MDSIS BPM042413 Amendment#3 Proposal Due Date Extension Q & A Clarity 04192024.pdf
PDF 255 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Maryland Student Information System (MDSIS)
- Solicitation number
- BPM042413
- Issued by
- Maryland
About this file
This document is an amendment to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) for the Maryland Student Information System (MDSIS). The RFP seeks to procure a state-of-the-art, cloud-based Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solution to effectively administer state education needs, student data, and financial aid for Maryland constituents. The proposal due date has been extended from April 30, 2024 to May 07, 2024. The RFP addresses various requirements such as multilingual capabilities, maintenance and support, legislative changes, hosting, and integration with the existing MHEC One application.
The RFP indicates that enhancements and legislative changes are included in the fixed-price maintenance and support, and there are no limits on what the state can request. MHEC requires the solution to be hosted on state-managed IT systems, including cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or the internal DoIT cloud. The incumbent provider is not precluded from bidding, and the experience can be provided by the prime offeror or its subcontractors. MHEC has a target Notice to Proceed (NTP) date and will provide a list of meeting attendees. All portals must comply with Section 508 accessibility requirements.
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Text version
Wes Moore Governor
Aruna Miller Lt. Governor
Cassie Motz
Chair
Sanjay Rai, Ph.D.
Acting Secretary
MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION
6 N. Liberty Street • 10th Floor • Baltimore, MD 21201
T 410.767.3300 • 800.974.0203 • F 410.332.0270 • TTY for the Deaf 800.735.2258 www.mhec.maryland.gov
Amendment #3
MDSIS Proposal Due Date Extension - Questions and Answers Clarity Solicitation No. BPM042413
The Proposal Due Date has been extended and the new date becomes part of the RFP.
The following questions and answers regarding the subject RFP were published to clarify the RFP’s requirements. The answers were elaborated upon for better clarity of RFP requirements.
The question and answer period is now completed.
Amendment Proposal Due Date Extension – CHANGE FROM THIS:
Proposal Due (Closing) Date and Time: Tuesday, April 30, 2024 (04/30/2024) at 4pm
Local Time
Amendment Proposal Due Date Extension – TO THIS:
Proposal Due (Closing) Date and Time: Tuesday, May 07, 2024 (05/07/2024) at 4pm
Local Time
Enhancement Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
43) After the system is implemented in production, how should enhancements that Maryland requests for changes to the new system be paid for by Maryland?
Enhancements will be addressed as part of the Maintenance and Operations option year(s). MHEC has defined a Fixed Price payment structure for enhancements. This is not a Time and Materials contract.
Enhancement Amendment - TO THIS:
43) After the system is implemented in production, how should enhancements that Maryland requests for
Enhancements will be addressed as part of the Maintenance and Operations option year(s). MHEC has defined a Fixed Price payment structure for enhancements. This is not a Time and Materials http://www.mhec.maryland.gov/
T 410.767.3300 • 800.974.0203 • F 410.332.0270 • TTY for the Deaf 800.735.2258 www.mhec.maryland.gov changes to the new system be paid for by Maryland?
contract. The proposal should include costs which will incorporate enhancements to the MDSIS application.
Language Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
47) The RFP indicated you want the solution to be “available in multiple language. Do you have a list of expected languages?
Yes all solutions are required to be multilingual. The multi-level language requirement will consist of the following: English, Spanish, Chinese, French (Western African-Yoruba, Twi, Igbo) and Korean.
Language Amendment - TO THIS:
47) The RFP indicated you want the solution to be “available in multiple language. Do you have a list of expected languages?
Yes, all solutions are required to be multilingual. The multi-level language requirement will consist of the following: English, Spanish, Chinese, French, West African Languages and Korean.
Maintenance/Support - Amendment (Before)
108) The RFP mentions Maintenance/Support is a fixed price.
Are enhancements to the system included in that fixed price, and are there any limits as to what the state can request as part of maintenance and support?
Yes
Maintenance/Support - Amendment (After)
108) The RFP mentions Maintenance/Support is a fixed price.
Yes, enhancements are included in the Fixed Price and there are no limits to what the state can request as part of maintenance and support.
T 410.767.3300 • 800.974.0203 • F 410.332.0270 • TTY for the Deaf 800.735.2258 www.mhec.maryland.gov
Are enhancements to the system included in that fixed price, and are there any limits as to what the state can request as part of maintenance and support?
Legislative Change - Amendment (Before)
109) Are state legislative changes included in that fixed price, and if so, are there any limits as to what the state can request for legislative changes?
Legislative Change - Amendment (After)
109) Are state legislative changes included in that fixed price, and if so, are there any limits as to what the state can request for legislative changes?
Yes, legislative changes are included in the Fixed Price and there are no limits to what the state can request for legislative changes.
Hosting Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
13) Will MHEC want this application to be hosted on State of Maryland managed IT systems? (DoIT or alternative State managed/maintained cloud system)
Hosting Amendment - TO THIS:
T 410.767.3300 • 800.974.0203 • F 410.332.0270 • TTY for the Deaf 800.735.2258 www.mhec.maryland.gov
13) Will MHEC want this application to be hosted on State of Maryland managed IT systems? (DoIT or alternative State managed/maintained cloud system)
Yes. The MDSIS application will be hosted on the State of Maryland managed IT systems.
Hosting Amendment 2 - CHANGE FROM THIS:
14) Given the sensitive nature of the system, data, and workflows we would suggest that the solution (COTS or otherwise) be able to be hosted on a cloud system managed by the State. This could include clouds such as AWS, Azure, or internal DoIT cloud.
Hosting Amendment 2 - TO THIS:
14) Given the sensitive nature of the system, data, and workflows we would suggest that the solution (COTS or otherwise) be able to be hosted on a cloud system managed by the State. This could include clouds such as AWS, Azure, or internal DoIT cloud.
Yes, that would be the preferred solution for sensitive data to be hosted on a cloud system managed by the state.
COTS Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
15) Will MHEC consider language to ensure if a COTs solution is implemented, that the vendor must implement any/all changes requested by
T 410.767.3300 • 800.974.0203 • F 410.332.0270 • TTY for the Deaf 800.735.2258 www.mhec.maryland.gov
MHEC? a. It is our experience that COTS vendors can/do refuse changes to their system that would be costly, Time prohibitive, or not usable by their other customers. We believe that any COTS solution should include this as part of the evaluation process.
COTS Amendment - TO THIS:
15) Will MHEC consider language to ensure if a COTs solution is implemented, that the vendor must implement any/all changes requested by MHEC? a. It is our experience that COTS vendors can/do refuse changes to their system that would be costly, Time prohibitive, or not usable by their other customers. We believe that any COTS solution should include this as part of the evaluation process.
Yes, MHEC wants all changes requested implemented by the vendor.
Previous Provider Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
27) Has there been a previous provider for a statewide education system of this magnitude?
Previous Provider Amendment - TO THIS:
27) Has there been a previous provider for a statewide education system of this magnitude?
Yes, there was a previous provider for the State.
24/7 Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
30) Does there need to be 24/7 support provided once the system has been implemented?
24/7 Amendment - TO THIS:
30) Does there need to be 24/7 support provided once the system has been implemented?
Yes there will need to be 24/7 support provided for the MDSIS application.
Incumbent Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
41) Part A: Is the incumbent provider precluded from bidding?
No
Incumbent Amendment - TO THIS:
41) Part A: Is the incumbent provider precluded from bidding?
No, the incumbent provider is not precluded from bidding.
Prime Offeror Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
49) Should the experience exclusively come from the Prime offeror?
Prime Offeror Amendment - TO THIS:
49) Should the experience exclusively come from the Prime offeror?
No, the experience should not exclusively come from the Prime offeror.
MHEC One App Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
55) Is this RFP including upgrade / replacement of the MHEC One App?
MHEC One App Amendment - TO THIS:
55) Is this RFP including upgrade / replacement of the MHEC One App?
Yes, the MDSIS RFP includes the upgrade/replacement of the MHEC One App.
MHEC One App Amendment 2 - CHANGE FROM THIS:
57) Would MHEC want to fully integrate the MHEC-One application?
MHEC One App Amendment 2 - TO THIS:
57) Would MHEC want to fully integrate the MHEC-One application?
Yes, MHEC wants to fully integrate the MHEC-One application.
NTP Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
72) Does MHEC have a target NTP date? (Page 13)
NTP Amendment - TO THIS:
T 410.767.3300 • 800.974.0203 • F 410.332.0270 • TTY for the Deaf 800.735.2258 www.mhec.maryland.gov
72) Does MHEC have a target NTP date? (Page 13)
Yes, MHEC has a target NTP date. Please refer to the RFP Attachment P.
Meeting attendees Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
88) Can MHEC send at a list of meeting attendees in person and online? Information about attendees will be posted on eMMA?
Meeting attendees Amendment - TO THIS:
88) Can MHEC send at a list of meeting attendees in person and online? Information about attendees will be posted on eMMA?
Yes, a meeting attendee list will be sent out by MHEC
Qualifications Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
92) Please confirm Section
2.1.4 that all team members of the offeror can meet the required qualifications? (2.1.4) An Offeror, either directly or through its subcontractor(s), must be able to provide all goods and services and meet all of the requirements requested in this solicitation and the successful Offeror (the Contractor) shall remain responsible for Contract performance regardless of subcontractor participation in the work. (in the RFP confirmed)
Qualifications attendees Amendment - TO THIS:
T 410.767.3300 • 800.974.0203 • F 410.332.0270 • TTY for the Deaf 800.735.2258 www.mhec.maryland.gov
92) Please confirm Section
2.1.4 that all team members of the offeror can meet the required qualifications? (2.1.4) An Offeror, either directly or through its subcontractor(s), must be able to provide all goods and services and meet all of the requirements requested in this solicitation and the successful Offeror (the Contractor) shall remain responsible for Contract performance regardless of subcontractor participation in the work. (in the RFP confirmed)
Yes, section 2.1.4 is confirmed that the Offeror must be able to provide all goods and services and meet all of the requirements requested in this solicitation.
References Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
94) Can we provide references from outside of US. Do the references have to be purely related to financial aid management or can it also encompass SIS development and implementation experience?
References Amendment - TO THIS:
94) Can we provide references from outside of US. Do the references have to be purely related to financial aid management or can it also encompass SIS development and implementation experience?
No, references can’t be provided from outside of the US.
Offshore Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
95) Can we leverage offshore resources (Outside US) to provide support?
Offshore Amendment - TO THIS:
95) Can we leverage offshore resources (Outside US) to provide support?
No, offshore resources cannot be leveraged to provide support.
Team Location Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
96) Can we have a team based out of India for the development, implementation and support activities - This will be with complete coverage of State of Maryland working hours?
Team Location Amendment - TO THIS:
96) Can we have a team based out of India for the development, implementation and support activities - This will be with complete coverage of State of Maryland working hours?
No, MHEC wants onshore resources to work on the implementation of MDSIS.
Student Portal Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
124) Page 65, Section 4.31 Nonvisual Access – do all portals need to comply with 508, or is it acceptable if only the Student Portal complies with 508 access?
Student Portal Amendment - TO THIS:
124) Page 65, Section 4.31 Nonvisual Access – do all portals need to comply with 508, or is it acceptable if only the Student Portal complies with 508 access?
Yes, all portals need to comply with 508.
Payment Gateways Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
130) Specify the types of payment gateways that are normally used(or of preference)
None
Payment Gateways Amendment - TO THIS:
130) Specify the types of payment gateways that are normally used(or of preference)
None, there are no payment gateways being used.
Contractor Walkthrough Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
136) Will the contractor be required to provide walkthroughs of the software?
Contractor Walkthrough Amendment - TO THIS:
136) Will the contractor be required to provide walkthroughs of the software?
Yes, the all contractors will be required to provide walkthroughs of the software
Financial Aid Awards Amendment - CHANGE FROM THIS:
142) Do any financial aid awards or processes (including appeals) require multi-level approval?
Financial Aid Awards Amendment - TO THIS:
142) Do any financial aid awards or processes (including appeals) require multi-level approval?
Yes, all financial aid awards or processes (including appeals) require multi-level approval.
Shirlita Lee – Procurement Officer
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