FootCareRFR2025 Final (MR).pdf

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Attached to
Footcare For Veterans
Solicitation number
BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857
Issued by
Hampden County, Massachusetts

About this file

This is a Request for Response (RFR) issued by the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke seeking a Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN) to provide foot care services to veteran residents. The RFR (#FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857) was issued on February 25, 2025, with responses due by March 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM. The contract will have an initial term of 2 years with three 1-year renewal options, for a maximum potential term of 5 years. Services requested include routine nail care, reduction of corns/calluses, treatment of dystrophic/pathological nails, range of motion improvement, and therapeutic touch. The contractor must provide their own equipment and follow facility infection prevention protocols.

The contract will be awarded to a single contractor through a fee-for-service model, with separate rates required for routine visits and complex visits. The contractor must maintain insurance coverage of $1,000,000 per incident and $3,000,000 aggregate. Performance requirements include seeing a minimum of 9 veterans per week and 36 per month, with comprehensive foot examinations provided to 95% of residents quarterly. This is designated as a Limited User Contract restricted to use by the issuing entity only. The estimated value is listed as TBD. Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) participants will receive preference in the award process if they meet the best value criteria.

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Updated: August XX, 2021

ISSUE DATE: February 25,2025

Purchasing Department The Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke

Address 110 Cherry Street City, State Zip Code Holyoke, Ma 01040 Procurement Contact Person Angelo Proietti Telephone Number 413-552-4787 Fax Number 413-532-0606 E-Mail Address angelo.proietti@mass.gov RFR Name/Title RFR Footcare Nurse 2025 RFR Number FOOTCARE2025RFR COMMBUYS Bid Number BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

1. Description or Purpose of Procurement:

Established in 1952, the Veterans Home at Holyoke (VHH), is a long-term health care facility available to eligible veterans of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

VHH’s mission is to provide the highest quality personal health care services to Commonwealth veterans with dignity, honor, and respect. In line with this mission, VHH seeks licensed, experienced, and qualified Bidders to provide nursing staff (Certified Foot Care Nurse) who will administer routine foot and nail care to our Veteran residents. Please see additional information below for details of this request for response (RFR).

2. Applicable Procurement Law

Check Appropriate

Box (“X”):

Type of Purchase Applicable Laws

Executive Branch Goods and Services Goods and Services MGL c. 7, § 22; c. 30, § 51, § 52; 801 CMR

21.00

X Human and Social Services MGL c. 7, § 22, § 22N; c. 30, § 51, § 52; 801

CMR 21.00; 808 CMR 1.00

Legal Services MGL c. 30, § 51, § 52 and § 65; c. 7, § 22;

and 801 CMR 21.01(2) (b)

Grants MGL c. 7A, § 7; St. 1986 c. 206, § 17; 815

CMR 2.00

3. Acquisition Method:

Check All Applicable (“X”): Category

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE

[Foot Care Nurse 2025]

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

X Fee-For-Service

Outright Purchase

Rental (not to exceed 6 months)

Term Lease

License

Other:

4. Whether Single or Multiple Contractors are Required for Contract:

Check One (“X”):

X Single Contractor

Multiple Contractors

a. Estimated Number of Awards

The target maximum number of Contractors is One; the Purchasing Department may award more or fewer contracts, if it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth to do so.

b. Adding Contractors after initial Contract Award

If, over the life of the contract, the Purchasing Department determines that additional Contractors may be added, these may be drawn from qualified companies that responded to this Solicitation and not awarded Contracts. If necessary to meet the requirements of the Commonwealth, the Solicitation may be reopened to obtain additional Bids.

5. Entities Eligible to Use the Resulting Contract

Check One (“X”): Eligible Entities Limited User Contract – Restricted to Use by Defined Entities Only. Any Contract(s) resulting from this Bid will be open for use by the issuing Purchasing Department and the following other entities:

X Limited User Contract – Restricted to Use by Issuing Entity Only.

6. Expected Duration of Contract (Initial Duration and any Options to Renew):

Contract Duration Number of Options Number of

Years/Months

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

Initial Duration

2 years

Renewal Options

3 options to renew 1 year each

Total Maximum Contract Duration

5 years

7. Anticipated Expenditures, Funding, or Compensation:

Estimated Value of Procurement: $TBD

8. Contract Performance and Business Specifications:

8.1 Scope of Services to include but are not limited to:

The Vendor will provide a Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN). Exceptions will be made for nurses working towards certification.

The responsibilities of the CFCN include but are not limited to: trimming nails, reduce corns and calluses, reduce dystrophic/pathological nails, debride nails, reduce hard/thickened skin, improve range of motion, use therapeutic touch, evaluate shoes and padding for proper fit

The Vendor will provide their own equipment which include but is not limited to: electric nail file and necessary foot care tools in a puncture resistant clean tote, and disinfected tools packaged in unit dose clean bags upon arrival.

Vendor will be responsible for high level disinfection of all tools consistent with current industry and licensing standards.

Vendor will work with designated VHH staff to develop job flows that meet the needs of all parties.

Vendor’s staff will participate in annual VHH infection prevention training.

Vendor will follow VHH policies as well as COVID vaccination requirements mandated by the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Vendor will also be required to follow all VHH staff testing cadence.

Vendor must maintain insurance coverage of $1,000,000 per incident and $3,000,000 aggregate.

Vendor will be screened for TB by VHH occupational health team.

The awarded Vendor will provide two (2) separate rates for: Routine Visits and Complex Visits.

Each visit is defined as follows:

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

Routine Visit=Inspection/Cleaning/Trimming/Use of therapeutic touch/Evaluate shoes for proper fit.

Complex Visit=Ingrown toenail/reduction of dystrophic/pathological nails/reduction of hard/thickened skin.

8.2 Documentation/Metrics:

CFCN documents visit assessments/patient recommendations in EMR The Vendor’s staff will electronically remit documentation securely to designated VHH staff for print within 72 hours of visit (excluding weekends and holidays) The Vendor must submit quarterly performance measures reports to the VHH’s Quality

Department during the first week of the beginning of the subsequent quarter.

Fiscal Terms:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is tax exempt, and payments are issued through EFT 45 days from invoice receipt. Contractors requesting accelerated payments must identify a Prompt Pay Discount on the PPD form and include with their submission. Invoices are to be sent electronically to The Veterans Home at Holyoke’s business office at SHH.Business@mass.gov.

Performance Measures:

CFCN will visit, at minimum, 9 veterans per week.

CFCN will visit, at minimum, 36 veterans per month.

Footcare will be provided to veterans on a recurring basis at minimum frequency of every 12 weeks.

A comprehensive foot examination with the provision of evidence-based care will be provided to 95% of the veterans residing at VHH at least quarterly except for Veterans who prefer their private podiatrist for regular footcare or decline footcare.

Vendor staff will provide education to VHH staff twice per year regarding the risk factors and diseases contributing to foot complications, importance of foot assessments and care, with related interventions to improve quality of life.

Veterans seen will be referred to podiatry/dermatology/wound care by the CFCN if any assessment outside their scope of practice is assessed during their visit.

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

Vendor will engage with VHH in dialogue regarding any incidents or injuries incurred in the course of providing services.

Pathological nails assessment will be measured on a scale and tracked for improvement over time (scale needs to be a number where a higher number is worst and lower number is better)

Compression devices properly applied to veteran when being assessed (number of Veterans not applied correctly/ Number of veterans with compression devices)

Percent of veterans that are referred to Podiatry (number of veterans referred / number of veterans assessed)

Tracking of veterans who develop infections post 72 hours after treatment Percent of veterans that are referred for a change of footwear (number of footwear recommendations / number of veterans assessed)

9. Small Business Purchasing Program

Program Background

The Massachusetts Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) was established pursuant to Executive Order 599 to increase state contracting opportunities with small businesses having their principal place of business within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Pursuant to the SBPP, it is the intention of the issuing department to award this Small Procurement to one or more SBPP participating business(es) as described below.

SBPP Award Preference

While all businesses, no matter the size or principal place of business, may submit responses to this solicitation, should an SBPP participant respond and meet the best value criteria as described in this solicitation, the SBPP participant shall be awarded the contract. The Strategic Sourcing Services Team (SSST) will not evaluate submissions from non-SBPP participants unless no SBPP Bidder meets the SSST’s best value evaluation criteria.

SBPP Participation Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in this procurement as an SBPP participant, an entity must meet the following criteria, and be marked as an SBPP-registered business in COMMBUYS:

1. Have its principal place of business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

2. Been in business for at least one year;

https://www.mass.gov/sbpp https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-599-reaffirming-programs-to-ensure-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-for-diverse-and-small-massachusetts-businesses-in-state-procurement-and-contracting https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-599-reaffirming-programs-to-ensure-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-for-diverse-and-small-massachusetts-businesses-in-state-procurement-and-contracting https://www.commbuys.com/bso/

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

3. Employ a combined total of 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees in all locations, or employees work less than a combined total of 26,000 hours per quarter; and

4. Have gross revenues, as reported on appropriate tax forms, of $15 million or less, based on a three-year average.

Non-profit firms also must be registered as a non-profit or charitable organization with the MA Attorney General’s Office and be up to date with all filings required by that office and be tax exempt under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.

SBPP Compliance Requirements

It is the responsibility of the Bidder to ensure that their SBPP status is current at the time of submitting a response and throughout the life of any resulting contract. Misrepresentation of SBPP status will result in disqualification from consideration, and may result in debarment, contract termination, and other actions. To learn more about the SBPP, including how to apply, visit the SBPP Webpage.

Program Resources and Assistance

Bidders and Contractors seeking assistance regarding SBPP may visit the SBPP webpage, http://www.mass.gov/sbpp, or contact the SBPP Help Desk at sbpp@mass.gov.

Best Value Selection and Negotiation. The Procurement Management Team or PMT (also known as Strategic Sourcing Team or SST) may select the response(s) which demonstrates the best value overall, including proposed alternatives that will achieve the procurement goals of the department. If services are not rate regulated, the PMT and a selected bidder, or a contractor, may negotiate a change in any element of contract performance or cost identified in the original RFR or the selected bidder’s or contractor’s response, which results in a more cost effective or better value.

Bidder Communication. Bidders are prohibited from communicating directly with any employee of the procuring department or any member of the PMT regarding this RFR except as specified in this RFR, and no other individual Commonwealth employee or representative is authorized to provide any information or respond to any question or inquiry concerning this RFR. Bidders may contact the contact person for this RFR in the event this RFR is incomplete, or the bidder is having trouble obtaining any required attachments electronically through COMMBUYS.

http://www.mass.gov/sbpp http://www.mass.gov/sbpp mailto:sbpp@mass.gov

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

Contract Expansion. If additional funds become available during the contract duration period, the department reserves the right to increase the maximum obligation or the number of units purchased to some or all contracts executed as a result of this RFR or to execute contracts with contractors not funded in the initial selection process, subject to available funding, satisfactory contract performance, and service need.

Costs. Costs which are not specifically identified in the bidder’s response and accepted by a department as part of a contract, will not be compensated under any contract awarded pursuant to this RFR. The Commonwealth will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by bidders responding to this

RFR.

Debriefing. Non-successful bidders may request a debriefing from the department that issued the RFR.

Department debriefing procedures may be found in the RFR. Non-successful POS bidders aggrieved by the decision of a department must participate in a debriefing as a prerequisite to an administrative appeal.

Debriefing/Appeals: Administrative Appeals to Departments. POS requirement only. Non-successful bidders who participate in the debriefing process and remain aggrieved with the decision of the department may appeal that decision to the department head. Department appeal procedures may be found in the RFR.

Requests for a Departmental appeal must be sent to the attention of the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke, Purchasing Department, Room 046 Attention: Angelo Proietti, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 and be received within fourteen (14) calendar days of the postmark of the notice of the department head’s decision on appeal. Appeal requests must specify the specific grounds for appeal based on the evaluation criteria in this RFR.

Debriefing/Appeals: Administrative Appeals to OSD. POS requirement only. Non-successful bidders who participate in the department appeal process and remain aggrieved by the selection decision of the department may appeal the department’s decision to the Operational Services Division. The basis for an appeal to OSD is limited to the following grounds:

1. The competitive procurement conducted by the department failed to comply with applicable regulations and guidelines. These would be limited to the requirements of 801 CMR 21.00 or any successor regulations, the policies in the OSD Procurement Information Center, subsequent policies and procedures issued by OSD, and the specifications of the RFR; or

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

2. There was a fundamental unfairness in the procurement process. The allegation of unfairness or bias is one that is easier to allege than prove, consequently, the burden of proof rests with the bidder to provide sufficient and specific evidence in support of its claim. OSD will presume that departments conducted a fair procurement absent documentation to the contrary.

Requests for an appeal must be sent to the attention of the Operational Services Division, Legal and Compliance Office, Room 1608, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108 and be received within fourteen (14) calendar days of the postmark of the notice of the department head’s decision on appeal.

Appeal requests must specify in sufficient detail the basis for the appeal. Sufficient detail requires a description of the published policy or procedure which was applied and forms the basis for the appeal and presentation of all information that supports the claim under paragraphs 1 or 2 above. OSD reserves the right to reject appeal requests based on grounds other than those stated above or those submitted without sufficient detail on the basis for the appeal.

The decision of the Operational Services Division shall be rendered, in writing, setting forth the grounds for the decision within sixty (60) calendar days of receipt of the appeal request. Pending appeals to the Operational Services Division shall not prohibit the department from proceeding with executing contracts.

Electronic Communication/Update of Bidder’s/Contractor’s Contact Information. It is the responsibility of the prospective bidder and awarded contractor to keep current on COMMBUYS the email address of the bidder’s contact person and prospective contract manager, if awarded a contract, and to monitor that email inbox for communications from the PMT, including requests for clarification. The PMT and the Commonwealth assume no responsibility if a prospective bidder’s/awarded contractor’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the prospective bidder’s/awarded contractor’s computer, network or internet service provider (ISP) cause email communications sent to/from the prospective bidder/awarded contractor and the PMT to be lost or rejected by any means including email or spam filtering.

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). All Bidders must agree to participate in the Commonwealth Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) program for receiving payments. Additional information about EFT is available on the Comptroller’s Vendor Web site located at:

https://massfinance.state.ma.us/VendorWeb/vendor.asp.

https://massfinance.state.ma.us/VendorWeb/vendor.asp

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

Upon notification of award, Contractors are required to enroll in EFT by completing and submitting the “Authorization for Electronic Funds Payment Form” to the SST for review, approval, and forwarding to the Office of the Comptroller, unless already enrolled in EFT. A copy of the form will be supplied to the successful bidder upon award. This form, and all information contained on this form, shall not be considered a public record and shall not be subject to public disclosure through a public records request.

Executive Order 509, Establishing Nutrition Standards for Food Purchased and Served by State Agencies.

Food purchased and served by state agencies must comply with Executive Order 509, issued in January 2009. Under this Executive Order, all contracts resulting from procurements posted after July 1, 2009, that involve the purchase and provision of food must comply with nutrition guidelines established by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). The nutrition guidelines are available at the Department’s website: Executive Order # 509 Guidance.

Filing Requirements. Successful bidders must have electronically uploaded their Uniform Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's Report (UFR), as required for current contractors, with the Operational Services Division to the UFR eFiling application for the most recently completed fiscal year before a contract may be executed and services begin. Other contractor qualification/risk management reporting requirements and non-filing consequences promulgated by secretariats or departments pursuant to 808 CMR 1.04(3) also may apply. In the event immediate services are required by a department, a contract may be executed and services may begin with the approval of OSD or the appropriate secretariat. However, unless authorized by OSD or the appropriate secretariat, the contractor will not be paid for any such services rendered until the UFR has been filed.

HIPAA: Business Associate Contractual Obligations. Bidders are notified that any department meeting the definition of a Covered Entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) will include in the RFR and resulting contract sufficient language establishing the successful bidder’s contractual obligations, if any, that the department will require to comply with HIPAA and the privacy and security regulations promulgated thereunder (45 CFR Parts 160, 162, and 164) (the Privacy and Security Rules). For example, if the department determines that the successful bidder is a business associate performing functions or activities involving protected health information, as such terms are used in the Privacy and Security Rules, then the department will include in the RFR and resulting contract a sufficient description of business associate’s contractual obligations regarding the privacy and security of the protected health information, as listed in 45 CFR 164.314 and 164.504 (e), including, but not limited to, the bidder's obligation to: implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that reasonably and appropriately protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the protected health information (in whatever form it is maintained or used, including verbal communications);

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857 provide individuals access to their records; and strictly limit use and disclosure of the protected health information for only those purposes approved by the department. Further, the department reserves the right to add any requirement during the course of the contract that it determines must be included in the contract to comply with the Privacy and Security Rules. Please see other sections of the RFR for further HIPAA details, if applicable.

Minimum Quote (Bid Response) Duration. Bidders’ Quotes made in response to this Bid must remain in effect for at least 90 days from the date of quote submission.

Public Records. All responses and information submitted in response to this RFR are subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L., c. 66, s. 10, and to c. 4, s. 7, ss. 26. Any statements in submitted responses that are inconsistent with these statutes shall be disregarded.

Reasonable Accommodation. Bidders with disabilities or hardships that seek reasonable accommodation, which may include the receipt of RFR information in an alternative format, must communicate such requests in writing to the contact person. Requests for accommodation will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. A bidder requesting accommodation must submit a written statement which describes the bidder’s disability and the requested accommodation to the contact person for the RFR. The PMT reserves the right to reject unreasonable requests.

Restriction on the Use of the Commonwealth Seal. Bidders and contractors are not allowed to display the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Seal in their bid package or subsequent marketing materials if they are awarded a contract, because use of the coat of arms and the Great Seal of the Commonwealth for advertising or commercial purposes is prohibited by law.

Subcontracting Policies. Prior approval of the department is required for any subcontracted service of the contract. Contractors are responsible for the satisfactory performance and adequate oversight of their subcontractors. Human and social service subcontractors also are required to meet the same state and federal financial and program reporting requirements and are held to the same reimbursable cost standards as contractors.

Workplace Violence Prevention and Crisis Response Plan. 101 CMR 19.00, Workplace Violence Prevention and Crisis Response Plan, governs the procedures and criteria for workplace violence prevention and response plans for programs that provide direct services to clients that are operated, RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857 licensed, certified, or funded by a department, commission, office, board, division, institution, or other entity within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services under M.G.L. c. 6A § 16. Any direct service program that contracts with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) or the constituent agencies of EOHHS must comply with 101 CMR 19.00, including having a plan that meets the criteria set forth in 101 CMR 19.04, which is updated annually, available electronically, and provided to any human service worker upon request. The regulations and response plan guidelines are available at the following web site: https://www.mass.gov/regulations/101-CMR-1900-workplace-violence-prevention-and-crisis-response-plan-0.

10. Environmentally Preferable Products

Products and services purchased by state agencies must be in compliance with Executive Order 515, issued October 27, 2009. Under this Executive Order, Executive Departments are required to reduce their impact on the environment and enhance public health by procuring environmentally preferable products and services (EPPs) whenever such products and services perform to satisfactory standards and represent best value, consistent with 801 CMR 21.00. In line with this directive, all Contracts, whether departmental or statewide, must comply with the specifications and guidelines established by OSD and the EPP Program. EPPs are products and services that help to conserve natural resources, reduce waste, protect public health and the environment, and promote the use of clean technologies, recycled materials, and less toxic products. Bid responses must identify how a contractor meets these goals.

11. Evaluation Criteria

Comprehensive response to all aspects of the RFR Business References (See required forms #15) Prior experience in a long-term care setting Prompt pay discount (See required forms #15) Submission of rates for procedures (See required forms #15)

Contractors must submit responses that meet all the submission requirements of the RFR. Only responsive proposals that meet the submission requirements will be evaluated, scored, and ranked by the evaluation team according to the evaluation criteria. Additional information may be requested for evaluation purposes.

12. Instructions for Submission of Responses:

https://www.mass.gov/regulations/101-CMR-1900-workplace-violence-prevention-and-crisis-response-plan-0 https://www.mass.gov/regulations/101-CMR-1900-workplace-violence-prevention-and-crisis-response-plan-0 https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-515-establishing-an-environmental-purchasing-policy?_ga=2.237660352.1741219494.1633353146-758386467.1632336759

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

Only electronic quotes submitted via COMMBUYS will be accepted in response to this RFR. Responses must be sent via the “Create Quote” functionality in COMMBUYS. For instructions concerning how to submit a Quote, please see Appendix B.

Any submission that fails to meet the submission requirements of the RFR will be found non-responsive without further evaluation unless the evaluation team, at its discretion, determines that the non-compliance is insubstantial and may be corrected. In these cases, the evaluation team may allow the vendor to make minor corrections to the submission.

13. Estimated Procurement Calendar

Procurement Activity Date Time

Bid Release Date February 25, 2025 4:00 PM

Deadline for Submission of Questions through COMMBUYS “Bid Q&A”

March 14, 2025 4:00 PM

Official Answers for Bid Q&A published (Estimated)

March 17, 2025 4:00 PM

Deadline for Quotes/Bid Responses (“Bid Opening Date/Time” in COMMBUYS)

March 19, 2025 4:00 PM

Notification of Apparent Successful Bidder(s) (Estimated)

March 21,2025

Estimated Contract Start Date April 1, 2025

Bidders are required to monitor COMMBUYS for changes to the procurement calendar for this Bid.

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

a. Online Questions (Bid Q&A)

Written Questions must be entered using the “Bid Q&A” tab for the Bid in COMMBUYS no later than the “Online Questions Due” date and time indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above). The issuing department reserves the right to not respond to questions submitted after this date. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to verify receipt of questions.

It is the responsibility of the prospective Bidder and awarded Contractor to maintain an active registration in COMMBUYS and to keep current the email address of the Bidder’s contact person and prospective contract manager, if awarded a contract, and to monitor that email inbox for communications from the Purchasing Department, including requests for clarification. The Purchasing Department and the Commonwealth assume no responsibility if a prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s computer, network, or internet service provider (ISP) cause email communications sent to/from the prospective Bidder/Awarded contractor and the Purchasing Department to be lost or rejected by any means including email or spam filtering.

b.Written Responses to Questions will be released on or about the “Responses to Questions Posted Online” date indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

(Written questions and responses will be posted on the Bid Q&A Tab for this Bid in COMMBUYS.)

c. Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening Date/Time)

See the Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening) Date and Time indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

d. Estimated Contract Start Date

This is the approximate start date. The actual start date will be the Contract Effective Date which is the date the Contract is executed by the parties.

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

14. Required Forms

Responses to this RFR must contain the following documents

Check if applicable (“X”)

Form/Document Notes/Instructions (If any)

X Commonwealth Terms and Conditions Electronic Submission

X Request for Taxpayer Identification Number & Certification (Massachusetts Substitute W-9 Form)

Electronic Submission

X Standard Contract Form and Instructions Electronic Submission

X Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing Electronic Submission

X Authorization for Electronic Funds Transfer Electronic Submission

X Rate Sheet for procedures as defined in Section #8 (Contract Performance and Business Specifications)

Electronic Submission

X Prompt Payment Discount Form Electronic Submission

X Business Reference Form Electronic Submission

The above attachments are available as part of the Bid record on COMMBUYS

(WWW.COMMBUYS.COM).

http://www.commbuys.com/

RFR #_ FOOTCARE2025RFR / COMMBUYS Bid# BD-25-1053-1053C-CSR-112857

15. RFR Attachments

Appendix A: Required Specifications https://www.mass.gov/doc/rfr-required-specifications-of-commodities-and-services

Appendix B: Electronic Quote Submission Instructions https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids

Appendix C: RFR – Other Specifications

16. Acceptable Forms of Signature Effective June 15, 2021, for all 1) CTR forms, including the Standard Contract Form, W-9s, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) forms, ISAs, and other CTR-issued documents and forms, or 2) documents related to state finance and within the statutory area of authority or control of CTR (i.e. contracts, payrolls, and related supporting documentation), CTR will accept signatures executed by an authorized signatory in any of the following ways: 1. Traditional “wet signature” (ink on paper); 2.

Electronic signature that is either: a. Hand drawn using a mouse or finger if working from a touch screen device; or Page 2 b. An uploaded picture of the signatory’s hand drawn signature 3.

Electronic signatures affixed using a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign. If using an electronic signature, the signature must be visible, include the signatory’s name and title, and must be accompanied by a signature date. Please be advised that typed text of a name not generated by a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign, even in computer-generated cursive script, or an electronic symbol, are not acceptable forms of electronic signature.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/rfr-required-specifications-of-commodities-and-services https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids

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