Request for Proposals (RFP) CSCU-RFP# 27-1403039

IN PERSON MENTORING SERVICES

Proposal Due date: September 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM

ATTENTION: RESPONSES TO THIS PROPOSAL MUST BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE CSCU CONTACT(S) LISTED IN THE “INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS” SECTION OF THIS RFP.

Table of Contents:

I. Statement of Objectives II. Background III. Scope of Work IV. Proposal Submission Requirements V. Evaluation of Proposals VI. Timeline of RFP and Instructions for Submission of Proposal VII. Conditions

Attachments Attachment A - Contract Proposal Form Attachment B – Statement of Bidder’s Qualifications Attachment C – References Attachment D - OPM Ethics Form 1: Gift and Campaign Contribution Certification Attachment E - Contract Provisions Attachment F – Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities Notification to Proposers

I. Statement of Objectives

The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) is seeking a qualified vendor to design, coordinate, and deliver targeted, onsite interventions for first-generation college students at its four (4) 4-year state universities. The goal of this program is to foster self-awareness, build self-confidence, and equip students with the practical habits required for long-term academic and personal success as they transition into their second year of post-secondary education.

II. Background

In 2011, Public Acts 11-48 and 11-61 instituted consolidated governance of Connecticut higher education, creating the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. The Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) serves as the governing body for the Connecticut State University System, Charter Oak State College, and Connecticut State Community College. The specific powers and duties of the Board, prescribed in Title 10a of the Connecticut General Statutes, are further delineated in policies adopted by the BOR from time to time. The CSCU System Office (SO) supports the colleges and universities.

Statutory Authority This RFP is issued by CSCU under the provisions of the Connecticut General Statues 4a-52a and 10a-151b.

Institutions. Collectively, the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities maintain distinct mission statements to serve their constituents while collectively working to achieve a system-wide vision and mission. The current CSCU enrollment is approximately 75,000 students. For purposes of this RFP, the terms “campus” and “institution” are synonymous and used singularly or collectively. CSCU campuses are located throughout the State of Connecticut and are as follows:

4-Year Institutions CT State Universities

Online College

· Charter Oak State College COSC New Britain

2-Year Institutions CT State Community College

· Asnuntuck - Enfield

· Capital - Hartford

· Gateway - New Haven and North Haven

· Housatonic - Bridgeport

· Manchester - Manchester

· Middlesex - Middletown and Meriden

· Naugatuck Valley - Waterbury and Danbury

· Northwestern - Winsted

· Norwalk - Norwalk

· Quinebaug Valley - Danielson and Willimantic

· Three Rivers - Norwich

· Tunxis - Farmington and Bristol

For more information, visit the CSCU website http://www.ct.edu/

III. Scope of Work

The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) is seeking a qualified Contractor to design, coordinate, and deliver targeted, onsite interventions for first-generation college students at its four (4) 4-year state universities. The goal of this program is to foster self-awareness, build self-confidence, and equip students with the practical habits required for long-term academic and personal success as they transition into their second year of post-secondary education.

A. Programming Requirements Within twenty-one (21) days of contract execution, the Awarded Contractor shall develop a workplan that shall include onsite, programming activities, topics, dates, and times for programming at each of the 4 year state public universities . This workplan may be modified as the Awarded Contractor gains familiarity through its work with the student population to ensure that programming is relevant and relatable for student participants. Please note that this agreement is supported by grant funds and will conclude on August 21, 2027.

The onsite interventions must address, but are not limited to, the following four pillars:

· Academic Success & Navigation: Providing academic alignment strategies tailored for students delivering actionable guidance on maintaining college grades, and teaching students how to proactively seek out campus resources and build meaningful relationships with peers, professors, and university staff.

· Holistic Health & Wellness: Educating students on how to access campus mental health resources, guiding students on navigating campus dining to establish healthy eating habits, and promoting campus physical activity to directly connect movement with overall student well-being.

· Social-Emotional Development: Fostering self-awareness, self-regulation, and emotional well-being, while cultivating self-confidence and healthy relationship-building skills with adults and peers.

· Life Skills & Inclusivity: Teaching practical, daily life habits that support long-term independence and success.

B. Sample Programming The following are samples of topics and areas of interest that proposed programming may address. Contractors are encouraged to propose workplans that include these topics as well as any other topics the Contractor chooses to propose:

· Academic Navigation & Time Management

· The 24/7 Blueprint (Advanced Time Management): Teaching students how to balance rigorous college course loads alongside part-time jobs, commuting, or family obligations using digital planning tools and syllabus mapping.

· The Professor Playbook (Self-Advocacy & Professional Communication): Direct training on how to professionally communicate with faculty, talk through academic difficulties, and confidently utilize professor office hours for mentorship.

· Shift to College Academics (Grade Maintenance): Teaching active study strategies, how to decode complex grading rubrics, and when to proactively seek out tutoring before hitting an academic crisis.

· Social-Emotional Well-being & Institutional Literacy

· Demystifying the "Hidden Curriculum": Breaking down unspoken campus norms and university systems, teaching students how to navigate financial aid, registrar processes, and campus layout without feeling overwhelmed.

· Imposter Syndrome & Building Self-Confidence: A wellness workshop addressing unique emotional pressures GEAR UP students’ face (e.g., family expectations, belonging). Provides cognitive tools for self-regulation and resilience.

· Holistic Campus Wellness: Focused on teaching practical daily habits, managing stress, navigating campus dining options to maintain healthy eating habits, and utilizing free on-campus mental health and fitness resources.

· Commuter Student Integration

· The "In-Between" Hours (Maximizing Campus Spaces): Midday workshops scheduled between common class blocks teaching commuters how to find and utilize "third spaces" (commuter lounges, study nooks) so they stay on campus.

· Micro-Involvement & Flash Networking: Showing commuters how to build a social network and join campus life without needing to stay for late-night club meetings through daytime campus events.

· The Commuter Kitchen & Fueling for Success: Logistics of being a commuter, teaching students how to meal prep for long days on campus, find student kitchen facilities, and manage nutrition affordably.

C. Frequency, Location, & Institutional Coordination The Awarded Contractor shall perform the services in accordance with the following:

· Frequency: The Awarded Contractor shall conduct a minimum of one (1) onsite intervention per month at each university campus (Central, Eastern, Southern and Western).

· Campus Logistics: The Awarded Contractor shall coordinate directly with an identified point of contact at each campus to understand the student population as well as what space to utilize to meet with students for workshops/discussions.

· Scheduling: Program delivery must offer flexible formatting (onsite and/or hybrid) or timing to accommodate the unique schedules and constraints of all students.

· College Schedule Alignment: All workshops, sessions, and onsite interventions must work entirely around the specific college schedule and academic calendars of each individual campus (accounting for midterms, finals, campus closures, and holiday breaks).

D. Data Collection & Reporting Deliverables In order to track program efficacy and satisfy program outcomes and compliance, the Awarded Contractor shall submit monthly, as well as semester-based reports to the Gear Up Grant Director. Reports shall include:

· Student attendance logs (disaggregated by cohort: on-campus and commuter).

· Workshop engagement and completion metrics.

· Student feedback and satisfaction survey data to measure outcomes.

· To support these reporting requirements, Proposers shall include a reporting plan in their proposal that identifies the data, metrics, and report format they intend to provide.

Timeline: September 2026 – August 21, 2027

IV. Proposal Submission Requirement

The following are to be included in your response.

a. Cover page (optional)

b. Abstract

c. Body

d. Budget and Budget Narrative

· The maximum allowable budget for this project is $225,000.00. Proposals exceeding this total budget limit will be deemed non-responsive.

· The narrative must break down costs by staffing, travel, materials and administrative overhead.

e. Contract Proposal (Attachment A)

f. Completed Bidders Qualifications (Attachment B)

g. Completed References (Attachment C)

h. Completed Campaign Contribution Certification (Attachment D)

V. Evaluation of Proposals

A. The award of a contract(s) to furnish services will be based upon a comprehensive review and analysis of proposals by an RFP committee, and negotiation of the proposal which best meets the needs of the CSCU. The determination for the recommendation for selection will be based on criteria.

B. Award(s) will be made to the proposer(s) offering the best value as determined by CSCU. By submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, a proposing party concurs with this method of award and will not, under any circumstances or in any manner, dispute any award made using this method. The award will be contingent upon the successful negotiation of specific terms and conditions to be included in the resulting contract.

C. Criteria The Proposer’s overall methodology to successfully providing the Services will be assessed for its feasibility, responsiveness to the Scope of Services, effectiveness, and thoroughness. Each proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The order in which the selection criteria are listed is not indicative of their relative importance.

Proposer(s) chosen for award resulting from this RFP must be willing to enter into a contract with CSCU under the terms and conditions appearing in Attachment E, without exception, as well as modifications and additions the CSCU deems necessary prior to execution.

VI. Timeline of RFP and Instructions for Submission of Proposals The proposal process will be governed by the following timelines:

A. All questions and requests for clarification must be in writing and submitted no later than September 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM to Cynthia Shea-Luzik at Cynthia.shealuzik@ct.edu. Include the RFP number and title in the subject line. All questions will be answered as an addendum to this RFP only. No verbal questions will be accepted or answered.

Questions, with answers, will be posted on the Department of Administrative Services website, CT Source Bid Board https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/CTSource/BidBoard on or before September 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM. It is the responsibility of the proposers to visit the website to retrieve the questions and answers. Proposers should visit this website frequently prior to the due date for possible addenda in addition to questions and answers.

B. Instructions for Submission of Proposals

1. E-mail your proposal to Cynthia Shea-Luzik at Cynthia.shealuzik@ct.edu with a copy to Sharon Kromas at Sharon.Kromas@ct.edu. Include the RFP number 27-1403039 and the title “In Person Mentoring Services” in the subject line. Please note that the attachment cannot be over 25MG. If needed, please send zip files or separate e-mails.

2. PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CSCU CONTRACT COMPLIANCE AND PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 AT 2:00 PM.

3. Any proposal received after the stated date and time will be rejected. CSCU is not responsible for any delays.

4. A public proposal opening will take place on September 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM. At that time, a representative of the Contract Compliance and Procurement Department will announce publicly the names of those firms' submitting proposals. There will be no discussion of any proposal submitted and no other public disclosure will be made until after the full execution of a contract. Attendance at this proposal opening is not mandatory.

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/233946483739269?p=ZBhkEmRGEHJUpILtCc

Meeting ID: 233 946 483 739 269 Passcode: VQ2FY2Wj

Or call in (audio only) +1 860-241-5459,,889928217# United States, Hartford Phone Conference ID: 889 928 217#

VII. Conditions

A. Restriction on Communications All communications concerning this solicitation are to be in writing and directed to: Cynthia Shea-Luzik at Cynthia.shealuzik@ct.edu with a copy to Sharon Kromas at Sharon.Kromas@ct.edu. Proposers are not permitted to communicate with the Institutions, faculty and / or staff regarding this solicitation during the period between Request for Proposal issue date and the announcement of award(s), except during any interviews or demonstrations requested by CSCU.

B. Insurance A Certificate of Insurance (“Certificate”), certifying that the vendor carries Commercial General Liability insurance. An original Certificate shall be submitted to the System prior to commencement of work. The Certificate shall provide evidence of coverage in the amount of $1,000,000 Combined Single Limit (CSL) per occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage. Coverage shall include Premises Liability, Operations, Independent Contractors, Products and Completed Operations, Contractual Liability and Broad Form Property Damage coverage. If an aggregate limit applies, said limit shall apply separately to the project, or the general aggregate limit shall be twice the occurrence limit. Worker’s Compensation and Employer’s Liability is required and must meet statutory coverage requirements prescribed by the Worker’s Compensation statutes of the State of Connecticut. The Employer’s Liability coverage must provide minimum limits of $100,000 each accident, $500,000 Policy Disease Limit, $100,000 each employee. Policies shall list the State of Connecticut, its officers, officials, employees, agents, Boards and Commissions as Additional Insured. The coverage shall contain no special limitations on the scope of protection afforded to the System and the State of Connecticut. The vendor shall assume liability for any and all deductibles in any and all insurance policies. Vendor warrants that he/she will maintain in force all insurance coverage cited in this section while providing services to the System.

C. Costs for Proposal Preparation Proposer shall bear any, and all costs incurred in responding to this RFP.

D. Disqualification of Proposals CSCU reserves the right to consider as acceptable only those proposals submitted in accordance with all requirements set forth in this RFP and which demonstrate an understanding of the scope of the work. Any proposal offering any other set of terms and conditions contradictory to those included in this RFP may be disqualified without further notice.

Proposer may be disqualified, and the proposal automatically rejected for any one or more of the following reasons:

1. The proposal shows noncompliance with applicable law.

2. The proposal is conditional, incomplete, or irregular in such a way as to make the proposal indefinite or ambiguous as to its meaning.

3. The proposal has any provision reserving the right to accept or reject award, or to enter into a contract pursuant to an award, or provisions contrary to those required in the solicitation.

4. The Contractor is debarred or suspended.

5. The Contractor is in default of any prior contract or for misrepresentation.

E. Rights Reserved CSCU reserves the right to award in whole or in part, to contract with one or more proposers, to reject any and all proposals, in whole or in part, and to waive technical defects, irregularities and omissions if, in its judgment, the best interest of CSCU will be served. Should CSCU determine that only one Proposer is fully qualified, or that one Proposer is more highly qualified than the others under consideration, a contract may be negotiated and awarded to that Proposer.

F. Compliance with State and Federal Laws and CSCU Policies Any contract awarded as a result of this RFP shall be in full compliance with the statutes and regulations of the State of Connecticut and include the Contract Provisions required by the State (which may include, but not be limited to the provisions found in Attachment E). Any portion of the contract determined to be in conflict with said statutes and/or regulations will be interpreted so as to be in compliance.

Under no circumstances will CSCU enter into a contract which requires CSCU or the State to agree to indemnify another party or agree to binding arbitration.

The successful proposer shall comply with all applicable CSCU Policies including the Ethical Conduct Policy, which may be found by visiting: www.ct.edu/hr/policies. The successful proposer shall also comply with all federal and state statutes and regulations including, but not limited to, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLBA”) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) in the protection of all data where and as applicable.

G. Inspection of Proposals and Confidential Information CSCU treats Proposals as confidential until after a contract is finalized. At that time, they become subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. CSCU is a public entity and its records, including responses to this RFP, are public records. See Conn. Gen. Stat. §§1-200, et seq., and especially §1-210(b)(4) and §1-210(b)(5). Due regard will be given for the protection of proprietary or confidential information contained in all proposals received. However, all materials associated with this RFP are subject to the terms of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) and all applicable rules, regulations, and administrative decisions. If a firm is interested in preserving the confidentiality of any part of its proposal, it will not be sufficient merely to state generally that the proposal is proprietary or confidential in nature and not, therefore, subject to release to third parties. Instead, those particular sentences, paragraphs, pages, or sections that a firm believes to be exempt from disclosure under FOIA must be specifically identified as such. Convincing explanation and rationale sufficient to justify each exemption consistent with Section 1-210(b) of FOIA must accompany the proposal. The rationale and explanation must be stated in terms of the reasons the materials are legally exempt from release pursuant to FOIA. Firms should not require that their entire proposal, nor the majority of the proposal, be confidential. Any submitted proposal, once execution of a contract is complete and any completed contract will be considered public information. CSCU has no obligation to initiate, prosecute or defend any legal proceeding or to seek a protective order or other similar relief to prevent disclosure of any information that is sought pursuant to a FOIA request. The contractor has the burden of establishing the availability of any FOIA exemption in any proceeding where it is an issue. In no event shall the CSCU have any liability for the disclosure of any documents or information in its possession which the CSCU believes are required to be disclosed pursuant to FOIA or other requirements of law.

H. Contract Invalidation If any provision of the contract is found to be invalid, such invalidation will not be construed to invalidate the entire contract.

I. Fees All fee and cost structures quoted herein shall remain firm for the entire contract term, unless mutually agreed by all parties via written contract amendment.

J. Out of Pocket Expenses Out of pocket expenses may include but not be limited to reasonable lodging, meals, mileage, and parking. With respect to applicable expenses, reimbursement shall be made by CSCU based on the then-current General Services Administration (GSA) Meals and Incidental Expenses guidelines.

K. RFP Terms and Conditions The terms and conditions should be reviewed carefully to ensure full responsiveness to the RFP. The contract will be, in form and substance, consistent with applicable CSCU policy and regulations and State of Connecticut statutes and regulations regarding the creation and execution of such contract. The failure of any proposer to receive or examine any contract, document, form, addenda or to visit the sites and acquaint itself with conditions there-existing, when applicable, will not relieve it of any obligation with respect to its proposal or any executed contract. The submission of a proposal shall be conclusive evidence and understanding of intent to incorporate such terms and conditions into a contract.

L. Supplemental Information As part of the review, CSCU may request a proposer to supply, in writing, clarifications, additional documentation or information needed to fairly evaluate each proposal. Proposers may be required to provide a written response within three (3) business days of receipt of any request for clarification by CSCU. CSCU reserves the right to correct inaccurate awards resulting from clerical errors.

M. Meetings with Proposers At its discretion, CSCU may convene meetings with one or more proposers in order to gain a fuller understanding of the proposals. The meetings may involve demonstrations, interviews, presentations, or site visits. If CSCU decides meetings are warranted, CSCU will contact proposers to make an appointment. The RFP Committee may, at its option, elect to “short-list” the number of proposers brought in for meetings based on the evaluation criteria included in this RFP. Please note that any costs incurred to meet the requirements of this RFP shall be borne by the proposer.

N. Miscellaneous

1. Late E-Mailed proposals are not acceptable and will be rejected.

2. Submission of a proposal in response to this RFP is your acknowledgement that subjective criteria will be used in the evaluation of proposals. An Award will be made to the responsible proposer who is determined to be the most advantageous to CSCU. Cost, although an important consideration, will not be the sole determining factor.

3. Proposer warrants that: proposer did not participate in the RFP development process, did not have knowledge of the contents of this RFP prior to its issuance, that its proposal was not made in connection with any competing proposer submitting a separate response to this RFP, and that the proposal is submitted without collusion or fraud of any kind.

4. Any alleged oral agreement or arrangement made by a proposer with any agency or employee will be superseded by the written agreement.

5. Proposers may withdraw their proposals at any time prior to the time and date set for opening.

6. No additions or changes to the original proposal will be allowed after submittal. While changes are not permitted, clarification at the request of the CSCU may be required at the proposer’s expense.

7. All proposals submitted in response to this RFP become the property of the State of Connecticut and are subject to the provisions of section 1-210 of the Connecticut General Statutes (Freedom of Information). See Section VII.G.

8. Any and all prices quoted in a proposal shall be valid for a minimum period of 120 days from the due date of the Proposal.

9. Any subsequent contract(s) arising from this RFP may be extended to other constituent units of higher education. The use of this award is voluntary and is contingent upon acceptance by the contractor.

10. Any contract awarded is subject to contract compliance requirements mandated by Section 4a-60 and 46a-68 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

11. For all State contracts, defined in section 9-612 of the Connecticut General Statutes as having a value in a calendar year of $50,000 or more, or a combination or series of such agreements or contracts having a value of $100,000 or more, the authorized signatory to this Contract represents that they have received the State Elections Enforcement Commission’s notice advising state contractors of state campaign contribution and solicitation prohibitions, and will inform its principals of the contents of the notice, as set forth in “Notice to Executive Branch State Contractors and Prospective State Contractors of Campaign Contribution and Solicitation Limitations”

3) Any contract awarded shall be subject to Executive Orders of the Governor, State of Connecticut as defined below:

Executive Orders and Other Enactments:

1. All references in this Contract to any Federal, State, or local law, statute, public or special act, executive order, ordinance, regulation or code (collectively, “Enactments”) shall mean Enactments that apply to the Contract at any time during its term, or that may be made applicable to the Contract during its term. This Contract shall always be read and interpreted in accordance with the latest applicable wording and requirements of the Enactments. Unless otherwise provided by Enactments, the Contractor is not relieved of its obligation to perform under this Contract if it chooses to contest the applicability of the Enactments or the Client Agency’s authority to require compliance with the Enactments.

1. This Contract is subject to the provisions of Executive Order No. Three of Governor Thomas J. Meskill, promulgated June 16, 1971, concerning labor employment practices, Executive Order No. Seventeen of Governor Thomas J. Meskill, promulgated February 15, 1973, concerning the listing of employment openings and Executive Order No. Sixteen of Governor John G. Rowland promulgated August 4, 1999, concerning violence in the workplace, all of which are incorporated into and are made a part of this Contract as if they had been fully set forth in it.

1. This Contract may be subject to (1) Executive Order No. 14 of Governor M. Jodi Rell, promulgated April 17, 2006, concerning procurement of cleaning products and services; and (2) Executive Order No. 61 of Governor Dannel P. Malloy promulgated December 13, 2017 concerning the Policy for the Management of State Information Technology Projects, as issued by the Office of Policy and Management, Policy ID IT-SDLC-17-04. If any of the Executive Orders referenced in this subsection is applicable, it is deemed to be incorporated into and made a part of this Contract as if fully set forth in it.

ATTACHMENT A

CONTRACT PROPOSAL

Please read carefully Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Finance Department 61 Woodland Street Hartford, CT 06105-2337

THIS FORM MUST BE RETURNED WITH PROPOSAL

RFP NUMBER

RFP 27-1403039

DATE OF OPENING

09/21/2026

TIME OF OPENING

2:00 PM

AMOUNT OF SURETY (if required)

- None -

DATE ISSUED

09/09/2026

COMMODITY CLASS/SUBCLASS AND DESCRIPTION

In-person Mentoring Services

PRE-PROPOSAL SITE VISIT:

CONTACT:

Cynthia Shea-Luzik

E-MAIL:

cynthia.shealuzik@ct.edu

FOR

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities

CONTRACT PERIOD:

TBD

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 10a-151b and 4-217 of the General Statutes of Connecticut as amended. SEALED PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED by the Finance Department of the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities, for furnishing the services herein listed.

AFFIRMATION OF PROPOSER

The undersigned affirms and declares:

1. That this proposal is executed and signed with full knowledge and acceptance of the provisions of the laws of the State of Connecticut, and the terms and conditions listed herein.

2. That should any part of this proposal be accepted in writing by CSCU within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from the date of opening unless an earlier date for acceptance is specified in proposal schedule, said proposer will furnish and deliver the commodities and / or services for which this proposal is made, at the rates offered and fee schedule proposed, and in compliance with the provisions listed herein. Should award of any part of this proposal be delayed beyond the period of one hundred twenty (120) days or an earlier date specified in proposal schedule, such award shall be conditioned upon proposer’s acceptance.

PROPOSAL. The undersigned, accepting the conditions set forth herein, hereby agrees in strict accordance therewith, to furnish and deliver the services to the state agency or state agencies named in the proposal at the prices proposed therein.

TYPE OR PRINT NAME OF INDIVIDUAL

DOING BUSINESS AS (Trade Name)

SIGNATURE

WHEN PROPOSER

BUSINESS ADDRESS STREET CITY STATE ZIP CODE

IS AN

INDIVIDUAL

WRITTEN SIGNATURE OF INDIVIDUAL SIGNING THIS PROPOSAL

NAME (Type or print names of all partners ) TITLE

NAME TITLE

SIGNATURE

WHEN PROPOSER

IS A FIRM

FULL NAME OF CORPORATION

INCORPORATED IN WHAT STATE

SIGNATURE

WHEN PROPOSER

BUSINESS ADDRESS STREET CITY STATE ZIP CODE

F.E.I. NUMBER

IS A

CORPORATION

WRITTEN SIGNATURE OF CORPORATE OFFICIAL OR PERSON DULY AUTHORIZED TO SIGN PROPOSALS ON BEHALF OF THE ABOVE CORPORATION

TITLE

Attachment B

STATEMENT OF BIDDER'S QUALIFICATIONS

This form will be used in assessing a Bidders Qualification and will be used to determine if bid submitted is from a responsible bidder. State law designates that contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible qualified bidder. Factors such as past performance, integrity of the bidder, conformity to the specifications, etc., will be used in evaluating bids. Attach additional sheet(s) as necessary.

1. Name:

Business Address:

2. How many years has your company been in business under its present name?

3. How many years has your firm been performing the specific type of work involved in this present contract?

4. List any relevant Certifications, Licenses, Registrations, etc., which qualify your company to meet the requirements of this bid.

5. List all other contracts your company currently holds (current client list) for similar services for accounts similar in size, scope and nature. Include account name, nature of service(s) and annual dollar value. Attach additional sheets as necessary.

6. In the past three years, has your company failed to complete any work awarded to it? If yes, provide details on when, where and why. Attach additional sheets as necessary.

7. In the past three years, has your company had a contract terminated for failure to perform, or for failure to meet any requirements of the contract? why. Attach additional sheets as necessary.

If yes, provide details on when, where and

8. In the past three years, have you, or your company, been cited by the Labor Department of the State of Connecticut, or by any State agency, for any violations of state, or federal, labor laws, regulations, or guidelines, for nonpayment of wages and/or benefits to your employees? details on when, where and why. Attach additional sheets as necessary.

If yes, provide

9. Are there any judgments, claims or suits pending, or outstanding, against your company, or its officers? necessary.

If yes, provide details on when, where and why. Attach additional sheets as

10. Is your company, or any of its principals, presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or involuntarily or voluntarily excluded by any State, or Federal, agency from participation in bidding on construction projects? explanation.

If yes, please attach a letter of

11. ACKNOWLEDGMENT: I (We), the undersigned, hereby certify that the above information is true and accurate, and that the Agency will rely on said information as a basis for determining the bidder's qualifications for the Project being bid. The undersigned further understands that any material misrepresentation, or inaccuracy, stated above will result in bidder's disqualification, or if applicable, will constitute grounds for the termination of the contract for construction, should one have been issued to the bidder.

Name of Company

Signature

Print Name:

Title:

Attachment C

REFERENCES

Proposals should include five institutions of similar or the same size, where your organization has provided services similar to those being requested. Any experience with ANY Connecticut State agency MUST be included here. References may be checked electronically; the requirement for e-mail addresses is a mandatory requirement.

Reference #2

Reference #3

Attachment D

OPM FORM 1

STATE OF CONNECTICUT

CAMCAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION CERTIFICATION

Written or electronic certification to accompany a bid or proposal or a non-competitive contract with a value of $50,000 or more, pursuant to C.G.S. § 9-612.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Complete all sections of the form. Attach additional pages, if necessary, to provide full disclosure about any campaign contributions made to campaigns of candidates for statewide public office or the General Assembly, as described herein. Sign and date the form, under oath, in the presence of a Commissioner of the Superior Court or Notary Public. Submit the completed form to the awarding State agency at the time of submission of your bid or proposal (if no bid or proposal– submit this completed form with the earliest submittal of any document to the state or quasi-public agency prior to the execution of the contract), and if there is a change in the information contained in the most recently filed certification, such person shall submit an updated certification either (i) not later than thirty (30) days after the effective date of such change or (ii) upon the submittal of any new bid or proposal for a contract, whichever is earlier.

Check One:

· Initial Certification

· Updated Certification because of change of information contained in the most recently filed certification

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION CERTIFICATION:

I certify that neither the contractor or prospective state contractor, nor any of its principals, have made any contributions to, or solicited any contributions on behalf of, any party committee, exploratory committee, candidate for state-wide office or for the General Assembly, or political committee authorized to make contributions to or expenditures to or for, the benefit of such candidates, in the previous four years, that were determined by the State Elections Enforcement Commission to be in violation of subparagraph (A) or (B) of subdivision

(2) of subsection (f) of Section 9-612 of the General Statutes, without mitigating circumstances having been found to exist concerning such violation. Each such certification shall be sworn as true to the best knowledge and belief of the person signing the certification, subject to the penalties of false statement. If there is any change in the information contained in the most recently filed certification, such person shall submit an updated certification not later than thirty days after the effective date of any such change or upon the submittal of any new bid or proposal for a state contract, whichever is earlier.

All Campaign Contributions on behalf of any party committee, exploratory committee, candidate for state-wide office or for the General Assembly, or political committee authorized to make contributions to or expenditures to or for, the benefit of such candidate, for a period of four years prior to signing the contract or date of the response to the bid, whichever is longer, include:

Contribution Date Name of Contributor Recipient Value Description

Sworn as true to the best of my knowledge and belief, subject to the penalties of false statement.

Printed Contractor Name Printed Name of Authorized Official

Signature of Authorized Official

Subscribed and acknowledged before me this day of , 20 .

Commissioner of the Superior Court (or Notary Public)

_ My Commission Expires

Attachment E

Contract Provisions

1. Statutory Authority:

Connecticut General Statutes §§ 10a-6, 10a-1b, 4a-52a, and /or 10a-151b provides the constituent unit with the authority to enter into contracts in the pursuit of its mission.

2. Professional Standards:

In rendering services under this contract, the Contractor shall conform to high professional standards of work and business ethic. The Contractor warrants that the services shall be performed: 1) in a professional and workmanlike manner; and 2) in accordance with generally and currently accepted principles and practices. During the term of this contract, the Contractor agrees to provide to constituent unit in a good and faithful manner, using its best efforts and in a manner that shall promote the interests of said constituent unit, such services as constituent unit requests, provided in this contract.

3. Federal and State statutes and regulations:

In performing services pursuant to this contract, Contractor, its employees and representatives shall at all times comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and laws, including, but not limited to, the Gramm-Leach–Bliley Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) and related State Contracting Agency Policies, in the protection of all personally identifiable and other protected confidential information and non-directory student data.

4. Claims Against the State:

The Contractor agrees that the sole and exclusive means for the presentation of any claim against the State arising from this Agreement shall be in accordance with Chapter 53 of the Connecticut General Statutes (Claims Against the State) and the Contractor further agrees not to initiate legal proceedings in any state or federal court in addition to, or in lieu of, said Chapter 53 proceedings.

5. Forum and Choice of Law:

The parties deem the Contract to have been made in the City of Hartford, State of Connecticut. Both parties agree that it is fair and reasonable for the validity and construction of the contract to be, and it shall be, governed by the laws and court decisions of the State of Connecticut, without giving effect to its principles of conflicts of laws. To the extent that any immunities provided by Federal law or the laws of the State of Connecticut do not bar an action against the State, and to the extent that these courts are courts of competent jurisdiction, for the purpose of venue, the complaint shall be made returnable to the Judicial District of Hartford only or shall be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut only, and shall not be transferred to any other court, provided, however, that nothing here constitutes a waiver or compromise of the sovereign immunity of the State of Connecticut. The Contractor waives any objection which it may now have or will have to the laying of venue of any claims in any forum and further irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction in any suit, action or proceeding.

6. Sovereign Immunity:

The parties acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Contract shall be construed as a modification, compromise or waiver by the State of any rights or defenses of any immunities provided by Federal law or the laws of the State of Connecticut to the State or any of its officers and employees, which they may have had, now have or will have with respect to all matters arising out of this Contract. To the extent that this section conflicts with any other section, this section shall govern.

7. Indemnification and Insurance:

(a) The Contractor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the State and its officers, representatives, agents, servants, employees, successors and assigns from and against any and all (1) claims arising, directly or indirectly, in connection with the Contract, including the acts of commission or omission (collectively, the “Acts”) of the Contractor or contractor parties; and (2) liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses, including but not limited to, attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees, arising, directly or indirectly, in connection with claims, Acts of the contract. The Contractor shall use counsel reasonably acceptable to the State in carrying out its obligations under this section. The Contractor’s obligations under this section to indemnify, defend and hold harmless against claims includes claims concerning (i) the confidentiality of any part of or all of the Contractor’s bid or proposal, and (ii) records, any intellectual property rights, other proprietary rights of any person or entity, copyrighted or uncopyrighted compositions, secret processes, patented or unpatented inventions, or Goods furnished or used in the performance of the Contract. For purposes of this provision, “Goods” means all things which are movable at the time that the Contract is effective and which includes, without limiting this definition, supplies, materials and equipment.

(b) The Contractor shall reimburse the State for any and all damages to the real or personal property of the State caused by the Acts of the Contractor or any contractor parties. The State shall give the Contractor reasonable notice of any such claims.

(c) The Contractor’s duties under this section shall remain fully in effect and binding in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Contract, without being lessened or compromised in any way, even where the Contractor is alleged or is found to have merely contributed in part to the Acts giving rise to the claims and/or where the State is alleged or is found to have merely contributed in part to the Acts giving rise to the claims. The Contractor shall not be responsible for indemnifying or holding the State harmless from any liability solely from the negligence of the State or any other person or entity acting under the direct control or supervision of the State.

(d) The Contractor shall carry and maintain at all times during the term of the Contract, and during the time that any provisions survive the term of the Contract, sufficient general liability insurance to satisfy its obligations under this Contract. The Contractor shall cause the State to be named as an additional insured on the policy and shall provide (1) a certificate of insurance, (2) the declaration page and (3) the additional insured endorsement to the policy to the Client Agency all in an electronic format acceptable to constituent unit prior to the effective date of the Contract evidencing that the State is an additional insured. The Contractor shall not begin performance until the delivery of these three (3) documents to constituent unit. Contractor shall provide an annual electronic update of the three (3) documents to constituent unit on or before each anniversary of the Effective Date during the Contract term. State shall be entitled to recover under the insurance policy even if a body of competent jurisdiction determines that the State is contributorily negligent.

(e) This section shall survive the termination of the contract and shall not be limited by reason of any insurance coverage.

8. Termination:

(a) Notwithstanding any provisions in this contract, constituent unit, through a duly authorized employee, may terminate the contract whenever constituent unit makes a written determination that such termination is in the best interests of the State. Constituent unit shall notify the Contractor in writing of termination pursuant to this section, which notice shall specify the effective date of termination and the extent to which the Contractor must complete its performance under the contract prior to such date.

(b) Notwithstanding any provisions in this contract, constituent unit, through a duly authorized employee, may, after making a written determination that the Contractor has breached the contract, terminate the contract in accordance with the following breach provision.

i. Breach. If either party breaches the contract in any respect, the non-breaching party shall provide written notice of the breach to the breaching party and afford the breaching party an opportunity to cure within ten (10) days from the date that the breaching party receives the notice. In the case of a Contractor breach, any other time period which constituent unit sets forth in the notice shall trump the ten (10) days. The right to cure period shall be extended if the non-breaching party is satisfied that the breaching party is making a good faith effort to cure but the nature of the breach is such that it cannot be cured within the right to cure period. The notice may include an effective contract termination date if the breach is not cured by the stated date and, unless otherwise modified by the non-breaching party in writing prior to the termination date, no further action shall be required of any party to effect the termination as of the stated date. If the notice does not set forth an effective contract termination date, then the non-breaching party may terminate the contract by giving the breaching party no less than twenty-four (24) hours’ prior written notice. If Constituent unit believes that the Contractor has not performed according to the contract, constituent unit may withhold payment in whole or in part pending resolution of the performance issue, provided that constituent unit notifies the Contractor in writing prior to the date that the payment would have been due.

(c) Constituent unit shall send the notice of termination via certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Contractor at the most current address which the Contractor has furnished to constituent unit for purposes of correspondence, or by hand delivery. Upon receiving the notice from constituent unit, the Contractor shall immediately discontinue all services affected in accordance with the notice, undertake all commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate any losses or damages, and deliver to constituent unit all records.