Research Consultant Services RFR~1.docx

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE

Research Consultant Services COMMBUYS Bid# BD-18-1068-1068C-1068L-25527

ISSUE DATE: April 4, 2018

Description or Purpose of Procurement:

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) seeks the help of experts in the field of gaming, social and economic research to help with the on-going review (peer review) of numerous research projects as part of the MGC multi-year research agenda. The MGC expects to pre-qualify individuals with such expertise (further described below) and utilize their services on an ad-hoc and as needed basis. Selected research consultants may be called upon to perform a variety of review functions to assist in the review of existing research projects and help interpret results for policy makers. The MGC regards this review function as a critical and essential step to fulfill the statutory requirement as well as following a best practice often referred to as peer review. Information about the MGC research agenda can be found at: https://massgaming.com/about/research-agenda/.

MGC seeks experts in three areas: Gaming Research Reviewers, Gaming Research Ad hoc Consultants, and a Gaming Research Planning Consultant. The specific functions being requested are further described in the Scope of Services.

Gaming Research Agenda Chapter 23k, Section 71 (Expanded Gaming Act) requires Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) to establish “an annual research agenda” to understand the social and economic effects of casino gambling in Massachusetts.

Specific Goals of the Research Agenda include:

· Understand the social and economic effects of expanded gambling and use findings to inform evidence-based policy and regulation

· Obtain scientific information relative to the neuroscience, psychology, sociology, epidemiology and etiology of gambling

· Inform best practice strategies and methods for responsible gaming and problem gambling treatment and prevention

· Evaluate all responsible gaming initiatives developed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission As part of this statutory mandate, the MGC has procured and awarded contracts to several research teams, to carry out the research agenda as well as evaluate key responsible gambling initiatives of the MGC. For a complete list and link to research conducted to date, please see the research page of the MGC website: https://massgaming.com/about/research-agenda/. The MGC wants to ensure that the results of the research are independent, objective, and based on sound research methods.

1. Applicable Procurement Law

Executive Branch Goods and Services

2. Acquisition Method:

3. Whether Single or Multiple Contractors are Required for Contract:

Check One (“X”):

a. Estimated Number of Awards The target maximum number of Contractors is 15; the Purchasing Department may award more or fewer contracts, if it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth to do so.

b. Adding Contractors after initial Contract Award If, over the life of the contract, the Purchasing Department determines that additional Contractors may be added, these may be drawn from qualified companies which responded to this Solicitation but were not awarded Contracts. If necessary to meet the requirements of the Commonwealth, the Solicitation may be reopened to obtain additional Bids.

4. Entities Eligible to Use the Resulting Contract

The Purchasing Department reserves the right to add or remove additional authorized users during the contract term.

5. Expected Duration of Contract (Initial Duration and any Options to Renew):

Initial Duration

The initial contract term will begin May 1, 2018 for a duration of 5-years.

Renewal Options

The MGC may renew the contract for one additional five year period.

Total Maximum Contract Duration

Ten years.

6. Anticipated Expenditures, Funding or Compensation:

Estimated Value of Procurement: $25,000 in FY2018 and $75,000 for each subsequent fiscal year.

The funding for any contract resulting from this procurement is conditioned upon approval of the Public Health Trust Fund Executive Committee.

Contract Performance and Business Specifications:

The role of the research consultant is to be part of a committee that reviews the methodology, analysis and findings of the research, not to conduct the research itself. The research consultant will join a group of experts in the relevant fields and effectively serve as a peer review group. The group will provide feedback to the teams of researchers and the MGC.

Scope of Services:

The MGC seeks to prequalify approximately fourteen Gaming Research Reviewers, Ad-hoc Gaming Research Consultants, and one Gaming Research Planning Consultant (collectively “Research Consultants”) to perform the following functions related to the MGC research agenda. An individual may be pre-qualified to serve in one or more than one of the Research Consultant capacities described below.

Gaming Research Reviewer:

Gaming research reviewers will serve on the independent gaming research peer review committee on an as-needed basis. Reviewers will use an open review process (identity of the author and the reviewers are known by all participants) in order to maximize accountability and transparency. Information about the MGC Gaming Research Agenda can be found at: https://massgaming.com/about/research-agenda/

Gaming Research Reviewer Activities:

· Provide the MGC and research teams with advice and feedback on gaming research design, methods and analysis.

· Review data collection methods and work with current data collectors to maximize representativeness. This includes but is not limited to modes of data collection, survey design, weighting and statistical evaluation.

· Review and evaluate analytic plans.

· Advise research teams on ways to alter analytic plans if initial approaches become unworkable

· Assist in the development of data dissemination planning and implementation.

· Ensure ethical standards of research and privacy for subjects of research.

· Provide advice and recommendations to the research team and the MGC’s Director of Research and Responsible Gaming.

Process and Commitment:

· Receive and review materials in advance of meetings. (Note: Every effort will be made to give individuals at least 2 weeks to review materials.)

· Participate in bi-weekly committee calls and e-mail exchanges.

· When available, attend regular Gambling Research Advisory Committee (GRAC) meetings. GRAC is a non-statutory, multi-disciplinary group of interested parties and stakeholders convened on a quarterly basis to provide advice to the MGC on research matters.

· Attend in-person review committee meetings if needed and possible.

· The MGC anticipates that the Gaming Research Reviewer will review approximately one study per month.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Experience in planning, conducting, reviewing gambling, public health, public safety, substance use, social science, economic, or survey research

· Familiarity with IRB processes

· Masters or Ph.D. in related field

· Peer review experience Compensation:

The MGC anticipates compensating the research consultant on an hourly basis or by an agreed-upon stipend.

Gaming Research Ad hoc Consultant:

In FY19 the MGC expects to establish a Data Transfer, Storage and Access Project in order to provide access to data generated by research projects funded and overseen by the MGC. Datasets from existing and on-going research projects will become publicly available with certain parameters. The gaming research ad hoc consultant will serve on an as needed basis for this project as well as a range of other research related activities. Specific tasks include but not limited to:

· Review and refine processes developed for the Data Transfer, Storage and Access Project

· Serve on the review committee for requests to access data collected by MGC research contractors. Descriptions of these projects can be found at: https://massgaming.com/about/research-agenda/

· Review request for proposals (RFRs) for research procurement.

· Review and advise on research related matters as requested by the MGC Director of Research and Responsible Gaming.

Process:

· Participate in gaming research ad hoc committee calls and e-mail exchanges

· Review applications and provide recommendation for researcher access to custom and public use datasets.

· Evaluate applications for funding based on procurement criteria. Provide detailed justification for response/score.

· Attend in-person review committee meetings if needed and possible

Preferred Qualifications:

· Experience in planning, conducting, reviewing gambling, public health, substance use, social science, economic, data privacy, or survey research

· Masters or Ph.D. in related field

· Peer review experience Compensation:

The MGC anticipates compensating the gaming research ad hoc consultant on an hourly basis or by an agreed-upon stipend.

Gaming Research Planning Consultant:

The MGC seeks one individual to facilitate a research planning process in order to further develop its research program and fulfill the research agenda mandate. Ensuring that MGCs final strategic plan is delivered on schedule will be the primary responsibility of the gaming research planning consultant. The Planning consultant will perform the following functions:

· Review gaming research agenda;

· Investigate organizations which fund similar research in size and scope;

· Conduct key stakeholder interviews and focus groups

· Facilitate a planning session with individuals from the MGC, the teams of researchers and other key stakeholders

· Create a detailed project plan for approval by the MGC;

· Consider aspects of the statutory mandate to carry out a research agenda when developing the plan;

· Draft a strategic plan which will be available for stakeholder and public comment

· Produce a final strategic plan.

Fiscal Terms: The rate is variable. The MGC requests that Research Reviewers and Research Ad hoc consultants propose an hourly rate to perform the specified function for which they are applying. Candidates for the Planning Consultant are requested to submit a project budget and justification. The MGC reserves the right to negotiate the hourly and project rate proposed by applicants to this RFR.

Reviewers are to submit a detailed invoice on a quarterly basis. The final invoice each fiscal year must be received no later than July 31.

Performance Measures: Performance will be evaluated on an annual basis by the MGC Director Research and Responsible Gaming and based upon the following:

1) Depth and detail of analysis provided for the deliverable or process.

2) Responsiveness to requests from the MGC

3) Ability to work collaboratively

7. Small Business Purchasing Program [APPLICABLE ONLY TO PROCUREMENTS BETWEEN $10,000 AND $150,000] This is a small procurement targeted to businesses participating in the Commonwealth’s Small Business Purchasing Program (“SBPP”). The Department intends to evaluate bid responses from and to award a contract to a SBPP-participating business(es) who submit a bid that meets or exceeds the solicitation criteria only. Subcontracting in these types of procurements is limited to no more than 20% of the value of the contract, unless it is with another SBPP registered participant. If determined that there is inadequate SBPP capacity, or no SBPP-participating vendors provide a responsive bid, the Department will evaluate and award bid responses received from non-SBPP businesses. To determine eligibility and to participate in the SBPP, please review the requirements and general program information at www.mass.gov/sbpp.

8. Evaluation Criteria Contractors must submit responses that meet all the submission requirements of the RFR. Only responsive proposals that meet the submission requirements will be evaluated, scored and ranked by the evaluation team according to the evaluation criteria. Additional information may be requested for evaluation purposes.

9. Instructions for Submission of Responses:

Responses must be sent via the “Create Quote” functionality contained in COMMBUYS. For instructions concerning how to submit a Quote, please see Appendix B.

Persons interested in submitting a proposal Any submission which fails to meet the submission requirements of the RFR will be found non-responsive without further evaluation unless the evaluation team, at its discretion, determines that the non-compliance is insubstantial and can be corrected. In these cases, the evaluation team may allow the vendor to make minor corrections to the submission.

10. Estimated Procurement Calendar

Bidders are required to monitor COMMBUYS for changes to the procurement calendar for this Bid.

a. Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening Date/Time) April 20, 2018 at 4:00 pm EDT

b. Estimated Contract Start Date

May 1, 2018 This is the approximate start date. The actual start date will be the Contract Effective Date which is the date the Contract is executed by the parties.

11. Required Forms Responses to this RFR must contain the following documents: The following documents should only be completed once the awards have been made. Successful bidders will be required to complete all forms.

The above attachments are available as attachments as part of the Bid record on WWW.COMMBUYS.COM.

12. RFR Attachments Appendix A: Required Specifications

Updated: April 2, 2014