RFGP_32952-13007_Community_Corrections.pdf

RFGP #32952-13007

STATE OF TENNESSEE

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION

REQUEST FOR GRANT RESPONSES

FOR

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS SERVICES

RFGP # 32952-13007

RFGP CONTENTS

SECTIONS:

1. INTRODUCTION

2. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

3. RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

4. GENERAL INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS

5. RESPONSE EVALUATION & CONTRACT AWARD

ATTACHMENTS:

6.1. Response Statement of Certifications & Assurances

6.2. Technical Response & Evaluation Guide

A. Mandatory Requirements B. General Qualifications & Experience C. Documentation of Need D. Technical Approach E. Community Involvement & Support F. Budget Evaluation Guide

6.3. Grant Budget Response Template

6.3.a Grant Budget Line-Item Categories

6.4. Score Summary Matrix

6.5. Pro Forma Contract for Government Entities

6.6 Pro Forma Contract for Non-Governmental Entities

Attachment One Grant Budget Attachment Two Community Corrections Grant Invoice Template Attachment Three A - Tennessee Department of Correction Community Corrections Program Standards Attachment Three B - Community Corrections Standards Matrix Attachment Four Reference Questionnaire Attachment Five TDOC Policies Attachment Six Manualized Training Programs Attachment Seven – Audit Instruments

STATE OF TENNESSEE

Department of Correction

REQUEST FOR GRANT RESPONSES

FOR Community-Based Treatment Services for Offenders

1. INTRODUCTION

The State of Tennessee, Department of Correction, hereinafter referred to as “the State,” has issued this Request for Grant Responses (RFGP) to define minimum service requirements; solicit Responses; detail Response requirements; and outline the State’s process for evaluating Responses and selecting a Grantee to provide the needed service. All treatment providers are required to be licensed through the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS)

Through this RFGP, the State seeks to buy the best services at the most favorable, competitive prices and to give ALL qualified businesses, including those that are owned by minorities, women, persons with a disability, and small business enterprises, the opportunity to do business with the State as a Grantee.

The State intends to contract with the highest-scoring governmental entities and qualified private agencies to develop a range of alternative sentencing programs. The State is allowed to contract with entities and organizations under the Community Corrections Act to develop community based alternatives to incarceration.

The Department of Correction currently has seven (7) State-owned Day Reporting Centers and therefore, no Responses for Day Reporting Center Services can be proposed in the following cities: Johnson City, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Jackson, and Memphis. In addition, the Department is actively preparing to open one (1) additional Day Reporting Center in the following city: Columbia, therefore no applications for Day Reporting Centers in these cities will be accepted.

1.1. Scope of Service, Contract Period, & Required Terms and Conditions.

The RFGP Attachments 6.5 and 6.6 Pro Forma Contract(s) details the State’s required:

Scope of Services and Deliverables (Section A);

Contract Period (Section B);

Payment Terms (Section C);

Standard Terms and Conditions (Section D); and, Special Terms and Conditions (Section E).

1.2. Nondiscrimination. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination in the performance of a Contract pursuant to this RFGP or in the employment practices of the Grantee on the grounds of disability, age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other classification protected by federal, Tennessee state constitutional, or statutory law.

The Grantee pursuant to this RFGP shall, upon request, show proof of such nondiscrimination and shall post in conspicuous places, available to all employees and applicants, notices of nondiscrimination.

1.3. RFGP Communications. Reference the RFGP identification number, RFGP # 32952- 13007, in all communications relating to this RFGP, and direct any such communications to the following person designated as the RFGP Coordinator.

Valerie Murtha Tennessee Department of Correction 320 Sixth Avenue North Nashville Tennessee 37243 615 917 2040 valerie.murtha@tn.gov

1.3.1. Only the State’s official, written responses and communications with Respondents are binding with regard to this RFGP. Oral communications between a State official and one or more Respondents are unofficial and non-binding.

1.3.2. Potential Respondents must ensure that the State receives all written questions and comments, including questions and requests for clarification, no later than the Written Questions & Comments Deadline detailed in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events.

1.3.3. Respondents must assume the risk of the method of dispatching any communication or response to the State. The State assumes no responsibility for delays or delivery failures resulting from the Respondent’s method of dispatch. Actual or digital “postmarking” of a communication or response to the State by a specified deadline is not a substitute for the State’s actual receipt of a communication or response.

1.3.4. The State will convey all official responses and communications related to this RFGP to the prospective Respondents from whom the State has received a Notice of Intent to Respond (refer to RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events).

1.3.5. The State reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, the method of conveying official, written responses and communications related to this RFGP. Such written communications may be transmitted by mail, hand-delivery, facsimile, electronic mail, Internet posting, or any other means deemed reasonable by the State.

1.3.6. The State reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, the appropriateness and adequacy of responses to written comments, questions, and requests related to this RFGP. The State’s official, written responses will constitute an amendment of this RFGP.

1.3.7. Any data or factual information provided by the State (in this RFGP, an RFGP amendment or any other communication relating to this RFGP) is for informational purposes only. The State will make reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of such data or information, however it is the Respondent’s obligation to independently verify any data or information provided by the State.

The State expressly disclaims the accuracy or adequacy of any information or data that it provides to prospective Respondents.

Unauthorized contact about this RFGP with employees or officials of the State of Tennessee may result in disqualification from consideration under this procurement process.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, potential Respondents may also contact the following as appropriate: (a) staff of the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise for assistance available to minority-owned, women-owned, and small businesses as well as general, public information relating to this RFGP; and

(b) the following individual designated by the State to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of the State of Tennessee, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and associated federal regulations:

Vashti McKinney Tennessee Department of Correction 320 Sixth Avenue North Nashville Tennessee 37243

(615) 253-8237 vashti.mckinney@tn.gov mailto:valerie.murtha@tn.gov mailto:marcedes.gilchrease@tn.gov

1.4. Respondent Required Review & Waiver of Objections. Each potential Respondent must carefully review this RFGP, including but not limited to, attachments (including the Pro Forma Contract) and any amendments, to identify any issues, questions, comments, defects, objections, or other matter requiring clarification or correction (collectively called “issues”). A potential Respondent with issues concerning this RFGP must provide such in writing to the State no later than the Response Deadline detailed in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events. Protests based on any issues shall be considered waived and invalid if the issues have not been brought to the attention of the State, in writing, by the Response Deadline.

1.5. Notice of Intent to Respond

Before the Notice of Intent to Respond Deadline detailed in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events, prospective Respondents should submit to the RFGP Coordinator a Notice of Intent to Respond (in the form of a simple e-mail or other written communication). Such notice should include the following information:

the business or individual’s name (as appropriate);

a contact person’s name and title; and the contact person’s mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number, and e-mail address.

A Notice of Intent to Respond creates no obligation and is not a prerequisite for submitting a response, however, it is necessary to ensure receipt of any RFGP amendments or other notices and communications relating to this RFGP.

1.6. Pre-Response Conference

A Pre-Response Conference will be held at the time and date detailed in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events. Pre-Response Conference attendance is mandatory, and prospective Respondents may be limited to a maximum number of attendees depending upon overall attendance and space limitations.

The location of the pre-Response conference is dependent upon responses. Please contact the RFGP Coordinator listed in section 1.3 for more information on the pre-response conference location.

The purpose of the conference is to discuss the RFGP scope of services. The State will entertain questions, however prospective Respondents must understand that the State’s response to any question at the Pre-Response Conference shall be unofficial and non-binding. Prospective Respondents must submit all questions, comments, or other concerns regarding the RFGP in writing prior to the Written Questions & Comments Deadline date detailed in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events. The State will send the official response to these questions and comments to prospective Respondents from whom the State has received a Notice of Intent to respond as indicated in RFGP Section 1.5 and on the date detailed in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events.

2. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The following RFGP Schedule of Events represents the State’s best estimate for this RFGP. The state reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to adjust the Schedule of Events or to otherwise amend this RFGP at any time. The State reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel or to cancel and reissue this RFGP in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

EVENT TIME

(central time zone)

DATE

(all dates are state business days)

1. RFGP Issued February 4, 2025

2. Disability Accommodation Request Deadline 2:00 pm February 7, 2025

3. Pre-Response Conference 10:00 am February 10, 2025

4. Notice of Intent to Respond Deadline 10:00 am February 11, 2025

5. Written “Questions & Comments” Deadline 2:00 pm February 18, 2025

6. State Response to Written “Questions & Comments” March 4, 2025

7. Grant Response Deadline 2:00 pm April 4, 2025

8. Qualifications Evidence Evaluations Completed April 16, 2025

9. Budget Responses Opened April 18, 2025

10. Award Notice Released and RFGP Files Opened for Public Inspection 2:00 pm April 21, 2025

11. Open File Period Ends April 28, 2025

12. Grantee Signature Deadline May 5, 2025

13. Contract Signed by the State May 12, 2025

14. Grant Contract Start Date July 1, 2025

3. RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

3.1. Two Part Response. A Response to this RFGP must consist of two parts, a Technical Response and a Budget Response.

3.1.1. Technical Response. The RFGP Attachment 6.2., Technical Response & Evaluation Guide details specific requirements for making a Technical Response in response to the RFGP. The guide includes mandatory requirement items, general qualifications and experience items, and technical qualifications, experience, and approach items all of which must be addressed with a written response and, in some instances, additional documentation.

NOTICE: A technical Response must not include any pricing or cost information. If any pricing or cost information of any type (even pricing relating to other projects) is included in any part of the technical Response, the State will deem the Response to be non-responsive and reject it.

3.1.1.1. A Respondent must use the RFGP Attachment 6.2., Technical Response & Evaluation Guide to organize, reference, and draft the Technical Response by duplicating the attachment, adding appropriate response page numbers as required, and using the guide as a table of contents covering the Technical Response.

3.1.1.2. A Response should be economically prepared, with emphasis on completeness and clarity. A Response, as well as any reference material presented, must be written in English and must be written on standard 8 ½” x 11” pages (although oversize exhibits are permissible). All Response pages must be numbered

3.1.1.3. All information and documentation included in a Technical Response should respond to or address a specific requirement detailed in the RFGP Attachment 6.2., Technical Response & Evaluation Guide. All information must be incorporated into a response to a specific requirement and clearly referenced. Any information not meeting these criteria will be deemed extraneous and will not contribute to evaluations.

3.1.1.4. The State may determine a Response to be non-responsive and reject it if:

a. the Respondent fails to organize and properly reference the Technical Response as required by this RFGP and the RFGP Attachment 6.2., Technical Response & Evaluation Guide; or

b. the Technical Response document does not appropriately respond to, address, or meet all of the requirements and Response items detailed in the RFGP Attachment 6.2., Technical Response & Evaluation Guide.

3.1.2. Budget Response A Budget Response must be recorded on an exact duplicate of the RFGP

Attachment 6.3., Grant Budget Response Template

NOTICE: If a Respondent fails to submit a Budget Response exactly as required, the State will deem the Response to be non-responsive and reject it.

3.1.2.1. A Respondent must only record the proposed Budget exactly as required by the RFGP Attachment 6.3., Grant Budget Response Template and must NOT record any other rates, amounts, or information.

3.1.2.2. The proposed Budget shall incorporate ALL costs for services under the contract for the total contract period.

3.1.2.3. A Respondent must sign and date the Budget Response.

3.1.2.4. A Respondent must submit the Budget Response to the State in a sealed package separate from the Technical Response (as detailed in RFGP Sections 3.2.2., et seq.).

3.2. Response Delivery A Respondent must ensure that both the Technical Response and the Budget

Response files meet all form and content requirements, including all required signatures, as detailed within this RFGP.

3.2.1. A Respondent must submit their response as specified in one of the two formats below.

3.2.1.1. Digital Media Submission

3.2.1.1.1.Technical Response

The Technical Response document should be in the form of one (1) digital document in “PDF” format properly recorded on its own otherwise blank, standard USB flash drive and should be clearly labeled:

“RFGP#32952-13007 TECHNICAL RESPONSE ORIGINAL”

and one (1) digital copy of the Technical Response each in the form of one (1) digital document in “PDF” format properly recorded on its own otherwise blank, standard USB flash drive and should be clearly labeled:

“RFGP#32952-13007 TECHNICAL RESPONSE COPY”

The customer references should be delivered by each reference in accordance with RFGP Attachment Four Reference Questionnaire.

3.2.1.1.2.Budget Response

The Budget Response should be in the form of one (1) digital document in “PDF” or “XLS” format properly recorded on a separate, otherwise blank, USB flash drive and should be clearly labeled:

“RFGP#32952-13007 BUDGET RESPONSE”

An electronic or facsimile signature, as applicable, on the Budget Response is acceptable.

3.2.1.2. E-mail Submission

3.2.1.2.1.Technical Response

The Technical Response document should be in the form of one (1) digital document in “PDF” format or other easily accessible digital format attached to an e-mail to the RFGP Coordinator. Both the subject and file name should be clearly identified as follows:

“RFGP#32952-13007 TECHNICAL RESPONSE”

The customer references should be delivered by each reference in accordance with RFGP Attachment Four Reference Questionnaire.

3.2.1.2.2.Budget Response

The Budget Response should be in the form of one (1) digital document in “PDF” or “XLS” format or other easily accessible digital format attached to an e-mail to the RFGP Coordinator. Both the subject and file name should be clearly identified as follows:

“RFGP#32952-13007 BUDGET RESPONSE”

An electronic or facsimile, as applicable, on the Budget Response is acceptable.

3.2.2. For e-mail submissions, the Technical Response and Budget Response documents must be dispatched to the RFGP Coordinator in separate e-mail messages. For digital media submissions, a Respondent must separate, seal, package, and label the documents and copies for delivery as follows:

3.2.2.1. The Technical Response and copies must be placed in a sealed package that is clearly labeled:

“DO NOT OPEN...RFGP#32901-0009 TECHNICAL RESPONSE FROM

(RESPONDENT LEGAL ENTITY NAME)”

3.2.2.2. The Budget Response must be place in a separate sealed package that is clearly labeled:

“DO NOT OPEN...RFGP#32901-00009 BUDGET RESPONSE FROM (RESPONDENT

LEGAL ENTITY NAME)”

3.2.2.3. The separately, sealed Technical Response and Budget Response components may be enclosed in larger package for mailing or delivery, provided that the outermost package is clearly labeled:

“RFGP#32901-0009 SEALED TECHNICAL RESPONSE & SEALED BUDGET

RESPONSE FROM (RESPONDENT LEGAL ENTITY NAME)”

3.2.2.4 Any Respondent wishing to submit a response in a format other than digital may do so by contacting the RFGP Coordinator.

3.3. Response Deadline. A Respondent must ensure that the State receives a response no later than the

Response Deadline time and date detailed in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events. The State will not accept late responses, and a Respondent’s failure to submit a response before the deadline will result in disqualification of the response. The State accepts no responsibility for electronic submissions made but not received by the State by the Response deadline as detailed in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events.

3.4. Respondent/Response Prohibitions:

A Respondent will NOT be allowed to alter or revise Response documents after the Response Deadline unless such is formally requested, via email, by the State.

A Response must NOT include the Respondent’s own contract terms and conditions.

A Response must NOT restrict the rights of the State or otherwise qualify either the offer to deliver services as required by this RFGP or the Budget Response.

A Budget Response must NOT result from any collusion between Respondents.

A Respondent must NOT provide, for consideration in this RFGP process or subsequent contract negotiations, incorrect information that the Respondent knew or should have known was materially incorrect.

3.5. Response Preparation Costs

The State will not pay any costs associated with the preparation, submittal, or presentation of any response.

4. GENERAL INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS

4.1. Conflict of Interest. This RFGP shall not result in a contract with:

an individual who is, or within the past six months has been, an employee or official of the State of Tennessee;

a company, corporation, or any other contracting entity in which an ownership of two percent (2%) or more is held by an individual who is, or within the past six months has been, an employee or official of the State of Tennessee (this will not apply either to financial interests that have been placed into a “blind trust” arrangement pursuant to which the employee does not have knowledge of the retention or disposition of such interests or to the ownership of publicly traded stocks or bonds where such ownership constitutes less than 2% of the total outstanding amount of the stocks or bonds of the issuing entity);

a company, corporation, or any other contracting entity which employs an individual who is, or within the past six months has been, an employee or official of the State of Tennessee in a position that would allow the direct or indirect use or disclosure of information, which was obtained through or in connection with his or her employment and not made available to the general public, for the purpose of furthering the private interest or personal profit of any person or;

any individual, company, or other entity involved in assisting the State in the development, formulation, or drafting of this RFGP or its scope of services (such person or entity being deemed by the State as having information that would afford an unfair advantage over other Respondents).

(for the purposes of this RFGP subsection, the State will deem an individual to be an employee or official of the State of Tennessee until such time as all compensation for salary, termination pay, and annual leave has been paid).

4.2. State Right of Rejection. Subject to applicable laws and regulations, the State reserves the right to reject, at its sole discretion, any and all Responses.

The State may deem as non-responsive and reject any Response that does not comply with all terms, conditions, and performance requirements of this RFGP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the State reserves the right to waive, at its sole discretion, a Response’s minor variances from full compliance with this RFGP. If the State waives variances in a Response, such waiver shall not modify the RFGP requirements or excuse the Respondent from full compliance with such, and the State may hold any resulting Grantee to strict compliance with this RFGP.

4.3. State Right to Refuse Personnel. The State reserves the right to refuse, at its sole discretion and notwithstanding any prior approval, any personnel of the prime Grantee or a subcontractor providing service in the performance of a contract resulting from this RFGP. The State will document in writing the reason(s) for any rejection of personnel.

4.4. Disclosure of Response Contents

4.4.1. Each Response and all materials submitted to the State in response to this RFGP become the property of the State of Tennessee. Selection or rejection of a Response does not affect this right. By submitting a Response, a Respondent acknowledges and accepts that the full Response contents and associated documents will become open to public inspection in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee.

4.4.2. The State will hold all Response information in confidence during the evaluation process.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a list of actual Respondents submitting timely Responses may be available to the public, upon request, after the Response Deadline detailed in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events.

4.4.3. Responses and associated materials will be open for review by the public in accordance with

Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 10-7-504(a)(7) after the State completes Response evaluations and issues an Evaluation Notice.

4.5. Assignment & Subcontracting

4.5.1. The Grantee may not subcontract, transfer, or assign any portion of the Contract awarded as a result of this RFGP without prior approval of the State. The State reserves the right to refuse approval, at its sole discretion, of any subcontract, transfer, or assignment.

4.5.2. If a Respondent intends to use subcontractors, the response to this RFGP must specifically identify the scope and portions of the work each subcontractor will perform (refer to RFGP Attachment 6.2., Section B, General Qualifications & Experience Item B.16.).

4.5.3. Subcontractors identified within a response to this RFGP will be deemed as approved by the

State unless the State expressly disapproves one or more of the proposed subcontractors prior to signing the Contract.

4.5.4. After contract award, a Grantee may only substitute an approved subcontractor at the discretion of the State and with the State’s prior, written approval.

4.5.5. Notwithstanding any State approval relating to subcontracts, the Respondent who is awarded a contract pursuant to this RFGP will be the prime Grantee and will be responsible for all work under the Contract.

4.6. Right to Refuse Personnel or Subcontractors

The State reserves the right to refuse, at its sole discretion and notwithstanding any prior approval, any personnel of the prime Grantee or a subcontractor providing goods or services in the performance of a contract resulting from this RFGP. The State will document in writing the reason(s) for any rejection of personnel.

4.7. Insurance

The State will require the awarded Grantee to provide a Certificate of Insurance issued by an insurance company licensed or authorized to provide insurance in the State of Tennessee. Each Certificate of Insurance shall indicate current insurance coverages meeting minimum requirements as may be specified by this RFGP. A failure to provide a current, Certificate of Insurance will be considered a material breach and grounds for contract termination.

4.8. Professional Licensure and Department of Revenue Registration

4.8.1. All persons, agencies, firms, or other entities that provide legal or financial opinions, which a Respondent provides for consideration and evaluation by the State as a part of a response to this RFGP, shall be properly licensed to render such opinions.

4.8.2. Before the Contract resulting from this RFGP is signed, the apparent successful Respondent (and

Respondent employees and subcontractors, as applicable) must hold all necessary or appropriate business or professional licenses to provide the goods or services as required by the contract. The State may require any Respondent to submit evidence of proper licensure.

4.8.3. Before the Contract resulting from this RFGP is signed, the apparent successful Respondent must be registered with the Tennessee Department of Revenue for the collection of Tennessee sales and use tax. The State shall not award a contract unless the Respondent provides proof of such registration or provides documentation from the Department of Revenue that the Grantee is exempt from this registration requirement. The foregoing is a mandatory requirement of an award of a contract pursuant to this solicitation. To register, please visit the Department of Revenue’s Tennessee Taxpayer Access Point (TNTAP) website for Online Registration and the Vendor Contract Questionnaire. These resources are available at the following:

https://tntap.tn.gov/eservices/_/#1 https://tntap.tn.gov/eservices/_/#1

4.9. Grantee Performance

The Grantee resulting from this RFGP will be responsible for the completion of all services set out in this RFGP (including attachments) as may be amended. All services are subject to inspection and evaluation by the State. The State will employ all reasonable means to ensure that services rendered are progressing and being performed in compliance with the Contract, and the Grantee must cooperate with such efforts.

4.10. Severability

If any provision of this RFGP is declared by a court to be illegal or in conflict with any law, said decision will not affect the validity of the remaining RFGP terms and provisions, and the rights and obligations of the State and Respondents will be construed and enforced as if the RFGP did not contain the particular provision held to be invalid.

5. RESPONSE EVALUATION & CONTRACT AWARD

5.1 Evaluation Categories & Maximum Points

The State will consider qualifications, experience, technical approach, and Budget in the evaluation of responses and award points in each of the categories detailed below (up to the maximum evaluation points indicated) to each response deemed by the State to be responsive.

EVALUATION CATEGORY MAXIMUM POINTS POSSIBLE

General Qualifications & Experience (refer to RFGP Attachment 6.2., Section B) 20

Documentation of Need (refer to RFGP Attachment 6.2., Section C) 27

Technical Approach (refer to RFGP Attachment 6.2., Section D) 20

Community Involvement & Support (refer to RFGP Attachment 6.2., Section E)

Budget Evaluation (refer to RFGP Attachment 6.2., Section F and 6.3)

5.2 Evaluation Process

The response evaluation process is designed to award the contract(s) resulting from this RFGP not necessarily to the Respondent offering the lowest Budget, but rather to the “Responsive and Responsible Respondent” offering the best combination of attributes based upon the evaluation criteria. “Responsive Respondent” is defined as a Respondent that has submitted a response that conforms in all material respects to the RFP. “Responsible Respondent” is defined as a Respondent that has the capacity in all respects to perform fully the contract requirements, and the integrity and reliability which will assure good faith performance.

5.2.1. Technical Response Evaluation The RFGP Coordinator and the Response Evaluation Team

(consisting of three or more State employees) will use the RFGP Attachment 6.2., Technical Response & Evaluation Guide to manage the Technical Response evaluation and maintain evaluation records.

5.2.1.1. The State reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to request Respondent clarification of a Technical Response or to conduct clarification discussions with any or all Respondents.

Any such clarification or discussion will be limited to specific sections of the Response identified by the State. The subject Respondent must put any resulting clarification in writing as may be required and in accordance with any deadline imposed by the State.

5.2.1.2. The RFGP Coordinator will review each Technical Response to determine compliance with RFGP Attachment 6.2., Technical Response & Evaluation Guide, Section A – Mandatory Requirements. If the RFGP Coordinator determines that a Response may have failed to meet one or more of the mandatory requirements, the Response Evaluation Team will review the Response and document the team’s determination of whether:

a. The Response adequately meets requirements for further evaluation;

b. The State will request clarifications or corrections for consideration prior to further evaluation; or

c. The State will determine the Response non-responsive to the RFGP and reject it.

5.2.1.3. Response Evaluation Team members will independently evaluate each Technical

Response (that appears responsive to the RFGP) against the evaluation criteria in this RFGP, rather than against other Responses and will score each in accordance with the RFGP Attachment 6.2., Technical Response & Evaluation Guide, Sections B, C, D & E.

5.2.1.4. For each Response evaluated, the RFGP Coordinator will calculate the average of the

Response Evaluation Team member scores for RFGP Attachment 6.2., Technical Response & Evaluation Guide, Sections B, C, D & E, and record each average as the Response score for the respective Technical Response section.

5.2.2. Budget Response Evaluation The RFGP Coordinator will open for evaluation the Budget

Response of each Respondent that the Response Evaluation Team has effectively recommended for potential contract award and will calculate and record each Budget Response score in accordance with the RFGP Attachment 6.2 Section F, Budget Evaluation Guide.

5.2.3. Total Response Score The RFGP Coordinator will calculate the sum of the Technical Response section scores and the Budget Response score and record the resulting number as the total score for the subject Response (refer to RFGP Attachment 6.4., Score Summary Matrix).

5.3 Contract Award Process

5.3.1. The RFGP Coordinator will submit the Response Evaluation Team determinations and response scores to the head of the contracting agency for consideration along with any other relevant information that might be available and pertinent to contract award.

5.3.2. The contracting agency head will determine the apparent best-evaluated responses.

5.3.3. The State reserves the right to make an award without further discussion of any response.

5.3.4. The State will issue an Evaluation Notice identifying the apparent best-evaluated responses and make the RFGP files available for public inspection at the time and date specified in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events.

NOTICE: The Evaluation Notice shall not create rights, interests, or claims of entitlement in either the Respondent with apparent best-evaluated response or any other Respondent.

5.3.5. The Respondents identified as offering the apparent best-evaluated responses must sign a contract drawn by the State pursuant to this RFGP. The contracts shall be substantially the same as the RFGP Attachment 6.7 and 6.8., Pro Forma Contract. The Respondent must sign said contract no later than the Contract Signature by Grantee Deadline detailed in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events. If the Respondent fails to provide the signed contract by the deadline, the State may determine that the Respondent is non-responsive to this RFGP and reject the proposal.

5.3.6. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the State may, at its sole discretion, entertain limited negotiation prior to contract signing and, as a result, revise the pro forma contract terms and conditions or performance requirements in the State’s best interests, PROVIDED THAT such revision of terms and conditions or performance requirements shall NOT materially affect the basis of proposal evaluations or negatively impact the competitive nature of the RFGP and Grantee selection process.

5.3.7. If the State determines that a proposal is non-responsive and rejects it after opening Budget

Response, the RFGP Coordinator will re-calculate scores for each remaining responsive Budget Response to determine (or re-determine) the apparent best-evaluated proposals.

RFGP # 32952-13007 ATTACHMENT 6.1.

RESPONSE STATEMENT OF CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSURANCES

The Respondent must sign and complete the Response Statement of Certifications and Assurances below as required, and it must be included in the Qualifications Evidence (as required by the RFGP Attachment 6.2., Technical Proposal & Evaluation Guide, Section A, Item A.1.)

The Respondent does, hereby, expressly affirm, declare, confirm, certify, and assure ALL of the following:

1. The Respondent will comply with all of the provisions and requirements of the RFGP.

2. The Respondent will provide all services as defined in the Scope of Services of the RFGP Attachment 6.5. or 6.6, Pro Forma Contract for the total contract period.

3. The Respondent accepts and agrees to all terms and conditions set out in the RFGP Attachment 6.5.or 6.6, Pro Forma Contract.

4. The Respondent acknowledges and agrees that a contract resulting from the RFGP shall incorporate, by reference, all Response responses as a part of the contract.

5. The Respondent will comply with:

(a) the laws of the State of Tennessee;

(b) Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964;

(c) Title IX of the federal Education Amendments Act of 1972;

(d) the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and the regulations issued there under by the federal government; and,

(e) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the regulations issued there under by the federal government.

6. To the knowledge of the undersigned, the information detailed within the Response submitted in response to the RFGP is accurate.

7. The Response submitted in response to the RFGP was independently prepared, without collusion, under penalty of perjury.

8. No amount shall be paid directly or indirectly to an employee or official of the State of Tennessee as wages, compensation, or gifts in exchange for acting as an officer, agent, employee, subcontractor, or consultant to the Respondent in connection with the RFGP or any resulting contract.

By signing this Response Statement of Certifications and Assurances below, the signatory also certifies legal authority to bind the proposing entity to the provisions of this RFGP and any contract awarded pursuant to it. If the signatory is not the Respondent (if an individual) or the Respondent’s company President or Chief Executive Officer, this document must attach evidence showing the individual’s authority to bind the proposing entity.

DO NOT SIGN THIS DOCUMENT IF YOU ARE NOT LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO BIND THE PROPOSING ENTITY

SIGNATURE:

PRINTED NAME & TITLE:

DATE:

RESPONDENT LEGAL ENTITY

NAME:

RESPONDENT FEDERAL EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (or

SSN):

RFGP ATTACHMENT 6.2. — Section A

TECHNICAL RESPONSE & EVALUATION GUIDE

SECTION A: MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS. The Respondent must address all items detailed below and provide, in sequence, the information and documentation as required (referenced with the associated item references). The Respondent must also detail the Response page number for each item in the appropriate space below.

The RFGP Coordinator will review the Response to determine if the Mandatory Requirement Items are addressed as required and mark each with pass or fail. For each item that is not addressed as required, the Response Evaluation Team must review the Response and attach a written determination. In addition to the Mandatory Requirement Items, the RFGP Coordinator will review each Response for compliance with all RFGP requirements.

Response Page #

(Respondent completes)

Item Ref. Section A— Mandatory Requirement Items Pass/Fail

The Response must be delivered to the State no later than the Response Deadline specified in the RFGP Section 2, Schedule of Events.

The Technical Response and the Budget Response documentation must be packaged separately as required (refer to RFGP Section 3.2., et. seq.).

The Technical Response must NOT contain Budget or pricing information of any type.

The Technical Response must NOT contain any restrictions of the rights of the State or other qualification of the response.

A Respondent must NOT submit alternate responses.

A Respondent must NOT submit multiple responses in different forms (as a prime and a sub-Grantee).

A.1. Provide the Response Statement of Certifications and Assurances (RFGP Attachment 6.1.) completed and signed by an individual empowered to bind the Respondent to the provisions of this RFGP and any resulting contract. The document must be signed without exception or qualification.

A.2. Provide a statement, based upon reasonable inquiry, of whether the Respondent or any individual who shall perform work under the contract has a possible conflict of interest (e.g., employment by the State of Tennessee) and, if so, the nature of that conflict.

NOTE: Any questions of conflict of interest shall be solely within the discretion of the State, and the State reserves the right to cancel any award.

A.3. Provide a current bank reference indicating that the Respondent’s business relationship with the financial institution is in positive standing. Such reference must be written in the form of a standard business letter, signed, and dated within the past three (3) months.

A.4. Provide two current positive credit references from vendors with which the Respondent has done business written in the form of standard business letters, signed, and dated within the past three (3) months.

A.5. Provide an official document or letter from an accredited credit bureau, verified and dated within the last three (3) months and indicating a positive credit rating

Response Page #

(Respondent completes)

Item Ref. Section A— Mandatory Requirement Items Pass/Fail for the Respondent (NOTE: A credit bureau report number without the full report is insufficient and will not be considered responsive.)

State Use – RFGP Coordinator Signature, Printed Name & Date:

RFGP ATTACHMENT 6.2. — SECTION B

SECTION B: GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE. The Respondent must address all items detailed below and provide, in sequence, the information and documentation as required (referenced with the associated item references). The Respondent must also detail the Response page number for each item in the appropriate space below. Response Evaluation Team members will independently evaluate and assign one score for all responses to Section B— General Qualifications & Experience Items.

Response Page #

(Responde nt completes)

Item Ref. Section B— General Qualifications & Experience Items

B.1. Provide a description of the agency’s resources, credentials, and capabilities for providing offender services or administering an alternative sentencing grant program for felony offenders. Include agency history, number of grant programs currently being administered, funding source and funding level.

B.2. Detail the name, e-mail address, mailing address, telephone number, and facsimile number of the person the State should contact regarding the response.

B.3. Describe the Respondent’s form of business (i.e., individual, sole proprietor, corporation, non-profit corporation, partnership, limited liability company) and business location (physical location or domicile).

B.4. Detail the number of years the Respondent has been in business.

B.5. Briefly describe how long the Respondent has been performing the services required by this

RFGP.

B.6. Describe the Respondent’s number of employees, client base, and location of offices.

B.7. Provide a statement of whether there have been any mergers, acquisitions, or sales of the Respondent within the last ten years. If so, include an explanation providing relevant details.

B.8. Provide a statement of whether the Respondent or, to the Respondent's knowledge, any of the Respondent’s employees, agents, independent contractors, or subcontractors, proposed to provide work on a contract pursuant to this RFGP, have been convicted of, pled guilty to, or pled nolo contendere to any felony. If so, include an explanation providing relevant details.

B.9. Provide a statement of whether, in the last ten years, the Respondent has filed (or had filed against

it) any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, whether voluntary or involuntary, or undergone the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or assignee for the benefit of creditors. If so, include an explanation providing relevant details.

B.10. Provide a statement of whether there is any material, pending litigation against the Respondent that the Respondent should reasonably believe could adversely affect its ability to meet contract requirements pursuant to this RFGP or is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Respondent’s financial condition. If such exists, list each separately, explain the relevant details, and attach the opinion of counsel addressing whether and to what extent it would impair the Respondent’s performance in a contract pursuant to this RFGP.

Response Page #

(Responde nt completes)

Item Ref. Section B— General Qualifications & Experience Items

NOTE: All persons, agencies, firms, or other entities that provide legal opinions regarding the Respondent must be properly licensed to render such opinions. The State may require the Respondent to submit proof of such licensure detailing the state of licensure and licensure number for each person or entity that renders such opinions.

B.11. Provide a statement of whether there are any pending or in progress Securities Exchange Commission investigations involving the Respondent. If such exists, list each separately, explain the relevant details, and attach the opinion of counsel addressing whether and to what extent it will impair the Respondent’s performance in a contract pursuant to this RFGP.

NOTE: All persons, agencies, firms, or other entities that provide legal opinions regarding the Respondent must be properly licensed to render such opinions. The State may require the Respondent to submit proof of such licensure detailing the state of licensure and licensure number for each person or entity that renders such opinions.

B.12. Provide a brief, descriptive statement detailing evidence of the Respondent’s ability to deliver the services sought under this RFGP (e.g., prior experience, training, certifications, resources, program and quality management systems, etc.).

B.13. Provide a narrative description of the proposed project team, its members, and organizational structure along with an organizational chart identifying the key people who will be assigned to accomplish the work required by this RFGP, illustrating the lines of authority, and designating the individual responsible for the completion of each service component and deliverable of the RFGP.

B.14. Provide a personnel roster listing the names of key people who the Respondent will assign to perform duties or services required by this RFGP along with the estimated number of hours that each individual will devote to that performance. Follow the personnel roster with a resume for each of the people listed. The resumes must detail the individual’s title, education, current position with the Respondent, and employment history.

B.15. Describe the recruitment and selection process to be used in hiring staff.

B.16. Provide a statement of whether the Respondent intends to use subcontractors to accomplish the work required by this RFGP, and if so, detail:

(a) the names of the subcontractors along with the contact person, mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address for each;

(b) a description of the scope and portions of the work each subcontractor will perform; and

(c) a statement specifying that each proposed subcontractor has expressly assented to being proposed as a subcontractor in the Respondent’s response to this RFGP.

B.17. Furnish a copy of the personnel policies that will be used to govern personnel in the program.

B.18. Describe the process for approving and monitoring expenditures of Community Corrections Act Funds within your agency.

B.19. Designate a fiscal officer and include the person’s name, address and phone number.

B.20. All residential agencies will document in writing their policies and adoption of and compliance with Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 final rule as published by the U.S. Attorney General on May 16, 2012 as 28 CFR Part 115, Docket No. OAG-131; AG Order No. RIN 1105-AB34. Residential agencies are defined as community confinement facilities by section 115.5 of 28 CFR Part 115 as signed by the U. S. Attorney General on May 16, 2012 and sent to the Federal Register for publication.

Response Page #

(Responde nt completes)

Item Ref. Section B— General Qualifications & Experience Items

SCORE (for all Section B—Qualifications & Experience Items above):

(maximum possible score = 20)

State Use – Evaluator Identification:

RFGP ATTACHMENT 6.2. — SECTION C

TECHNICAL RESPONSE & EVALUATION GUIDE

SECTION C: TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & APPROACH. The Respondent must address all items (below) and provide, in sequence, the information and documentation as required (referenced with the associated item references). The Respondent must also detail the Response page number for each item in the appropriate space below.

A Response Evaluation Team, made up of three or more State employees, will independently evaluate and score the Response’s response to each item. Each evaluator will use the following whole number, raw point scale for scoring each item:

0 = little value 1 = poor 2 = fair 3 = satisfactory 4 = good 5 = excellent

The RFGP Coordinator will multiply the Item Score by the associated Evaluation Factor (indicating the relative emphasis of the item in the overall evaluation). The resulting product will be the item’s raw, weighted score for purposes of calculating the section score as indicated.

Response Page #

(Respondent completes)

Item Ref. Section C— Documentation of Need Item

Score Evaluation

Factor Raw

Weighted Score

C.1. State the judicial district and counties to be serviced by this program Response. Include a map showing the area to be served.

C.2. Give a narrative description of the need of your judicial district (s), which you plan to address by this program Response. Include, at a minimum, the following data to document these needs:

(1) State the current capacity and population of all county jails and workhouses in the area to be served and whether or not there are any Federal Court Orders requiring improvement of conditions therein.

(2) State the number of incarcerations for non-violent felony offenders in the judicial district(s) to be served in calendar year 2014.

(3) Define any strategy (s) for targeting and diverting drug offenders in to community corrections programs.

(4) State any strategy to insure that offenders placed in the community corrections program would otherwise be incarcerated if this option were not available.

C.3. (1) State and justify the number of new offenders you propose to divert from incarceration for the grant years.

(2) State and justify the maximum and average census of offenders in your program for the grant years, including the number of successful and unsuccessful terminations. State any strategy for increasing the ratio of successful terminations to unsuccessful terminations.

(3) State the expected average length of stay of offenders placed in your program and state any strategy for length of stay of offenders who will successfully complete the program. Grantees are encouraged to transfer offenders to TDOC supervision after completing one year of community correction supervision.

Response Page #

(Respondent completes)

Item Ref. Section C— Documentation of Need Item

Score Evaluation

Factor Raw

Weighted Score

The RFGP Coordinator will use this sum and the formula below to calculate the section score. All calculations will use and result in numbers rounded to two (2) places to the right of the decimal point.

Total Raw Weighted Score:

(sum of Raw Weighted Scores above)

Total Raw Weighted Score X 27

(maximum possible score) = SCORE: Maximum Possible Raw Weighted Score (i.e., 5 x the sum of item weights above)

RFGP ATTACHMENT 6.2.— SECTION D

SECTION D: Technical Approach. The Grantee must address all Technical Approach Items listed below and provide, in sequence, the information and documentation as required (referenced with the associated item references).

A Response Evaluation Team, made up of three or more State employees, will independently evaluate and score the presentation…