DQ EFAA 27-170 Carbon Managment Zones Consulting.docx

Documented Quote

DQ EFAA 2027000170

Carbon Management Zones Consulting

DQ EFAA 27-170

November 6, 2026

Version 42225

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Appendices Appendix A: Purchase Order Terms and Conditions Appendix B: Vendor Disclosure Statement Appendix C: Accessibility Vendor Document Checklist Appendix D: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure and Use Requirements Appendix E: Required Data Formats Appendix F: Documentation & Metadata Standards

1.

SOLICITATION INFORMATION

A. Introduction On behalf of the State of Colorado, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is issuing this Carbon Management Zones Consulting Documented Quote (DQ) to identify a qualified respondent for professional consulting services to aggregate, clean, and provide data to the State of Colorado’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) for implementation into the Thermal Opportunity Mapping (TOM) platform. The awarded Respondent is primarily responsible for the identification, collection, aggregation, cleaning, and structured handover of relevant data information layers in coordination with OIT onto a public ArcGIS platform. The awarded Respondent will not be tasked with developing the informational platform.

This solicitation is being published so that qualified respondents may submit a response in accordance with the terms of this solicitation. Please review all materials and appendices before responding.

B. Background The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that annual global carbon emissions are expected to exceed the carbon budget required to limit warming to 1.5°C, and that carbon management will be necessary to reduce climate pollution and avoid the worst effects of climate change. The State of Colorado defines Carbon Management in HB23-1210 as any of the following: carbon dioxide removal, carbon capture, carbon sequestration or storage, or carbon utilization.

Colorado state lawmakers recognized the acute need for the rapid deployment and scaling of carbon management technologies. Through HB23-1210, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) was directed to develop a Carbon Management Roadmap to provide guidance on how carbon management may support the State’s carbon emissions targets, promote economic gains, and drive Colorado-based job growth—including transition opportunities for the fossil fuel workforce and reducing health risks associated with climate change. Additionally, the Roadmap provides guidance to further Colorado’s goals to promote environmental justice and equity through its work to decarbonize, catalyze the development of carbon management markets, and position Colorado as a leader in the field. The Carbon Management Roadmap, released in 2025, identified 68 valuable recommendations to support Carbon Management across the state.

One key recommendation is the creation of Carbon Management Zones (CMZ), which combines many suggestions from the Roadmap together with a comprehensive data synthesis and mapping initiative. The Carbon Management Zones initiative will use existing data and resources at the centralized state level to identify areas in the state well-suited for various types of carbon management based on access to feedstocks, clean electricity, CO2 storage, infrastructure, and more. In particular, this initiative highlights opportunities for:

· Direct Air Capture (DAC)

· Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS)

· Mineralization

· Soil-based carbon storage

· Forest management

· Co-location, shared infrastructure, and CO2 rights-of-way / pipeline corridors C. Key stakeholders working with the CEO To establish a centralized carbon management baseline and repository, active technical coordination with and synthesis of data from multiple state entities is required.

i. Colorado Energy Office (CEO): Oversees statewide decarbonization initiatives and the Carbon Management Roadmap implementation. CEO provides data on the Industrial Decarbonization Blueprint (including Industrial Cluster Analysis and planned decarbonization activities), Geothermal awards and plans, grid capacity and decarbonization data, existing and planned carbon management projects, Data for Progress public sentiment data, federal funding allocations, and Thermal Opportunity Map data. CEO will provide an initial bank of datasets collected from state agencies and serve as the primary contract administrator.

ii. Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC): Regulates geologic carbon storage across Colorado’s basins. ECMC provides data and research pertaining to geologic carbon storage, current and planned Class VI well locations, relevant Class VI or Class V wells, and CO2 flowlines.

iii. Colorado Geological Survey (CGS): Serves as a repository for geological data. CGS provides data on potential geologic storage formations (e.g., saline aquifers, deep saline basins) and relevant geologic and salinity data.

iv. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE): Provides relevant current and projected decarbonization plans associated with GEMM (Greenhouse Gas Emission Model/Market) facilities and market, as well as findings from the Technical Working Group: Carbon Capture and Storage Accounting Protocol.

v. Public Utilities Commission (PUC / DORA): Provides spatial data on curtailed renewables, electric grid infrastructure, transmission lines, transmission Rights-of-Way (ROW) without existing lines, substation capacities, and existing and planned CO2 pipelines.

vi. Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS): Provides data on abandoned mine sites with ownership information, mineralization feedstocks (including volumes and ownership data), mine waste tailing locations, and pit lake locations.

vii. Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA): Provides data on agricultural residues, soil carbon data, areas/farms/ranches engaging in soil carbon projects, and land-use maps.

viii. Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) & Colorado State University (CSU): Provide biomass inventory data, wildfire mitigation plans, data on beetle kill or forest management to identify future biomass sources, wood product analysis, potential alternative biomass sources (such as dairy manure), and data on soil carbon/forest service programs.

ix. Colorado State Land Board (SLB): Provides land ownership data and planned/existing projects across SLB lands to evaluate deployment opportunities.

x. Office of Information Technology (OIT): Coordinates with CEO and the awarded Respondent to receive appropriately formatted data layers to build, host, and design the public-facing web GIS platform on ArcGIS D. Overview and Goals The State requires the delivery of high-quality, structured, and cleaned datasets ready for seamless implementation into a Carbon Management Zones platform. The awarded Respondent is responsible for aggregating and standardizing diverse agency datasets into one usable, editable spatial catalog.

All data deliverables must ensure high levels of accuracy, documentation, and compliance with State of Colorado documentation and metadata standards as outlined in Appendices E and F. The awarded Respondent will focus on creating standardized data packages, ensuring all personally identifiable information (PII) is removed, and providing complete metadata and attribute schemas necessary for integration into a GIS visualization tool.

E. Anticipated Term

i. The anticipated term of the Purchase Order resulting from the award of this solicitation is expected to begin as soon as a State issued Purchase Order is in place and is not expected to go beyond June 30, 2027.

ii. Although the State does not anticipate the Purchase Order to go beyond June 30, 2027, the State, at its discretion, reserves the right to extend the term of the PO beyond the anticipated term in accordance with the Colorado Procurement Code, and in the event that the State determines an extension is necessary.

iii. Any Purchase Order executed as a result of this award may be amended to include additional work that naturally follows the work detailed in this solicitation. Prior to adding any such work, the State will ensure that the work should not otherwise be competitively solicited and that the cost of the work is fair and reasonable.

iv. The State is not responsible for any goods delivered or services performed by the awarded Respondent without a State issued Purchase Order.

F. Schedule of Activities This Schedule of Activities is for information and planning purposes only. Activities listed as “Estimated” may be subject to change depending on the needs of the State. All times are stated in Mountain Time (MT), as adjusted for daylight savings.

i. The date of publication for this solicitation on Colorado VSS is November 6, 2026.

ii. Written inquiries must be submitted, via email, to tara.larwick@state.co.us no later than 5 PM on November 13, 2026.

iii. The estimated date for the State’s responses to Respondent’s written inquiries to be published on Colorado VSS is November 19, 2026.

iv. All quotes must be submitted in the method described below no later than December 4, 2026, at 5 PM.

v. The estimated date for award selection and notification is December 14, 2026.

vi. The desired Purchase Order start date is January 15, 2026, or as soon as a State-issued Purchase Order is in place.

G. Procurement Point of Contact

i. The State’s sole point of contact for this solicitation is Tara Larwick, Procurement Specialist, who may be reached via email at tara.larwick@state.co.us.

ii. Because phone lines may not be consistently monitored, email is the preferred method of communication. The individual listed above is the sole point of contact for this solicitation. Initiating contact with anyone other than this individual may result in Respondent disqualification.

H. Respondent Inquiries

i. Respondents may submit written inquiries via email concerning this solicitation to obtain clarifications. The State, in its sole discretion, may or may not accept inquiries received after the date and time indicated in the Schedule of Activities.

ii. Send all inquiries to the Procurement Point of Contact listed above. Inquiries should be clearly marked with the solicitation number and title. Where appropriate, inquiries should include references to any relevant Section and paragraph of the solicitation.

iii. Responses to Respondent inquiries will be published on Colorado VSS collectively, as an amendment to the solicitation. Respondents shall not rely on any verbal statements that alter any specification or other term or condition of the solicitation. Such changes are valid only if provided in writing by the Procurement Contact.

2. REQUIREMENTS

A. Accessibility Requirements

i. All work performed as a result of this solicitation must comply with all applicable provisions of §§24-85-101, C.R.S., et seq., and the Accessibility Standards for Individuals with a Disability, as established by the Office Of Information Technology pursuant to §24-85-103 (2.5), C.R.S. and 3) all State of Colorado technology standards related to technology accessibility and with Level AA of the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), incorporated in the State of Colorado technology standards.

ii. To be considered accessible, the following are required: Applications, websites, kiosks and digital documents are required to meet the applicable provisions of §24-85-101, C.R.S. This means that digital content like PDF documents and webpages are accessible to assistive technologies like screen readers and magnification programs, and websites and applications are robust and do not prevent users of a variety of devices, browsers, and operating systems from accessing all functionality intended for use by the public or a State of Colorado employee. For more information, review OIT's accessibility resources and OIT's dedicated Accessible PDF and Documents page

iii. The final deliverables must follow Accessibility guidelines in line with HB21-1110. State of Colorado vendors and bidders are required to demonstrate that information technology provided to the State of Colorado, including digital content, conforms to or addresses the most current version of the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), level AA success criteria. Respondents may do so by providing either of the following:

a. An independent, third-party evaluation from an accessibility consultancy

b. A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). If a VPAT is used, it must use the VPAT 2.5 template, which is based on WCAG 2.1 level A/AA. The Information Technology Industry Council offers a VPAT 2.5 WCAG template (download).

vii. Additional resources include:

a. Accessible Website Content: How To

b. Accessible Online Content QA Checklist

c. How-to guides B. Insurance Requirements The awarded Respondent will be required to submit a certificate(s) of insurance evidencing insurance coverage for the types and amounts of insurance as required by the Insurance provision in the Purchase Order Terms and Conditions, included in this solicitation as Appendix A, prior to execution of the Purchase Order.

C. AI Governance and Compliance Any use of Artificial Intelligence in the fulfillment of the resulting Purchase Order is governed by the Colorado Energy Office’s policies (for further guidance see Appendix D: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure and Use Requirements). Awarded Respondent(s) will be expected to maintain rigorous alignment with these standards to ensure the security, ethical use, and integrity of all State work products.

D. Highly Desired/Preferred Qualifications The following highly desired/preferred requirements should be verifiable and clearly documented in the awarded Respondent’s response:

i. demonstrated experience with geospatial analysis and database development with open-source tools.

ii. demonstrated experience working with state agencies

iii. demonstrated Engineering background/experience with carbon management technologies

iv. demonstrated experience compiling similar datasets

3. SCOPE OF WORK (SOW)/SPECIFICATIONS

To achieve the objectives noted above, the awarded Respondent shall perform the following tasks and provide the following deliverables to the CEO, each being subject to the CEO’s final approval and discretion.

A. General Scope of Work Mandates and Constraints

i. Geographic Scope: All work completed must only be geographically focused in Colorado. Even if geological basins span multiple states, the work for this project cannot extend beyond State borders.

ii. The awarded Respondent shall allow at least one (1) week for CEO’s review of deliverables and one (1) week for the awarded Respondent to incorporate edits. Building in at least two additional weeks for the full review process will ensure deadlines are met.

iii. Quality Control & Technical Review: The awarded Respondent must provide documentation that all work done was checked by at least one other subject matter expert for quality control and technical review prior to submission.

B. Task 1 – Project Management & Administration

i. Task 1 Description/Subtasks

a. Task 1.1 Kickoff Meeting Within two (2) weeks of Purchase Order execution, organize and facilitate a 60-to-90-minute web-conference or in-person kickoff call with the CEO. The agenda shall be co-created and pre-approved by the CEO.

b. Task 1.2 Project Tracking Resource Establish a shared project tracking resource (document, sheet, or platform) to communicate progress, milestones, and roadblocks. The tracking resource will be made available to the CEO at all times and will be used as a resource to review the developments of the project during Task 1. 3.

c. Task 1.3 Biweekly / Monthly Coordination Calls Hold biweekly coordination calls with the CEO (or monthly as determined in writing by the CEO).

d. Task 1.4 Monthly Reports & Invoicing Submit monthly progress reports and invoices. The report must summarize work performed, schedule status, budget spent/remaining by task, unanticipated roadblocks, and next steps.

e. Task 1.5 Quality Control Attestation Each monthly report must include a formal attestation and documentation proving that all work submitted was reviewed and verified by at least one secondary subject matter expert (SME) for technical accuracy and quality control.

ii. Task 1 Key Deliverables and Timelines

a. Task 1.1 Kickoff Meeting: Kickoff Meeting Agenda, Visual Aids, and Minutes. Send meeting summary and notes to the CEO within five (5) business days following the meeting.

b. Task 1.2 - Project Tracking Resource: The Shared Project Tracking Resource shall be shared with the CEO within ten (10) business days of Purchase Order execution. Updates to the tracking resource will occur on an as-needed basis.

c. Task 1.3 – Biweekly / Monthly Coordination Calls: Biweekly Agendas and Call Summaries. Provide agendas to the CEO one (1) business day prior to each call and meeting minutes within two (2) business days post-call.

d. Task 1.4 - Monthly Reports & Invoices: Monthly Progress Reports, Invoices shall be submitted no later than the 10th day of each subsequent month. Invoices shall be submitted each month with the monthly progress report. In the case there is no invoice for a given month, which must be approved by the CEO in advance since the CEO expects the Awarded Respondent to invoice monthly, the Awarded Respondent is still responsible for submitting a monthly report indicating no work was done.

e. Task 1.5 Quality Control Attestation: A written Quality Control Attestations shall be submitted with monthly reports detailed in Task 1.4.

C. Task 2 – Agency Coordination and Mapping Prioritization This initial phase ensures lockstep coordination across State agencies in leveraging existing datasets and defining the framework for Carbon Management Zones.

i. Task 2 Description/Subtask

a. Task 2.1 - Interagency Coordination & Implementation Plan: Collaborate with CEO, ECMC, CGS, CDPHE, PUC, DRMS, CDA, CSFS, CSU, SLB, and federal/national lab partners to establish an implementation plan for identifying, collecting, prioritizing, and managing data collection.

b. Task 2.2 - Feedstock, Pathways & Infrastructure Inventory: Compile a comprehensive inventory of carbon management pathways (DAC, BiCRS, Mineralization, Soil Carbon, Forest Management, Geologic Sequestration) detailing feedstock requirements, energy demands, land/geologic requirements, and infrastructure needs.

c. Task 2.3 - Prioritization & Feasibility Criteria Framework: Develop a ranked assessment and technical criteria framework to weigh and filter data points. Criteria must include:

i. Scale of available resources (e.g., energy availability, feedstock volumes, estimated geologic storage capacity)

ii. Likely usability of the resource

iii. Weight factors complicating usability (e.g., salinity risk of geologic storage, biomass aggregation challenges)

iv. Surrounding grid and pipeline infrastructure

v. Technical and economic feasibility (incorporating vendor/industry feedback)

vi. Regulatory, community sentiment, and environmental justice considerations

d. Task 2.4 - Informational Interviews:

i. Conduct targeted informational interviews with designated representatives from each relevant state agency to capture qualitative insights regarding data updates, community sentiment, untapped deployment opportunities, and regulatory or technical roadblocks.

ii. Conduct a minimum of five (5) interviews with active carbon management companies to ensure the project captures all data needed for citing decisions.

iii. Craft preliminary interview questions pre-approved by the CEO, record all interviews for quality assurance, invite the CEO program manager, and provide a summary memo detailing key takeaways.

ii. Task 2 Key Deliverables and Timeline

a. Task 2.1 - Implementation Plan & Data Strategy: A plan detailing the agency coordination strategy, data access protocols, and management plan.

b. Task 2.2 - Pathway & Feedstock Inventory Catalog: A preliminary catalog of carbon pathways, feedstocks, storage sinks, and required infrastructure.

c. Task 2.3 - Prioritized Criteria Framework: Formal documentation of weighting factors, technical criteria, and tiering logic (Green-Yellow-Red).

d. Task 2.4 - Informational Interview Summary Package: List of approved interviewees and questions, audio/video recordings, and a summary report of agency and industry takeaways.

Timeline: A first draft of all Task 2 deliverables will be due to the CEO by 9, 2027. Final drafts of all deliverables will be due no later than 2, 2027.

D. Task 3 – Interagency Dataset Aggregation, Cleaning, and Zone Tiering Use the priority framework from Task 2.3 to perform detailed data collection, cleaning, standardization, and tiering calculations.

i. Task 3 Description/Subtask

a. Task 3.1 - Interagency Dataset Aggregation & Cleaning: Compile, clean, standardize, and format all relevant carbon management datasets from State agencies (CEO, ECMC, CGS, CDPHE, PUC, DRMS, CDA, CSFS, CSU, SLB) and federal sources. Standardize coordinate systems, unit representations, and remove all PII. The CEO will provide an initial dataset bank and assist with agency access. The CEO must preapprove all datasets prior to finalization.

b. Task 3.2 - Carbon Management Zone Tiering & Feasibility Analysis: Apply engineering assumptions and the Task 2 criteria to calculate viable capacity and categorize opportunities across the state into a Green-Yellow-Red ranking methodology. This includes evaluating suitable zones for DAC, BiCRS, Mineralization, Soil Carbon, Forest Management, Geologic Storage, co-location opportunities, and potential CO2 pipeline corridor Rights-of-Way.

c. Task 3.3 - Data Architecture & Handover Package: Organize all spatial and tabular data into one editable, centralized catalog ready for OIT or state implementation. Document clear categorization separating fixed data from dynamic/frequently changing data.

d. Task 3.4 - Futureproofing & Maintenance Strategy: Formulate technical recommendations and automated workflows (e.g., APIs, automated data ingestion scripts) for long-term database management and state updates. Include geoprocessing and UX design suggestions.

e. Task 3.5 - Data Lineage & Processing Guide: Create an accessible, concise (maximum 5 pages) "Step 1 to Step Done" user guide documenting data sources, original formats, cleaning logic, and integration steps.

f. Task 3.6 –Task 3.6 (Optional) Meeting with Colorado OIT: If necessary, the CEO will host a meeting between the awarded Respondent, the CEO, and OIT to speak about dataset translation to the mapping tool.

ii. Task 3 Key Deliverables and Timeline -

a. Task 3.1 - Standardized Data Packages: Cleaned, standardized spatial datasets delivered in native ESRI formats compliant with Appendices E and F.

b. Task 3.2 - Zone Methodology & Feasibility Tiering Report: Technical report detailing calculations, Green-Yellow-Red ranking logic, pathway suitability, and recommended CO2 pipeline corridors.

c. Task 3.3 - Editable Master Spatial Catalog: Centralized GIS database containing spatial data, coordinate systems, properties, and criteria attributes.

d. Task 3.4 - Future-Proofing Framework & Source Code: Architecture document outlining API/automation strategies and all applicable source coding.

e. Task 3.5 - Data Lineage "Step 1 to Step Done" Guide: Accessible 5-page processing summary.

f. Task 3.6 - Meeting with Colorado OIT: As requested by the CEO, the awarded Respondent will participate in meetings between the awarded Respondent, the CEO, and OIT to discuss dataset translation to mapping tool. A list of the outstanding adjustments, and the completion of adjustments to the dataset requested by OIT should be provided to the CEO within 7 business days of the meeting.

Timeline: A first draft of all Task 3 deliverables will be due provided to the CEO by , 2027. Final deliverables will be due no later than April , 2027. The timeline for the optional 3.6 task will be determined by the CEO and may occur in late April / early May.

E. Task 4 – Spatial Analysis, Case Studies, and Recommendations

i. Task 4 Description/Subtask Demonstrate practical application by evaluating specific Carbon Management Zones, co-location opportunities, and long-term State recommendations.

a. Task 4.1 - Pathway Siting Recommendations: Deliver comprehensive recommendations on the best locations across Colorado to host each carbon management pathway based on data layers, tiering, and agency input. Identify specific co-location hubs and shared infrastructure opportunities.

b. Task 4.2 - High-Potential Zone Case Studies: Select and receive pre-approval from the CEO of 2–4 high-potential Carbon Management Zones to perform deep-dive technical and economic feasibility analysis (e.g., feedstock availability, energy interconnect, piping/transportation cost estimates, regulatory/permitting regimes).

c. Task 4.3 - State Policy & Roadmap Support Memo: Synthesize findings into a formal policy memo supporting the 68 recommendations of the Carbon Management Roadmap and State decarbonization goals.

ii. Task 4 Deliverables and Timeline

a. Task 4.1 - Statewide Zone Siting & Co-Location Report: Detailed recommendations and ranking filtering system for project deployment.

b. Task 4.2 - Zone Case Studies Analysis: Pre-approval of 2-4 zones to explore further, and the technical, business, and cost-estimate analysis for 2–4 selected target zones/corridors.

c. Task 4.3 - Policy & Roadmap Alignment Memo: Summary memo connecting spatial findings to state regulatory and roadmap goals.

Timeline: First draft of all Task 4 deliverables due , 2027. Final deliverables due , 2027.

F. Task 5 - Carbon Management Pathway Briefs Bidders must explicitly state in their proposal if their proposed budget accommodates this optional task. This task will be approved by the CEO prior to beginning the task.

a. Create concise 2 to 3-page summary briefs for each carbon management pathway (DAC, BiCRS, Mineralization, Soil Carbon, Forest Management, Geologic Storage).

b. Outline ideal deployment locations, data insights, regulatory and permitting regimes in target zones, and insights from local government to assist project developers.

Timeline: ,2027.

G. Acceptance Criteria Unless otherwise noted above, the awarded Respondent shall submit all deliverables to the CEO for feedback before final approval. If needed, deliverables will be returned to the awarded Respondent for modification before they are considered complete and reimbursement is made. The CEO anticipates that prior to submission, all deliverables shall go through an internal quality assurance process and as such shall reflect the requirements of this Scope of Work.

The CEO shall determine whether deliverables meet the Work Task requirements in this Scope of Work. The awarded Respondent shall submit all final deliverables to the CEO by the dates established in the tasks described in this Scope of Work for final review and approval.

H. Budget Federal funds are being provided by the CEO through its Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Planning Grant. The budgeted funds set aside for this project are $150,000. Quotes over this amount will not be accepted. Although the maximum budget available for this Purchase Order is $150,000, it is expected that Respondents will give their best competitive price, as price is the primary (although not ONLY) consideration in award determination.

I. Payment Payments shall be made on a fixed fee per deliverable basis upon the State’s acceptance of milestones and submission of a corresponding monthly invoice and activity report and in accordance with the provisions set forth in the PO. The State shall pay the awarded Respondent the reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs for work performed based on satisfactory progress of the work defined in the resulting State-issued PO.

The awarded Respondent shall invoice based on satisfactory completion of deliverables and shall be compensated only for work and services performed by the awarded Respondent and accepted by the CEO pursuant to the terms of the resulting PO. Payment shall be contingent upon the CEO’s timely receipt and acceptance of required reports and invoices as described above. The awarded Respondent shall be reimbursed no more than once a month based on the submission of the awarded Respondent invoice and progress report.

The monthly progress report will provide details of the work performed on each task or deliverable. The progress report shall substantiate the amounts on the invoice for each task/deliverable. The awarded Respondent shall bill by task on an hourly basis for Tasks outlined above.

4. QUOTE SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Email Quote Submission Instructions

i. Respondents shall submit Quotes via email to the Procurement Point of Contact identified above. The Quote submission email should include the subject line “Quote submission from (Insert Respondent Name) for DQ EFAA 2027000XXX, Carbon Management Zones Consulting.

ii. Quotes should be included as one or more attachments of commonly accessible file types.

B. Timeliness of Quote Submission A Quote received after the submission deadline may, at the sole discretion of the State, be rejected without further consideration.

C. Quote Format and Content Respondent’s response shall contain the following information, in the order and format provided below. Responses should be no longer than 15 pages in total, not including resumes, example documents to illustrate Respondent’s past project experience, or attachments.

i. Executive Summary The Respondent shall furnish an Executive Summary to introduce the Respondent’s firm and its qualifications and to provide a general overview of the Respondent’s response. Provide the same information for any subcontractors. The Executive Summary must address each of the following in the order presented:

a. The Executive Summary must include Company name and address (local if available), business type (e.g. non-profit, consulting, etc.), full contact information for response inquiries, and description of services.

b. The Executive Summary should include a statement confirming that the Respondent’s firm has no real or potential conflict of interest that would prevent your firm from acting in the best interest of the CEO. If a situation exists that might be construed as a potential conflict of interest, please note the situation and explain why it is not a conflict of interest.

c. The Executive Summary should include a statement confirming Respondent’s acceptance and ability to comply with the AI Governance and Compliance requirements of Section 3.C.

(a) If the Respondent does not use AI in any capacity, they should state that here.

(b) If AI is used in any capacity, Respondents should include that information in their response to the section below on Work Plan and Roles.

d. Any exceptions, additions, or modifications to the Scope of Work or to this Documented Quote must be summarized in the Executive Summary and further detailed under the Work Plan and Roles section below and noted in the Costs section as appropriate.

e. Any exceptions to the State’s Purchase Order terms and conditions must be detailed in the Executive Summary.

f. Include completed Appendix B: Vendor Disclosure Statement

g. Include completed Appendix C: Accessibility Vendor Document Checklist

ii. Accessibility Requirements Respondents shall make a statement indicating their acceptance and ability to comply with the accessibility requirements detailed in Section 2.A., Accessibility Requirements of this solicitation. Respondents shall also complete and submit Appendix C: Accessibility Vendor Document Checklist with your response.

iii. Organizational and Personnel Qualifications Describe the expertise and relevant project experience of key team members, and how the expertise of the lead team members meets or exceeds the qualifications necessary to successfully complete the project. Respondents shall attach resumes of key team members involved in this project (resumes not counted as part of the page limit).

iv. Project Experience Describe at least two (2) previous work products that closely resemble the services being requested in this scope of work. The examples may differ in scope from the work tasks outlined herein; however, it must be similar to be satisfactory to the CEO. The Respondent’s response shall clearly describe the previous experience, including the time frames, a description of the work deliverables completed, engagement methods, project results, and total project cost from the example project(s).

If there are relevant reports, materials, or case studies which summarize previous experience, these may be included as attachments (which are not counted as part of the page limit).

The Respondent shall also provide a reference for each project, including phone number and email address. References should be someone unrelated to the Respondent who has personal knowledge of the total project and all outcomes.

v. Work Plan and Roles Provide a work plan and explain the specific roles and responsibilities of each team member in the completion of the project. The work plan shall describe in detail how the Respondent will perform all tasks including, but not limited to, a timeline for completing the project, key development stages that include periodic CEO review of progress, and ongoing engagement methods. The work plan should state explicitly how the Respondent will accomplish the deliverables for each task and subtask in addition to how all work product deliverables will comply with Section 2. A. Accessibility Requirements. If the Respondent recommends additions or changes to the Scope, they should be described here. As appropriate, the Respondent shall include strategies for data collection, quality control, timely delivery, and other key elements that will lead to a successful effort.

If the Respondent uses AI tools, include the types of AI tools used, how these AI tools are used, and how you intend to use AI to accomplish the work required under this project. Include a detailed description of your organization's policies and procedures for human oversight and quality control of AI-assisted work products including identifying which personnel will review AI-assisted deliverables prior to submission and any relevant subject matter expertise, how the firm ensures confidential client data is protected when using AI tools and any enterprise agreements or data and handling protocols in place. Describe how the verification and factchecking process your firm uses ensures accuracy of AI-assisted research and analysis. Please note that certain information may be considered confidential by the State. Describe how you would ensure sensitive/confidential information would be identified and protected from being entered into an AI platform.

vi. Costs

a. This is a firm-fixed-rate engagement. The budget has been set for this project and therefore cannot exceed $150,000. Responses over this amount will not be accepted. Funding is provided by the State solely on a reimbursement basis.

b. The State requests that Respondents submit their most competitive pricing as cost is the prime consideration.

c. As part of its submission the Respondent must provide a detailed cost proposal labeled "PROJECT BUDGET" containing:

(a) Task Budget Breakdown: Itemized labor and deliverable costs mapped across Task 1, Task 2, Task 3, Task 4, and Optional Tasks 5

(b) Budget Narrative: Detailed explanation of hourly rates, estimated labor hours per task/subtask, and direct expenses

(c) Payment Schedule: awarded Respondent shall bill monthly on a task-by-task hourly or deliverable-milestone basis upon receipt and acceptance by CEO of deliverables, monthly progress reports, and SME quality attestations. Invoices and monthly reports shall be due no later than the 10th day of every month

d. If travel and per diem costs are anticipated, the Respondent should include those costs in the total proposed pricing. Any travel and per diem costs for Respondent’s staff travel relating to performance of services shall be determined in accordance with State Fiscal Rule 5-1, as amended. It is expected that the travel rate for labor hours will be billed at half the full rate.

e. Proposed pricing must remain firm during the term of the Purchase Order.

f. Pricing must include any applicable fees associated with the delivery of goods or services, including, but not limited to, shipping and installation, if applicable.

5. AWARD

A. Basis for Award (See Procurement Rule R-24-103-204-01)

i. This solicitation and the resulting Purchase Order will be awarded to the responsible Respondent whose acceptable Quote is determined to be the most advantageous to the State, with price/cost being the primary consideration. Other considerations may include, but are not limited to, sample quality, and lead time for delivery.

ii. “Acceptable” means that the goods or services submitted in the Respondent’s Quote will meet the state’s needs, and that the price is fair and reasonable. The determination of whether a Respondent’s Quote is acceptable is solely within the State’s discretion.

B. Negotiations The State may negotiate with any Respondent to clarify the Respondent’s Quote or to effect modifications that will make the Quote Acceptable or more advantageous to the State; however, any requirements identified in this solicitation may not be negotiated. Reference Procurement Rule R-24-103-204-01(d).

C. Single Quote If only one Quote is received in response to this solicitation, an award may be given to the single Respondent if the procurement official finds that the price submitted is fair and reasonable and that other prospective Respondents had reasonable opportunity to respond to the solicitation. If the price submitted is not fair and reasonable and there is not adequate time for re-solicitation, the procurement official may enter into competitive negotiations in accordance with Procurement Rule R-24-103-208-02.

D. Notice of Award A notice of the intent to award will be announced on Colorado VSS.

E. Documents After Award Prior to Purchase Order execution, the awarded Respondent must provide the State with proof of Good Standing with the Colorado Secretary of State and an insurance certificate documenting coverage as required by the Purchase Order.

6. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

A. Colorado Vendor Self Service This solicitation is being published on Colorado Vendor Self Service (Colorado VSS), so that Offerors who have an interest may submit a response in accordance with the terms of this solicitation.

Vendors can self-register for this system free of charge or may click on “Public Access” on the website to view solicitation documents and modifications without registering. Vendors are encouraged but not required to register prior to or at the time they submit their response. The State also recommends that interested vendors check Colorado VSS on a regular basis throughout this solicitation process.

B. Modifications and/or Supplemental Information to Solicitation

i. Any modifications, amendments or supplemental information to the solicitation will be published on Colorado VSS. A modification notice will be published on Colorado VSS in the event that it becomes necessary to revise any part of this solicitation.

ii. It is the Respondent’s sole responsibility to check Colorado VSS on a regular basis, prior to the Quote submission deadline, as this is the primary means for communicating any clarifications or changes to solicitation content, timeline and/or requirements.

C. Solicitation Cancellation and/or Rejection of Quotes

i. In accordance with §24-103-301, C.R.S., and the related Procurement Rules, the State may cancel this solicitation, or any and all Quotes may be rejected in whole or in part, without penalty, at any time before a purchase order is executed, when it is in the best interest of the State. The reason and documentation supporting the decision to cancel the solicitation or reject Quote(s) shall remain confidential for the lesser of six months or until a purchase order is awarded by the State. Reference Procurement Rule R-24-101-401-05.

ii. If the solicitation is canceled after Quotes are received, the Quotes that have been opened shall be retained in the procurement record, or if unopened, they will be disposed of or returned to the Respondent upon request at the Respondents’ expense.

D. Modifications or Withdrawal of Quotes A Respondent may modify or withdraw its Quote by written notice to the Procurement Contact prior to the established Quote submission deadline. Withdrawal of a Respondent’s Quote following the Quote submission deadline and prior to award, may be allowed, at the State’s discretion. Withdrawal of a Respondent’s Quote after award is not allowed. Reference Procurement Rules R-24-103-201-08 and R-24-103-201-09.

E. Mistakes and Minor Informalities in Respondent Quotes In certain circumstances, a Respondent may correct a mistake(s) in its Quote and/or the State may waive minor informalities. Reference Procurement Rule R-24-103-201-08.

F. News Releases and Announcements Respondents shall not issue any news releases, communications or announcements of any kind pertaining to this solicitation, without prior written approval by the State.

G. Not a Legally Binding Offer Neither this solicitation nor a Respondent’s Quote submitted in response to this solicitation constitute a legally binding offer. Reference Procurement Rule R- 24-103-204-01(b).

H. Respondent Quote Content The contents of the Quote of the awarded Respondent and any modifications to the Quote negotiated by the State included in the resulting Purchase Order will become contractual obligations. Failure of the awarded Respondent to accept these obligations may result in cancellation of the award to that Respondent.

I. Quote Response Material Ownership All material submitted in response to this solicitation becomes property of the State.

J. Certification of Independent Price Determination By submitting a Quote, the Respondent certifies that the prices and other terms in the Quote have been arrived at independently without any consultation, communication, agreement with, or knowledge of the contents of the Quote by any other competing Respondent. For purposes of this paragraph, "consultation, communication, agreement with, or knowledge" does not include knowledge of prices or terms gained through availability of established price lists or catalogues made available to the public by the competing Respondents. No attempt has been made or will be made by the Respondent to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit a Quote for restricting competition. Reference §6-4-101, C.R.S., et seq., (Colorado Antitrust Act of 1992) as amended.

K. Submission of Confidential or Proprietary Information

i. The State of Colorado is subject to the requirements of §24-72-200.1, C.R.S., et seq., Colorado Open Records Act.

ii. A Respondent may submit, as a part of its Quote, a written request for classification of certain portions of the Quote as a trade secret or other confidential or proprietary information. Material for which the Respondent is requesting confidentiality shall be readily identifiable and separated from other portions of the Quote to facilitate public inspection of the non-confidential portion of the Quote. Commingling of confidential and non-confidential information is not acceptable. Neither price information nor any information that will be included in a resulting purchase order will be considered confidential.

iii. The Respondent must include the rationale for any request to classify portions as a trade secret or confidential or proprietary, including references to the authority that allows such treatment.

iv. A complete redacted Quote response should also be included along with an unredacted Quote and confidentiality justification.

v. In no event shall an entire Quote be classified as confidential. The Procurement Official or his or her designee shall determine if the information identified in the Respondent’s request is exempt from disclosure in accordance with §24-72-204, C.R.S., and shall inform the Respondent in writing of his or her determination. If the Respondent does not agree with the determination, the Respondent may protest the determination in accordance with article 109 of the Colorado Procurement Code and the terms of this solicitation. Reference Procurement Rule R-24-101-401-03.

vi. Any additional Respondent information, which may be part of the evaluation/negotiation process and for which a Respondent claims confidentiality, is subject to the same requirements and processes identified above.

L. Modifications to the State Purchase Order

i. The State Purchase Order terms and conditions are included in Appendix A to this solicitation.

ii. Respondents are instructed to review the attached State Purchase Order Terms and Conditions and submit any proposed modifications or redlines with their Quote. The decision to reject, accept, or further negotiate any requested changes will be at State’s discretion. If a Respondent normally seeks counsel on Purchase Order terms, they are advised to do so before submitting a Quote in response to this solicitation.

iii. In the event that a Respondent’s requested modifications violate State law, regulation, or policy, or would otherwise not be justifiable as being in the best interest of the State, the State may make a determination that a Respondent’s Quote is no longer acceptable and therefore ineligible for award.

M. Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

i. The Respondent must disclose in its Quote any potential or actual conflict of interest in connection with a response to this solicitation. A conflict of interest may include, but is not limited to, access to any non-public information by the Respondent regarding the solicitation or its subject matter.

ii. The Respondent acknowledges that even the appearance of a conflict of interest may be harmful to the State’s interests. The Respondent shall disclose in its Quote whether there currently is, or potentially could be, the appearance of a conflict of interest regarding this solicitation, its staff, any proposed subcontractors or partners, or any related business with the State.

iii. Requirements set forth in this Section are continuing requirements throughout the solicitation process and, for the Awarded Respondent, the Purchase Order term, including any extensions. Reference §24-18-201, C.R.S., et seq. (Proscribed Acts Related to Contracts and Claims); §24-50-507, C.R.S.(Conflict of Interest); §18-8-301, C.R.S., et seq. (Bribery and Corrupt Influence); §18-8-401, C.R.S., et seq. (Abuse of Public Office); §6-4-101, C.R.S., et seq., (Colorado Antitrust Act of 1992); §24-109-105, C.R.S.(Debarment and Suspension); and Procurement Rule R-24-101-107-01 (Ethics).

N. Protested Solicitations and Awards An aggrieved party may file a protest concerning a Material Issue(s), at any phase of solicitation, including but not limited to, specifications, award or a disclosure of information marked confidential in the Quote. “Material issue” means a nontrivial defect in the solicitation or award that would prejudice the outcome of the procurement. The presence of multiple nonmaterial issues in a solicitation or award does not constitute a material issue unless the aggrieved party can establish that those nonmaterial issues together would prejudice the outcome of the procurement.” The protest shall be submitted to the Governor’s Office Procurement Director, State of Colorado, ATTN: Sara Graf within three (3) business days after such aggrieved person knows, or should have known, of the facts giving rise thereto. Reference §24-109-102, C.R.S., as amended, and Procurement Rule R-24-109-102-01, et seq. Protests should be submitted via email to Sara Graf, Governor’s Office Procurement Director, sara.graf@state.co.us.

O. Performance Outside of Colorado The awarded Respondent, per Section 24-102-206, C.R.S., shall using, Appendix B: Vendor Disclosure Form, disclose in a written statement whether it anticipates performing…