Revision 2 RFP 2027000016 Health Equity Technical Assistance.pdf

Request for Proposal (RFP)

Prevention Services Division (PSD)

Technical Assistance to Reduce Health Disparities

RFP # 2027000016

Revised 9/11/2026. Changed contract start dates all changes in red

This solicitation contains instructions governing the proposal to be submitted and the material to be included therein, mandatory requirements, which must be met to be eligible for consideration; and other requirements to be met by each proposal.

Version 9/19/2025

I. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A. Background State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (STEPP) is a collaborative partnership between the state program and the grantee projects. In Colorado, tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death as well as disease, accounting for more than 5,100 deaths each year. In addition, it costs the state more than $1.8 billion in health care expenditures and more than $1 billion in lost productivity each year. The 2030 Colorado Education, Prevention, and Cessation Tobacco Strategic Plan recommends taking steps to accelerate the decline in tobacco use among populations experiencing the most tobacco-related harms and have not benefited from commercial tobacco control efforts to date, with tailored approaches where they live, work, play, and receive medical and social services.

B. Purpose

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit responses from qualified Offerors to provide culturally competent workforce development for local public health agencies (LPHAs) and community-based organization (CBO) grantees, build statewide knowledge and capacity to reduce health disparities for a stronger Colorado, build and share power with communities, and incorporate core elements of equitable implementation. This project will center on reducing health disparities and advancing health for populations that experience higher disease burden. By delivering training and technical assistance to STEPP’s LPHA and CBO grantees, this project will develop the training, tools, and resources needed to center the voice and leadership of communities and community-based organizations, prioritizing community assets, strengths, and resilience.

STEPP holds contracts with 36 Local Public Health Agencies (some of which are regional collaborations comprising multiple agencies) and 5 Community-Based Organizations, all of which receive training and ongoing technical assistance under this solicitation. STEPP requires all local public health and community-led grantees to complete a Tobacco- Focused Community Assessment at the start of the grant cycle to ensure data-driven planning and public health practices that reduce health disparities. In addition, STEPP releases a coordinated Technical Assistance (TA) Needs Assessment each grant cycle, including the topic-based activities and skills essential to conducting and supporting the planning, implementation, and evaluation of tobacco control work in Colorado.

C. Objectives One of the objectives of comprehensive tobacco control programs is the decrease of disease, disability, as well as death associated with tobacco/nicotine use. By providing technical support, training, and expertise in this area, the capabilities of Colorado's tobacco control personnel will be enhanced to increase the effectiveness of tobacco control initiatives. This will be accomplished by a number of methods, including site visits, live training sessions, one-to-one individualized technical assistance, participating in the STEPP conference, holding webinars, and communication via phone, email, teleconference, and in person.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vBTrhurde7KSkJQYtDAS4YTe1DM-wTQy/view

1. This project seeks to accomplish an increase in grantee knowledge, skills, and ability, including but not limited to:

a. Describing the history, culture, context, and geography of the priority population community(ies) served and the intersection of tobacco use

b. Explaining the root causes of health disparities, including those reported in the Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death:

Addressing Disparities: A Report of the Surgeon General (2024).

Describing the social and economic conditions that impact health and their connection to tobacco

c. Communicating and discussing the health impact of systems, structures, policies, and practices on priority populations

d. Explaining and implementing population-based, upstream best practices and interventions

e. Applying principles to tobacco prevention, cessation, and policy that reduce health disparities

f. Applying principles of effective implementation that neither cause nor exacerbate harm to priority populations.

2. This project will work within the existing STEPP Technical Assistance Ecosystem, partnering with a STEPP Subject Matter Expert and with fellow STEPP Technical Assistance providers to implement the goals and objectives of the 2030 Strategic Plan.

D. Links

For further background information, see the following links:

● Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities, A Report of the Surgeon General (2024)

● Best Practices User Guides: Health Equity in Tobacco Prevention and Control

● NACCHO Roots of Health Inequity

E. Eligibility

In order to submit a proposal for this RFP, Offerors shall have one of the following designations:

a. Nonprofit/not-for-profit organizations

b. Public or governmental entities

c. Political subdivisions of the state

d. Educational institutions

e. Not-for-profit private sector organizations

f. Nonprofit organizations providing services to eligible Tribes on the reservation or federally recognized Tribal land with a letter of support from the applicable Tribal Council.

II. Solicitation Schedule Of Activities:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vBTrhurde7KSkJQYtDAS4YTe1DM-wTQy/view https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:b4b9ac9f-552f-4ed6-b7ad-fc569b2e9b09 https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:b4b9ac9f-552f-4ed6-b7ad-fc569b2e9b09 https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:8a79e37e-dda3-4411-bbb2-92a84d34e5ad http://www.rootsofhealthinequity.org/

Solicitation Activity Time Date

Solicitation Published on Colorado VSS System www.colorado.gov/vss and www.bidnetdirect.com//cdphe

8/25/2026

Written Inquiry deadline. Submit all inquiries by e-mail to Allan Smith at Allan.smith@state.co.us

2:00

PM MDT

9/8/2026

Answers to written inquiries published on VSS www.colorado.gov/vss and www.bidnetdirect.com//cdphe

2:00

9/14/2026

Bid submission deadline 2:00

9/29/2026

Evaluation Period Week of

Estimated Contract Effective Date 11/1/2026 http://www.colorado.gov/vss http://www.bidnetdirect.com/cdphe mailto:Allan.smith@state.co.us http://www.colorado.gov/vss http://www.bidnetdirect.com/cdphe

III. Proposal Technical Assistance

A. INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS:

Please be advised that the Colorado Vendor Self Service (VSS) and BidNet Direct (BidNet) websites are the official sites for all Solicitation information, including Addenda and Modifications.

Though not a requirement, Respondents are encouraged to become a member of VSS and BidNet Direct prior to the submission deadline. Solicitations for most Colorado State Agencies (Agencies), including CDPHE, are posted on VSS. The VSS Help Desk is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., local time, phone, 303-866- 6464 or email, VSSHelp@state.co.us.

Solicitation details posted on VSS by Agencies for goods, services, and construction are public and do not require registration to view. Should a company opt to register with VSS, it may elect to receive automatic notification in categories of interest.

Additionally, there is no cost to register on VSS. However, per Procurement Rule 24- 102-202.5-04, Respondents need not be registered with VSS in order to be deemed responsive to this RFP, however, an Offeror must have a current registration on VSS in order to be awarded under this solicitation.

In an effort to expand the potential pool of Respondents to this RFP thus providing the best value for the State, CDPHE is also posting this RFP on BidNet Direct at the link available in the Schedule of Activities or Exhibit A Submission Instructions.

Respondents do not need to register on BidNet or pay funds to access the solicitation.

An Offeror must have a current registration on VSS in order to be awarded under this solicitation; however, vendors do not need to be registered to view the solicitation documents. There is no cost to register on Colorado VSS. To become a registered supplier on VSS, please visit colorado.gov/vss.

B. SOLE POINT OF CONTACT

The Procurement Contact for this solicitation is:

Allan Smith Purchasing Unit Supervisor

Email: allan.smith@state.co.us

The individual listed above is the sole point of contact for this solicitation. Initiating contact with anyone other than this individual may result in Offeror disqualification.

E. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

For this solicitation, vendors can submit responses either electronically via BidNet or by hard copy.

Refer to Exhibit A Submission Instructions.

mailto:VSSHelp@state.co.us mailto:allan.smith@state.co.us

F. INQUIRIES:

1. Offerors may submit written inquiries via email concerning this solicitation to obtain clarifications. The State may not accept inquiries after the date and time indicated in the Schedule of Activities. Send all inquiries to the Procurement Contact identified in Section III. B. above. Inquiries must be clearly marked with the RFP number and title. Where appropriate, inquiries should include references to any relevant Section/paragraph of the solicitation.

2. Responses to Offerors inquiries will be published collectively, as a modification on Colorado VSS and BidNet. Offerors shall not rely on any verbal statements that alter any specification or other term or condition of the solicitation. Such changes are valid only if provided in writing by the Procurement Contact.

IV. PROJECT BUDGET, TIMELINE AND DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

A. Budget The CDPHE annual budget for this project is approximately $240,000.00 per year.

The total budget for the three-year period is not expected to exceed $720,000.00 unless additional funding becomes available. At the sole discretion of the State, CDPHE may modify the budget, depending upon funding availability and proposer performance.

B. Project Timeline The anticipated start date for the executed contract is 11/1/2026 with the initial contract period of 11/1/2026 to 6/30/2027. At the sole discretion of the State, and depending upon funding and Offeror performance, CDPHE may renew the agreement for up to two (2) additional one (1) year periods, not to exceed five (5) year’s total. At the sole discretion of the State, the CDPHE may modify the dates of the contract.

C. Description of Services

The successful Offeror shall:

1. In collaboration with the designated STEPP Project Officer, draft a project plan outlining the following:

a. The TTA the Contractor will provide.

b. The detailed steps that the Contractor shall take to address the objective of this agreement.

c. Assign sufficient FTE for staff and potential subcontractors to ensure high-quality and timely execution of all work, including proactive outreach to grantees throughout the grant cycle.

2. Comply with STEPP onboarding procedures.

3. Provide both group training and tailored 1:1 technical assistance to STEPP grantees.

4. Facilitate quarterly Learning Community Calls to promote peer-to-peer learning and increase STEPP grantee capacity.

5. Manage, maintain, and host the Practicing Cultural Humility online series using a platform approved by STEPP.

6. Complete an evaluation plan to evaluate the TTA provided to STEPP grantees.

7. Provide a minimum of one (1) article quarterly for the STEPP newsletter.

8. Participate in STEPP meetings.

(See Exhibit C, Draft Statement of work for more detail on each activity)

D. Draft Statement of Work Exhibit C

This Draft Statement of Work describes the deliverables sought through this RFP and the scope of what the awarded Offeror will be expected to offer through the contract resulting from this RFP. The Draft Statement of Work is intended to provide interested Offerors with sufficient basic information to submit a proposal. It is not intended to limit a proposal’s content or exclude any relevant or essential data. The Draft Statement of Work is a “draft”. The State reserves the right to incorporate changes based on proposals submitted by the Offerors and other factors.

V. Offeror Requirements

A. Accessibility requirements

All work performed as a result of this solicitation must comply with all applicable provisions of §§24-85-101, et seq., C.R.S., and the Accessibility Standards for Individuals with a Disability, as established by the Office Of Information Technology pursuant to Section §24-85-103 (2.5), C.R.S. and 3) all State of Colorado technology standards related to technology accessibility and with Level AA of the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), incorporated in the State of Colorado technology standards.

B. Experience and Qualifications

All personnel responsible for planning, developing, and delivering training and technical assistance under this solicitation must meet the following:

1. Offeror shall have a minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience as a subject matter expert in reducing health disparities, tobacco control, and evaluation of the principles of systemic change.

2. Offeror shall have strong existing partnerships within each of STEPP’s identified priority populations.

3. Offeror shall have a minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience supporting programs that are designed to eliminate health disparities among segments of the population that have higher than average tobacco burdens.

4. Offeror shall possess a minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience providing training and technical assistance to a variety of adult audiences with varied levels of experience in the subject matter, from novice to advanced.

5. Offeror shall have completed a minimum of two projects of similar size and scope within the past 5 years.

VI. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

Responses shall be submitted as specified in this section. Any confidential or proprietary information included in the Offerors proposal shall conform to the requirements listed in Administrative Section IX. B. 7. NOTE: Proposals that fail to follow ALL of the requirements may not be considered.

A. Submittal Instructions

Unnecessarily elaborate proposals are not desired.

1. Proposals submitted either in hard copy or electronically will be accepted.

Refer to Exhibit A for Submission Instructions.

EMAILED PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

2. Proposals must be received on or before the due date and time as indicated in the Schedule of Activities. Late proposals will not be accepted.

3. All materials submitted shall become the property of CDPHE and will not be returned unless the solicitation is canceled prior to the submittal due date, in which case proposals will be returned unopened or opened only for identification purposes.

B. Required Documentation All proposals must include the following:

1. RFP Signature Page/Confirmation of Offer Form (Attachment 1)

A completed and signed form must be submitted with the response. MUST be completed and signed in ink or via digital signature by a person who is legally authorized to bind the Offeror to the proposal.

2. Executive Summary (3 pages max)

a. Offeror shall submit an organizational overview that includes years in business and a brief overview of staff, including the total number of employees.

b. Offeror shall highlight employees that will be assigned to this project, including their years of experience in tobacco control and reducing health disparities, and roles and responsibilities.

c. Offeror shall provide resumes for each employee assigned to the project.

3. Experience and Qualifications (7 pages max) Proposals shall list all relevant work experience and qualifications relating to the work described in this RFP. Specifically, each proposal shall address and provide each of the following:

a. Experience as a subject matter expert in tobacco control, reducing health disparities, and evaluation of the principles of systemic change. (1 page Max)

b. Evidence of strong existing partnerships within each of STEPP’s identified priority populations that have higher than average tobacco burdens: (½ page max for each group)

• American Indian/Indigenous groups

• People living in rural areas

• Black/African American

• Medicaid members

• LGBTQ+ people

• People with behavioral health conditions

• Hispanic/Latino men For each population, please include:

i. Explanation of the partnership.

ii. Why it was formed.

iii. Work or assistance completed.

iv. If subcontractors will be utilized, they shall be representative of the population, and a letter of collaboration is required for each subcontractor, which includes their role in the project.

c. Details of experience supporting programs that are designed to eliminate health disparities among segments of the population that have higher than average tobacco burdens. Please include:(two pages max)

i. Program names and support provided.

d. Evidence of professional experience providing training and technical assistance to a variety of adult audiences with varied levels of experience in the subject matter, from novice to advanced. Please include: (2 pages max)

i. Type of audience (s)

ii. Type of training and technical support used

iii. Any feedback from participants on the success of the trainings.

e. List a minimum of two previous successful projects of similar size and scope. (1 page Max)

4. Training and Technical Assistance Plan (3 pages max)

Offeror shall provide a Training and Technical Assistance Plan responding to the following fictional scenario to address the situation:

a. A Local Public Health Agency in County A, a rural county in South Central Colorado with a high tobacco burden, especially among Hispanic/Latino men and Medicaid members, is a newly funded STEPP grantee. They are funded as Tier 3.

The staff member is new to public health and tobacco control, with less than 1 year of experience, and works part-time on the STEPP grant and part-time in another program. They're funded to work on two strategies in STEPP’s Community Tobacco/Nicotine Initiatives Framework for Local Public Health Agencies:

Strategy 2.2: Eliminate Secondhand Smoke and Vape Aerosols Exposure in Community Settings.

Strategy 3.1: Support sustainable systems that connect community members to resources and treatment for nicotine addiction.

The grantee has begun working with the other TA providers listed for these strategies, and they have now reached out to you and shared that they are struggling to identify and engage partners in the community and are nervous about developing new relationships with these priority populations, whom they have not worked with before and about whom they have limited knowledge or experience.

5. Evaluation Plan (3 pages max)

Offeror shall provide an evaluation plan that demonstrates the Offeror's ability to successfully demonstrate the effectiveness, quality, and impact of the training and technical assistance provided to STEPP grantees.

a. Evaluation Purpose

b. Description of the type of evaluation (i.e., process, outcome, or both)

c. Description of the key evaluation questions to be addressed by this evaluation

d. Description of other information (e.g., measures, data sources)

Include the following required activities and skills STEPP grantees must develop:

i. Explaining the root causes of health disparities.

ii. Communicating the impacts of social determinants that impact health and their connection to tobacco.

iii. Applying principles that reduce health disparities to tobacco prevention, cessation, and policy strategies.

iv. Describing the history, culture, context, and geography of the community and the intersection of tobacco.

e. Description of use and communication of evaluation findings

Awardee will be required to submit a more detailed Evaluation Plan within the first 6 months of the award.

6. Work Plan (6 pages max) https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:55c6ec53-f5ae-471d-8df0-b5b23a292f24 https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:55c6ec53-f5ae-471d-8df0-b5b23a292f24

Offeror shall provide a narrative detailing:

a. How the activities in Exhibit C Draft Statement of Work will be accomplished.

b. What steps will be taken to ensure the Objectives (section I. C.) are accomplished.

7. Budget

Offeror shall complete Attachment 2 to detail proposed costs and submit this form with the proposal. For more information, please see the STEPP Expanded Budget Guidance for FY27-29 Grant Cycle.

Unallowable Costs

a. Food and beverage expenses for staff meetings or individual project staff.

b. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco/nicotine.

c. Lobbying as defined in Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) 24-6-

301(3.5) (a). For more information, please see Grantee Guidelines for Communicating with Elected Officials and Rule-Making Bodies.

d. Programs that replace existing funding for services.

e. Promotional items (water bottles, T-shirts, key chains, notepads, pens, trinkets).

f. Costs of contributions and donations, including cash, property and services from the lead agency to other entities.

g. Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, social activities and associated costs.

h. Costs of organized fundraising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred to obtain contributions

i. Capital projects, maintenance or equipment as direct costs.

Equipment is defined as a purchase greater than or equal to $5,000 for an article of nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year.

8. References Offeror shall provide three (3) references from previous clients, where the Offeror's experience can be confirmed. Include dates and a brief description of the services provided. For each reference, provide current contact information and position in the company of a person who can confirm that the work was completed.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VQpG7e_U_fmpqnHBhOzrNnoNq4geRJ3j/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VQpG7e_U_fmpqnHBhOzrNnoNq4geRJ3j/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CFdits84ikQ_a3p-Tx5Ncz2E2x5dgj9A/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CFdits84ikQ_a3p-Tx5Ncz2E2x5dgj9A/view?usp=sharing

VII. EVALUATION AND AWARD

A comprehensive, thorough, complete and impartial evaluation of each proposal received will be conducted in accordance with §24-103-203(7), C.R.S, which states, “The award shall be made to the responsible Offeror whose proposal is determined in writing to be the most advantageous to the state, taking into consideration the price and evaluation factors set forth in the request for proposal.”

The objective of the Evaluation Committee is to conduct reviews of the proposals that have been submitted, to hold frank and detailed discussions among themselves, and to recommend an Offeror for award. Numerical rating systems may be used. Factors not specified in the request for proposals shall not be considered. Offerors should submit their most favorable response as the initial response and not assume there will be an opportunity for discussions. All proposals will receive fair and equal treatment.

While a numerical evaluation method may be used as an aid to evaluation, the selection ultimately is a business judgment that will reflect an integrated assessment of the relative merits of proposals, using the factors identified below. The State reserves the right to reject any (or all) proposals that pose, in the judgment of the State, unacceptable risks of unsuccessful or untimely performance, unacceptable State resources requirements, or costs exceeding the budget constraints. The State may use all information available regarding past performance as defined in C.R.S. §24-102-205 et.seq.

B. Award: Award will be made to a single Offeror. The proposal that results in the best value to the State of Colorado shall be recommended by the Evaluation Committee to the Procurement Office for contract award. CDPHE reserves the right to award to multiple vendors if determined to be in the best interests of the State.

C. Single Proposal: If only one bid or proposal is received in response to a solicitation, an award may be made to the single bidder or Offeror if the procurement official finds that the price submitted is fair and reasonable and that other prospective bidders or Offerors had reasonable opportunity to respond.

Reference Procurement Rule R- 24-103-201-02(d).

D. Evaluation Factors:

The evaluation factors are:

1. Attachment 1 Vendor Information-Confirmation of Offer Form:

Attachment 1 is required but will not be rated.

2. Executive Summary:

The executive summary will be evaluated on how well the summary indicates the stability and strength, and overall experience of the staff and of the company.

3. Experience and Qualifications:

The experience and qualifications will be evaluated based on the breadth and depth of similar experience.

4. Training and Technical Assistance Plan:

The training and technical assistance plan will be evaluated based on how reasonable and effective the proposed solution to the scenario is.

5. Evaluation Plan:

Evaluation of the plan will focus on the soundness of its underlying logic and the extent to which the committee considers it reasonable.

6. Work Plan:

The work plan will be evaluated based on the logic behind each step and the likelihood that the plan will provide an on-time project within budget.

7. Budget:

The cost will be evaluated based on if the costs are reasonable considering the scope of work activities.

8. References References if contacted, will be used to verify projects, and may or may not be contacted.

9. Demonstrations and Discussions

At the conclusion of the evaluation of responses, the evaluation committee may, if it deems necessary, request clarifications, conduct discussions or oral presentations, or request best and final offers. Per R-24-103-203-03, discussions may be held with responsible Offerors whose proposals are determined to be reasonably susceptible to be selected for award to:

i. Promote understanding of the state’s requirements and the Offerors proposals; and

ii. Facilitate a contract that will be most advantageous to the state taking into consideration price and the other evaluation factors set forth in the request for proposals.

The evaluation committee may adjust its scoring based on the results of such activities. If demonstrations and discussions are scored separately, those scores will be combined with the proposal scores for final determination.

However, proposals may be reviewed and determinations made without such activities. Offerors should be aware that the opportunity for further explanation might not exist; therefore, Offerors should ensure that their submission is complete, and are encouraged to submit their best possible proposal, including pricing.

Failure to provide any information requested in the RFP may result in the disqualification of the submittal. This responsibility is that of the Offeror.

VIII. Attachments, Exhibits A. Attachments

1. Attachment 1: Vendor Information-Confirmation of Offer Form.

2. Attachment 2 Budget Template

B. Exhibits

1. Exhibit A Submission Instructions

2. Exhibit B State of Colorado Contract Template

3. Exhibit C Draft Statement of Work

IX. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

A. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Documents After Award

Prior to Contract execution, the awarded Offeror must provide the State with Proof of Good Standing with the Colorado Secretary of State and an insurance certificate documenting coverage according to the Model Contract found as an attachment to this solicitation. Offerors do not need to submit these documents unless they are awarded this solicitation.

2. Incurring Costs

Offerors are solely responsible for all costs incurred as a result of responding to this solicitation, which may include, but is not limited to, meetings, presentations, or negotiations.

3. Confidentiality of Solicitation Process

a. Following the proposal submission deadline, individuals/entities may request from the Procurement Contact a list of the names of the responding Offerors. All other information related to the solicitation process will remain confidential until award.

b. Following the Notice of Intent to Award, all Offeror proposals will be open to public inspection with the exception of information determined by the State to be a trade secret or confidential or proprietary. Reference §24-72-

200.1 et seq., C.R.S., as amended, Colorado Open Records Act.

4. Solicitation cancellation and/or Rejection of Offeror Proposals

a. In accordance with §24-103-301, C.R.S., and the related Procurement Rules, the State may cancel this solicitation, or any and all proposals may be rejected in whole or in part, without penalty, at any time before a Contract is executed, when it is in the best interest of the State. The reason and documentation supporting the decision to cancel the solicitation or reject proposal(s) shall remain confidential for the lesser of six months or until a Contract(s) is awarded by the State. Reference Procurement Rule R-24-101-401-05.

b. If the solicitation is cancelled after, proposals are received, the proposals that have been opened shall be retained in the procurement record, or if unopened, they will be disposed of, or returned to the Offerors upon request, at the Offerors expense.

5. News Releases and Announcements

Offerors shall not issue any news releases, communications or announcements of any kind pertaining to this solicitation, without prior written approval by the State.

6. Protested Solicitations and Award

An aggrieved party may file a protest concerning a material issue(s), at any phase of solicitation, including but not limited to, specifications, award or a disclosure of information marked confidential in the proposal. The protest shall be submitted to the CDPHE Official within ten (10) business days after such aggrieved person knows, or should have known, of the facts giving rise thereto. Reference §24-109- 102, C.R.S., as amended, and Procurement Rule R-24-109-102-01, et seq. Protests should be submitted in writing via email to Chelsea Gilbertson, Procurement Official at Ichelsea.gilbertson@state.co.us.

B. OFFEROR PROPOSAL INFORMATION

1. Proposal Submission Deadline

See the Schedule of Activities within the main body of this RFP.

2. General Information for the Proposal Response

a. Offerors are encouraged to review the solicitation and any related appendices and attachments in their entirety to assure understanding of and compliance with the requirements that may be included in these documents.

b. A proposal should be thorough, but not exhaustive, and it should address the requirements set forth in this solicitation and should provide sufficient details to allow the Evaluation Committee to determine whether the proposal demonstrates an understanding of the State’s requirements and contracting terms and conditions; the ability to meet the State’s needs, including the experience and resources necessary to carry out the work;

and costs that are reasonable and consistent with the industry.

c. The Offerors proposal and all attachments shall Comply with the standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, (29 USC § 794). The Offeror may not have an opportunity to re-draft their proposal and attachments to make them accessible to persons with vision impairments after the proposal submission deadline and in the event that the Department has evaluator(s) serving on an Evaluation Committee requiring mailto:Ichelsea.gilbertson@state.co.us accessibility, the Department may disqualify an Offerors proposal from evaluation.

3. Timeliness of Proposal Submission

a. Proposals received after the submission deadline shall not be opened and shall be rejected as a late proposal, unless otherwise permitted by the Procurement Official in accordance with Procurement Rule R-24-103-201-

4. Responsibility for ensuring that an Offerors proposal is received on time rests with the Offeror. Reasonably foreseeable problems inherent in the delivery of proposal are not extraordinary circumstances permitting acceptance of late proposals.

5. Legally Binding Offer

a. An Offerors proposal submitted in response to this solicitation shall constitute a binding offer. The signature of the Offeror shall indicate acknowledgment of this condition. Signature shall be that of a person legally authorized to execute contractual obligations. The proposal, including pricing, shall allow for a minimum of 180 calendar days for acceptance by the State, unless otherwise specified in this solicitation. Reference Procurement Rule R- 24-103-201-11(d).

6. Offeror Proposal Content

a. The contents of the proposal of the awarded Offeror will become contractual obligations under the awarded Contract. Failure of the awarded Offeror to accept these obligations may result in cancellation of the award to that Offeror.

7. Certification of independent price determination

By its signature on the cover page, the Offeror certifies that the prices and other terms in the proposal have been arrived at independently without any consultation, communication, agreement with, or knowledge of the contents of the proposal by any other competing Offerors. For purposes of this paragraph, "consultation, communication, agreement with, or knowledge" does not include knowledge of prices or terms gained through availability of established price lists or catalogues made available to the public by the competing Offerors. No attempt has been made or will be made by the Offeror to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit a proposal for restricting competition.

Reference §6-4-101, C.R.S., et seq., (Colorado Antitrust Act of 1992) as amended.

8. Submission of Confidential or Proprietary Information

a. The State of Colorado is subject to the requirements of §24-72-200.1, C.R.S., et seq., Colorado Open Records Act.

b. An Offeror may submit, as a part of its proposal, a written request for classification of certain portions of the proposal as a trade secret or other confidential or proprietary information. Material for which the Offeror is requesting confidentiality shall be readily identifiable and separated from other portions of the proposal to facilitate public inspection of the non-confidential portion of the proposal. Commingling of confidential and non-confidential information is not acceptable. Neither price information nor any information that will be included in a resulting Contract will be considered confidential.

c. The Offeror must include the rationale for any request to classify portions as a trade secret or confidential or proprietary, including references to the authority that allows for such treatment.

d. In no event shall an entire proposal be classified as confidential. The Procurement Official or his or her designee shall determine if the information identified in the Offerors request is exempt from disclosure in accordance with §24-72-204, C.R.S., and shall inform the Offeror in writing of his or her determination. If the Offeror does not agree with the determination, the Offeror may protest the determination in accordance with article 109 of the Colorado Procurement Code and the terms of this solicitation. Reference Procurement Rule R-24-101-401-03.

e. Any additional Offeror information, which may be part of the evaluation/negotiation process and for which an Offeror claims confidentiality, is subject to the same requirements and processes identified above.

9. Modifications or Withdrawal of Proposals

An Offeror may modify or withdraw its proposal by written notice to the Procurement Contact prior to the established proposal submission deadline.

Withdrawal of an Offerors proposal following the proposal submission deadline and prior to award, may be allowed, in the State’s discretion. Withdrawal of an Offerors proposal after award is not allowed. Reference Procurement Rules R-24- 103-201-08 and R-24-103-201-09.

10. Mistakes and Minor Informalities in Offeror Proposals

In certain circumstances, an Offeror may correct a mistake(s) in its proposal and/or the State may waive minor informalities. Reference Procurement Rule R- 24-103-201-08.

11. Modifications to State Contract

a. A draft Contract is included in Exhibit B to this solicitation.

b. Offerors are instructed to review the attached draft Contract and submit any proposed modifications or redlines with their proposal. The decision to reject, accept, or further negotiate any requested changes will be at State’s discretion. If an Offeror normally seeks counsel on Contract terms, they are advised to do so before submitting a proposal in response to this solicitation.

c. In the event an Offerors requested modifications violate State law, regulation, or policy, or would otherwise not be justifiable as being in the best interest of the State, the State may make a determination that an Offerors proposal is no longer responsive and therefore ineligible for award.

12. Conflicts of Interest and Ethics

a. The Offeror must disclose in its proposal any potential or actual conflict of interest in connection with a response to this solicitation. A conflict of interest may include, but is not limited to, access to any non-public information by the Offeror regarding the solicitation or its subject matter.

b. The Offeror acknowledges that even the appearance of a conflict of interest may be harmful to the State’s interests. The Offeror shall disclose in its proposal whether there currently is, or potentially could be, the appearance of a conflict of interest regarding this solicitation, its staff, any proposed subcontractors or partners, or any related business with the State.

c. Requirements set forth in this Section are continuing requirements throughout the solicitation process and, for the awarded Offeror, the Contract term, including any extensions. Reference §24-18-201, C.R.S., et seq. (Proscribed Acts Related to Contracts and Claims); §24-50-507, C.R.S.

(Conflict of Interest); §18-8-301, C.R.S., et seq. (Bribery and Corrupt Influence); §18-8-401, C.R.S., et seq. (Abuse of Public Office); §6-4-101, C.R.S., et seq., (Colorado Antitrust Act of 1992); §24-109-105, C.R.S (Debarment and Suspension); and Procurement Rule R-24-101-107-01 (Ethics).

13. Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB).

SDVOSB Offerors must submit documentation of certification issued through the U.S. Small Business Administration in their proposal. §24-103-905 C.R.S. sets a SDVOSB goal of at least 3% of all contracts by dollar value be awarded to SDVOSBs who must be incorporated or organized in Colorado or they must maintain a place of business or have an office in Colorado and must be officially registered and verified as a SDVOSB by the United States Small Business Administration.

14. Performance Outside of Colorado or the United States

Awarded Offeror, per Section 24-102-206, C.R.S., prior to contracting shall disclose in a written statement whether it anticipates performing or subcontracting any services under the contract, where such subcontracted services will be performed under the contract, including any subcontracts, and whether any subcontracted services under the contract or any subcontracts are anticipated to be performed outside the United States or the state. If the prospective vendor anticipates services under the contract or any subcontracts will be performed outside the United States or the state, the vendor shall provide in its written statement a provision setting forth why it is necessary or advantageous to go outside the United States or the state to perform the contract or any subcontracts.

15. Vendor Assistance

Any vendors needing support responding to solicitations may contact the Colorado Supplier Diversity Navigator at the Statewide Equity Office of Supplier Diversity. Services provided include assistance with responding to solicitations, interpretation of solicitation documents, technical assistance referrals, availability of resources, and free business directory listings and verifications through the Colorado Supplier Diversity Directory. The office can be reached during normal business hours by calling 303-866-5765 or emailing DPA_SupplierDiversityHelp@state.co.us https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dhr.colorado.gov_statewide-2Dequity-2Doffice_supplier-2Ddiversity&d=DwMFaQ&c=sdnEM9SRGFuMt5z5w3AhsPNahmNicq64TgF1JwNR0cs&r=2K9kkYDPzg9W7wrnb9URPPzWuzXzmzc6oQUqmP_d9mA&m=UsSCoCc_Nnj_It7iTj2w9Xh-U0kW8zKwh7sIdTrgvW_OXQDDQG8CMBmOZsCmKo6l&s=AHk9LQL8xQKwtYW6AlMhIpKhc64M4gHnBm1wvGiKqhU&e https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dhr.colorado.gov_statewide-2Dequity-2Doffice_supplier-2Ddiversity&d=DwMFaQ&c=sdnEM9SRGFuMt5z5w3AhsPNahmNicq64TgF1JwNR0cs&r=2K9kkYDPzg9W7wrnb9URPPzWuzXzmzc6oQUqmP_d9mA&m=UsSCoCc_Nnj_It7iTj2w9Xh-U0kW8zKwh7sIdTrgvW_OXQDDQG8CMBmOZsCmKo6l&s=AHk9LQL8xQKwtYW6AlMhIpKhc64M4gHnBm1wvGiKqhU&e https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dhr.colorado.gov_supplier-2Ddiversity_colorado-2Dsupplier-2Ddiversity-2Ddirectory&d=DwMFaQ&c=sdnEM9SRGFuMt5z5w3AhsPNahmNicq64TgF1JwNR0cs&r=2K9kkYDPzg9W7wrnb9URPPzWuzXzmzc6oQUqmP_d9mA&m=lJCgtcQ4bpjUYTb-DL2vTiTtjs5tP9GdjxCxohJukG4cRYarpnnyVjmEkozBFRPl&s=nq-3ZxXvzK0CyjE_Sukw4DfkzHfxneqrfzbnzxsO-hw&e mailto:DPA_SupplierDiversityHelp@state.co.us