HSCRC-26-0319 Solicitation Document FINAL.pdf

HEALTH SERVICES COST REVIEW COMMISSION

Maryland Department of Health

BID BOARD NOTICE

Request for Proposal

Procurement ID: HSCRC-26-0319

Issue Date: October 21, 2026

Title: External and Legislative Engagement Consultant

Due Date: November 23, 2026

THIS IS A SMALL BUSINESS RESERVE-ONLY SOLICITATION AND SHALL BE

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SMALL PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS

DESCRIBED IN COMAR 21.05.07

THE MAXIMUM AWARD ALLOWED UNDER THESE REGULATIONS IS

$100,000 OR LESS. AWARDS WILL ONLY BE MADE TO CERTIFIED

MARYLAND SMALL BUSINESSES

I. INTRODUCTION

Background

The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC or

“Commission”) is an independent state agency responsible for regulating

Maryland’s $20 billion hospital industry. Under Maryland’s all‑payer hospital rate-setting system, the HSCRC develops methodologies to improve hospital efficiency and promote cost containment for both inpatient and outpatient services. Under the Total Cost of Care Model, the State is accountable to the

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for meeting specific cost and quality targets for Maryland’s Medicare population. The HSCRC monitors State performance and manages various programs designed to align hospitals, physicians, and other industry stakeholders with CMS goals.

II. PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENT

A. Summary Statement

The HSCRC is seeking a vendor to provide consultation and support for external and legislative strategy development and implementation.

B. Issuing Office

Health Services Cost Review Commission

4160 Patterson Avenue

Baltimore, Maryland 21215

Procurement Officer: Mitchell Coates

Email: Mitchell.Coates@maryland.gov

The Contract Monitor for this solicitation:

Janice Lepore

Health Services Cost Review Commission

4160 Patterson Avenue

Baltimore, Maryland 21215

Email: Janice.lepore1@maryland.gov

The sole point of contact for this solicitation is the Procurement Officer.

All questions are to be submitted to the Procurement Officer via email.

The deadline for accepting questions is November 9, 2026.

C. Submission Deadline

In response to this solicitation, a proposal MUST be posted in eMaryland

Marketplace by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 23, 2026, to be considered. Proposals submitted after the closing date and time will not be considered.

III. GENERAL INFORMATION FOR VENDORS

A. Contract

1. The contract resulting from this solicitation shall be a firm fixed-price contract.

2. HSCRC reserves the right to reduce or withhold contract payment in the event the Offeror does not provide HSCRC with all required deliverables within the time frame specified in the contract, or if the Offeror otherwise materially breaches the terms and conditions of the contract.

B. Submission of Proposals

Offerors MUST submit their responses to this solicitation to project number BPM059345 in eMaryland Marketplace (eMMA) in two separate sealed envelopes as follows: One submission is to be labeled “Technical

Proposal” and the other “Financial Proposal”. Both are to be identified as

Sealed Proposals for this Bid Board Notice and are to contain the

Offeror’s name, due date, and time.

Note: Emailed or mailed responses to this solicitation will not be accepted.

IV. SCOPE OF WORK

1.0 Purpose

This vendor will inform and advise on the development and implementation of an effective external and legislative outreach strategy.

2.0 Background

HSCRC’s work involves the use and application of technically complex data and methodologies that may not be easily understood by policymakers or stakeholders, even those who share the agency’s mission of ensuring statewide access to affordable, high-quality healthcare and may be directly impacted by agency policies, programs, and recommendations.

As HSCRC prepares to transition to the AHEAD Model, a proactive and strategic approach to external and legislative engagement will strengthen

HSCRC’s partnerships, expand opportunities for collaboration, build policymaker understanding, enable HSCRC to be engaged in early phases of policy development, and improve alignment between HSCRC’s expertise and policymaker proposals and requests.

3.0 Tasks

The HSCRC seeks the Offeror to provide consultation and expert advice on the development of an external and legislative outreach strategy, as well as guidance during implementation to make adjustments or alterations as required in response to emerging concerns.

Specifically, the Offeror will support existing staff with the following tasks:

● Identify policymakers and stakeholders who influence HSCRC-related policy and discussions, define current relationships with each, and identify opportunities for engagement;

● As requested, review and advise on messaging materials for use with various audiences;

● Inform strategy for and implementation of external affairs engagement plans to support increased awareness of policy development;

● Identify priority internal and external stakeholders with overlapping or adjacent priorities and/or responsibilities, define opportunities for engagement, and support new and ongoing collaboration in partnership with HSCRC staff.

● Identify and support engagement with stakeholders who shape policymaker perspectives (e.g., associations, advocacy organizations, research entities);

● Inform and support implementation of a short- and long-term external affairs strategy to engage external stakeholders as informed intermediaries who reinforce accurate understanding of the agency’s work.

● Maintain awareness of key/emerging topics in policy discussions and, as necessary, prepare drafts of talking points/response materials.

4.0 Planning and Management

4.1 Required Meetings: HSCRC staff and the Offeror shall meet at least weekly, with additional meetings as needed during critical phases, to review the status of the strategy development and implementation and to discuss the work under this contract.

5.0 Roles and Hours

The Offeror must include the following information in their financial proposal response:

1. Resumes for the key staff on this project.

2. The titles and roles of all staff on this project, including any subcontractors.

3. The hours and rates that each staff person is expected to contribute to the contract, including indirect costs.

4. Any other costs that are likely to be charged to the contract.

6.0 Contract Duration

The term of the contract will be one (1) year from the execution of the contract agreement.

V. EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

A. Evaluation

The criteria that will be used for the evaluation of the Technical Proposals are listed below.

A minimum technical proposal score of 70% or higher is considered acceptable. The overall score of the proposals is made up of 75% technical and 25% financial.

Technical Proposal Evaluation Criteria

1. Technical Expertise (30%)

● Expertise in state-based healthcare financing systems, including

Medicaid, Medicare, commercial reimbursement, and value-based payment models, with demonstrated understanding of how financing policy shapes healthcare delivery and access.

● Expertise in Maryland’s unique hospital payment system, including the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), Maryland’s all-payer model and global budget methodologies, and related federal-state regulatory frameworks.

● Strong analytical capability to monitor emerging healthcare policy issues, legislative developments, and political dynamics, and translate complex technical issues into strategic recommendations and responsive communications.

2. Personnel experience and Capabilities (30%)

• Experience navigating policymaking within Maryland, including a strong understanding of Maryland state government structure, legislative processes, committee operations, budget development, and administrative procedures.

• Expertise in advising leadership positions on developing and advancing policy proposals.

• Experience developing and executing legislative and stakeholder engagement, or external affairs strategies designed to increase awareness, shape policy understanding, and strengthen institutional relationships.

3. Relevant Experience of Key Staff (30%)

● Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across internal teams and external partners, including hospitals, payers, trade associations, advocacy groups, and research organizations, to advance shared policy objectives and improve alignment on healthcare financing issues.

● Demonstrated ability to identify, map, and assess policymakers, industry stakeholders, advocacy organizations, and external influencers relevant to healthcare financing and hospital policy, including analysis of stakeholder priorities, relationships, and influence pathways.

● Exceptional policy communication skills, including the ability to review, refine, and develop messaging materials, briefing documents, testimony, and talking points tailored for policymakers, stakeholders, and public audiences.

● Previous experience in anticipating the impact of policy and regulatory changes on HSCRC operations and functions.

TOTAL 100%

B. The Evaluation Process

Each technical proposal will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria set forth above. Failure to comply with any of the mandatory requirements or to meet any of the minimum requirements will disqualify an Offeror’s proposal.

After determining compliance with the requirements, an evaluation of the technical merit of the proposals will be conducted. Only those technical proposals deemed “reasonably acceptable” for award will be considered.

All other proposals will not be considered; the Offerors will be notified, and their financial proposals will be returned unopened. Minor irregularities in proposals that are immaterial or inconsequential may be waived or permitted to be cured whenever it is determined to be in the

State’s best interest.

After completing the evaluation of the technical proposals, the financial proposals will be opened.

C. Transmittal Letter

A transmittal letter prepared on the Offeror’s business stationery MUST accompany the proposal. The purpose of this letter is to submit the proposal; therefore, it shall be brief. The letter shall be signed by an individual or corporate officer who is authorized to bind their firm to all statements, including services, material availability, timeliness, and prices contained in the proposal.

D. Two-Volume Submission

The selection procedure requires that the evaluation of the technical proposals be conducted before the financial proposal is reviewed.

Consequently, each proposal MUST be submitted as two separate enclosures as indicated below.

E. Volume I - Technical

Offeror MUST submit a technical proposal containing the following sections:

● Statement of Work

● Proposed Work Plan

● Corporate Qualifications and Experience

● Staff Capabilities and Experience

1. The “Statement of Work” shall demonstrate the Offeror’s understanding of the role this service plays in the responsibilities of the Issuing Office.

2. The “Proposed Work Plan” section shall contain a definitive description of the Offeror’s plan to meet the requirements of the solicitation. It shall include a detailed description of the firm’s methods and procedures for addressing all requirements outlined in this solicitation document.

The purpose of the work plan is to demonstrate the capability of the Offeror to successfully manage the overall project and the subordinate tasks while meeting the scheduled goals.

3. The “Corporate Qualifications and Experience” section shall describe the overall capabilities of the organization to complete the work.

4. The “Staff Capabilities and Experience” section describes how each proposed staff member’s experience relates to that person’s specific responsibilities as detailed in the work plan for this procurement.

F. Volume II - Financial Proposal

This volume is to contain complete cost information for all services provided, which shall be a fixed price for the duration of the contract.

The financial proposal MUST be in a separate submission from the technical proposal.

Basis for Award: The contract resulting from this solicitation shall be awarded to the Offeror meeting the criteria noted in this solicitation document with the most advantageous offer to the State.

Bid Price Authorized by:

Name/Title____________________________________________________

Signature________________________________Date_________________

Address______________________________________________________

City, State, Zip________________________________________________

Federal ID #:__________________________________________________ eMMA#_______________________________________________________

Phone Number/Fax Number______________________________________

E-mail Address________________________________________________

THE STATE OF MARYLAND ENCOURAGES

MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO

PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT PROCESS.