RFI 24-002- BOG.pdf

Florida Board of Governors

Request For Information (RFI)

Need for Additional Dentists

RFI Advertisement Number: BOG – 24-002

Begin Date: April 26, 2024 End Date: May 31, 2024

Refer ALL Inquiries to:

Lynn Robinson

Procurement Director BOGPurch@flbog.edu

Florida Board of Governors State University System of Florida

325 West Gaines Street Tallahassee, FL 32399

Phone 850.245.0466 www.flbog.edu

Pursuant to rule 60A-1.042, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), an agency may request information by issuing a written Request for Information. Agencies may use Requests for Information in circumstances including, but not limited to, determining whether to competitively procure a commodity or contractual services, determining what solicitation process to use for a specific need, or researching general, special, and/or technical specifications for a solicitation.

The sole purpose of this RFI is to obtain information from the vendor community. The Board is not seeking bids or proposals, and no contract award will result from this RFI.

I. INTRODUCTION

The Florida Board of Governors (FBOG) is requesting information regarding the need for additional Dentists in the State of Florida.

This is an RFI as defined in section 287.012(22), Florida Statutes (“F.S.”), for planning purposes only. This is not a solicitation for offers. The information gathered from this RFI may be used to develop a future solicitation. Please monitor the MyFloridaMarketPlace (“MFMP”) Vendor Information Portal for any changes or notices prior to submitting a response.

II. BACKGROUND

In 2011 three state universities came forward with proposals to increase the number of dentists practicing in Florida. Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) and the University of Central Florida (UCF) proposed creating new dental schools, whereas the University of Florida (UF) proposed expanding their current dental school.

After discussion with the Board of Governors, two new proposals came forward. The first proposal presented was a FAMU and UF collaboration to enhance dental education though UF’s dental program. The second proposal was for new dental program at UCF.

Neither of these proposals were approved.

In 2022, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) presented a proposal to create a new dental school. The Florida Legislature approved initial capital funding for constructing a new dental school at FAU for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, however, the Florida Legislature withdrew that funding for the 2024- 2025 fiscal year.

This request is to determine; the supply of and demand for more licensed dentists, the cost to educate and train the identified number of needed dentists, and the cost of this proposal.

III. GOALS

The goal is to determine whether or not Florida has a need for more licensed dentists and whether current state dental programs should be expanded or new programs created.

IV. OBJECTIVES

There are several objectives:

a. Is there a need for more dentists in Florida?

b. Where do dentists come from? i.e., state programs? Private programs? Out-of-state programs?

c. If there is a need for more licensed dentists, where is that need? i.e., Urban, Rural, South Florida, Central Florida, North Florida?

d. How does the state meet that need? i.e., Expansion of current State dental programs or creation of a new dental program(s)?

e. Is there a national need for more dentists and if so, how are the states or federal government working to meet that need?

f. How does Florida look when looking at the number of dentists imported and exported?

PLEASE NOTE: Any submitted material is subject to the Public Records Act, section 119.07, F.S.

V. RESPONSE SUBMISSION

The Board’s intent is to identify potential vendors that can fulfil the functional requirements listed in Section IV. Potential vendors should address all of the needs listed above in a statement of work with at least the following sections at a minimum:

a. Introduction

b. Background

c. Goals

d. Objectives

e. Deliverables

f. Technical details

g. Contact information

h. Proposed budget

1. Responses shall be submitted via email only

2. The email Subject Line shall be titled: BOG -24-002

3. Response Files should follow this naming convention:

Company Name_BOG-24-002_RFI; and

4. The response must be submitted via the email to BOGPurch@flbog.edu

5. A redacted copy must also be submitted, if the vendor is asserting the existence of confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information. See section XI herein.

***ALL EMAILS SHALL CONTAIN THE RFI NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE EMAIL***

VI. PROCESS

Responses to this RFI will be reviewed by the Board for informational purposes only and will not result in the award of a contract.

Responding to the RFI does not prevent a vendor from being eligible to contract with an agency pursuant to section 287.057(19)(c), F.S.

VII. TIMELINE

Listed below are important dates and times when actions should be taken or completed. If the Board finds it necessary to update any of the dates and/or times noted, it will be accomplished by an addendum to the RFI. All times listed below are in Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Date Time Description

4/26/2024 10:00 a.m. Release of RFI 5/3/2024 3:00 p.m. Questions due to the email address in Section V.

5/10/2024 3:00 p.m. Anticipated answers to questions

5/31/2024 3:00 p.m. Responses are due to the email address in Section V.

VIII. CHANGES TO THE RFI

The Board will post addenda to the RFI on the Florida Vendor Information Portal (VIP) at MyFloridaMarket Place Vendor Information Portal. Each vendor is responsible for monitoring the VIP for new or changing information.

mailto:BOGPurch@flbog.edu

IX. RFI QUESTIONS AND CONTACT WITH BOG

Vendors shall address all questions regarding this RFI in writing to the email address identified in Section XIII. BOG will post answers to questions on VIP as noted in Section VIII., Timeline.

X. CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR TRADE SECRET INFORMATION

If vendor considers any portion of the documents, data or records submitted in response to this RFI to be confidential, proprietary, trade secret or otherwise not subject to disclosure pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, the Florida Constitution or other authority, vendor must mark the document as “Confidential” and simultaneously provide the Board with a separate redacted copy of its response and briefly describe in writing the grounds for claiming exemption from the public records law, including the specific statutory citation for such exemption. This redacted copy shall contain the Board’s RFI name, number, and the name of the vendor on the cover, and shall be clearly titled “Redacted Copy.” The Redacted Copy should only redact those portions of material that the vendor claims are confidential, proprietary, trade secret or otherwise not subject to disclosure.

In the event of a request for public records pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, the Florida Constitution or other authority, to which documents that are marked as confidential are responsive, the Board will provide the Redacted Copy to the requestor. If a requestor asserts a right to the Confidential Information, the Board will notify the vendor such an assertion has been made. It is the vendor’s responsibility to assert that the information in question is exempt from disclosure under chapter 119 or other applicable law. If the Board becomes subject to a demand for discovery or disclosure of the Confidential Information of the vendor in a legal proceeding, the Board shall give the vendor prompt notice of the demand prior to releasing the information (unless otherwise prohibited by applicable law).

The vendor shall be responsible for defending its determination that the redacted portions of its response are confidential, proprietary, trade secret, or otherwise not subject to disclosure.

By submitting a response, the vendor agrees to protect, defend, and indemnify the Board for any and all claims arising from or relating to the vendor’s determination that the redacted portions of its response are confidential, proprietary, trade secret, or otherwise not subject to disclosure. If vendor fails to submit a redacted copy of information it claims is confidential, the Board is authorized to produce the entire documents, data, or records submitted to the Board in answer to a public records request for these records.

XI. VENDOR COSTS

Vendors are responsible for all costs associated with the preparation, submission, and any potential meeting to discuss this RFI. The Board will not be responsible for any vendor- related costs associated with responding to this request.

XII. PROCUREMENT OFFICER

If you have administrative questions concerning this RFI, please contact:

Lynn Robinson Purchasing Director Phone: (850) 245-9748 Email: BOGPurch@flbog.edu

**ALL EMAILS SHALL CONTAIN THE RFI NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE EMAIL**

XIII. SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Any person with a disability requiring special accommodations to participate in the RFI shall mailto:BOGPurch@flbog.edu contact the Board contact person at the phone number above at least five working days prior to the submission deadline for Questions and/or Responses. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact this office by using the Florida Relay Services which can be reached at 1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD).