RFP 210000001627 - Questions and Answers (Round 1) v4.28.2021.pdf

Department of Technology, Management and Budget—Procurement Digital Cigarette Stamps and Related Services

Request for Proposal No. 210000001627

Question and Answer Addendum #1

Posted 4/28/2021.

Pre-Bid Meeting Questions and Answers

# Bidder Question State Answer A Will the pricing files be opened after the initial evaluation and scoring Proposals receiving 80 or more technical evaluation points will have pricing evaluated and considered for award. Pricing will not be evaluated until after the initial technical evaluation and scoring.

B Do you have an estimated time frame for orals The State is targeting mid-June for oral presentations, but this is subject to change. If requested, the State will attempt to provide a at least 7 calendar days’ notice, prior to your presentation slot, and presentations will be conducted over Microsoft Teams.

Round 1 – Written Question Due by 3PM on 4/23/2021

# RFP Section Bidder Question State Answer 1 1.1.1 on page 10 Can the State provide dimensional layout of the stamps and rolls?

The dimensions and layouts are covered in section 1.1.1 General Stamp Specifications. Rolls are either 2 stamps wide on a paper liner of 30,000 stamps or 1 stamp wide on a paper liner of 1,500 stamps. As per section 1.1.4 Stamp Compatibility, All MI authorized stampers use machines manufactured by either Red Stamp or United Silicone Inc. (USI) All stamps and roll configurations must be compatible with the State of Michigan’s existing high speed stamping machines. Any dimensional layout(s) beyond above can be obtained directly from Red Stamp and/or USI.

2 1.1.1 on page 10 Can the State provide images of all the current stamps?

Per 1.1.1.e General Stamp Specifications; there are four denominations and layouts. Within those layouts, there are only two different images, one image for MI 20 State stamps, and one image for MI 20 Tribal stamps. Below are various images to illustrate these.

Request for Proposal No. 210000001627

Question and Answer Addendum #1

Posted 4/28/2021.

3 Attachment 3 - Mandatory Minimum Requirements

The first requirement is that the Bidder must have a minimum of one existing contract providing Digital Tobacco Stamps to one state within the U.S. As there are only three states in the U.S. currently using this type of tobacco tax stamp this requirement significantly reduces competition. Will the State accept an international contract of this type of stamp?

Yes, the State will accept an international contract that includes providing Digital Tobacco Stamps. Requirement #1 of the Mandatory Requirements (Attachment 3) has been modified as follows (see track changes):

4 Attachment 3 -

Can the State explain what's meant in section 1c by the requirement to capture all digital

All stamp meta-data must be captured for every digital stamp applied by an authorized MI stamper. The meta-data to be captured from each stamp is

Request for Proposal No. 210000001627

Question and Answer Addendum #1

Posted 4/28/2021.

Minimum Requirements stamps and embedded stamp data after application purchased by the customer? Does this mean the data from the stamp must be captured after a cigarette distributor applies the stamp to the cigarette package?

outlined in section 1.1.5, Encrypted Data included in Stamps. Yes, after an authorized stamper applies the stamp to the cigarette package, all meta-data is uploaded nightly from every stamping machine(s) to the Track and Trace system/database. This upload happens from all stamping machines & ensures MI has a complete accounting of all stamps shipped, received, applied, used or unused. This repository of comprehensive metadata ensures MI in compliance with all state and federal requirements.

See modified Requirement #1 of the Mandatory Requirements (Attachment 3) above in response to Question #3

5 Attachment 3 - Mandatory Minimum Requirements

Does the manufacturing and direct delivery of digital stamps reference in section 1a to authorized stampers have to be from a single Digital Tobacco Stamp contract or can it be from different contracts held by the Bidder?

Yes, the State requires the existing contract to include both the manufacturing and direct delivery components to be inclusive in the same contract. As outlined in 2.1 Shipping Requirements, the bidder must provide the delivery of stamps directly to the stampers facility by utilizing a 3rd party Common Carrier such as FedEx, UPS, or another shipping method approved by Treasury.

See modified Requirement #1 of the Mandatory Requirements (Attachment 3) above in response to Question #3).

6 Attachment 3 -

Minimum Requirements

Can the State provide an explanation of why the stamp destruction needs to be in an online system? Is this referring to stamps destroyed during stamp application by the authorized stampers?

Records of all destroyed stamps must be maintained within the online system for fraud control purposes. Any stamp destroyed must be designated with an appropriate stamp status that indicates it was destroyed and should not be in circulation to the public. Yes, it is referring to stamps destroyed during the application process. It ALSO refers to any stamps returned to the vendor as a result of poor quality/not meeting the 90% adherence requirement outlined in Section 1.1.1.g.

7 Attachment 3 - Mandatory Minimum Requirements

Section 1f requires a toll-free customer service number. While we have a direct customer service number for our clients we would have to establish a toll free number for this. Is that acceptable to the State?

Yes, the State will accept this.

See modified Requirement #1 of the Mandatory Requirements (Attachment 3) above in response to Question #3.

Request for Proposal No. 210000001627

Question and Answer Addendum #1

Posted 4/28/2021.

The State does require a toll-free customer service number for the Michigan in any awarded contract.

8 Attachment 3 -

Minimum Requirements

Section 1d requires an existing mobile application. Will the State relax this requirement to one where the Bidder provides a detailed explanation and plan for the creation of a mobile application?

No. The State will only consider vendor’s with established mobile applications.

9 Pre-Bid Meeting Please confirm for Schedule A (SOW) if bidders should include the whole document including the questions, complete the checkboxes as they are presented, but we can answer the green questions below the boxes?

As indicated on page 2 of the RFP, your response to the Statement of Work should be named as BidderName_ScheduleA-SOW.docx

Please include the whole document and respond by either completing the checkboxes as they are presented, or for questions noted in green that require a descriptive response, please respond within the provided cell (see option 1) or directly below the provided cell (see option 2)

Bidder Response:

The Bidder must describe how they would meet a future request to deliver an additional stamp type/format in the event described in 1.1.1. e.5.

Option 1 - PROVIDE BIDDER RESPONSE HERE (within provided cell)

Bidder Response:

The Bidder must describe how they would meet a future request to deliver an additional stamp type/format in the event described in 1.1.1. e.5.

Option 2 – PROVIDE BIDDER RESPONSE HERE (directly below provided cell)

Please e-mail the solicitation manager (motzs1@michigan.gov) to request a link to view/download the pre-bid meeting recording.

mailto:motzs1@michigan.gov