PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RFP Family 360 - Shared Living Final.doc

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTAPRIVATE

Department of Legislative Audit

Auditor General

427 South Chapelle

Pierre, SD 57501 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR A STUDY CONCERNING THE FAMILY SUPPORT 360 AND SHARED LIVING PROGRAMS

PROPOSALS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN MAY 5, 2023

RFP #: 23RFP8611

STATE POC:

Russell Olson, Auditor General

Department of Legislative Audit

EMAIL:

russ.olson@state.sd.us

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PRIMARY CONTACT INFORMATION

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 PURPOSE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

This Request for Proposal is issued by the Department of Legislative Audit on behalf of the South Dakota Legislature. The purpose of this RFP is to establish a contract with a consultant qualified in analyzing the current programs available in South Dakota for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD), including current services and supports available through the Family Support 360 Medicaid waiver program, and the Shared Living component of the CHOICES Medicaid waiver program.

1.2 ISSUING OFFICE AND RFP REFERENCE NUMBER

The Department of Legislative Audit is the issuing office for this document and all subsequent addenda relating to it, on behalf of the State of South Dakota, the South Dakota Legislature and the Department of Legislative Audit. The reference number for the transaction is RFP# 23RFP8611. This number must be referred to on all proposals, correspondence, and documentation relating to the RFP.

1.3 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Deadline for Submission of Written Inquires

Email: russ.olson@state.sd.us Subject Line: Inquiry for RFP# 23RFP8611 April 14, 2023

1.4 SUBMITTING YOUR PROPOSAL

All proposals must be completed and received by the Department of Legislative Audit, via e-mail, to the following email address: russ.olson@state.sd.us, Subject line: RFP# 23RFP8611 - Proposal. All proposals must be received no later than May 5, 2023 (5:00pm CT).

All proposals must be signed by an officer of the responder, legally authorized to bind the responder to the proposal. Proposals that are not properly signed may be rejected.

No proposal shall be accepted from, or no contract or purchase order shall be awarded to any person, firm or corporation that is in arrears upon any obligations to the State of South Dakota, or otherwise may be deemed irresponsible or unreliable by the State of South Dakota.

All proposals and attachments must be either in Microsoft Word, MS Excel or PDF searchable format. A proposal cannot be a PDF derived from a scanned image which prevents search functionality. For more information regarding response format see Section 5 of this RFP.

1.5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, INELIGIBILITY AND VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION – LOWER TIER COVERED TRANSACTIONS

By signing and submitting this proposal, the offeror certifies that neither it nor its principals is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation, by any Federal department or agency, from transactions involving the use of Federal funds. Where the offeror is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, the bidder shall attach an explanation to their offer.

1.6 NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The State of South Dakota requires that all contractors, vendors, and suppliers doing business with any State agency, department, or institution, provide a statement of non-discrimination. By signing and submitting their proposal, the offeror certifies they do not discriminate in their employment practices with regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, ancestry, national origin or disability.

1.7 CERTIFICATION RELATING TO PROHIBITED ENTITY

For contractors, vendors, suppliers, or subcontractors who enter into a contract with the State of South Dakota by submitting a response to this solicitation or agreeing to contract with the State, the bidder or offeror certifies and agrees that the following information is correct:

The bidder or offeror, in preparing its response or offer or in considering proposals submitted from qualified, potential vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors, or in the solicitation, selection, or commercial treatment of any vendor, supplier, or subcontractor, is not an entity, regardless of its principal place of business, that is ultimately owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a foreign national, a foreign parent entity, or foreign government from China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Cuba, or Venezuela, as defined by South Dakota Executive Order 2023-02. It is understood and agreed that, if this certification is false, such false certification will constitute grounds for the State to reject the bid or response submitted by the bidder or offeror on this project and terminate any contract awarded based on the bid or response. The successful bidder or offeror further agrees to provide immediate written notice to the contracting executive branch agency if during the term of the contract it no longer complies with this certification and agrees such noncompliance may be grounds for contract termination.

1.8 RESTRICTION OF BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL

For contractors, vendors, suppliers, or subcontractors with five (5) or more employees who enter into a contract with the State of South Dakota that involves the expenditure of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or more, by submitting a response to this solicitation or agreeing to contract with the State, the bidder or offeror certifies and agrees that the following information is correct:

The bidder or offeror, in preparing its response or offer or in considering proposals submitted from qualified, potential vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors, or in the solicitation, selection, or commercial treatment of any vendor, supplier, or subcontractor, has not refused to transact business activities, has not terminated business activities, and has not taken other similar actions intended to limit its commercial relations, related to the subject matter of the bid or offer, with a person or entity on the basis of Israeli national origin, or residence or incorporation in Israel or its territories, with the specific intent to accomplish a boycott or divestment of Israel in a discriminatory manner. It is understood and agreed that, if this certification is false, such false certification will constitute grounds for the State to reject the bid or response submitted by the bidder or offeror on this project and terminate any contract awarded based on the bid or response. The successful bidder or offeror further agrees to provide immediate written notice to the contracting executive branch agency if during the term of the contract it no longer complies with this certification and agrees such noncompliance may be grounds for contract termination.

1.9 MODIFICATION OR WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS

Proposals may be modified or withdrawn by the offeror prior to the established due date and time.

No oral, telephonic, telegraphic or facsimile responses or modifications to informal, formal bids, or Request for Proposals will be considered.

1.10 OFFEROR INQUIRIES

Offerors may email inquiries concerning this RFP to obtain clarification of requirements. No inquiries will be accepted after the date and time indicated in the Schedule of Activities. Inquiries must be emailed to the Department of Legislative Audit at russ.olson@state.sd.us with the subject line “Inquiry for RFP# 23RFP8611”.

The Department of Legislative Audit will respond to offeror’s inquiries (if required) via e-mail. In addition, all inquiries and the State’s response will be posted on the state’s e-procurement system. Offerors may not rely on any other statements, either of a written or oral nature, that alter any specification or other term or condition of this RFP. Offerors will be notified in the same manner as indicated above regarding any modifications to this RFP.

1.11 PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

The proposal of the successful offeror(s) becomes public information. Proprietary information can be protected under limited circumstances such as client lists and non-public financial statements. An entire proposal may not be marked as proprietary. Offerors must clearly identify in the Executive Summary and mark in the body of the proposal any specific proprietary information they are requesting to be protected. The Executive Summary must contain specific justification explaining why the information is to be protected. Proposals may be reviewed and evaluated by any person at the discretion of the State. All materials submitted become the property of the State of South Dakota and may be returned only at the State's option.

1.12 LENGTH OF CONTRACT

The Department of Legislative Audit anticipates that the term of this contract will be from May 26, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Upon mutual agreement, the contract may be extended for an additional one-year period.

1.13 GOVERNING LAW

Venue for any and all legal action regarding or arising out of the transaction covered herein shall be solely in the State of South Dakota. The laws of South Dakota shall govern this transaction.

1.14 DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFERORS (ORAL PRESENTATION/NEGOTIATIONS)

An oral presentation by an offeror to clarify a proposal may be required at the sole discretion of the State. However, the State may award a contract based on the initial proposals received without discussion with the Offeror. If oral presentations are required, they will be scheduled after the submission of proposals. Oral presentations will be made at the offeror’s expense.

This process is a Request for Proposal/Competitive Negotiation process. Each Proposal shall be evaluated, and each respondent shall be available for negotiation meetings at the State’s request. The State reserves the right to negotiate on any and/or all components of every proposal submitted. From the time the proposals are submitted until the formal award of a contract, each proposal is considered a working document and as such, will be kept confidential. The negotiation discussions will also be held as confidential until such time as the award is completed.

2.0 STANDARD CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Any contract or agreement resulting from this RFP will include the State’s standard terms and conditions as listed below, along with any additional terms and conditions as negotiated by the parties:

2.1 The Contractor will perform those services described in the Scope of Work, attached hereto as Section 3 of the RFP and by this reference incorporated herein.

2.2 The Contractor’s services under this Agreement shall commence on __________________ and end on ___________________, unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

2.3 The Contractor will not use State equipment, supplies or facilities. The Contractor will provide the State with its Employer Identification Number, Federal Tax Identification Number or Social Security Number upon execution of this Agreement.

2.4 The State will make payment for services upon satisfactory completion of the services. The TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT is an amount not to exceed $________________. The State will not pay Contractor's expenses as a separate item. Payment will be made pursuant to itemized invoices submitted with a signed state voucher. Payment will be made consistent with SDCL ch. 5-26.

2.5 The Contractor agrees to indemnify and hold the State of South Dakota, its officers, agents and employees, harmless from and against any and all actions, suits, damages, liability or other proceedings that may arise as the result of performing services hereunder. This section does not require the Contractor to be responsible for or defend against claims or damages arising solely from errors or omissions of the State, its officers, agents or employees.

2.6 The Contractor, at all times during the term of this Agreement, shall obtain and maintain in force insurance coverage of the types and with the limits as follows:

A. Commercial General Liability Insurance:

The Contractor shall maintain occurrence based commercial general liability insurance or equivalent form with a limit of not less than $1,000,000.00 for each occurrence. If such insurance contains a general aggregate limit it shall apply separately to this Agreement or be no less than two times the occurrence limit.

B. Professional Liability Insurance or Miscellaneous Professional Liability Insurance:

The Contractor agrees to procure and maintain professional liability insurance or miscellaneous professional liability insurance with a limit not less than $1,000,000.00.

C. Business Automobile Liability Insurance:

The Contractor shall maintain business automobile liability insurance or equivalent form with a limit of not less than $1,000,000.00 for each accident. Such insurance shall include coverage for owned, hired and non-owned vehicles.

D. Worker’s Compensation Insurance:

The Contractor shall procure and maintain workers’ compensation and employers’ liability insurance as required by South Dakota law.

Before beginning work under this Agreement, Contractor shall furnish the State with properly executed Certificates of Insurance which shall clearly evidence all insurance required in this Agreement. In the event a substantial change in insurance, issuance of a new policy, cancellation or nonrenewal of the policy, the Contractor agrees to provide immediate notice to the State and provide a new certificate of insurance showing continuous coverage in the amounts required. Contractor shall furnish copies of insurance policies if requested by the State.

2.7 While performing services hereunder, the Contractor is an independent contractor and not an officer, agent, or employee of the State of South Dakota.

2.8 Contractor agrees to report to the State any event encountered in the course of performance of this Agreement which results in injury to the person or property of third parties, or which may otherwise subject Contractor or the State to liability. Contractor shall report any such event to the State immediately upon discovery.

Contractor's obligation under this section shall only be to report the occurrence of any event to the State and to make any other report provided for by their duties or applicable law. Contractor's obligation to report shall not require disclosure of any information subject to privilege or confidentiality under law (e.g., attorney-client communications). Reporting to the State under this section shall not excuse or satisfy any obligation of Contractor to report any event to law enforcement or other entities under the requirements of any applicable law.

2.9 This Agreement may be terminated by either party hereto upon thirty (30) days written notice. In the event the Contractor breaches any of the terms or conditions hereof, this Agreement may be terminated by the State at any time with or without notice. If termination for such a default is effected by the State, any payments due to Contractor at the time of termination may be adjusted to cover any additional costs to the State because of Contractor's default. Upon termination the State may take over the work and may award another party an agreement to complete the work under this Agreement. If after the State terminates for a default by Contractor it is determined that Contractor was not at fault, then the Contractor shall be paid for eligible services rendered and expenses incurred up to the date of termination.

2.10 This Agreement depends upon the continued availability of appropriated funds and expenditure authority from the Legislature for this purpose. If for any reason the Legislature fails to appropriate funds or grant expenditure authority, or funds become unavailable by operation of law or federal funds reductions, this Agreement will be terminated by the State. Termination for any of these reasons is not a default by the State nor does it give rise to a claim against the State.

2.11 This Agreement may not be assigned without the express prior written consent of the State. This Agreement may not be amended except in writing, which writing shall be expressly identified as a part hereof, and be signed by an authorized representative of each of the parties hereto.

2.12 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of South Dakota. Any lawsuit pertaining to or affecting this Agreement shall be venued in Circuit Court, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Hughes County, South Dakota.

2.13 The Contractor will comply with all federal, state and local laws, regulations, ordinances, guidelines, permits and requirements applicable to providing services pursuant to this Agreement, and will be solely responsible for obtaining current information on such requirements.

2.14 The Contractor may not use subcontractors to perform the services described herein without the express prior written consent of the State. The Contractor will include provisions in its subcontracts requiring its subcontractors to comply with the applicable provisions of this Agreement, to indemnify the State, and to provide insurance coverage for the benefit of the State in a manner consistent with this Agreement. The Contractor will cause its subcontractors, agents, and employees to comply, with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, ordinances, guidelines, permits and requirements and will adopt such review and inspection procedures as are necessary to assure such compliance.

2.15 Contractor hereby acknowledges and agrees that all reports, plans, specifications, technical data, miscellaneous drawings, software system programs and documentation, procedures, or files, operating instructions and procedures, source code(s) and documentation, including those necessary to upgrade and maintain the software program, and all information contained therein provided to the State by the Contractor in connection with its performance of services under this Agreement shall belong to and is the property of the State and will not be used in any way by the Contractor without the written consent of the State. Papers, reports, forms, software programs, source code(s) and other material which are a part of the work under this Agreement will not be copyrighted without written approval of the State.

2.16 The Contractor certifies that neither Contractor nor its principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment or suspension, or declared ineligible from participating in transactions by the federal government or any state or local government department or agency. Contractor further agrees that it will immediately notify the State if during the term of this Agreement Contractor or its principals become subject to debarment, suspension or ineligibility from participating in transactions by the federal government, or by any state or local government department or agency.

2.17 Any notice or other communication required under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent to the address set forth above. Notices shall be given by and to ___________________ on behalf of the State, and by ________________, on behalf of the Contractor, or such authorized designees as either party may from time to time designate in writing. Notices or communications to or between the parties shall be deemed to have been delivered when mailed by first class mail, provided that notice of default or termination shall be sent by registered or certified mail, or, if personally delivered, when received by such party.

2.18 In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall hold any provision of this Agreement unenforceable or invalid, such holding shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any other provision hereof.

2.19 All other prior discussions, communications and representations concerning the subject matter of this Agreement are superseded by the terms of this Agreement, and except as specifically provided herein, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof.

3.0 SCOPE OF WORK

This Request for Proposal is issued by the Department of Legislative Audit on behalf of the South Dakota Legislature. The purpose of this RFP is to establish a contract with a consultant qualified in analyzing the current programs available in South Dakota for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including current services and supports available through the Family Support 360 waiver program, and the Shared Living component of the CHOICES waiver program.

The South Dakota Department of Human Services enhances the quality of life of people with disabilities in partnership with its stakeholders. Within the Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Division of Developmental Disabilities constitutes a major component of the continuum of care for South Dakotans with I/DD.

The Division of Developmental Disabilities (the Division) operates two Medicaid Home and Community-Based services (HCBS) waiver programs authorized in §1915(c) of the Social Security Act. The Division’s comprehensive waiver program is called CHOICES and the self-directed waiver program is called Family Support 360. The Division partners with 20 community support providers and four case management providers to deliver person-centered services and supports in the community. The Division also partners with two private ICF/IID providers to deliver intensive services and supports to children who have been placed outside of their school district due to their challenging behaviors and/or co-occurring mental health issues. The Division supports about 5,000 children and adults with I/DD.

South Dakota is assessing the array of services offered to individuals with I/DD through the Family Support 360 waiver program, and the Shared Living component of the CHOICES waiver program with the intention of supporting people in home and community-based settings whenever possible while also maintaining program integrity within allowable federal parameters.

ASSESSING THE I/DD SERVICES

The Department of Legislative Audit on behalf of the South Dakota Legislature, is seeking proposals to:

I.

Assess access to program services, including authorization processes, to include potential impact of initiatives currently underway related to the Family Support 360 wavier program and Shared Living component of the CHOICES waiver program.

II. Assess program operations and administration, to include:

· Engaging families of people receiving services, service participants, Family Support 360 and Shared Living service providers, DHS and DSS Leadership and program staff, and other interested parties in gathering information to identify program strengths and challenges;

· Analyzing regulatory compliance as well as program efficiency and efficacy to ensure services and supports provided and administrative rules are in line with applicable federal standards and allowable waiver standards, to include assurance of due process rights for applicants and participants;

· Providing best practice opportunities to address any identified gaps in services or supports, including:

· Assessment of Division of Developmental Disabilities staffing level and structure necessary to support the Family Support 360 waiver program and the Shared Living component of the CHOICES waiver program; and

· Assessment of options related to provider agency imposed 20-hour/part-time employee limitation.

· Analyzing existing utilization of Medicaid funding and opportunities to enhance or leverage;

· Reviewing existing communication structure between DHS and families of people receiving services, service participants, and Family Support 360 and Shared Living service providers, to include an analysis of the current structure of Family Support Council.

III. Assess the value/cost of the Family Support 360 waiver program and Shared Living component of the CHOICES waiver program to South Dakota taxpayers using comparisons to the CHOICES waiver and data sets (if available) related to 1) service array and access, 2) participant need, service authorization, and expenditures, and 3) provider cost report information.

A written final report detailing the consultant’s findings and recommendations to include any associated fiscal impact must be provided by October 16, 2023. The report must be available in an electronic format. In addition, the resulting contract will require the consultant to present the report in person to the Government Operations and Audit Committee and the Special Committee (Joint Appropriations Committee) at the State Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota, to answer questions about the report.

The proposal shall include the following:

1. Description of the approach used to meet the requirements specified in I., II. & III. above;

2. Information on the individuals who would conduct the analysis, including educational and employment experiences, and the company's experience with intellectual and developmental disability services and programs;

3. Representative samples of summaries of similar or related studies and research conducted;

4. Contact information for references from previous related studies;

5. The proposed contract amount, which should be inclusive of all expenses; however, indirect costs are not allowed.

Because the Legislature is seeking an independent evaluation, proposals from vendors and their affiliates will not be considered if the vendor and/or their affiliate is:

1. Utilizing former DHS or DSS staff to conduct any part of the analysis; or

2. Currently providing services to DHS or DSS.

4.0 PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS AND COMPANY QUALIFICATIONS

4.1 The offeror is cautioned that it is the offeror's sole responsibility to submit information related to the evaluation categories and that the State of South Dakota is under no obligation to solicit such information if it is not included with the proposal. The offeror's failure to submit such information may cause an adverse impact on the evaluation of the proposal.

4.2 Offeror's Contacts: Offerors and their agents (including subcontractors, employees, consultants, or anyone else acting on their behalf) must direct all of their questions or comments regarding the RFP, the evaluation, etc. to the buyer of record indicated on the first page of this RFP. Offerors and their agents may not contact any state employee other than the buyer of record regarding any of these matters during the solicitation and evaluation process. Inappropriate contacts are grounds for suspension and/or exclusion from specific procurements. Offerors and their agents who have questions regarding this matter should contact the buyer of record.

4.3 The offeror may be required to submit a copy of their most recent audited financial statements upon the State’s request.

4.4 Provide the following information related to at least three previous and current service/contracts, performed by the offeror’s organization, which are similar to the requirements of this RFP. Provide this information for any service/contract that has been terminated, expired or not renewed in the past three years.

a. Name, address and telephone number of client/contracting agency and a representative of that agency who may be contacted for verification of all information submitted;

b. Dates of the service/contract; and

c. A brief, written description of the specific prior services performed and requirements thereof.

5.0 PROPOSAL RESPONSE FORMAT

5.1 The Contractor shall submit one (1) electronic copy of its entire proposal, including all attachments, in Microsoft Word or PDF electronic format (this document should be formatted in a searchable Text-Based PDF file format).

5.1.1 The proposal should be paginated and have an index and/or a table of contents referencing the appropriate page number.

5.1.2 Maximum Number of Pages - The total number of pages to include the RFP Form, the Executive Summary and Detailed Response should not exceed thirty (30) pages (key Executives and Manager resumes and/or bios may be added as an appendix to the proposal and are not included in the thirty-page limit).

5.2 All proposals must be organized and tabbed with labels for the following headings:

5.2.1 RFP Form. The State’s Request for Proposal form completed and signed.

5.2.2 Executive Summary. The one or two page executive summary is to briefly describe the offeror's proposal. This summary should highlight the major features of the proposal. It must indicate any requirements that cannot be met by the offeror. The reader should be able to determine the essence of the proposal by reading the executive summary. Proprietary information requests should be identified in this section.

5.2.3 Detailed Response. This section should constitute the major portion of the proposal and must contain at least the following information:

5.2.3.1 A complete narrative of the offeror's assessment of the work to be performed, the offeror’s ability and approach, and the resources necessary to fulfill the requirements. This should demonstrate the offeror's understanding of the desired overall performance expectations.

5.2.3.2 A specific point-by-point response, in the order listed, to each requirement in the RFP. The response should identify each requirement being addressed as enumerated in the RFP.

5.2.3.3 A clear description of any options or alternatives proposed.

5.2.4 Cost Proposal. Cost will be evaluated independently from the technical proposal. Offerors may submit multiple cost proposals. All costs related to the provision of the required services must be included in each cost proposal offered.

See section 7.0 for more information related to the cost proposal.

6.0 PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND AWARD PROCESS

6.1 After determining that a proposal satisfies the mandatory requirements stated in the Request for Proposal, the evaluator(s) shall use subjective judgment in conducting a comparative assessment of the proposal by considering each of the following criteria:

6.1.1 Specialized expertise, capabilities, and technical competence as demonstrated by the proposed approach and methodology to meet the project requirements;

6.1.2 Resources available to perform the work, including any specialized services, within the specified time limits for the project;

6.1.3 Record of past performance, including price and cost data from previous projects, quality of work, ability to meet schedules, cost control, and contract administration;

6.1.4 Availability to the project locale;

6.1.5 Familiarity with the project locale;

6.1.6 Proposed project management techniques; and

6.1.7 Ability and proven history in handling special project constraints.

6.2 Experience and reliability of the offeror's organization are considered subjectively in the evaluation process. Therefore, the offeror is advised to submit any information which documents successful and reliable experience in past performances, especially those performances related to the requirements of this RFP.

6.3 The qualifications of the personnel proposed by the offeror to perform the requirements of this RFP, whether from the offeror's organization or from a proposed subcontractor, will be subjectively evaluated. Therefore, the offeror should submit detailed information related to the experience and qualifications, including education and training, of proposed personnel.

6.4 PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND AWARD PROCESS – Proposal evaluators will include a representative from the Department of Legislative Audit, a representative from the Governor’s Office and a representative from the Department of Human Services .

6.5 The State reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive technicalities, and make award(s) as deemed to be in the best interest of the State of South Dakota.

6.6 Award: The requesting agency and the highest ranked offeror shall mutually discuss and refine the scope of services for the project and shall negotiate terms, including compensation and performance schedule.

6.6.1 If the agency and the highest ranked offeror are unable for any reason to negotiate a contract at a compensation level that is reasonable and fair to the agency, the agency shall, either orally or in writing, terminate negotiations with the contractor. The agency may then negotiate with the next highest ranked contractor.

6.6.2 The negotiation process may continue through successive offerors, according to agency ranking, until an agreement is reached or the agency terminates the contracting process.

7.0 COST PROPOSAL

The offeror should submit an itemized time and material cost proposal associated with providing services to the State within the scope of their proposal. This cost proposal should include all costs associated with employee salaries and benefits, for direct and indirect care staff, insurance vehicle costs, facility rent/lease/maintenance cost, office supply costs, utilities, professional fees and contract services and any other expenses that are deemed necessary to perform the services outlined in the RFP.

The cost proposal should specify the itemized costs associated with performing the required services during the contract term from May 26, 2023, to December 31, 2023.

The State reserves the right to negotiate with the highest ranked offeror to develop a cost structure that effectively satisfies all of the State’s requirements as outlined in this RFP.