayer identification (FEIN) number, social security number, as appropriate;

D. Invoice period (i.e. time period during which services covered by invoice were performed);

E. Invoice date;

F. Invoice number;

G. State assigned Contract number;

H. State assigned (Blanket) Purchase Order number(s);

I. Goods or services provided;

J. Amount due; and

K. Any additional documentation required by regulation or the Contract.

Invoices that contain both fixed price and labor hour or time and material items shall clearly identify each item as either fixed price, and labor hour, or time and material billing.

The State reserves the right to reduce or withhold Contract payment in the event the Contractor does not provide all required deliverables within the time frame specified in the Contract or otherwise breaches the terms and conditions of the Contract until such time as the Contractor brings itself into full compliance with the Contract.

The State is generally exempt from federal excise taxes, Maryland sales and use taxes, District of Columbia sales taxes and transportation taxes. The Contractor, however, is not exempt from such sales and use taxes and may be liable for the same.

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Invoices for final payment shall be clearly marked as “FINAL” and submitted when all work requirements have been completed and no further charges are to be incurred under the Contract. In no event shall any invoice be submitted later than 60 calendar days from the Contract termination date.

3.3.1 Invoice Submission Schedule

The Contractor shall submit invoices in accordance with the following schedule:

A. For items of work for which there is one-time pricing (see Attachment B –The Price Form), those items shall be billed in the month following the acceptance of the work by the State.

3.3.2 Travel Reimbursement

Travel will not be reimbursed under this IFB.

3.4 Liquidated Damages

3.4.1 MBE Liquidated Damages

Inapplicable because there is no MBE goal for this IFB.

3.4.2 Liquidated Damages other than MBE

This section is inapplicable to this IFB.

3.4.3 Problem Escalation Procedure

No later than ten (10) Business Days after notice of recommended award or after the date of the Notice to Proceed, whichever is earlier, the Contractor must provide, and thereafter, maintain a Problem Escalation Procedure (PEP) for both routine and emergency situations. The PEP must state how the Contractor will address problem situations as they occur during the performance of the Contract, especially problems that are not resolved to the satisfaction of the State within appropriate timeframes and must include:

A. Contact information B. The process for establishing the existence of a problem;

C. Names, titles, and contact information for progressively higher levels of personnel in the

Contractor’s organization who would become involved in resolving a problem;

D. For each individual listed in the Contractor’s PEP, the maximum amount of time a problem will remain unresolved with that individual before the problem escalates to the next contact person listed in the Contractor’s PEP;

E. Expedited escalation procedures and any circumstances that would trigger expediting them;

F. The method of providing feedback on resolution progress, including the frequency of feedback to be provided to the State;

G. Contact information for persons responsible for resolving issues after normal business hours

(e.g., evenings, weekends, holidays) and on an emergency basis; and H. A process for updating and notifying the Contract Monitor of any changes to the PEP.

I. The PEP must be updated within ten (10) Business Days after any change in circumstance which changes the PEP but not less than annually within ten (10) Business Days after the start of each Contract year .

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any rights of the Contract Monitor or the State which may be allowed by the Contract or applicable law.

3.5 Work Orders

THIS SECTION IS INAPPLICABLE TO THIS IFB.

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3.6 Payments by Electronic Funds Transfer

By submitting a Bid in response to this solicitation, the Bidder, if selected for award:

Agrees to accept payments by electronic funds transfer (EFT) unless the State Comptroller’s Office grants an exemption. Payment by EFT is mandatory for contracts exceeding $200,000. The successful Bidder shall register using the COT/GAD X-10 Vendor Electronic Funds (EFT) Registration Request Form.

Any request for exemption must be submitted to the State Comptroller’s Office for approval at the address specified on the COT/GAD X-10 form, must include the business identification information as stated on the form, and must include the reason for the exemption. The COT/GAD X-10 form may be downloaded from the Comptroller’s website at:

http://comptroller.marylandtaxes.com/Vendor_Services/Accounting_Information/Static_Files/GADX10Fo rm20150615.pdf.

3.7 Prompt Payment Policy

This procurement and the Contract(s) to be awarded pursuant to this solicitation are subject to the Prompt Payment Policy Directive issued by the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs (GOSBA) and dated August 1, 2008. Promulgated pursuant to Md. Code Ann., State Finance and Procurement Article, §§ 11-201, 13-205(a), and Title 14, Subtitle 3, and COMAR 21.01.01.03 and 21.11.03.01, the Directive seeks to ensure the prompt payment of all subcontractors on non-construction procurement contracts. The Contractor shall comply with the prompt payment requirements outlined in the Contract, Section 31 “Prompt Pay Requirements” (see Exhibit 2 - Sample Contract). Additional information is available on GOSBA’s website at:

http://www.gomdsmallbiz.maryland.gov/documents/legislation/promptpaymentfaqs.pdf.

3.8 Federal Funding Acknowledgement

This Contract does not contain federal funds.

3.9 Conflict of Interest Affidavit and Disclosure

The Bidder shall complete and sign the Conflict of Interest Affidavit and Disclosure (Attachment I) and submit it with its Bid.

By submitting a Conflict of Interest Affidavit and Disclosure, the Contractor shall be construed as certifying all Contractor Personnel and subcontractors are also without a conflict of interest as defined in COMAR 21.05.08.08A.

Additionally, a Contractor has an ongoing obligation to ensure that all Contractor Personnel are without conflicts of interest prior to providing services the Contract. For policies and procedures applying specifically to Conflict of Interests, the Contract is governed by COMAR 21.05.08.08.

Participation in Drafting of Specifications: Disqualifying Event: Bidders are advised that Md. Code Ann.

State Finance and Procurement Article §13-212.1(a) provides generally that “an individual who assists an executive unit in the drafting of specifications, an invitation for bids, a request for proposals for a procurement, or the selection or award made in response to an invitation for bids or a request for proposals, or a person that employs the individual, may not: (1) submit a bid or proposal for that procurement; or (2) assist or represent another person, directly or indirectly, who is submitting a bid or proposal for that procurement.”

Any Bidder submitting a Bid in violation of this provision shall be classified as “not responsible.”

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3.10 Non-Disclosure Agreement

3.10.1 Non-Disclosure Agreement (Bidder/Offeror)

A Non-Disclosure Agreement (Bidder/Offeror) is not required for this procurement.

3.10.2 Non-Disclosure Agreement (Contractor)

This solicitation and any Contract(s) are subject to the terms of the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) contained in this solicitation as Attachment S. This Agreement must be provided within five (5) Business Days of notification of recommended award; however, to expedite processing, it is suggested that this document be completed and submitted with the Bid.

3.11 Maryland Healthy Working Families Act Requirements

On February 11, 2018, the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act went into effect. All Bidders should be aware of how this Act could affect your potential contract award with the State of Maryland. See the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations website for Maryland Healthy Working Families Act Information: https://dllr.state.md.us/paidleave/.

3.12 The State of Maryland’s Commitment to Purchasing Environmentally Preferred Products and Services (EPPs)

Maryland’s State Finance & Procurement Article §14-410 defines environmentally preferable purchasing as “the procurement or acquisition of goods and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing goods or services that serve the same purpose.” Accordingly, Bidders are strongly encouraged to offer EPPs to fulfill this contract, to the greatest extent practicable.

3.13 Insurance Requirements

The Contractor shall maintain, at a minimum, the insurance coverages outlined below, or any minimum requirements established by law if higher, for the duration of the Contract, including option periods, if exercised:

3.13.1 The following type(s) of insurance and minimum amount(s) of coverage are required:

A. Commercial General Liability - One million dollars ($1,000,000) combined single limit per occurrence for bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury and one million dollars ($1,000,000) annual aggregate. The minimum limits required herein may be satisfied through any combination of primary and umbrella/excess liability policies.

B. Worker’s Compensation - The Contractor shall maintain such insurance as necessary or as required under Workers’ Compensation Acts, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, and the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, to not be less than. one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence (unless a state’s law requires a greater amount of coverage).

Coverage must be valid in all states where work is performed.

3.13.2 The State shall be listed as an additional insured on the faces of the certificates associated with the coverages listed above, including umbrella policies, excluding Workers’ Compensation Insurance and professional liability.

3.13.3 All insurance policies shall be endorsed to include a clause requiring the insurance carrier to provide the Procurement Officer, by certified mail, not less than 30 days’ advance notice of any non-renewal, cancellation, or expiration. The Contractor shall notify the Procurement Officer in writing, if policies are https://dllr.state.md.us/paidleave/ https://trackbill.com/bill/maryland-house-bill-629-environmentally-preferable-procurement-maryland-green-purchasing-committee/647077/

IFB for the Maryland State Retirement Agency Page 16 of 34 canceled or not renewed within five (5) days of learning of such cancellation or nonrenewal. The Contractor shall provide evidence of replacement insurance coverage to the Procurement Officer at least 15 days prior to the expiration of the insurance policy then in effect.

3.13.4 Any insurance furnished as a condition of the Contract shall be issued by a company authorized to do business in the State.

3.13.5 The recommended awardee must provide current certificate(s) of insurance with the prescribed coverages, limits and requirements set forth in this section within five (5) Business Days from notice of recommended award. During the period of performance for multi-year contracts, the Contractor shall provide certificates of insurance annually, or as otherwise directed by the Contract Monitor.

3.13.6 Subcontractor Insurance

The Contractor shall require any subcontractors to obtain and maintain comparable levels of coverage and shall provide the Contract Monitor with the same documentation as is required of the Contractor.

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4 Bid Submission Information and Instructions

4.1 eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) eMMA is the electronic commerce system for the State of Maryland. The IFB, Pre-Bid Conference (Conference)summary and attendance sheet, Bidders’ questions and the Procurement Officer’s responses, addenda, and other solicitation-related information will be made available via eMMA.

To receive a contract award, a vendor must be registered on eMMA. Registration is free. Go to emma.maryland.gov, click on “New Vendor? Register Now” to begin the process and then follow the prompts.

4.2 Electronic Means

The following transactions related to this procurement and any Contract awarded pursuant to it are not authorized to be conducted by electronic means:

A. Submission of Bond documents determined by the State to require original signatures; or

B. Any transaction, submission, or communication where the Procurement Officer has specifically directed that a response from the Contractor or Offeror be provided in writing or hard copy.

Any e-mail transmission is only authorized to the email addresses for the identified person as provided in the solicitation, the Contract, or in the direction from the Procurement Officer or Contract Monitor.

“Electronic means” refers to exchanges or communications using electronic, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or other means of electronically conducting transactions. Electronic means includes e-mail, internet-based communications, electronic funds transfer, specific electronic bidding platforms (e.g., https://procurement.maryland.gov), and electronic data interchange.

4.3 Pre-Bid Conference

If a Conference will be held, the date, time, and location is indicated on the Key Information Summary Sheet. Attendance at the Conference is not mandatory, but all interested parties are encouraged to attend in order to facilitate better preparation of their Bids.

4.4 Questions

All questions shall identify in the subject line the Solicitation Number and Title for this IFB and must be submitted in writing via e-mail to the Procurement Officer no later than the date and time specified in the Key Information Summary Sheet. The Procurement Officer, based on the availability of time to research and communicate an answer, shall decide whether an answer can be given before the Bid due date.

4.4.1 Answers to all questions that are not clearly specific only to the requestor will be distributed via the same mechanism as for IFB amendments and posted on eMMA.

4.4.2 The statements and interpretations contained in responses to any questions, whether responded to verbally or in writing, are not binding on the State unless it issues an amendment to the solicitation in writing.

4.5 Bid Due (Closing) Date and Time

Bids must be received by the Procurement Officer no later than the Bid due date and time indicated on the Key Information Summary Sheet to be considered. Except as provided in COMAR 21.05.02.10. Bids received after that date will not be considered. Requests for an extension of this date or time shall not be granted.

https://procurement.maryland.gov/

IFB for the Maryland State Retirement Agency Page 18 of 34

For Bids accepted via email, the time stamp to indicate receipt of the Bid by the State, is the posted date and time in the Procurement Officer’s email inbox.

Bids may be modified or withdrawn by written notice received by the Procurement Officer before the time and date set forth in the Key Information Summary Sheet for receipt of Bids.

Potential Bidders not responding to this solicitation are requested to submit the “No Bid/Proposal Notice/Vendor Feedback” form Attachment 1, which includes company information and the reason for not responding (e.g., too busy, cannot meet mandatory requirements).

4.6 Receipt, Opening and Recording of Bids

Upon receipt, each Bid and any timely modification(s) to a Bid shall be stored in a secure place until the time and date set for Bid opening. Before Bid opening, the State may not disclose the identity of any Bidder.

Bids shall be opened publicly at the time, date and place designated in the Key Information Summary Sheet.

The name of each Bidder, the Total Bid Price, and such other information as is deemed appropriate shall be read aloud or otherwise made available and recorded at the time of Bid opening.

4.7 Duration of Bids

Bids submitted in response to this IFB are irrevocable for the latest of the following: 120 days following the Bid due date and time or the date any protest concerning this IFB is finally resolved. This period may be extended at the Procurement Officer’s request only with the Bidder’s written agreement.

4.8 Revisions to the IFB

4.8.1 All revisions to the IFB before the due date for Bids will be published in an addendum to the IFB and posted on eMMA and reasonable effort will be made to provide such addenda to all prospective Bidders that were sent this IFB or are otherwise known by the Procurement Officer to have obtained this IFB. It is the responsibility of all prospective Bidders to check eMMA for any addenda issued prior to the submission of Bids.

4.8.2 Bidders shall acknowledge in the Bid the receipt of all addenda to this IFB issued before the Bid due date.

4.8.3 Failure to acknowledge receipt of an addendum does not relieve the Bidder from complying with the terms, additions, deletions, or corrections set forth in the addendum, and may cause the Bid to be deemed not responsive.

4.9 Cancellations

4.9.1 This IFB may be cancelled as provided in COMAR 21.06.02.02

4.9.2 The State reserves the right to cancel this IFB, accept or reject any and all Bids, in whole or in part, received in response to this IFB and to waive or permit the cure of minor irregularities.

4.9.3 In the event a government entity proposes and receives the recommendation for award, this procurement may be canceled, and the award processed in accordance with COMAR 21.01.03.01.A(4).

4.9.4 If the services that are the subject of the IFB are currently being provided under an interagency agreement with a public institution of higher education and the State determines that the services can be provided more cost effectively by the public institution of higher education, then the IFB may be canceled in accordance with Md. Code Ann., State Finance and Procurement Art., § 3-207(b)(2).

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4.10 Incurred Expenses

The State will not be responsible for any costs incurred by any Bidder in preparing and submitting a Bid or performing any other activities related to submitting a Bid in response to this solicitation.

4.11 Protest/Disputes

Any protest or claim related to this IFB or the Contract award hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of COMAR 21.10 (Administrative and Civil Remedies).

4.12 Bidder Responsibilities

4.12.1 A Bidder, either directly or through its subcontractor(s), must be able to provide all goods and services and meet all of the requirements requested in this solicitation and the successful Bidder (the Contractor) shall remain responsible for Contract performance regardless of subcontractor participation in the work.

4.12.2 If the Bidder is the subsidiary of another entity, all information submitted by the Bidder, including but not limited to references, financial reports, or experience and documentation (e.g., insurance policies, bonds, letters of credit) used to meet minimum qualifications, if any, shall pertain exclusively to the Bidder, unless the parent organization will guarantee the performance of the subsidiary. If applicable, the Bidder’s Bid shall contain an explicit statement, signed by an authorized representative of the parent organization, stating that the parent organization will guarantee the performance of the subsidiary.

4.12.3 A parental guarantee of the performance of the Bidder under this section will not automatically result in crediting the Bidder with the experience or qualifications of the parent under any evaluation criteria pertaining to the actual Bidder’s experience and qualifications. Instead, the Bidder’s responsibility will be assessed to the extent to which the State determines that the experience and qualifications of the parent are applicable to and shared with the Bidder, any stated intent by the parent to be directly involved in the performance of the Contract, and the value of the parent’s participation as determined by the State.

4.13 Acceptance of Terms and Conditions

By submitting a Bid in response to this IFB, the Bidder, if selected for award, is deemed to have accepted the terms and conditions of this IFB and the Contract, attached hereto as Exhibit 2 – Sample Contract. Any questions or exceptions to this IFB or the Contract must be submitted by the “Questions Due Date and Time” prior to Bid submission. Changes to the solicitation, including the Bid Form or Contract, made by the Bidder may result in Bid rejection.

4.14 Compliance with Laws/Arrearages

By submitting a Bid in response to this IFB, the Bidder, if selected for award, agrees that it will comply with all federal, State, and local laws applicable to its activities and obligations under the Contract.

By submitting a response to this solicitation, each Bidder represents that it is not in arrears in the payment of any obligations due and owing the State, including the payment of taxes and employee benefits, and shall not become so in arrears during the term of the Contract if selected for Contract award.

4.15 Verification of Registration and Tax Payment

Before a business entity can do business in the State, it must be registered with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). SDAT is located at State Office Building, Room 803, 301 West Preston Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. For registration information, visit https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/.

https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/

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It is strongly recommended that any potential Bidder complete registration prior to the Bid due date and time.

The Bidder’s failure to complete registration with SDAT may disqualify an otherwise responsive successful Bidder from final consideration and recommendation for Contract award.

4.16 False Statements

Bidders are advised that Md. Code Ann., State Finance and Procurement Article, § 11-205.1 provides as follows:

In connection with a procurement contract a person may not willfully:

A. Falsify, conceal, or suppress a material fact by any scheme or device;

B. Make a false or fraudulent statement or representation of a material fact;or C. Use a false writing or document that contains a false or fraudulent statement or entry of a material fact.

A person may not aid or conspire with another person to commit an act under this section.

A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years or both.

4.17 Confidentiality of Bids / Public Information Act Notice

The Bidder should give specific attention to the clear identification of those portions of its Bid that it considers to contain confidential and/or proprietary commercial information or trade secrets, and provide justification why such materials, upon request, should not be disclosed by the State under the Public Information Act, Md. Code Ann., General Provisions Article, Title 4. This information should be identified by page number and placed in the Transmittal Letter with the Bid.

The Bids shall be tabulated or a Bid abstract made. The opened Bids shall be available for public inspection at a reasonable time after Bid opening, but in any case before contract award, except to the extent the Bidder designates trade secrets or other proprietary data to be confidential as set forth in this solicitation. Material so designated as confidential shall accompany the Bid and shall be readily separable from the Bid to facilitate public inspection of the non-confidential portion of the Bid, including the Total Bid Price.

For requests for information made under the PIA, the Procurement Officer shall examine the Bids to determine the validity of any requests for nondisclosure. Nondisclosure is permissible only if approved by the Office of the Attorney General.

4.18 Use of Bidder’s Form Not Binding on State

The Bidder may not substitute, modify, or provide any other document in lieu of the documents provided with this Bid. Only those forms and documents provided with this solicitation and by the Procurement Officer will be considered acceptable as bid submission.

4.19 Attachments and Documents Required with the Bid (Table A) A Bidder shall include the following Attachments with its Bid as a single Bid Package:

Attachments A through C= Bid will be rejected if the required Attachment is not submitted or is incomplete.

Attachments D through R = Bid may be rejected if the required Attachment is not submitted or is incomplete.

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TABLE A - Attachments and Documents Required with the Bid

Attachment Attachment Name

A

Bid/Proposal Affidavit A Bid submitted by the Bidder must be accompanied by a completed Bid/Proposal

Affidavit.

https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-A.-

Bid-Proposal-Affidavit.pdf

B

The Price Form (as specified within eMMA) Do not alter this Price Form or the Bid may be determined to be not responsive. The

Price Form must be signed and dated, where requested, by an individual who is authorized to bind the Bidder to the prices entered on the Bid Form.

(See Appendix 2 for specific Price Form Instructions.)

C Bid Bond

Not Applicable

D MBE Forms D-1A

Not Applicable

E Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Form E-1A

Not Applicable.

F Bidder Information Sheet https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-F.- Bidder-Offeror-Information-Sheet.pdf

G Maryland Living Wage Requirements Affidavit of Agreement

(for Services and Facilities Maintenance Contracts - See Appendix 6 for Details) Not Applicable

H Federal Funds Attachments

Not Applicable

I

Conflict of Interest Affidavit and Disclosure https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-I.-

Conflict-of-Interest-Affidavit.pdf Note: If this solicitation will result in the “selection of a contractor who will assist a unit in the formation, evaluation, selection, award, or execution of another State contract” the Bidder shall provide this Affidavit and other times as requested by the Procurement

Officer.

J Mercury Affidavit

Not Applicable

K Location of the Performance of Services Disclosure https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-A.-Bid-Proposal-Affidavit.pdf https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-A.-Bid-Proposal-Affidavit.pdf https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-F.-Bidder-Offeror-Information-Sheet.pdf https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-F.-Bidder-Offeror-Information-Sheet.pdf https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-I.-Conflict-of-Interest-Affidavit.pdf https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-I.-Conflict-of-Interest-Affidavit.pdf

IFB for the Maryland State Retirement Agency Page 22 of 34

TABLE A - Attachments and Documents Required with the Bid

Attachment Attachment Name

Not Applicable

L

Reference Checks (Each reference shall be from a customer for whom the Bidder has provided goods or services within the most recent past five years) https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-L.-

Reference-Checks.pdf

M List of Current or Prior State Contracts https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-M.- List-of-Current-or-Prior-State-Contracts.pdf

N Legal Action Summary https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-N.- Legal-Action-Summary.pdf

O Payment of Employee Healthcare Expenses Certification

Not Applicable

P

Prime Contractor List of ALL Subcontractors Anticipated/Used During Contract

Q Labor Resume Form

Not Applicable

R Corporate Diversity Addendum

Additional Required Documents with the Bid

Financial Capability. The Bidder must include in its Bid a commonly-accepted method to prove its fiscal integrity.

If available, the Bidder shall include Financial Statements, preferably a Profit and Loss (P&L) statement and a Balance Sheet, for the last two (2) years (independently audited preferred).

In addition, the Bidder may supplement its response to this Section by including one or more of the following with its response:

● Dun & Bradstreet Number and Rating;

● Standard and Poor’s Rating;

https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-L.-Reference-Checks.pdf https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-L.-Reference-Checks.pdf https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-M.-List-of-Current-or-Prior-State-Contracts.pdf https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-M.-List-of-Current-or-Prior-State-Contracts.pdf https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-N.-Legal-Action-Summary.pdf https://procurement.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/07/Attachment-N.-Legal-Action-Summary.pdf

IFB for the Maryland State Retirement Agency Page 23 of 34

● Lines of credit;

● Evidence of a successful financial track record; and

● Evidence of adequate working capital.

Minimum Qualifications Documentation. The Bidder shall submit any Minimum Qualifications documentation that may be required, as set forth in IFB Section 1. If references are required in IFB Section 1, those references shall be included in Attachment L. Reference Checks.

Acknowledgement of all addenda to this IFB.

4.20 Bid Delivery Instructions

Each Bidder shall submit its Bid Package as specified below.

Bids shall only be accepted via the State’s internet-based electronic procurement system, eMMA.

Bidders shall provide their Bids in one submission through eMMA following the Quick Reference Guides (QRG) labeled “4 - eMMA QRG Responding to Solicitations (IFB)” for single envelope submissions.

4.21 Bid Evaluation Criteria and Award Basis

The Bids will be evaluated based on the Total Bid Price, as per COMAR 21.05.02.13. All Bids will be ranked from the lowest (most favorable) to the highest (least favorable) price based on the Total Bid Price as submitted in its Bid.

A Contract shall be awarded to the responsible Bidder(s) submitting a responsive Bid with the most favorable Bid Price or most favorable evaluated Bid Price for providing the goods and services as specified in this IFB.

The award for this solicitation will be made by lot to the responsive and responsible Vendor with the lowest price, as determined by the Procurement Officer to be in the best interests of the State of Maryland.

Award of this contract will not be final and complete until after: (1) the Contractor submits complete and satisfactory documentation required under the Contract and/or documentation required by the Procurement Officer; and (2) the Contract is signed by the Agency following any approvals of the Contract required by law or regulation.

4.22 Tie Bids

Tie Bids will be decided pursuant to COMAR 21.05.02.14.

4.23 Reciprocal Preference

Although…