Q&A FINAL 8.24.26.pdf

Professional Nursing Services PVL Amendment #1: Questions and Answers

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

1. Section 2.2.16 requires a valid Health Care Staffing Services certification. Must this certification be held when the bid is submitted, when the vendor is added to the PVL, or before executing a contract with an individual State agency?

This certification shall be provided at the time designated by the Contracting agency.

2. For purposes of Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2, may a bidder use documented experience and nursing placements performed through a predecessor or previously operated staffing company under the same ownership and leadership? If so, what documentation should the bidder provide to demonstrate continuity of ownership, leadership, operations, and relevant experience?

Yes. A bidder may use such experience, provided sufficient documentation is submitted to demonstrate continuity and support the experience being claimed.

3. Section 4.1.2 states that the bidder must have “placed at least 40 nursing within the past two years.” Does this mean 40 individual nursing professionals, 40 separate placements or assignments, 40 completed shifts, or another measurement?

The bidder must have made at least 40 nursing placements within the past 2 years.

See amendment to Section 4.1.2 below.

4. May the two letters required by Section 3.1.5 include a letter from a client that received similar services through the bidder’s predecessor company, provided the continuity between the companies is fully disclosed and documented?

Yes. As long as the continuity between the companies is fully disclosed and documented.

5. Would a newly established agency still be eligible to submit a bid for consideration, or are the two-year business history and 40-placement requirements mandatory with no exceptions?

These requirements are mandatory for the Vendor to be deemed responsible.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

6. What is the estimated budget for the contract? The budget will vary depending on the State Agency with whom a vendor is contracted.

7. Please provide information on previous spending. This information may be available on the Transparency Mississippi website: https://www.transparency.ms.gov

Click “CONTRACTS” on the menu bar and then “State of Mississippi Contracts” for a searchable database of State contracts.

8. Is this a new requirement? If not, please provide a list of the current vendor(s) providing the service and explain how the current services are being procured.

No. Professional nursing services are currently being procured by individual agencies on an as needed basis through existing contracts or other applicable procurement methods. This IFB establishes a new Preapproved Vendor List to provide agencies with an additional procurement option for these services. The current vendor list is available at https://www.dfa.ms.gov/osss-preapproved-vendor-information

9. Aside from the end of tenure, is there any other reason for releasing this solicitation? Are there any pain points?

No.

10. Please provide the total number of temporary staff currently on assignment. Include the job classification of each worker, the vendor assigning the temporary employee, and the corresponding pay and bill rates.

The total number of temporary staff currently on assignment varies depending on the State Agency with whom a vendor is contracted. A list of vendors and their rates may be found at https://www.dfa.ms.gov/osss-preapproved-vendor-information

Additional statistical information may also be found at https://www.transparency.ms.gov/

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

11. Please provide copies of the proposals from all current vendors providing temporary staffing services, including rate/cost sheets.

A list of current vendors and their rates can be found at https://www.dfa.ms.gov/osss-preapproved-vendor-information

12. What is the average length of each assignment? Length of assignments will vary depending on the State Agency with whom the vendor is contracted.

13. Is having a local office mandatory? The preference is for bidders to maintain an office in each region for which they submit a bid. However, a physical office is not required if the bidder can adequately explain on the Bid Form (Attachment C) how it will effectively service the region.

See amendment to Section 4.1.3 below.

14. Is there any preference given to local vendors during proposal evaluation?

No.

15. Are we required to submit the Certificate of Insurance and Business License with the proposal?

No.

16. Kindly provide a specific list of all required attachments and documentation to be submitted with the proposal, to ensure compliance.

Please refer to Section 3.1 of the IFB for this information.

17. Is there any specific price structure, format, or attachment that we are required to use for submitting our pricing? Or, as per our understanding and Section 2.6, should we simply provide the hourly billing rates for all the service categories?

Bidders must use the Bid Form (Attachment C) to submit pricing.

Please refer to section 3.1.2 of the IFB for additional information.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

18. Can the hourly billing rates vary by region, or are we required to submit a single, standard rate applicable across all regions?

Vendors are not required to submit a single standard rate across all regions.

19. Should we include only the information and documents specifically requested under Section 3.1 in our proposal?

Additionally, are Attachments B, C, D, and E, along with the letters of recommendation, excluded from the 10-page proposal limit, or are they counted within the 10-page limit?

The bid package should include all documentation required under Section 3.1. Attachments B, C, D, and E are required forms provided in the IFB and do not count toward the ten (10) page limit. The two required letters of recommendation are supporting documentation and count toward the ten (10) page limit.

20. As stated on Page 27 of the solicitation document, please confirm whether we may attach our Business License and Certificate of Good Standing to satisfy the following requirement: "List all licenses or permits your company holds that are relevant to the services requested in this Invitation for Bids.

Bidders may attach their Business License and Certificate of Good Standing as supporting documentation for this requirement, provided the documents are relevant to the services requested in the IFB.

21. Regarding the requirement on Page 27 to provide customer references for professional nursing services performed during the past two years (including service dates, customer size, and annual billing amounts), our company has completed a large number of contracts, and we are unable to disclose details for every customer due to confidentiality obligations. Could you please confirm the minimum number of customer references required to satisfy this requirement? Additionally, can the client information included in the two letters of recommendation submitted with our proposal be used to satisfy this requirement, or is separate customer information still required?

Bidders should provide sufficient information to demonstrate that they have made at least 40 nursing placements within the past two years, as required by Section 4.1.2 of the IFB.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

22. Regarding the requirement on Page 27 to identify our largest customer for professional nursing services during the past two years and provide the average monthly number of nursing staff placed and the annual billing amount, please note that this information is subject to confidentiality obligations. Could you please confirm whether we may provide this information in a generalized or anonymized format? Additionally, can the client information included in the two letters of recommendation submitted with our proposal be used to satisfy this requirement, or is separate customer information still required?

Please refer to Section 3.2.3 of the IFB which states: “Any Vendor claiming its response contains information exempt from the Mississippi Public Records Act (Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 25- 61-1, et. seq., and 79-23-1) shall provide an additional copy of the bid package that has the relevant information redacted and cites the specific statutory authority for contention that each redaction is exempt.

If the client information provided in the letters of recommendation satisfies the requirement as well, different customer information is not required.

23. The solicitation states that the bidder must maintain an office in each region for which it submits a bid and, if it does not have an office in a region, explain on the Bid Form (Attachment C) how it will service that region. Could you please confirm whether maintaining a physical office in each region is mandatory, or whether bidders may adequately demonstrate their ability to provide services without a local office?

See response to Question #13.

24. Could you please confirm whether this solicitation is open to all qualified vendors that meet the eligibility requirements, or if participation is limited to specific or previously approved vendors only?

This solicitation is open to all qualified vendors that meet the eligibility requirements.

25. Will all responsive and qualified bidders be placed on the Preapproved Vendor List (PVL), or will the State limit the number of awarded vendors?

All responsive and responsible bidders that meet the pricing requirements will be recommended for placement on the PVL.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

26. Can the State provide the estimated annual spend and anticipated volume of nursing staffing requests by participating agencies?

OSSS does not have an estimated annual spend or anticipated volume of staffing requests. Utilization will vary based on the needs of each Contracting Agency.

27. What nursing positions are expected to be requested under this contract (e.g., RN, LPN/LVN, CNA, Nurse Practitioner, etc.)?

Please refer to Section 2 of the IFB for this information.

28. How will participating state agencies select vendors from the PVL (e.g., rotation, direct selection, or competitive quotes)?

Contracting Agencies are encouraged, but not required, to contact the lowest-priced Vendor for the professional nursing services needed.

(Section 2.6.3)

29. Are there any maximum bill rates or pricing caps that vendors must follow?

The IFB does not establish a maximum bill rate or pricing cap for bid submission. However, bid rates will be evaluated in accordance with the pricing methodology established in Section 4.2.

30. What are the required turnaround times for filling staffing requests, and are there any service level agreements (SLAs)?

The Contractor must maintain a sufficient pool of qualified staff to meet the Contracting Agency’s needs within two hours, or within another timeframe as determined by the Contracting Agency.

Additional staffing requirements will be based on the Contracting Agency’s specific needs.

31. Will each participating agency execute its own contract with the selected vendor, or will there be a single statewide agreement?

Yes. Each Contracting Agency will execute its own contract with the vendor it selects from the PVL.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

32. Can the State clarify the evaluation criteria and scoring methodology that will be used to determine vendor eligibility for the PVL?

Responsive and responsible bidders will be evaluated based on their average hourly bid rates for each service category and region. OSSS will calculate the mean of the average bid prices for each category and region. Bidders whose average bid price is less than 125% of the applicable mean will be recommended for placement on the PVL.

33. For vendors currently on the PVL, which is renewable through 7/22/28, can they and/or should they rebid now or wait for the rolling bid release?

The last PVL (IFB No. 2022-04) expired on July 22, 2026, and is available only for the renewal or extension of currently active contracts through July 22, 2028. Vendors that wish to be eligible for new contracts must submit a bid for placement on the new PVL.

34. Will there be a separate solicitation released for the rolling bid award, or should current vendors just respond to the current RFx through Sept 2028, if they wait to rebid?

No separate solicitation will be issued. OSSS will issue an amendment and update the timeline when the rolling award period opens.

35. Based on the contract terms, we currently have a contract renewal till June 30, 2028. Could you please clarify whether this bid is intended for adding new vendors to the list, or if we need to submit a bid for contract renewal?

This solicitation is intended to establish a new PVL and is not for renewal of existing contracts.

Vendors that wish to be eligible for new contracts must submit a bid for placement on the new PVL.

36. Could you please confirm if we can provide letters of recommendation from commercial clients?

Yes. Letters of recommendation from commercial clients are acceptable.

37. Please confirm if this is a new initiative or a re-bid of an existing contract?

This is a new solicitation to establish a new Professional Nursing Services Preapproved Vendor List (PVL). It is not a renewal of an existing contract.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

38. Please confirm the budget allocated for this project. The budget will vary depending on the State Agency with whom a vendor is contracted.

39. If it is a re-bid, please share the names of the current service providers/incumbent vendors? Additionally, how many active resources are working under the previous contract?

See response to Question #37.

A list of current vendors and their rates may be found at https://www.dfa.ms.gov/osss-preapproved-vendor-information

Additional statistical information may also be found at https://www.transparency.ms.gov/

40. Please provide the historical spending associated with this contract.

Historical spending varies by Contracting Agency. This information may be available on the Transparency Mississippi website. Please see response to Question #7.

41. Are there any specific challenges, pain points or areas of concern that you are currently experiencing with the existing vendors?

No specific challenges or areas of concern have been identified with the existing vendors at this time.

42. Please clarify the anticipated number of awards expected under this RFP.

See response to Question #25.

43. Is there a local preference in connection with this RFP? No.

44. Please confirm the evaluation criteria and weighting (e.g., technical vs. cost).

This is an Invitation for Bids (IFB) and does not use a technical-versus-cost weighting. Bids will be evaluated in accordance with the requirements and evaluation criteria outlined in the IFB, including responsiveness, responsibility, and pricing.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

45. Will there be an opportunity for a virtual/on-presentation or negotiation meeting during the evaluation process?

No.

46. What is the expected timeline for award notification and contract execution?

The anticipated date of the Notice of Intent to Award is October 29, 2026. This solicitation establishes a Preapproved Vendor List and does not result in a contract. Contract execution will occur separately between a PVL Vendor and a Contracting Agency.

47. What is the anticipated volume of staffing requests (e.g., estimated number of requisitions per year)?

The anticipated volume of staffing varies by Contracting Agency.

48. Could you please provide details on the job categories, labor classifications or skill sets most requested?

Specific staffing needs vary by Contracting Agency and are not maintained by OSSS. For additional details, please contact the specific Contracting Agency.

49. Is there an employee conversion policy (i.e., can the department directly hire contractor staff after a defined period)?

The IFB does not establish a standard employee conversion policy.

Any restrictions or requirements regarding the direct hiring of contractor staff will be determined by the Contracting Agency and may be addressed in the individual contract.

50. Will timekeeping be handled through the department’s system or will vendors be required to provide a platform?

Timekeeping will be handled using the Contracting Agency’s standard timesheet. Vendors are responsible for ensuring timesheets are properly completed and approved. (Section 2.8.3.3)

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

51. In the event of a contract award, please clarify whether awarded vendors will be permitted to directly engage with individual departments/agencies for staffing requests or if all requirements will be routed through a centralized system?

Vendors that are added to the list will work directly with the Contracting Agency for staffing requests.

52. Is this a new contract or renewal of an existing contract? This is not a contract. The purpose of this solicitation is to establish a list of preapproved vendors from which State Agencies may select vendors to provide Professional Nursing Services without the need to conduct a separate procurement process.

53. If there is an existing contract, could you please share the names of the current vendors and their pricing?

A list of current vendors and their rates may be found at https://www.dfa.ms.gov/osss-preapproved-vendor-information

54. In order to be considered responsive for this solicitation, is it mandatory to bid on all positions?

It is not mandatory to bid on all positions to be considered responsive to this IFB.

55. What is the estimated budget for this contract? See response to Question #6.

56. Is it mandatory to subcontract? No.

57. Could you please provide information on the daily duration of shifts required for the necessary professions? For example, the number of hours per day?

Shift duration and staffing needs will be determined by the Contracting Agency based on its requirements and/or specific needs.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

58. We would like to confirm that, based on the contract terms, our current contract is valid through June 30, 2028. Could you please clarify whether this bid is intended to add new vendors to the list, or if existing vendors are also required to submit a new bid?

See response to Question #33.

59. Could you please clarify whether vendors may request edits or modifications to the terms and contract template, or if the IFB and associated terms must be accepted as is?

Vendors may request modifications to the sample contract; however, any proposed modifications are subject to the discretion and approval of the Contracting Agency and its legal counsel.

60. Can you share more about the practice setting they work in? Practice settings will vary depending on the State Agency with whom the vendor is contracted.

61. Are you looking to psychiatric nurse practitioners to work in BH facilities or would they be working in primary care?

See response to Question #60.

62. Will the current PVL remain in effect through its stated renewal period, or is the new IFB intended to replace the existing PVL before that time?

The current PVL (IFB #2022-04) expired on July 22, 2026, and remains available only for renewal or extension of existing contracts through July 22, 2028.

63. Are currently approved PVL vendors required to submit a new bid under IFB 2026-01 in order to continue being eligible for new agency contracts after the new PVL takes effect?

Yes.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

64. Does “meet the Agency’s needs within two hours” mean confirming acceptance and identifying personnel within two hours, or must personnel physically arrive at the facility within two hours? Does this apply to routine requests as well as urgent requests?

This will be determined based on the needs of the Contracting Agency.

See amendment to IFB Section 2.2.14 below.

65. Must a replacement employee report onsite within two hours, or must the vendor identify and dispatch a replacement within two hours?

See response to Question #64.

66. Please clarify the statement that a bidder must have “placed at least 40 nursing” within the past two years. Does this mean 40 unique nursing personnel, 40 assignments, or another measurement? Do CNA and PCA placements count?

Please see amendment to IFB Section 4.1.2 below.

67. Which organization must issue the required Health Care Staffing Services certification? Is this intended to mean Joint Commission Health Care Staffing Services Certification? Will equivalent accreditation be accepted, and when must it be provided?

Specific requirements regarding the issuing organization and equivalent accreditation should be confirmed with the Contracting Agency. The certification shall be provided at the time designated by the Contracting Agency.

68. Is a physical office in each proposed region mandatory, or may a bidder qualify by submitting an acceptable plan explaining how it will serve a region without a local office?

See response to Question #13.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

69. May a PVL vendor decline an individual agency opportunity or shift because of unavailable personnel, specialty requirements, location, or other operational constraints without being removed from the PVL?

Prior to entering into a contract, a Vendor may decline an individual contracting opportunity if it is unable to meet the Contracting Agency’s specific staffing or operational requirements without affecting its PVL status. Once a Vendor enters into a contract, it must fulfill the terms of that contract.

70. Will an active multistate RN or LPN license issued under the Nurse Licensure Compact satisfy the requirement for a Mississippi license or certification?

The acceptance of an active, multi-state RN or LPN license issued under the Nurse Licensure Compact is at the discretion of the Contracting Agency.

71. Is the vendor responsible for establishing and paying for each Nurse Practitioner’s collaborating physician, or will the contracting agency provide the necessary physician relationship?

All costs associated with securing and paying a collaborating physician must be included within the Vendor's proposed hourly bill rate. Utilizing an agency's on-site physician may be negotiated with the Contracting Agency only if such a resource is available and mutually agreed upon, but it is not guaranteed.

72. Are hours spent completing mandatory agency-specific orientation or training billable at the applicable hourly rate, or must all such labor be included in the submitted rates?

All anticipated labor, time, and costs associated with completing mandatory agency-specific orientation or training must be included within the Bidder’s submitted hourly rates.

73. Must the travel-nurse hourly rate include housing, transportation, meals, stipends, and all other travel-related expenses, with no separate reimbursement permitted?

The Travel Nurse hourly rate must include all associated travel-related costs, with no additional or hidden fees.

74. When weekend, holiday, or hazard conditions overlap, which rate applies? Are these rates mutually exclusive, or may any premiums be combined?

The applicable rate will be determined by the Contracting Agency.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

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75. For bid evaluation, if the weekend, holiday, or hazard field is left blank, will the standard rate be substituted when calculating the bidder’s average price?

Yes. If a Vendor does not bid a specific weekend, holiday, or hazard hourly rate, the standard hourly rate will apply. (Section 2.6.1.6)

76. Does reimbursable overtime cost include only the additional wage paid directly to the employee, or may associated employer payroll taxes and statutory payroll costs also be included?

Reimbursable overtime costs are limited to the Vendor’s documented direct costs paid to the individual employee. Documentation must be provided to the reasonable satisfaction of the Contracting Agency.

77. If an agency requires professional nursing insurance or higher limits after PVL award, may the vendor adjust its rate to recover that additional cost?

Vendors should include all anticipated insurance costs in their submitted rates. Rates must be inclusive of all associated costs, including required insurance, with no additional or hidden fees.

78. How should bidders calculate the “average number of staff available” for each category—daily, weekly, monthly, or over another period? May the same employee be counted in multiple regions?

Bidders should provide a reasonable estimate of the average number of staff available in each category for the region bid. Staff may be included in multiple regions if they are available to provide services in those regions.

79. Must background checks, drug screens, and Abuse Registry checks be completed before every assignment, or only when requested by the contracting agency? How recent must the results be?

Background checks, drug screenings, and Abuse Registry checks are required if requested by the Contracting Agency. The Contracting Agency will determine any requirements regarding the timing or recency of the results.

80. Do the annual TB-test and CPR requirements apply to all five categories, including PCAs? What testing methods, exemptions, and certification providers will be accepted?

Specific TB testing and CPR requirements, including applicable categories, testing methods, exemptions, and acceptable certification providers, will be determined by the Contracting Agency.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

81. If an agency’s later detailed scope requires credentials, training, vaccinations, or specialty experience not stated in the IFB, may a vendor decline that engagement without affecting its PVL status?

See response to Question #69.

82. Do current vendors on the Preapproved List have to respond to this IFB to remain on the Preapproved List?

Yes. Current vendors must respond to this IFB to be considered for placement on the new Professional Nursing Services PVL. The existing PVL (IFB #2022-04) is separate and remains available only for renewal or extension of existing contracts.

83. If current vendors want to change their rates, must they respond to this IFB?

Current vendors wishing to establish new rates under the new Professional Nursing Services PVL must respond to this IFB.

84. The current PVL listing for existing vendors runs through July 22, 2026, but the new PVL under this IFB is not effective until approximately December 2, 2026. Can current PVL vendors continue to be used by Contracting Agencies during that gap, or does PVL coverage lapse in the interim?

The PVL established under IFB No. 2022-04 expired on July 22, 2026, and may only be used to renew or extend existing contracts through July 22, 2028. Contracting Agencies may not enter into new contracts under that PVL. Vendors that wish to be eligible for new contracts must submit a bid for placement on the new PVL established under IFB No. 2026-01.

85. Section 4.1.2 requires that a bidder have "placed at least 40 nursing" within the past two years. Can OSSS clarify whether this means 40 individual nursing staff placed, 40 total placements or assignments, or another measure?

Please see amendment to IFB Section 4.1.2 below.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

86. Section 4.5 references a rolling award round for bids submitted by September 7, 2028, for a PVL update effective December 6, 2028. If a vendor is not placed on the PVL through this IFB and instead submits during the rolling award round, is that vendor excluded from the PVL entirely between December 2, 2026, and December 6, 2028?

A Vendor that is not placed on the PVL through the initial award would not be eligible to enter into contracts under the new PVL until it is approved through the subsequent rolling award.

87. Can OSSS provide total spend by agency and/or region for professional nursing services procured through the current

PVL?

OSSS cannot provide this information.

See response to Question #7.

88. Minimum Placement Requirement: Section 4.1.2 states a bidder "must have placed at least 40 nursing" within the past two years. Please clarify the intended requirement – specifically, whether this refers to 40 nursing staff placements, 40 individual nursing professionals placed, or another measure

– and whether this threshold applies in the aggregate across all five service categories (NP, RN, LPN, CNA, PCA) or must be met within a single category

Please see amendment to IFB Section 4.1.2 below.

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89. Regional Office Requirement: Section 4.1.3 requires a bidder to "maintain an office in each region for which it submits a bid," but also allows a bidder without a regional office to explain on the Bid Form how it will service the region. Can OSSS clarify what qualifies as "maintaining an office" (e.g., whether remote staff located within the region will suffice), and what level of detail is expected in an alternative servicing explanation for regions without a dedicated office?

See response to Question #13.

The Bidder should provide sufficient information on the Bid Form to demonstrate how it will provide services throughout the region.

90. HCSS Certification: Section 2.2.16 (and Exhibit A, Section 2.p of the sample contract) requires Vendors to provide a valid Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) Certification. Please confirm whether this refers to a Mississippi-specific HCSS certification, and if so, the issuing body and expected timeline for an out-of-state Vendor to obtain it prior to contract execution (i.e., whether it must be in hand at the time of bid submission or only prior to award/contracting).

See response to Question #67.

91. Business License: Will the state please clarify whether an HCSS certification is the only certification required aside from individual provider licenses? Or is an additional business license or certificate of authority required?

In addition to the HCSS Certification and applicable individual provider licenses, Vendors must be registered to do business in Mississippi and in good standing with the Mississippi Secretary of State. Contracting Agencies may also establish additional licensing or certification requirements based on their specific needs.

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92. Existing PVL/Incumbents: Is there a current or expiring PVL or statewide contract for similar professional nursing services, and if so, can OSSS identify the incumbent Vendor(s) currently serving Contracting Agencies under that arrangement and their rates?

See response to Question #11.

93. Section 2.2.16 and Exhibit A, paragraph 2.p, require a Vendor to provide a valid "Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) Certification" once a contract is executed. Does OSSS require The Joint Commission's specific Health Care Staffing Services Certification, or will an equivalent nationally recognized staffing certification satisfy this requirement? Separately, is the Vendor required to hold this certification at the moment a Contracting Agency executes a contract, or is there a cure period after execution to obtain it?

See response to Question #67.

94. Section 4.1.2 requires a bidder to "have placed at least 40 nursing within the past two (2) years." Could OSSS clarify the unit being measured, for example individual nurses placed, total placement assignments (including repeat assignments of the same individual), or total shifts or hours? Please also confirm whether qualifying placements must fall within the five categories defined in Section 2.1 (NP, RN, LPN, CNA, PCA) specifically, or whether closely related clinical staffing placements also count, and whether these placements must have occurred in Mississippi or may be from any state.

The requirement refers to at least 40 nursing placements within the past two years in the professional nursing service categories covered by this IFB. Qualifying placements are not required to have occurred in Mississippi.

See amendment to Section 4.1.2 below.

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95. Section 4.1.3 requires a bidder without an office in a bid region to explain on the Bid Form how it will service that region. Is there a minimum standard this explanation must meet for responsiveness purposes (for example, a named regional coordinator or a stated response-time commitment), or is a good faith operational narrative sufficient?

No specific format is required. The Bidder should provide sufficient information on the Bid Form to demonstrate how it will provide services throughout the region.

96. Section 2.6.2 describes an optional Price Adjustment Clause that "Contracting Agencies may choose to include" in a contract with a PVL Vendor. Is inclusion of this clause negotiated and elected separately by each individual Contracting Agency at the time it executes a contract, or does OSSS or PPRB determine in advance whether this clause will apply uniformly to all contracts issued under the resulting PVL?

Inclusion of the Price Adjustment Clause is at the discretion of each Contracting Agency and may be included in its individual contract with a PVL Vendor.

97. Section 4.5 describes a Rolling Award round with bids due September 7, 2028, for placement effective December 6, 2028.

For a category or region combination in which a Vendor is not placed in the initial round, may that Vendor bid on the same category and region in the 2028 Rolling Award round, and would its rates and Section 4.1 minimum qualifications need to be resubmitted in full at that time?

Yes. A Vendor not initially placed in a category or region may submit a bid for that category or region during the Rolling Award period. Vendors already placed on the PVL are not required to resubmit bids for categories and regions for which they have already been awarded.

98. Attachment C, the Bid Form, asks for the "Number of Available" staff in each category. Is there a minimum number required for a bid to be considered responsive, or is this field informational only for the Contracting Agency's later selection?

There is no minimum number of available staff for a bid to be considered responsive. Staffing requirements will be based on the needs of the Contracting Agency.

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99. Section 4.1.3 states that a bidder must maintain an office in each region for which it submits a bid, but also permits a bidder without an office in a region to explain how it will service that region. Please clarify whether maintaining a physical office within each region is a mandatory qualification, or whether a documented regional service model may satisfy the requirement.

See response to Question #13.

100. Section 2.3.1 states that vendors must maintain a sufficient pool of qualified staff to meet an Agency's needs within two hours. Could you please clarify whether the two-hour requirement means acknowledging the staffing request, submitting qualified candidates, or having a qualified candidate report for the assignment within two hours?

See response to Question #64.

101. Section 3.1.5 requires two letters of recommendation from clients for similar services provided within the past three years. Could you please confirm whether the letters must be from commercial/private-sector clients, or whether government/public-sector clients are also acceptable?

Letters of recommendation may be provided by commercial/private-sector or government/public-sector clients, provided the letters are for similar services as required by Section 3.1.5.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

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102. Section 4.1.3 states that a bidder must maintain an office in each region for which it submits a bid, but also allows a bidder without an office in a region to explain how it will service that region. Infojini has offices in several states, including Texas, Georgia, and other locations, but does not currently have a physical office in Mississippi. Please clarify whether an out-of-state office and a demonstrated regional staffing/service model would satisfy this requirement, or whether a physical office located within each Mississippi region is required.

See response to Questions #13.

103. Please clarify whether the two-hour staffing requirement applies to all staffing requests regardless of the time or day received, including nights, weekends, and holidays

Application of the two-hour staffing requirement, including nights, weekends, and holidays, will be determined by the Contracting Agency based on its staffing needs.

104. Section 2.4.5 states that bidding on a region certifies the bidder can provide all solicited services throughout the entire geographic region. Please clarify whether vendors may utilize regional recruiting resources, branch offices, mobile recruiters, or subcontracted/local staffing resources to satisfy geographic coverage requirements, provided the Vendor remains fully responsible for service delivery.

Vendors may utilize available staffing and recruiting resources to service a region, provided the Vendor can demonstrate its ability to provide the solicited services throughout the entire region and remains responsible for meeting all IFB and contractual requirements.

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Question Response

105. Does the IFB permit Vendors to use subcontractors, affiliates, or other staffing partners to support fulfillment within a region, and if so, what approval, disclosure, licensing, insurance, or compliance requirements would apply?

The use of subcontractors is at the discretion of the Contracting Agency and is subject to the agency's prior approval and agreement.

106. How exactly is the average bid price calculated for the 125% threshold?

See response to Question #32.

Additional explanation may be found in section 4.2.3 of the IFB.

107. Section 2.2.16 requires a valid Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) Certification. Infojini currently holds a Joint Commission Healthcare Staffing Services Certification.

Please confirm whether this certification satisfies the HCSS Certification requirement. If not, please clarify which specific certification(s) or accrediting body(ies) the State will accept to meet this requirement.

See response to Question #67.

108. Section 3.1.5 requires two letters of recommendation from clients for similar services provided within the past three years. Is there a specific format or template that must be used for the letters of recommendation, or may vendors submit letters on the client's letterhead in their own format, provided all required information is included?

The IFB does not prescribe a specific format or template for the letters of recommendation. Letters may be submitted in the client's format, provided they satisfy the requirements of Section 3.1.5.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

109. Section 2.2.14 requires the Vendor to replace a contract worker within two hours of the Contracting Agency's request.

Please clarify whether the two-hour requirement is for the Vendor to acknowledge the replacement request or have the replacement employee report to the facility and begin the assignment.

See response to Question #64.

110. The IFB permits submission by either email or physical delivery. Is there a preferred method of submission, or will email and physical submissions be treated equally during the evaluation process?

All Bids will be evaluated in accordance with the same IFB requirements.

111. We intend to bid on all eight regions, with different hourly rates for the nursing categories in each region. Please confirm whether we need to submit a separate Bid Form (Attachment C) for each region.

Vendors that do not have identical pricing across multiple Regions must submit a separate bid form for each Region in which it intends to bid. (Section 3.1.2)

112. Section 4.1.2 requires bidders to have placed at least 40 nursing personnel within the past two years. Please clarify where vendors should provide this information and whether supporting documentation is required to demonstrate compliance with this requirement.

Bidders should provide sufficient information in their bid response to demonstrate compliance with the 40-placement requirement in Section 4.1.2. Supporting documentation may be included as necessary to demonstrate compliance.

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

113. The Bid Form requires vendors to provide the "Number of Available NPs, RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and PCAs." Please clarify:

Does "available" mean currently employed clinicians available for immediate deployment? Can this include qualified candidates in the vendor's active recruiting pipeline?

Is there a required timeframe for availability (e.g., within 2 hours, 24 hours, 7 days)?

The IFB does not define “available” as limited to currently employed staff or establish a specific timeframe for calculating availability.

Bidders should provide a reasonable representation of the qualified staff available to meet Contracting Agency needs, keeping in mind the requirement to maintain a sufficient pool of qualified staff to meet the Agency’s needs within two hours.

114. Section 2.3.1 states that vendors must maintain a sufficient pool of qualified staff to meet Agency needs within two hours. Does this requirement apply only to emergency replacement staffing? Is the expectation that a clinician physically reports within two hours, or that a replacement can be identified and confirmed within two hours?

See response to Question #64.

115. Will Contracting Agencies provide housing, lodging, mileage, or per diem for travel nurses, or must all such costs be included within the Travel Nurse Hourly Rate?

See response to Question #73.

116. Can DFA provide historical utilization data by: Agency, Region, Nursing category (NP, RN, LPN, CNA, PCA), and estimated annual hours?

Usage will vary depending on the State Agency with whom the vendor is contracted. Some of this information may be available on the Transparency Mississippi website, as described in response to Question #7.

117. Are copies of nursing licenses, CPR certifications, TB results, background checks, and other compliance documents required with the candidate's profile submission, or do we need to provide these details only after candidate selection?

The IFB does not require these documents to be submitted in the bid packet; however, required documentation must be available upon the Contracting Agency's request.

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Question Response

118. Will all Contracting Agencies follow a standardized background screening process, or will requirements vary by Agency?

Requirements may vary by Contracting Agency.

119. Can DFA provide a list of currently known vaccine requirements that Contracting Agencies may impose?

DFA does not maintain a consolidated list of vaccine requirements.

120. Section 2.2.16 requires a valid Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) Certification. Will the Joint Commission (HCSS) certificate be accepted here?

See response to Question #67.

121. Can DFA provide examples of situations that have historically qualified for Hazard Pay Hourly Rates?

This information is unavailable.

122. What documentation will Contracting Agencies typically require substantiating overtime reimbursement costs?

Documentation requirements for overtime reimbursement will be determined by the Contracting Agency.

123. Section 4.1.3 states vendors should maintain an office in each region or explain how services will be delivered. Can we use our head office in California to perform this contract and provide services?

See response to Question #13.

124. Section 2.2.14 requires replacement of unsatisfactory staff within two hours. Is temporary telephonic or remote coverage acceptable until replacement staff arrives onsite? Does this requirement apply to all disciplines and all shifts?

This will be at the discretion of the Contracting Agency.

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Question Response

125. Can DFA identify the current vendor(s) providing these services and provide the incumbent contract pricing, if available?

See response to Question #53.

126. Can DFA provide the total annual spending for professional nursing services under this program, or similar contracts, for each of the last three fiscal years?

Please see response to Question #7.

127. Can DFA provide information regarding the most frequently requested professional nursing categories and positions under this contract or similar contracts over the past three years?

Please see response to Question #7.

128. As multiple vendors may be awarded placement on the PVL for each region, please clarify how Contracting Agencies will select vendors for staffing requests. For example: Will staffing requests be allocated based on lowest price, qualifications, availability, rotation schedule, first response, or another methodology? Will all awarded vendors have an opportunity to compete for each staffing request?

Contracting Agencies may select any Vendor from the PVL in the relevant region at their discretion. Agencies are not required to contact Vendors in any specific order, although they are encouraged to consider price. Agencies may choose a Vendor based on factors such as availability, experience, price, or previous performance.

129. Can DFA provide estimated annual staffing volumes for each professional nursing category, including: Nurse Practitioners (NP), Registered Nurses (RN), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), and Personal Care Attendants (PCA). If available, please include estimated annual hours, average number of positions/FTEs, and anticipated assignment duration.

See response to Question #7.

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Question Response

130. If a vendor receives staffing requests from multiple Contracting Agencies at the same time, does the two-hour staffing requirement apply independently to each request?

This requirement is based on the needs of the Contracting Agency.

131. Section 2.3.1 requires vendors to maintain a sufficient pool of qualified staff. Can DFA clarify whether there is a minimum expected number or percentage of available candidates that vendors should maintain for each nursing category and region?

See response to Question #98.

132. Will Vendors be awarded placement separately by region and nursing category, or will selection be made on an overall statewide basis?

Yes. Vendors will be awarded separately by region and nursing category.

133. Can the State confirm whether any correctional facilities, detention facilities, or correctional healthcare environments are included among the agencies or facilities that may utilize this Preapproved Vendor List? If so, may vendors elect to exclude correctional facility assignments from their offered services while remaining eligible for award in applicable regions and staffing categories?

This PVL is available for use for all State Agencies under PPRB purview.

134. Can the State provide historical utilization data of travel nursing for calendar year 2025, including spend, billable hours, assignments, or headcount by staffing category (NP, RN, LPN, CNA, PCA) and by region, to assist vendors in understanding anticipated demand under this contract vehicle?

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Question Response

135. Can the State provide an estimate of the number of agencies to be awarded for each region?

See response to Question #25.

136. Can or will the State provide a list of agencies, departments, facilities, or healthcare programs that are expected to utilize the Preapproved Vendor List for nursing staffing services?

The Preapproved Vendor List will be available for use by agencies under the purview of the Public Procurement Review Board (PPRB).

137. Following establishment of the Preapproved Vendor List, what process will participating agencies use to select among awarded vendors for specific staffing requests?

Contracting Agencies may select any Vendor from the PVL in the relevant region at their discretion. Agencies are not required to contact Vendors in any specific order, although they are encouraged to consider price and qualifications. Agencies may choose a Vendor based on factors such as availability, experience, price, or previous performance. Individual contracting opportunities will be communicated directly by Agencies to the selected Vendor(s) in accordance with the Agency’s needs and procurement requirements.

138. Section 4.1.2 requires a minimum of 40 nursing placements within the past two years. Please clarify whether this requirement refers to 40 placements completed nationally or 40 placements completed specifically within Mississippi.

See response to Question #94.

139. Can the State provide utilization information for the current Professional Nursing Services PVL, including participating agencies, most commonly requested classifications, and historical spend or hours by region, if available?

INVITATION FOR BIDS No. 2026-01 RFx #3160008187

Question Response

140. When multiple vendors are approved for a region and classification, how will agencies determine which vendor receives an assignment? Will selection be based primarily on price, availability, qualifications, prior performance, or another methodology?

See response to Question #137.

141. Please clarify whether the two-hour replacement requirement requires the replacement clinician to arrive onsite within two hours or simply be identified and confirmed within two hours.

See response to Question #64.

142. Will Nurse Practitioners be required to enter into collaborative agreements with physicians and, if so, will the State or individual facility be responsible for establishing and executing those agreements.

See…