HIX PMT RFR__20220209.docx

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

ONE ASHBURTON PLACE, 11TH FLOOR

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02108

REQUEST FOR RESPONSES

FOR

PROJECT MANAGEMENT and TESTING (PMT) SERVICES

IN SUPPORT OF THE

MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE

PROGRAM

Document #: 22LCEHSHIXPMTRFR

Issued: February 9, 2022

This procurement is subject to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement, established January 1, 1996, to encourage worldwide trade by ensuring fairness, non-discrimination, and equal treatment of laws, regulations and procedures in the government procurement process.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ATTACHMENTS (posted separately under “File Attachments” for this solicitation):

Massachusetts Health Insurance Exchange Program, Project Management and Testing Services Request for Responses ii

SECTION 1 Introduction Overview The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), on behalf of itself and the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority (the “Health Connector”), is issuing this Request for Responses (“RFR”) pursuant to 801 CMR 21.00, which governs procurement of services by state agencies and requires a competitive procurement process, including the issuance of an RFR, for acquisitions of all commodities and services.

In particular, EOHHS is issuing this RFR to solicit bids from interested vendors qualified to provide Project Management Services and Testing and Validation Services for the Massachusetts Health Insurance Exchange/Integrated Eligibility System (MA HIX/IES), as defined in Attachment A, Model Contract and summarized below:

Project Management Services: Managing the MA HIX Application release process, all activities relating to management of application and infrastructure changes impacting the MA HIX/IES, and executing MA HIX Program governance and program management policies, processes and procedures.

Testing and Validation Services: Testing the application code prior to installing into the MA HIX Application, and developing and maintaining a Testing Program for all application and infrastructure changes impacting the MA HIX Application.

EOHHS intends to issue a separate RFR, and enter into a separate contract for, Operational and Technical Services (OTS) to provide operations and maintenance and additional technical services for the MA HIX/IES as described in Attachment A, Model Contract, Appendix H, OTS Summary Scope. Therefore, the provision of those services is not within the scope of this procurement; however, coordination and collaboration with the selected OTS vendor is within the scope of this procurement, as described in Attachment A, Model Contract, Section 2.6, Project Management Services.

Additional information is available in Attachment C, Reference Material, to assist Bidders in preparing Responses.

Bidder Qualifications and Restrictions Good Standing Bidders do not have to be currently-approved Vendors on any Commonwealth Statewide Contract to respond to this RFR. However, if a Bidder is such a Vendor, it shall be in good standing (i.e., not sanctioned, suspended, debarred or otherwise prohibited from responding to such RFRs). This requirement also applies to any proposed Material Subcontractor. To the extent that a Bidder or Material Subcontract is not in good standing under any applicable Statewide Contract or otherwise with the Commonwealth, such Bidder may be disqualified from consideration by the SST hereunder. Additionally, regardless of being a currently-approved Vendor, all Bidders shall be currently in good standing and neither it nor any of its Material Subcontractors currently debarred or suspended or otherwise prohibited from doing business by the U.S. government, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of its subdivisions.

Material Subcontractors Bidders may propose using Material Subcontractors for one or more Services. Material Subcontractors may either be a related entity (e.g., Parent, Subsidiary) or an independent organization. If the Bidder proposes a Material Subcontractor, the Bidder shall be designated as Prime Bidder and shall be responsible for all services provided under the Contract resulting from this RFR. Material Subcontractors must meet all of the requirements set forth in Section 1.2.A Good Standing, Section 5.3.C, Requirements Regarding Material Subcontractors, Section 7.22 Material Subcontractor Agreements, and Attachment A, Model Contract, Section 2.13, Subcontractors).

Minimum Qualifications Respondents to this PMT RFR shall have at least the experience specified in Section 5.3.D below.

Definitions and Acronyms See Attachment A, Model Contract, for definitions of terms not otherwise defined in this RFR.

General Procurement Requirements Commonwealth and EOHHS shall not be responsible for paying any costs incurred in the preparation of the Bidder’s Response or to contract for products or services.

EOHHS reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Responses received as a result of this RFR and to contract for some, all, or none of the products and services described herein. EOHHS further reserves the right to negotiate with any or all qualified Bidders and to cancel in part or in its entirety this RFR if it is in the best interest of EOHHS, the Health Connector, or the Commonwealth to do so.

EOHHS reserves the right to amend this RFR at any time prior to the date Responses are due. Any such amendment will be posted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts procurement web site, COMMBUYS, at www.COMMBUYS.com (Section 7.4, COMMBUYS Market Center). Bidders are reminded to check the COMMBUYS site regularly, as postings to this site will be the sole method used for notification of changes as well as for any clarifications of the RFR that EOHHS might issue.

All Response submissions, regardless of whether a contract is awarded to a particular Bidder, become the property of EOHHS. EOHHS will not return to Bidders any Responses or materials they submit in response to this RFR.

All Responses shall be submitted in accordance with the specifications set forth in Section 5, Response Requirements and Instructions.

Acquisition method: Mixed; Fixed Price.

Single or multiple vendor(s): Single. The target maximum number of Vendors is one. EOHHS may award more contracts if it is in the best interests of EOHHS, the Health Connector, or the Commonwealth to do so.

Use of Procurement by single or multiple agencies: Single (EOHHS).

Any Bidder that becomes a Contractor (“Successful Bidder”) shall provide services in accordance with the requirements of the Contract. Attachment A, Model Contract, and its Appendices contain provisions that shall be incorporated into any Contract to be executed between EOHHS and the Successful Bidder. Bidders may not condition their Response to this RFR or the execution of a contract with EOHHS upon EOHHS’ execution of a Bidder contract form or require that other terms or assumptions apply to the RFR. Any proposed additional terms and/or terms that differ or are otherwise in conflict with the terms of this RFR, including without limitation the Commonwealth Standard Contract Form and the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Information Technology Contracts, will be void. It is expected that any Bidder’s legal review of the required contract forms will be done prior to Response submission; the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Information Technology Contracts and Standard Contract Form and many of the terms and conditions set forth in Attachment A, Model Contract are not negotiable (except as set forth in this RFR) and shall be fully incorporated into any contract resulting from this RFR. A Bidder’s standard contract will not be accepted as a deviation from the Attachment A, Model Contract as set forth in Attachment A of this RFR, the Commonwealth Standard Contract Form and/or the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Information Technology Contracts, and such Bidder standard contract will not be considered during evaluation or negotiations.

EOHHS reserves the right to modify Attachment A, Model Contract and its Appendices as it deems necessary prior to the execution of the Contract. Changes to the Contract after its execution by the parties shall be made only by written amendment.

Timeline/Duration of the Contract EOHHS anticipates entering into a Contract with a single Successful Bidder for a three (3) year Contract beginning on the date set forth Section 8, Timetable, Item 8, subject to the Vendor’s satisfactory performance as determined by EOHHS of all duties and obligations under this Contract and associated appendices.

At the option of EOHHS, the Contract may be extended for up to four (4) additional years in any increment of time and upon terms to be negotiated by the parties, subject to the provisions of Attachment B, Section 2, Cost of Living Adjustments. EOHHS may also extend the Contract for any reasonable time period it determines necessary to complete a subsequent procurement.

Entrance into or extension of the Contract resulting from this RFR is subject to any necessary approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, future legislative appropriations, continued legislative authorization, and EOHHS’ determination of satisfactory performance.

Any Bidder selected as a result of this RFR will be expected to assume full responsibility for all services as detailed herein no later than the date stipulated in Section 8, Timetable, Item 10, following a transition period no greater than six (6) months, or as otherwise agreed to by the parties during contract negotiation.

Business Environment Program Leadership and management The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (“EOHHS“) The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (“EOHHS“) is the principal executive office for developing, coordinating and administering health and human services within the Commonwealth and, among other things, is authorized to act as the single state agency responsible for administering the Commonwealth’s Medicaid program and its Children's Health Insurance Program (together, “MassHealth”). As the administrator of such programs (together, the “EOHHS Programs”), EOHHS is responsible for determining an individual’s eligibility for MassHealth.

Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority (“Health Connector”) The Health Connector is the Commonwealth’s designated Exchange in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (as amended, the “ACA”), and is responsible for administering the Commonwealth's program under the ACA for the enrollment of individuals in qualified health plans (“QHPs”), including administration of the federal and state programs designed to make coverage through a QHP more affordable. In such capacity, the Health Connector is responsible for determining eligibility for and calculating the amount of the federal programs of advanced premium tax credits and the Commonwealth’s program of premium assistance payments (together, the “Health Connector Programs”). The Health Connector is an independent authority governed by a Board of Directors and not subject to the supervision and control of any other executive office, department, or agency of the Commonwealth except where specified by law.

Massachusetts Health Insurance Exchange/Integrated Eligibility System Program (“MA HIX/IES Program”) The MA HIX/IES Program is a joint effort between the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) – specifically MassHealth (“MH”) – and the Health Connector. The Program is co-managed and co-owned by MassHealth and the Health Connector and is housed within MassHealth. Commonwealth leadership is provided by the HIX/IES Executive Committee. The Executive Committee exercises oversight for the program to ensure program execution and outcomes support the achievement of strategic goals in accordance with approved scope, schedule, cost and quality. It comprises MassHealth’s Chief Operating Officer, the Executive Director of the Health Connector, and the EOHHS Assistant Secretary for Administration and Finance.

The HIX/IES Program is led by the HIX Program Director and the HIX/IES Executive Leadership Team (“XLT”) reporting to the Program Director. The XLT comprises the Chief of Staff, Director of Program Planning and Administration, Enterprise Architect, Application Director, Security & Privacy Compliance Director, and Director of Operations and Maintenance. The HIX Program Director reports to MassHealth’s Chief Operating Officer and is accountable to the HIX Executive Committee.

Additional information regarding program governance and management is provided in the HIX Program Management Plan (PgMP), provided in Attachment C, Reference Material.

Vendor Mix EOHHS currently contracts with the MA HIX Application Vendor, OptumInsight, Inc. (“Optum”), to provide a wide array of business process and technical services for the MA HIX/IES, including licensing of, and identity access management to, the MA HIX Application, and related development, system integration, testing, software licensing, and application operations and maintenance services. The MA HIX Application includes a proprietary product owned by Optum, “WebInsure”, as well as features customized for and owned by the Commonwealth.

For the duration of the Contract, Optum will provide the license to WebInsure, maintenance and support for WebInsure, custom enhancements to the MA HIX Application, and maintenance and support of existing and new customizations.

The MA HIX Application is currently hosted on the AWS Cloud, with managed services provided by the Infrastructure Vendor, Smartronix, LLC (“Smartronix”). Smartronix also currently provides certain infrastructure-related services in support of Release Management, Operations, and Security.

EOHHS will maintain control over the following areas:

· Strategic Planning

· Program Governance

· Prioritization of all MA HIX Program activities, including Release scope

· Vendor management and oversight

· Procurement of software licenses

· Cloud infrastructure and hosting services, leveraging Infrastructure as a Service (“IaaS”)

· Certain specific project management and operational activities

· User acceptance testing supported by the Successful Bidder.

As a result of this RFR and the forthcoming Operations and Technical Services (OTS) Request for Responses, there may potentially be up to four (4) vendors providing services for the MA HIX Program.

This environment demands extensive coordination among the HIX Program Vendors, HIX Program Team, and HIX Business Owners (MassHealth and the Health Connector). Therefore, performance of PMT Services will require ongoing highly-coordinated and controlled scheduling and multiple handoffs between and among HIX Program Vendors.

Compliance and Regulatory Environment The MA HIX Program operates in a highly regulated environment, at both the state and federal levels. Compliance with required safeguards and protocols are undertaken to help protect systems and data. Requirements may change over time as new standards are implemented and the operating and threat landscapes continues to evolve. As such requirements, policies, standards, and laws evolve, the MA HIX Program environment will need to change to remain in compliance.

Additional information about the compliance and regulatory environment is provided in Attachment C, Reference Material.

System overview Additional System information is provided in Attachment C, Reference Material.

GENERAL PAYMENT PROVISIONS

Payment to the Vendor selected pursuant to this RFR will be in accordance with the payment provisions described in Section 4 of Attachment A, Model Contract.

Response requirements and INSTRUCTIONS This section provides instructions regarding completion of the following Response components:

Failure to follow these instructions may result in disqualification of the Response.

Letter of Intent TO RESPOND Bidders are required to submit a Letter of Intent to Respond to this RFR no later than the deadline provided in Section 8, Timetable, Item 3. Such letter must be on the Bidder’s corporate letterhead, include the name and email address of the individual identified in response to Section 5.3.A.5, Transmittal Letter, be signed in ink by an individual authorized to bind the Bidder, and mailed or hand-delivered to the individual named in Section 7.5.A, RFR Contact. As an original signature is required, electronic submission of the Letter of Intent is not acceptable.

EOHHS reserves the right to disqualify any Response submitted without a valid Letter of Intent to Respond.

Response Submission Instructions Submission via COMMBUYS All procurements posted on COMMBUYS, known as Bids, require the submission of electronic responses, known as Quotes. To submit an electronic Quote, Bidders shall register and maintain an active COMMBUYS Seller subscription account. Questions regarding COMMBUYS should be directed to the COMMBUYS Help Desk at OSDHelpdesk@mass.gov. Instructions for creating a Quote can be found on COMMBUYS by clicking the hyperlink labeled “Job Aids for Sellers”. In addition, Bidder’s may find helpful the webcast How to Create a Quote in COMMBUYS. See Section 7.4, COMMBUYS Market Center for further information about COMMBUYS.

Bidders shall submit electronic Quotes on COMMBUYS by the date and time specified in Section 8, Timetable, Item 5. COMMBUYS will not accept submissions after the specified deadline.

Due to COVID 19 restrictions, all submissions shall be made electronically through COMMBUYS. EOHHS reserves the right to request hard-copy paper and/or flash drive submissions in addition to the electronic submission via COMMBUYS. Do not submit hard copy paper documents or flash drives unless requested to do so by EOHHS. This notification will be made as an amendment to this RFR and posted to COMMBUYS no later than ten (10) business days prior to the response due date.

The electronic Response shall consist of three (3) files labeled, as well as the Mandatory Submission Requirements set forth in Section 5.3.J :

The Business Response as described in Section 5.3, Business Response Requirements;

The Programmatic Response as described in Section 5.4 Programmatic Response Requirements: Structure and Approach and Section 5.5 Programmatic Response Requirements: Technical Response; and The Cost Response as described in Section 5.8, Cost Response Requirements Instructions.

All attachments to each response document shall be contained in that file. Instructions for the content of each file are found in the appropriate RFR sections listed above.

Should the Commonwealth request an additional submission of a hard-copy paper and/or flash drive response as described above, Bidders shall respond to this RFR with the following documents by the date and time specified in Section 8, Timetable, Item 5:

One hard-copy original of the Business Response as described in Section 5.3, Business Response Requirements;

One hard-copy original of the Programmatic Response as described in Section 5.4, Programmatic Response Requirements: Structure and Approach;

One hard-copy original of the Programmatic Response as described in Section 5.5, Programmatic Response Requirements: Technical Response;

One hard-copy original of the Cost Response as described in Section 5.8, Cost Response Submission Requirements Instructions;

Five (5) flash drives, each containing a copy of the Bidder’s complete Business and Programmatic Response clearly labeled with the Bidder’s name and content of the drive;

Five (5) flash drives, each containing a copy of the Bidder’s complete Cost Response clearly labeled with the Bidder’s name and content of the drive; and Five (5) printed copies each of the Business Response, Programmatic Responses, and Cost Responses.

The Bidder shall submit each of the three (3) response documents (i.e., Business Response, Programmatic Response and Cost Response) and/or the flash drives to the address listed in Section 7.5.A, RFR Contact no later than the date and time specified in Section 8, Timetable, Item 5.

Response Format Requirements The COMMBUYS electronic response shall be formatted as follows:

The COMMBUYS cover/submittal sheet shall be completed to identify the response as follows:

The title and COMMBUYS number of the RFR; and The Bidder’s name and vendor number.

Each of the Business, Programmatic and Cost Responses shall contain a table of contents, and each section of each response document shall be separated by a page that includes reference to the RFR section number and heading (e.g., Section 5.3.C, Requirements Regarding Material Subcontractors). Each attachment of each response document shall also be separated by a page that includes the attachment number and heading;

Unless otherwise explicitly stated, all Response page limits are binding. When specifically requested in a Response Requirement, samples or other supplemental materials (redacted as appropriate) do not count against the Response page limits;

The narrative section of each document shall be formatted as follows:

Word processed;

Single-spaced;

Double-sided;

One inch or greater margins;

Six lines or fewer per inch;

Pages numbered; and 12-point font, except in tables and graphs, where 10-point font may be used.

Each response document should contain only relevant information that is specific to the topic of that response document as required by the RFR. Superfluous information will be disregarded.

Hard copies, if requested, shall be formatted as follows:

Each document submitted shall be unbound, printed on recycled paper, reproducible, and submitted in a three-ring loose-leaf binder. Each binder shall be clearly labeled and shall state on the cover:

· The title and COMMBUYS number of the RFR;

· The Bidder’s legal name; and

· The title of the document contained in the binder (i.e., Business Response, Programmatic Response or Cost Response); and The instructions in subsections 1 through 6 above shall be followed.

If requested, the flash drive responses shall be formatted as described for the COMMBUYS response above.

Additional Instructions and Guidance The Bidder is required to respond to each response requirement. If a specific requirement is not applicable, the Bidder shall respond “Not applicable” with a brief explanation. For example, if the Bidder is not proposing a Material Subcontractor for any Services, the Bidder’s response to Section 5.3.C, below, would be “Not applicable – no Material Subcontractor proposed.”

If a Bidder is unable to provide the information required in a specific submission requirement, the Bidder shall expressly identify which information it is not submitting and why. The Bidder shall submit the most comparable information it has available and shall explain how the submission demonstrates the Bidder’s capability to meet the applicable requirement.

In some cases, Bidders are asked to provide documents (e.g., reporting dashboard) prepared for other engagements (redacted as necessary) to supplement the narrative response. If such document is not available, the Bidder shall explain why and shall provide a sample/mock-up prepared specifically for this response that demonstrates its ability to meet the requirement.

Page Limits represent the maximum number of pages allowable for that section. They do not represent a target number of pages for that section. Bidders should keep in mind that less is often more, and Bidders are therefore encouraged to be as concise as possible without sacrificing thoroughness, comprehensiveness, and clarity. To that end, and unless otherwise instructed, the Bidder may, as applicable and at its discretion, provide as a response to any response requirement a cross-reference to another section of its response. However, Bidders are cautioned on the excessive use of cross-references.

Business Response Requirements For purposes of the submission requirements set forth in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

· Parent – each of the Bidder’s parent organizations and each of the parents of such parent organizations, if any.

· Subsidiary – each of the Bidder’s partially or wholly owned subsidiary organizations, and each of the partially or wholly owned subsidiaries of any such subsidiary organizations.

· Affiliated or Related Entity – any organization, if any, with which the Bidder has any direct or indirect financial, legal, contractual or other business relationship, as well as any and all of the Vendor’s Material Subcontractors, and such Material Subcontractors’ partners, Parents, subsidiaries, and any other entity directly or indirectly related to any such Material Subcontractor.

Transmittal Letter (Page limit: 10 pages) The Bidder shall include with its Business Response a Transmittal Letter that clearly states the name of the Bidder organization, principal address, and the name, address, e-mail, and telephone number of the individual authorized to negotiate for and execute the Contract on behalf of the Bidder. The Transmittal Letter must:

Include a statement that certifies that the Response submitted to COMMBUYS is identical to the Response submitted to EOHHS in hard copy (if required) and on flash drives;

Include a statement that clearly articulates that the Bidder accepts the terms of this RFR and of Attachment A, Model Contract, without change and that the Bidder has read and acknowledged the Standard Contract Form Instructions and the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Information Technology Contracts (see Attachment D, Required Forms and Certifications). Bidders may not condition their Response to this RFR, or the execution of a contract, upon EOHHS’s execution of a Bidder contract form or require that other Bidder terms and conditions automatically apply to the Contract;

Include a statement explicitly confirming that the Bidder acknowledges, understands and agrees to the Contract Operational Start Date;

Include a statement that the Bidder’s Response will remain in effect until a Contract resulting from this RFR is executed, and that there are no assumptions or qualifications to Bidder’s Response except as expressly contained therein;

Include the name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the individual who should be contacted for the purpose of discussing any aspect of the Bidder’s response;

Include the name and scope of responsibilities of any proposed Material Subcontractor(s), or if none are to be used, an explicit statement to that effect;

Include a statement certifying that the Bidder (and any proposed Material Subcontractor) is either (1) not currently an approved vendor on any statewide contract, or (2) an approved vendor on a statewide contract in good standing (i.e., not suspended or otherwise prohibited from submitting a response under that statewide contract);

Regardless of statewide contract vendor status, include a statement that Bidder certifies that it is currently in good standing and neither it nor any of its subcontractors are currently debarred or suspended or otherwise prohibited from doing business by the U.S. government, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of its subdivisions; and Be signed by an authorized signatory.

Organizational Overview and Structure (Page Limit: 2 pages, not including the organizational chart(s)) The Bidder shall provide the following:

The Bidder’s legal name, trade name(s), and any other name(s) under which the Bidder does, or has done, business;

The Bidder’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN);

The Bidder’s ownership status (whether the bidding organization is publicly traded or privately held). If privately held, identify the owner(s) with five percent (5%) or more financial interest in the organization;

The Bidder’s principal address, e-mail address, website URL, and telephone number;

A listing of the Board of Directors, if any, of the Bidder’s organization and of the Bidder’s parent organization, if any;

The type of legal entity (for example, corporation (profit or not for profit), limited partnership, general partnership, or trust), and the state or foreign country where the entity is organized, including any parent organization;

The Bidder’s organizational chart, which shall include the names, titles, and reporting relationships of all key organizational officers (such as CEO and CFO) as well as the relationship to any other entity (e.g., Parent, Subsidiary, or Material Subcontractor relationships that the Bidder proposes for this engagement); and The Bidder shall state whether it is an approved entity as a Commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Office (SDO)-certified business enterprise and/or as a minority or women-owned business (see Section 7.18, Supplier Diversity Program).

Requirements Regarding Material Subcontractors (Page limit: 5 pages) The Bidder shall state whether Material Subcontractors will be used to perform any services under the Contract, and if so, shall identify each such Material Subcontractor by corporate or other legal entity name, address, telephone number, and whether it is an approved entity as a Commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Office (SDO)-certified business enterprise and/or as a minority or women-owned business (see Section 7.18, Supplier Diversity Program).

The Bidder shall describe generally in this section the respective responsibilities and services that each Material Subcontractor would perform if the Bidder were awarded the Contract, and how the Successful Bidder will manage each Material Subcontractor.

The Bidder must submit a statement that:

Guarantees that all subcontracts and other agreements or arrangements for reimbursement will be in writing and will contain terms consistent with all terms and conditions of the Contract; and Acknowledges that proposals to use subcontractors shall not cause any additional administrative burden on EOHHS as a result of the use of multiple entities, and shall not relieve the Bidder of any legal obligations under the Contract.

Minimum Experience Requirements (Page Limit: 15 pages) The Bidder shall briefly summarize its experience, demonstrating that it meets the following minimum experience requirements:

Have been in business for a minimum of five (5) years, at least three (3) of which shall have been in a business performing similar services or related activities to the scope described in this RFR;

At least three (3) years of successful testing experience with scope and in environments similar to that set forth in Attachment A, Model Contract, Section 2.7, Testing and Validation Services;

At least three (3) separate engagements with scope similar to that set forth in Attachment A, Model Contract, Section 2.7, Testing and Validation Services;

At least three (3) separate engagements Project Management engagements within the last five (5) years in a multi-vendor environment; and At least three (3) years of Release Management experience for a system comparable to the HIX/IES System.

For each engagement used to satisfy these requirements, the Bidder shall provide:

The client’s name(s) and contact information;

The dates of service;

A brief summary of the project/engagement;

A brief summary of Bidder’s scope of responsibilities; and Whether the client cited the Bidder (or Material Subcontractor) for poor performance or otherwise recommended or provided notice of corrective action.

Bidders may count current engagements toward this minimum experience requirement only if such engagements are in their second year of full operations. Contracts awarded but still in development or not having reached their first operational anniversary may not be used.

Experience of proposed Material Subcontractors may count toward requirements 2-4 if the proposed Material Subcontractor will be performing the same or similar functions for this HIX/IES System engagement. If a requirement is to be met by a Material Subcontractor, this must be clearly stated in the response.

Bidders may use the same engagement to meet more than one requirement, if applicable.

If, within the past seven (7) years, the Bidder (or Material Subcontractor) failed to implement a solution, or portion of a solution, for which the Bidder (or Material Subcontractor) was responsible, provide an explanation for the failure.

If within the past seven (7) years, the Bidder (or Material Subcontractor) has had a contract terminated prior to the end of the Contract, provide the name of the client, a description of the project/engagement, the expected contract term, actual contract term, and an explanation for the early termination.

References (page limits not applicable) Bidders shall complete a Business Reference Form (in the form of Attachment D herein) for three (3) references, for whom the Bidder has provided similar services as those described in Attachment A, Model Contract.

The same Business Reference Form shall be used to provide three (3) references for each proposed Material Subcontractor.

Interests (Page limit: 5 pages per entity) The Bidder must disclose any interest that the Bidder or any Material Subcontractor has that will directly or indirectly conflict or appear to conflict with, or otherwise impact, as determined by EOHHS, the performance of services required under this RFR. If the Bidder discloses any such conflicts, it must provide a description of how the Bidder and any Material Subcontractor will assure that no interest will conflict with the performance of services required under the Contract;

All Bidders must, in addition, provide:

A statement of any and all of the financial, legal, contractual, and other business interests of the Bidder and its affiliates, partners, parent(s), subsidiaries, related organizations, if any, and any proposed Material Subcontractor that may affect or impact its performance with the requirements of the Contract;

A statement describing whether the Bidder or Material Subcontractor or any of their proposed staff (employee, contractor, other) who shall perform work under the Contract has a possible conflict of interest and, if so, the nature of that conflict and proposal to eliminate or mitigate such conflicting interest;

The names, addresses, and website URLs, if applicable, of any person or entity, if any, with which the Bidder has any direct or indirect financial, legal, contractual or other business relationship, including any Material Subcontractor, Material Subcontractor’s partners, parents, subsidiaries, and any other entity directly or indirectly related to any such entity, that may create a conflict of interest or the appearance of such a conflict, and a description explaining the exact nature of each such relationship and the possible conflict;

A list of any other contracts or agreements that the Bidder or Material Subcontractor has entered into with the Commonwealth that will be in effect at the same time as a Contract that may result from this RFR; and Any other information requested by EOHHS that, in EOHHS’ judgment, is relevant to the Bidder’s or Material Subcontractor’s financial, legal, contractual, or other business interests.

If EOHHS determines that a Bidder has a conflict or potential conflict of interest, or the appearance of such, EOHHS reserves the right to propose or consider any proposal of the Bidder of any measures that would eliminate or mitigate such conflicting or potentially conflicting interest to EOHHS’ satisfaction.

Bidder’s Financial Condition (Page limit: 10 pages per entity, not including financial statements) The Bidder shall submit documentation to demonstrate to the satisfaction of EOHHS that the Bidder’s organization (and the Bidder’s parent organization, if any), is in sound financial condition and that any significant financial problems are being addressed with appropriate corrective measures. The documents submitted shall include at least the following:

Complete, independent, audited financial statements for the Bidder’s (and the Bidder’s parent organization if any) last two fiscal years;

A statement signed by the Bidder’s financial officer certifying that he/she is not aware of any circumstance materially and adversely affecting the Bidder’s financial condition that is not reported in the foregoing financial statements and that, to the best of his/her knowledge, the Bidder is not delinquent in the payment of any federal or state tax. The Bidder shall also submit such a statement from the Bidder’s parent organization (if any);

A disclosure of any recently concluded or ongoing audit of the Bidder’s operations and a copy of the report with the Bidder’s Response;

A statement as to whether, in the last ten (10) years, the Bidder (or the Bidder’s parent organization if any) has filed (or had filed against it) any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, whether voluntary or involuntary, or undergone the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or assignee for the benefit of creditors; and if so, an explanation providing relevant details;

A certificate from the taxing authority of the state in which the Bidder has its principal office, attesting that the Bidder is not in default of any obligation under its tax laws. The Bidder shall also submit such a disclosure from the Bidder’s parent organization (if any). Corporations with principal offices in Massachusetts may satisfy this requirement by submitting a “Certificate of Good Standing” issued by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR). For instructions on obtaining the DOR certificate, visit https://www.mass.gov/how-to/request-a-certificate-of-good-standing-tax-compliance-or-a-corporate-tax -lien-waiver; and The Bidder shall submit the same information listed in subsections 1 through 5 above for all proposed Material Subcontractors.

EOHHS may disqualify a Bidder if the Bidder fails to submit the documents required by this section, or if the documents indicate to EOHHS, in its reasonable discretion, that the Bidder’s, the Bidder’s parent organization’s or Material Subcontractor’s (if any) financial condition is unsatisfactory.

Security Policies and Procedures (Page limit: 5 pages per entity) Bidders shall provide:

The particulars of any circumstances over the past five (5) years in which the Bidder has caused or allowed a breach of the security, confidentiality or integrity of a client’s data.

The same information for each proposed Material Subcontractor (if any).

Disclosure of Litigation and Disciplinary Action (Page limit: 2 pages per instance) The Bidder shall disclose any material litigation affecting its organization, if any. The Bidder shall describe any past or pending litigation related to the duties, responsibilities and role(s) foreseen for the organization(s). When there are none, in response to this section, the Bidder shall make an affirmative statement to that fact. In addition, Bidder shall disclose any sanction, suspension, debarment, or other disciplinary action taken against it by any governmental, regulatory, or law enforcement agency.

The same disclosure shall be provided for each proposed Material Subcontractor, if any.

Mandatory Submission Requirements All Bidders shall review the following forms and complete and submit items # 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8. Bidders additionally must acknowledge they have read and understood the #1 Standard Contract Form Instructions and #2 the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Information Technology Contracts in their Transmittal Letter. The Selected Bidder shall additionally complete, sign and submit the Contractor information portion of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Standard Contract Form and Massachusetts Substitute W-9 Form (note that Bidders are not required to submit item #5 with their Response – this will only be a requirement for the Selected Bidder):

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Standard Contract Form (complete) and Instructions (read and acknowledge in Transmittal Letter);

Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Information Technology Contracts (read and acknowledge in Transmittal Letter);

Massachusetts Substitute W-9 Form – Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification;

Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing;

Authorization for Electronic Funds Payment (EFT) (Section 7.25, Electronic Funds Transfer);

Prompt Payment Discount Form (Section 7.24, Prompt Payment Discount);

SDP Plan (Section 7.18, Supplier Diversity Plan); and Business Reference Form.

Programmatic Response Requirements: structure and approach The Bidder shall demonstrate to EOHHS its ability to successfully perform all Contractor responsibilities set forth in Attachment A, Model Contract. Responses must follow the same sequence as in Attachment A, Model Contract.

Bidder’s Organizational Structure and Experience (Page limit: 20 pages, excluding resumes) The Bidder shall provide a description of its corporate/business experience as it relates to this engagement, and a description of its experience with each proposed Material Subcontractor (if any). With the exception of 5.5.A.1, below, this history shall focus on the last five (5) years and shall include:

Date of establishment. If applicable, explain any changes in business history or organizational structure that will assist EOHHS in determining the qualifications of the Bidder;

A summary of any and all previous relationships with EOHHS or Health Connector programs or initiatives for which services were provided;

A brief summary of experience with any other Commonwealth of Massachusetts agency;

A detailed description of its experience with any other state or federal agency with which the Bidder currently contracts or has contracted with for a similar set of services set forth in Attachment A, Model Contract;

A detailed description of its experience with any private entity with which the Bidder currently contracts or has contracted with for a similar set of services set forth in Attachment A, Model Contract;

A detailed description of at least one (1) situation in which the Bidder successfully managed multiple, large, complex yet coordinated projects with multiple vendors; and A detailed description of at least one (1) situation in which the Bidder successfully assumed testing and/or project management responsibility for an existing large, complex IT solution (i.e., assumed responsibility for these services from an incumbent vendor or client).

For requirements 2-7, provide, at a minimum:

The organization’s name and address;

The start and end date of each project;

A description of the project;

A description of the Bidder’s responsibilities;

A listing of proposed Contractor Personnel that worked on the referenced project, including role, start and end dates, and reason for departure. If none are proposed, state such; and The name, title, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of a client representative familiar with the Bidder’s work on the project.

If for any requirement 2-7 the Bidder does not have experience, the Bidder shall respond “Not available” for that requirement.

The following information for Material Subcontractors (if any):

The information requested in items 1-5 above.

The information requested in items 6-7 if applicable to the role for which the Material Subcontractors is being proposed.

A description of its experience working with each of the proposed Material Subcontractors (if any).

The planned organizational structure by function if awarded the Contract and the roles and responsibilities of any proposed entity. The Bidder shall indicate in the organizational chart any responsibilities under the Contract for which the Bidder intends to use a Material Subcontractor.

Staffing Plan (Page limit: 15 pages) The Bidder’s staff working on this project shall collectively possess experience with and expertise in the Services to be provided as set forth in Attachment A, Model Contract.

Additional response requirements for Key Personnel are in Section 5.6.C.5, Key Personnel.

The Bidder shall:

Describe the proposed staffing plan, including high-level job descriptions and a summary of minimum required qualifications for each proposed role;

Provide a detailed organizational chart, based on the organization chart provided in response to Section 5.5.A.10 above, showing proposed named Key Personnel and their respective teams;

A staff loading chart (by month) showing the phase-in of Bidder’s staff until staff hiring is completed. This chart shall reflect (1) the period between the Contract Effective Date and the Operational Start Date, and (2) the Contract Operational Start Date and the end of the first Contract Year. If the Bidder anticipates different staffing during these two periods, the Bidder shall submit separate staff loading charts for each period. The Bidder may include with its response a narrative describing the assumptions, limitations, and constraints on which the organizational and staff loading charts are based; and All Bidders shall agree that should the Bidder be awarded a Contract under this RFR, all Contractor Personnel shall sign, before commencing work on this project, the documents described in Attachment A, Model Contract.

Key Personnel (Page limit: See subsections) The Bidder shall submit their proposed Key Personnel, as set forth below and in Attachment A, Model Contract, Section 2.2.A.5.

EOHHS requires that Key Personnel include at a minimum the following (or their equivalents). Bidders may propose other positions as Key Personnel, which shall reflect the Bidder’s understanding of the needs of the HIX Program as reflected in Attachment A, Model Contract.

· Project Director – This position shall be responsible for the overall responsibility of PMT efforts at the executive level, including the authority to make decisions and resolve problems on behalf of the Contractor.

· Project Manager – This position shall be responsible for day-to-day management and oversight of staff and Bidder’s performance under the Contract, including adherence to all project plans and schedules, and compliance with Contract terms.

· Security Architect Lead – This position shall be responsible for ensuring adherence to all Contractor responsibilities regarding security and compliance.

· Release Management Lead - This position shall be responsible for Services set forth in Attachment A, Model Contract, Section 2.6.L.

· Quality Assurance Lead – The position shall be responsible for validating the quality ]of testing and Deliverables.

· PMO Lead – This position shall be responsible for Project Management Services as set forth in Attachment A, Model Contract, Section 2.6.

· Testing and Validation Lead – This individual shall be responsible for Testing and Validation Services as set forth in Attachment A, Model Contract, Section 2.7.

For each individual proposed for a Key Personnel role, the Bidder shall provide, in addition to the information requested in Section 5.5.B.1 and Section 5.5.B.2 above (Page Limit: 5 pages per Key Personnel position, not including references or resumes):

a detailed job description, The Bidder’s assessment of the knowledge, skills, education or training, and other…