RFP-_Final.docx

State of Minnesota Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Itasca State Park Interpretive Plan SWIFT Event # 2000015592 Date Posted: March 27, 2024

· Responses must be received not later than 2:00PM, Central Time, April 18, 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

· Attachment E: Reference Form

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 person seven days prior to event close.

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 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails Division requests proposals to create an interpretive plan for Itasca State Park. The long-range interpretive plan will guide personal and nonpersonal interpretation park-wide for the next 20 years. The park interpretive plan will also include a detailed theme section for the Mississippi River headwaters area. The detailed theme section will guide the development of new exhibits for the headwaters area.

The goals of this project are to:

· Develop a path forward for diverse, accessible, and inclusive nonpersonal and personal interpretation.

· Include diverse stakeholders in the planning process.

· Identify primary and secondary themes for the entire park.

· Identify detailed themes for new headwaters area exhibits.

· Develop a list of high priority nonpersonal projects that fit with new themes.

The DNR is seeking a vendor that specializes in interpretive planning. The National Association for Interpretation defines interpretation as “a purposeful approach to communication that facilitates meaningful, relevant, and inclusive experiences that deepen understanding, broaden perspectives, and inspire engagement with the world around us." The vendor should have a thoughtful plan to involve diverse stakeholders. It is important that the vendor can communicate about Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion and has experience building that into interpretive plans.

Itasca State Park is a popular destination park located just north of Park Rapids, Minnesota. It receives approximately 550,000 annual visits. Itasca draws diverse visitation, including local community members plus statewide, national, and international visitors. Itasca State Park is the oldest Minnesota state park, established in 1891, and is often mistaken for a national park.

Itasca State Park is a multi-faceted, year-round operation. The park has the largest network of interpretive facilities and exhibits in the Minnesota State Parks and Trails system. There is a large visitor center, an outdoor exhibit center, unstaffed museum, approximately 200 outdoor wayside exhibits, 6 self-guided trails as well as displays inside historic buildings. The park has 65 lodging units, over 250 campsites including 1 group center and 1 group camp, 3 gifts shops, 2 restaurants, 2 concessions and 150 staff.

Sample Tasks and Deliverables.

· Become familiar with Itasca’s natural, cultural, and recreational resources. Read provided materials, such as park management plan, existing interpretive plan, and 2022 Minnesota State Parks Visitor Survey.

· Involve and financially compensate diverse stakeholders and provide accessible and culturally appropriate opportunities for input. Diverse stakeholders will include tribal nations and communities. Provide DNR with notes from stakeholder involvement.

· Provide opportunities for the DNR Project Team to review outlines and drafts of products and materials.

· Develop overall interpretive plan for Itasca State Park including a detailed theme document for Mississippi River headwaters area. Include an appendix with supporting materials and citations.

· Develop a list of high priority nonpersonal projects that fit with new themes.

· Meet accessibility requirements for print and digital materials.

· Work closely with DNR Project Team in all aspects of the interpretive planning process.

Final Electronic Documents DNR will have complete ownership and rights of final and all work products.

All final electronic documents (PDFs, audio/visual files, transcripts, etc.) must be provided in an accessible format. For guidance on producing accessible electronic documents, see Minnesota IT Services accessibility website https://mn.gov/mnit/about-mnit/accessibility/electronic-documents.jsp. Electronically accessible PDF files should be able to be read by a screen reader.

Digital work products must meet and comply with Minnesota Statute 16C.03 State Information and Communications System, Subd. 9. Subdivision 9 incorporates federal requirements under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Revised) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, level AA.

SECTION 3 – PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Anticipated Contract Term.

The term of this contract is anticipated to be from April 2024 to December 2025, with the option to extend up to an additional one year in increments determined by the State.

Question and Answer Instructions.

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

The proposal must include the following:

1. Qualifications, Experience and References

· Overview of the Responder’s background and experience.

· List of personnel who will conduct the project, detailing their training and work experience.

· Three Reference Forms filled out by three different clients.

· 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.

2. Examples of Interpretive Plan

· At least one work sample that reflects the quality of the deliverables the Responder will provide to the State. Work Samples are ideally very similar to the services being requested in this RFP.

3. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

· Written statement of importance of DEI.

· Examples of the Responder’s commitment to a culture that embraces DEI efforts.

· Description of how the Responder involved diverse stakeholders in past planning efforts.

· Description of how the Responder involved tribal nations and/or tribal communities in past planning efforts.

4. Work Plan

· Statement of the goals and objectives that demonstrates the Responder's view and understanding of the nature of the contract.

· Detailed work plan that identifies the major tasks to be accomplished.

· Description of deliverables to be provided by the Responder, to 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.

· We encourage the Responder to include additional ideas to improve project outcomes.

Digital Accessibility Information Digital technology includes electronic documents, communications with stakeholders and DNR, meetings, presentations, etc.

Describe how the Responder will ensure that staff and contractors have the knowledge and skills to create accessible digital technology within the scope of the project proposed within this RFP.

Provide an example of a digital product you have produced and describe how it is accessible.

5. Cost Detail. Complete and submit Attachment C, “Cost Detail,” attached to this solicitation. Include financial compensation for diverse stakeholder involvement.

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 Detail

4. Attachment D: Responder Forms

a. Veteran-Owned Preference Form

b. Workforce Declaration Page

5. Attachment E: Reference Form

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:

· Responses must be received by the due date and time specified in this RFP.

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 April 30, 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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