Pre-Bid Conference - RFP 165-24 Federal Consulting Services.pptx

PRE-BID CONFERENCE

for RFP# 165-24 Federal Consulting Services Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Update the RFP # and RFP title Enter the day, date and time of the Pre-Bid Conference

Introductions

Tracey Dionne, Strategic Sourcing Senior Manager Procurement & Logistics

Angel Donahue-Rodriguez, AGM External Affairs General Manager

7/31/2024

Update the section highlighted in yellow with the name & title for all speaking during the pre-bid. Delete any text not being used.

Pre-Bid Logistics First and most important… Thank you for being here and for your interest in partnering with the MBTA This RFP will be managed via COMMBUYS. Instructions for log-in and use of COMMBUYS are described in Instructions for Vendors Responding to Bids.

For COMMBUYS assistance please contact the OSD Help Desk at 888-MA-State (627-8283) or osdhelpdesk@mass.gov.

This presentation in part or in whole is not meant to take precedence over the RFP documents in RFP 165-24 as posted on COMMBUYS, please refer to COMMBUYS for the most accurate information.

All communication regarding this bid must be submitted to the MBTA Procurement & Logistics point of contact via COMMBUYS.

Make sure that the bidders know that they cannot not contact stakeholders or other MBTA staff regarding this bid; all communication must come thru Procurement & Logistics via COMMBUYS or email. Make mention of section 3.2.1 for the MBTA Designated Representative

Agenda

Please follow this format – no adjustments should be needed.

Overview of the Contract

Documents to be included in Your Response

Training & Additional Resources

General Q&A

Overview of the Diversity & Inclusion Requirements

Session Expectations

Request for Proposal (RFP) Structure

Important Dates

Session Expectations

No changes to this slide should be made.

Today’s session is not a substitute for reading the Request for Proposal (RFP) document. The RFP includes important contract and response details that will not be covered during today’s meeting.

Although we will take general questions about the authority’s bidding process, at the end of today’s session, questions about the bid must be submitted through COMMBUYS using the Q&A feature before the Q&A deadline.

The COMMBUYS Q&A feature and important deadlines will be covered later in the presentation.

RFP 165-24 Federal Consulting Services Overview

Update the RFP # & Title, products or services , Contract or Service Effective Date (choose contract or service), Term of the contract and number of awards (us only if more than one award will be made)

The MBTA is seeking qualified bidders to provide Federal Consulting Services.

Term: Two (2) Year Base Period with Two (2) One-Year Renewal Options at the MBTA’s discretion.

Number of Awards: 1

Contract or Service Effective Date (estimated): October 1, 2024

Services

The MBTA is seeking to retain a lobbyist to represent the interests and advance the MBTA’s legislative agenda at the federal level. The goal of such representation is to secure legislation and federal funding for programs and projects identified as priorities.

The MBTA’s budget is $140,000 per year plus expenses of not more than an additional 10%. All expenses must be pre-approved and consistent with GSA rates.

Scope of Work Overview

If additional slides are needed for different phases of the project, please add additional slides

Stakeholder Statement File federal legislation creating a new funding formula for operating assistance.

Create a coalition with other transit agencies to help gain support.

Secure several congressional hearings.

Monitor federal regulatory landscape from USDOT that would impact the MBTA.

Stakeholder completes and presents this slide (s); include detail that will assist the bidders in understanding the needs of the authority for this bid.

RFP Structure

Introduction Scope of Work Bidders Instructions & Procurement

Terms & Conditions Attachments Response Forms

Scope of Work

Review and Evaluation Contains the contractual terms by which Bidder is expected to abide

(5-Year Term w/ 3 one-year options) Background Scope of Work Deliverables Bid Conference RFP Calendar Rules of Contact Insurance Submit on Commbuys Technical Proposal Price Proposal Pass/Fail Criteria Technical Response Criteria

Price Proposal

Update the Duration of the Contract

RFP Bid Submission RFP 165-24 Federal Consulting Services 7/31/2024 Submission of Response

The specific requirements for submissions of the Technical Response are included in Form B.

The specific requirements for submission of the Price Response are included in Form D.

Adjust the requirements for submission and the section for the Power of Attorney as needed for each Procurement.

Technical Response including:

Bid Cover Letter

Power of Attorney (as described in Section 4.2 of the RFP)

Form A: Pre-Award Bidder Evaluation Data Form

Form B: Technical Response

Form C: Small Business Attestation Form

Other items as applicable

Price Response as a separate document, including:

Form D: Price Response

Bidder Evaluation Criteria Bidder must complete all required forms and submit all other required forms listed in the RFP

7/31/2024 The MBTA will evaluate each Response based on a combination of Pass/Fail Criteria, Technical Evaluation Criteria and Price Responses to determine the Best Value for the Authority.

All Responses will be reviewed for:

The responsiveness of the Bidder to the requirements set forth in the RFP.

Conformance to the RFP instructions regarding organization and format.

Deficiencies and minor informalities, apparent clerical mistakes which are unrelated to the substantive content of the Response for clarification.

Technical

Price

Pass/Fail

Supplier Diversity

Basis of Award Bidders are advised that the MBTA is not bound to accept the lowest priced Response or the Response with the highest Technical Response Score.

The selection will be made on a best-value basis, evaluating price along with other factors.

Each criterion will be evaluated considering all the information included in the Bidder Response related to the criterion, as well as other information gathered from references, presentation, and on-site visits if requested.

Responses will also be evaluated based on the Supplier Diversity Criteria which will account for 25% of the overall technical scoring.

Best – Value Proposal

Remove the last bullet if the solicitation is less than $250K. Later in the presentation we will provide resources and information for the Supplier Diversity Program.

Performance Measures or Key Performance Indicators Supplier Diversity Requirements

Vendors’ performance after contract award will be measured as follows:

Input from the stakeholders is suggested for specific KPI’s or Performance Measurements for inclusion on this slide.

What Makes a Compliant Proposal Response?

Be sure to read the RFP.

Pay attention to the mandatory requirements.

Ensure all required documents are submitted.

Complete the bidders’ response forms in their entirety.

Remove or update this statement based on the requirements in the RFP.

Important Dates 7/31/2024

Include all milestone dates and times that the bidders are required to meet as part of the bid response. (Ex: Samples, Site Visits, etc.)

Overview of Supplier Diversity & Inclusion

In this section we will provide an overview of the Supplier Diversity & Inclusion requirements which are 25% of the points in the evaluation process. This requirement strengthens and increases business opportunities for partnership with companies certified by the Supplier Diversity Office. There are many resources in this section that will guide all bidders to further understand the program, its importance and the resources for help from the SDO office if needed.

Supplier Diversity & Inclusion Program

The Commonwealth's Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) promotes business-to-business relationships between awarded Contractors and diverse businesses and non-profit organizations (SDP Partners) certified or recognized by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). The MBTA seeks Proposals that incorporate participation by SDP Partners in as many aspects of the services as possible.

Section five of the RFP provides bidders with detailed information and resources relating to:

Program background Financial Commitment Requirements Eligible SDP Partner Certification Categories Eligible Types of Business-to-Business Relationships Program Flexibility SDP Spending Reports and Compliance

Key Supplier Diversity Contract Requirements Bidders must propose a specific commitment to be spent with certified diverse companies (SDP Partners).

Contractors must report spending with SDP Partner(s) for the duration of the contract.

SDP Partners utilized by Contractors must be listed in one of the two directories identified in this presentation.

7/31/2024 The SDP requirements apply even if your company:

Does not have SDP Partners at the moment.

Is a certified diverse business.

Recognized Third-Party Certifying Organizations

Finding Partners

The SDO Directory of Certified Businesses More than 3,700 certified businesses

MBE, WBE, VBE, SDVOBE, DOBE, LGBTBE

www.mass.gov/sdp The U.S. Veterans Administration Vendor Information Pages (VIP) More than 14,000 certified businesses

VOSB, SDVOSB

https://vetbiz.va.gov/basic-search/

Online Directories of Certified Businesses

Finding Eligible Certified Partners Download the lists of eligible SDP partners from the SDO and VetBiz directories and compare your current suppliers to those lists.

Find current suppliers that are certified On an ongoing basis, closely monitor incoming state orders and projects for the potential to hire diverse businesses as subcontractors.

Identify subcontracting needs that may be met by a new diverse business partner Survey your suppliers to find diverse companies that are not certified or are certified by an organization other than the Massachusetts SDO. Connect them with the SDO (sdp@mass.gov) and encourage them to get certified.

Find current suppliers that may be certified On an ongoing basis, review your company’s business needs, including one-time purchases, to find areas where you may include new diverse suppliers.

Identify general business needs that may be met by a new diverse business partner

Online Certification Self-Assessment Tool:

https://www.mass.gov/forms/take-the-certification-self-assessment

Training Resources

COMMBUYS Q&A

Please watch this short video that demonstrates how to use the tool to ask questions about the bid.

COMMBUYS Q&A is a tool to manage dialogue between buyers and bidders.

Link to the video

To all Bidders: Please watch this short video that demonstrates how to use the tool to ask questions about the bid.

COMMBUYS Training Pre-recorded Webcast How to Locate and Respond to Bid Solicitations in COMMBUYS Link to the recording.

7/31/2024 Job Aids How to Create a Quote in COMMBUYS Using the Q&A Tab within a COMMBUYS Bid How to Withdraw, Reopen, and Resubmit a Quote Basic COMMBUYS Navigation and Searching for the Seller Role

View

Read

Participate Link to the Vendor Training Schedule;

On this slide we have a variety of methods to review the training material, you can View the webcast Participate in Vendor Training or Read the job aids

Important steps to follow for bid submission Acknowledge the Bid Bidders are encouraged to Acknowledge the bid to be notified of any updates/amendments to the bid, including changes to the bid opening date/due date.

To receive these updates:

Login to COMMBUYS Navigate to the bid using the Advanced Search Select "Yes" on the Acknowledge Receipt and View Solicitation window.

You must be registered in COMMBUYS to take this action.

7/31/2024 Questions?

OSD Help Desk Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

888-MA-State (627-8283) OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov Plan to Submit Your Response All responses must be submitted in COMMBUYS by the Bid Opening Date and Time; late responses may not be accepted.

It is imperative that bidders allow sufficient time to submit their quote, and bidders are advised – at a minimum – to begin well in advance of the Bid Opening Date and at a time when OSD Help Desk staff are available for questions.

Move this to the end

Questions?

Closing This presentation in part or in whole is not meant to take precedence over the RFP documents in RFP 165-24 as posted on COMMBUYS, please refer to COMMBUYS for the most accurate information.

RFP Schedule and any dates mentioned are subject to change at the discretion of the MBTA. Please refer to COMMBUYS for the most accurate information.

Questions should be posted on COMMBUYS (Deadline – August 8th by 2:00 p.m.)

Any and all communication during the non-mandatory Bidders’ Conference of July 31, 2024, represents no favor to attendees. All Bidders’ responses will be treated equally regardless of attendance.

This Presentation will be posted on COMMBUYS in the File Attachments section.

Thank You for your interest in partnering with the MBTA

Update the highlighted dates, time and RFP #

Thank you for attending!

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