RFP_Final.docx

State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Enforcement CPR and Wilderness Training SWIFT Event #2000015429 Date Posted: March 04, 2024

· Responses must be received not later than 2:00PM, Central Time, March 26, 2024

· Late responses will not be considered

Minnesota’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion The State of Minnesota is committed to diversity and inclusion in its public procurement process. The goal is to ensure that those providing goods and services to the State are representative of our Minnesota communities and include businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and those with substantial physical disabilities. Creating broader opportunities for historically under-represented groups provides for additional options and greater competition in the marketplace, creates stronger relationships and engagement within our communities, and fosters economic development and equality.

To further this commitment, the Department of Administration operates a program for Minnesota-based small businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and those with substantial physical disabilities. For additional information on this program, or to determine eligibility, please call 651-296-2600 or go to the Office of Equity in Procurement home page, at www.mn.gov/admin/oep.

SPECIAL NOTICE: This is a request for proposal. It does not obligate the State of Minnesota to award a contract or complete the proposed program, and the State reserves the right to cancel this solicitation if it is considered in its best interest.

This Solicitation requires proposals to be submitted through the SWIFT Supplier Portal. Please note the security changes below that may impact responders from submitting a timely response.

SWIFT SUPPLIER PORTAL SECURITY CHANGES

There are new security measures that the Minnesota Management and Budget implemented on October 16, 2022. It is a new multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance the security of the State of Minnesota Supplier Portal. MFA is an authentication method that requires bidders and suppliers provide two verification factors to log into the SWIFT Supplier Portal. The goal of MFA is to create a layered defense that makes it more difficult for unauthorized system access to occur.

For information about these changes, please refer to the SWIFT Supplier Portal Multi-Factor Authentication FAQ document.

If you have not done so already, please make sure to log into the SWIFT Supplier Portal as soon as possible to get this authentication set up early so there are no issues when submitting a response to an RFP.

You are strongly encouraged to set your MFA during business hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Central Time, Monday through Friday. You may experience delay setting your MFA after hours.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Solicitation Content

Solicitation Attachments

· Attachment A: Responder Declarations

· Attachment B: Exceptions to State's Terms and Conditions

· Attachment C: Cost Detail

· Attachment D: Responder Forms

· Veteran-Owned Preference Form

· Workforce Declaration Page

Sample Contract

· Exhibit A: Contract Terms

· Exhibit B: Insurance Requirements

· Exhibit C: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

· Exhibit D: Pricing

SECTION 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDERS

Step 1: Read the solicitation documents and ask questions, if any Step 2: Write your response Step 3: Submit your response

STEP 1 – READ THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT & ASK QUESTIONS, IF ANY

How to Ask Questions

The contact person for questions is:

Charles Schuman, Contract Officer Department of Natural Resources charles.schuman@state.mn.us

Questions should be emailed to the contact seven (7) days prior to event closing.

Other personnel are not authorized to answer questions regarding this Solicitation.

STEP 2 – WRITE YOUR RESPONSE

The Response Content section is in this link to Section 4. Prepare a written response and supply all requested content. Responses should address the requested information and documents detailed in Section 4. DO NOT INCLUDE Non-Public/Trade Secret data (as defined in this link to Minn. Stat. § 13.37).

Review, sign, and include the Responder Declarations with your response.

STEP 3 –SUBMIT YOUR RESPONSE

Where to Send Your Response

All responses to this solicitation (termed an “Event” within SWIFT) must be submitted through SWIFT using the Supplier portal (https://mn.gov/supplier). Training and documentation on how to submit your response is available through the Supplier portal link above. Fax, e-mail, and printed responses will not be accepted or considered. All costs incurred in responding to this solicitation will be borne by the responder.

Late responses will not be considered. Responses received after End Date above will not be considered, even if errors or delays were caused by issues outside of responders’ control. If you need assistance please contact the SWIFT Vendor Assistance Helpline at 651-201-8100, Option 1, and then Option 1.

By submitting a response, your company is making a binding legal offer for the period of time set forth below in Section 6, Conditions of Offer.

SECTION 2 – SUMMARY OF SCOPE

Procurement Overview and Goals.

The Contractor will provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) recertification, Law Enforcement First Aid/Wilderness Emergency, NARCAN administration and Medical Director Services, and Water Related Medical Training to MN Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs).

The CPR, First Aid/Wilderness Emergency, and Water Related Medical Training should be fast paced with little or no down time, and training should occur in both indoor and outdoor settings, regardless of conditions (unless conditions prove to be dangerous). LEOs should receive hands-on, scenario-based instruction in an academy style method. During this CPR Wilderness Medical Emergency Training, a LEO can expect to be placed in a modified stress environment with light to moderate physical demands.

After the completion of this training, the LEOs should:

· Have completed CPR refresher training.

· Gained a significant increase in medical survival knowledge.

· Know how to assess their physical capabilities and retain the needed motivation to survive deadly situations.

· Master the lifesaving interventions (LSI) of tactical tourniquet use.

· Master the LSI of tactical airway management.

· Understand options associated with tactical LSI evacuation for self, partner and civilians.

· Receive instruction on medical situations that are unique to law enforcement.

· Be comfortable providing patient care under duress to themselves and others.

Trainer will provide training materials, including DVDs/videos, participant workbooks, and practice mannequins.

All training will take place at Camp Ripley, Little Falls, MN, during the DNR Enforcement Annual In-Service Training, Conservation Officer Academy, and MN DNR Boat School.

The Annual In-Service Training for the CPR/Wilderness Medical Emergency training is scheduled during the spring each year (late March-early April). The agenda allows for four (4) training days, two- to three-hour sessions each day, consisting of training approximately 40 officers per day.

Training at the Conservation Officer Academy for CPR/First Aid and NARCAN administration is scheduled to occur during the first month of the Academy (generally May). The agenda allows for a four (4) hour session for approximately 20 LEOs.

Training at the MN DNR Boating Safety School is scheduled to occur in early May. The agenda allows for four (4) hour session for approximately 35 LEOs.

Dates for future training sessions are yet to be determined but will generally occur in the spring/early summer.

It is the goal of this project to provide training to MN LEOs to ensure they have the skills and abilities to act in an emergency medical situation.

Sample Tasks and Deliverables.

A. The contractor shall designate a physician practicing in the field of emergency medicine to be assigned the role of Attending Medical Director for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Enforcement Division (MN DNR ENF.) The Attending Medical Director shall be the Medical Director of record for the MN DNR ENF with respect to the Narcan administration program, including the Narcan administration quality assurance, medical protocols, and Emergency Medical Services training protocols.

B. Train LEO’s which will result in certification in CPR training. Trainer will provide certified CPR instructors that meet instructional, practice and testing standards of the American Red Cross Association.

C. In addition to CPR certification for cadets in the Conservation Officer Academy, training in the administration of NARCAN and recognition of when to use it in an emergency situation will be covered.

D. Provide a scenario based First Aid/Wilderness Emergency Medical Training Examples:

· Officer down scenario: Officer (instructor, dressed like an officer) is shot. LEOs respond with the tools they used in the field, visible arterial bleeding from a device used to simulate arterial bleeding. Suspect has a weapon and responding officer has to deal with the suspect and the injured officer.

· Fall from tree scenario: Hunter falls from tree (instructor is hunter). Hunter is injured from arrow and injury due to fall; a tree stand is visible, hunter has on a harness that responding officer has to work around but finds he was not tied off securely; officers have to treat hunter and extract.

· Officer must determine best course of action in the following scenarios:

· Officer receives call to an ice fishing house – anglers are unresponsive due to CO poisoning.

· Officer receives call of a vehicle through the ice – victim is suffering from hypothermia.

· Officer receives a call of a child left in a vehicle on a summer day – victim is suffering from hyperthermia.

Scenarios must be life-like; all of the victims should be moulaged to simulate real injuries that occur in the field. Make-up, simulated wounds, fake blood, and victims who know what the officer’s job is so they know what the next step in a scenario will be based on the officers’ actions in a particular scenario.

E. Train LEOs which results in initial certification or renewal of certification as an Emergency Medical Technician following the requirements established by the MN Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board. Trainers will be approved by the MN Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board for that purpose.

F. Provide a MNDNR Boat School training, which will be more of a hands-on training, learning how to get people out of water and perform medical assessment, move injured from boat to boat to start treatment, how to assess and treat victims while transporting in a boat.

G. Trainer should have experience in training law enforcement personnel.

SECTION 3 – PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Anticipated Contract Term.

The term of this contract is anticipated to be from June 2024 through May 2026, with the option to extend up to an additional 3 years in increments determined by the State.

Question and Answer Instructions.

Prospective responders who have any questions regarding this request for proposal should submit via email (telephone or in-person inquiries will not be accepted) to:

Charles Schuman, Contract Officer Department of Natural Resources charles.schuman@state.mn.us

All questions should be submitted no later than the date and time listed in Section 1, Instructions to Responders. The State is not obligated to answer questions submitted after the question due date and time.

Only personnel listed above are authorized to discuss this solicitation with responders. Contact regarding this solicitation with any personnel not listed above could result in disqualification. This provision is not intended to prevent responders from seeking guidance from state procurement assistance programs regarding general procurement questions.

If a Responder discovers any significant ambiguity, error, conflict, discrepancy, omission, or other deficiency in the solicitation, please immediately notify the contact person detailed above in writing of such error and request modification or clarification of the document.

Additional Tasks or Activities.

Responders are encouraged to propose additional tasks, activities, or goods above and beyond the scope of what is requested in this solicitation if they will substantially improve the results of this procurement. Any costs associated with these additional tasks, activities, or goods should be clearly marked and separated from costs associated with the tasks, activities, or goods specifically requested under this solicitation. Because cost is a factor in the evaluation of responses to this solicitation, failure to separate costs for additional tasks, activities, or goods may result in those costs being included in a responder's cost proposal and result in a lower cost score for that proposal.

SECTION 4 – PROPOSAL CONTENT

Please submit the following information:

Work Plan. Responder should provide a description of the deliverables to be provided by the Responder along with a detailed work plan that identifies the major tasks to be accomplished and be used as a scheduling and managing tool, as well as the basis for invoicing. This document should NOT list cost detail. If cost detail is included in this document, the State may disqualify the proposal as non-responsive. Responder should provide a statement of the objectives, goals, and tasks to show or demonstrate the Responder's view and understanding of the nature of the contract, and what makes the Responder uniquely suited for this work.

Approach. Responder should describe their approach to meeting State’s request in a timely manner. Responder should specifically describe how their approach differs when the State requires a more rapid timeline for delivery of services. Responder should provide a statement of the objectives, goals, and tasks to show or demonstrate the Responder's view and understanding of the nature of the contract, and what makes the Responder uniquely suited for this work. This document should NOT list cost detail. If cost detail is included in this document, the State may disqualify the proposal as non-responsive.

Qualifications and Experience. Responder should provide an outline of background and experience with examples of similar work done by the Responder and a list of personnel who will conduct the project, detailing their training, and work experience. Resumes or other information about project personnel should not, if possible, contain personal telephone numbers, home addresses, or home email addresses. If it is necessary to include personal contact information, please clearly indicate in the response that personal contact information is being provided.

Cost Detail. Complete and submit Attachment C, “Cost Detail,” attached to this solicitation.

Submit all requested documentation, including, but not limited to, the following documents:

1. Attachment A: Responder Declarations

2. Attachment B: Exceptions to State's Standard Terms and Conditions

3. Attachment C: Cost Proposal

4. Attachment D: Responder Forms

a. Veteran-Owned Preference Form

b. Workforce Declaration Page

DO NOT INCLUDE Non-Public/Trade Secret data (as defined by Minn. Stat. § 13.37).

SECTION 5 – EVALUATION PROCEDURE AND CRITERIA

The State will conduct an evaluation of responses to this Solicitation. The evaluations will be conducted in three phases:

Phase 1 - Review responses for responsiveness and pass/fail requirements Phase 2 - Evaluate responses Phase 3 - Select finalist(s)

1. Phase 1 – Responsiveness and Pass/Fail Requirements The purpose of this phase is to determine if each response complies with mandatory requirements. The State will first review each proposal for responsiveness to determine if the Responder satisfies all mandatory requirements. The State will evaluate these requirements on a pass/fail basis.

Mandatory Requirements. The following will be considered on a pass/fail basis:

1. Proposals must be received on or before the due date and time specified in this solicitation.

2. Trainers must have three (3) years of CPR training experience.

3. Trainer must have three (3) year of Wilderness Medical Emergency and Water Related Medical training experience.

4. Trainers will be certified by the MN Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board.

Phase 2 - Evaluate Responses Only those responses found to have met Phase 1 criteria will be considered in Phase 2.

The factors and weighting on which responses will be evaluated are:

Preference points are described under Solicitation Terms and will be applied to the total score after points have been awarded.

Phase 3 - Select Finalist(s) Only those responses that have been evaluated under Phase 2 shall be eligible for Phase 3.

The State will make its selection based on best value, as determined by this evaluation process. The State reserves the right to pursue negotiations on any exception taken to the State’s standard terms and conditions. In the event that negotiated terms cannot be reached, the State reserves the right to terminate negotiations and begin negotiating with the next highest scoring responder or take other actions as the State deems appropriate. If the State anticipates multiple awards, the State reserves the right to negotiate with more than one Responder.

It is anticipated that the evaluation and selection will be completed by the end of April 2024.

SECTION 6 – SOLICITATION TERMS

1. Competition in Responding The State desires open and fair competition. Questions from responders regarding any of the requirements of the Solicitation must be submitted in writing to the Solicitation Administrator listed in the Solicitation before the due date and time. If changes are made the State will issue an addendum.

Any evidence of collusion among responders in any form designed to defeat competitive responses will be reported to the Minnesota Attorney General for investigation and appropriate action.

Addenda to the Solicitation Changes to the Solicitation will be made by addendum with notification and posted in the same manner as the original Solicitation. Any addenda issued will become part of the Solicitation.

Data Security - Foreign Outsourcing of Work is Prohibited All storage and processing of information shall be performed within the borders of the United States. This provision also applies to work performed by subcontractors at all levels.

Joint Ventures The State allows joint ventures among groups of responders when responding to the solicitation. However, one responder must submit a response on behalf of all the others in the group. The responder that submits the response will be considered legally responsible for the response (and the contract, if awarded).

Withdrawing Response A responder may withdraw its response prior to the due date and time of the Solicitation. For solicitations in the SWIFT Supplier Portal, a responder may withdraw its response from the SWIFT Supplier Portal. For solicitations done any other way, a responder may withdraw its response by notifying the Solicitation Administrator in writing of the desire to withdraw.

After the due date and time of this Solicitation, a responder may withdraw a response only upon showing that an obvious error exists in the response. The showing and request for withdrawal must be made in writing to Solicitation Administrator within a reasonable time and prior to the State’s detrimental reliance on the response.

Rights Reserved The State reserves the right to:

· Reject any and all responses received;

· Waive or modify any informalities, irregularities, or inconsistencies in the responses received;

· Negotiate with the highest scoring Responder[s];

· Terminate negotiations and select the next response providing the best value for the State;

· Consider documented past performance resulting from a State contract may be considered in the evaluation process;

· Short list the highest scoring Responders;

· Require Responders to conduct presentations, demonstrations, or submit samples;

· Interview key personnel or references;

· Request a best and final offer from one or more Responders;

· The State reserves the right to request additional information ; and

· The State reserves the right to use estimated usage or scenarios for the purpose of conducting pricing evaluations. The State reserves the right to modify scenarios, and to request or add additional scenarios for the evaluation.

Samples and Demonstrations Upon request, Responders are to provide samples to the State at no charge. Except for those destroyed or mutilated in testing, the State will return samples if requested and at the Responder’s expense. All costs to conduct and associated with a demonstration will be the sole responsibility of the Responder.

Responses are Nonpublic during Evaluation Process All materials submitted in response to this Solicitation will become property of the State. During the evaluation process, all information concerning the responses submitted will remain private or nonpublic and will not be disclosed to anyone whose official duties do not require such knowledge. Responses are private or nonpublic data until the completion of the evaluation process as defined by Minn. Stat. § 13.591. The completion of the evaluation process is defined as the State having completed negotiating a contract with the selected responder. The State will notify all responders in writing of the evaluation results.

Trade Secret Information Responders must not submit as part of their response trade secret material, as defined by Minn. Stat. § 13.37.

In the event trade secret data are submitted, Responder must defend any action seeking release of data it believes to be trade secret, and indemnify and hold harmless the State, its agents and employees, from any judgments awarded against the State in favor of the party requesting the data, and any and all costs connected with that defense.

The State does not consider cost or prices to be trade secret material, as defined by Minn. Stat. § 13.37.

A responder may present and discuss trade secret information during an interview or demonstration with the State, if applicable.

Conditions of Offer Unless otherwise approved in writing by the State, Responder’s cost proposal and all terms offered in its response that pertain to the completion of professional and technical services and general services will remain firm for 180 days, until they are accepted or rejected by the State, or they are changed by further negotiations with the State prior to contract execution.

Award Any award that may result from this solicitation will be based upon the total accumulated points as established in the solicitation. The State reserves the right to award this solicitation to a single Responder, or to multiple Responders, whichever is in the best interest of the State, providing each Responder is in compliance with all terms and conditions of the solicitation. The State reserves the right to accept all or part of an offer, to reject all offers, to cancel the solicitation, or to re-issue the solicitation, whichever is in the best interest of the State.

Requirements Prior to Contract Execution Prior to contract execution, a responder receiving a contract award must comply with any submittal requests. A submittal request may include, but is not limited to, a Certificate of Insurance.

Targeted Group, Economically Disadvantaged Business, Veteran-Owned and Individual Preference Unless a greater preference is applicable and allowed by law, in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 16C.16, businesses that are eligible and certified by the State as targeted group (TG) businesses, economically disadvantaged (ED) businesses, and veteran-owned businesses will receive points equal to 12% percent of the total points available as preference.

For TG/ED/VO certification and eligibility information visit the Office of Equity in Procurement website at https://mn.gov/admin/business/vendor-info/oep/ or call the Division’s Helpline at 651.296.2600.

Reciprocity State shall comply with Minn. Stat. § 16C.06, subd. 7, as that applies to a non-resident vendor. This paragraph does not apply for any project in which federal funds are expended.

Rev. July 2023

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