RFP IHGA 2026000227 Addendum 1.docx

Colorado Department of Human Services RFP IHGA 2026000227 Third Party Partners – Employee First Program May 8, 2025

The purpose of this addendum #1 is to:

1. Include a finalized Q&A document as part of this solicitation.

2. Update the proposal deadline to May 26, 2026, 4:00 PM, and update the public bid opening meeting to May 26, 2026, 4:15 PM. The public bid opening link within the solicitation document will stay the same and can still be used to access the meeting.

Vendor Questions and Answers:

Question 1: The Basic Information table specifies eligibility as “Current vendors who have sufficient funds and demonstrated outcomes to operate employment and training services to SNAP clients in Federal Fiscal Year 2027,” and the solicitation description references “vendors who are currently providing SNAP E&T services and interested in continuing.” Could you confirm whether this language is intended to limit eligibility to existing CDHS SNAP E&T Third-Party Partners, or whether it is open to vendors who currently provide employment and training services to SNAP-eligible populations under other Colorado state, federal, or local funding streams and can demonstrate the relevant outcomes?

Answer: Correct, this solicitation is intended for vendors who are currently or have previously provided SNAP E&T services.

Question 2: Reviewing the RFP, it says "to identify and contract with vendors who are currently providing SNAP E&T services and interested in continuing to provide employment and training services to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) clients." Just to double check - this means you are NOT open to proposals from orgs that are not currently SNAP E&T vendors, but interested in applying to become SNAP E&T vendors for the first time. Correct?

Answer: Correct, the purpose of this RFP is to identify and contract with vendors who are currently providing SNAP E&T services and interested in continuing to provide employment and training services to SNAP clients.

Question 3: Page Limit / Exhibits. Please confirm whether the stated 50-page limit includes Exhibits/attachments, or whether the limit applies only to the written proposal narrative sections (e.g., executive summary, company background, technical response).

Answer: The stated 50-page limit includes all exhibits and attachments.

Question 4: Anticipated Volume. What is the expected annual referral volume and/or participant target for this contract (baseline and any expected ramp-up assumptions)?

Answer: The expected participant target for this contract is to enroll at least 50 SNAP clients for Federal Fiscal Year 2027.

Question 5: Due Date / Opening Date (Holiday). Please confirm the proposal due date and the proposal opening date. If either is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026, please confirm whether the State intends to keep that date given it falls on Memorial Day (federal holiday).

Answer: The due date / opening date will be updated in this addendum. The new deadline for proposals will be May 26, 2026, 4:00PM and the public opening will be May 26, 2026, 4:15 PM. The public opening link within the solicitation document will stay the same and can still be used to access the meeting.

Question 5: Case Management Operating Model. For this contract, does CDHS provide and/or recommend any State- or county-affiliated resource (e.g., intermediary/shared service) that can support case management and/or CBMS data entry for a TPP, or is full case management expected to be performed by the selected TPP?

Answer: CDHS does not provide or recommend any state- or county-affiliated resources that can support case management and/or CBMS data entry for a TPP.

A TPP is welcome to utilize such resources for case management services through a subcontractor agreement or co-enrollment with another SNAP E&T provider; data entry into our program’s system of record (the Colorado Benefits Management System, or CBMS) is a responsibility of the TPP.

Question 6: Payment Model / Disbursement. Please confirm the payment model that will apply to this contract (e.g., installment-based disbursement vs. monthly reimbursement) and whether any advance/initial installment is anticipated for TPPs.

Answer: This program utilizes a 50% reimbursement payment model. Invoices for all costs incurred must be submitted monthly, and must only include allowable, incurred expenses. More information regarding “Invoices and Supporting Documentation” can be found in Exhibit D.

Question 7: ROI/Reporting. Does CDHS calculate or apply any standardized ROI/cost‑avoidance metric for Employment First (e.g., estimated annual SNAP benefit reduction or avoided public assistance costs per participant or per placement)?

Answer: CDHS does not apply any cost-avoidance metrics for Employment First. These and other reporting metrics are reported to the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Question 8: I see in the RFP that the purpose is to "identify and contract with vendors who are currently providing SNAP E&T services." Does this mean that new/aspiring SNAP E&T service providers are not eligible under this opportunity?

Answer: Correct, this RFP is intended for vendors who are currently or have previously provided SNAP E&T services.

Question 9: For Exhibit B, is there an online version I should use to fill out? The downloaded document is not compatible with excel. Some of the fields aren't working correctly.

Answer: Exhibit B is an .xlsx file, a Microsoft Excel Open XML Spreadsheet, which is the default format for Excel 2007 and newer. Although some functions may have not been converted properly (such as checkboxes), this will get addressed with awarded vendors before finalizing the EF PO Plan with the vendor.

Question 10: How many awards does the Department anticipate making?

Answer: The Department anticipates to award up to five (5) vendors under this solicitation.

Question 11: How much funding is available?

Answer: There is not a set available funding amount. As a reimbursement payment model, available funding is determined based on an awarding agency's contribution, which is then approved by the Department and FNS.

Question 12: When looking at program targets, is the number of participants served based on program enrollment or program completion?

Answer: Participants served are based on program enrollment. Additionally, the program is also looking at program completions and performance outcomes.

Question 13: We are currently undertaking an evaluation of our EF program with the goal of determining whether there are ways to optimize or adjust the program to serve more participants in a more efficient manner. If the results of the evaluation supported making changes to the structure of the program after a contract was awarded, would this be permissible with a contract amendment?

Answer: Yes, this could be permissible with a contract amendment and an update to the approved EF PO Plan. Details of what programmatic changes are occurring will need to be discussed with the Department before initiating a contract amendment.

Question 14: Our organization is interested in applying and becoming an Employment First vendor, but the RFP says it is for vendors who are already providing SNAP E&T Services.To confirm, since we are not already an employment first partner, are we ineligible to apply?

Answer: Correct, this RFP is intended for vendors who are currently or have previously provided SNAP E&T services.

Question 15: On page 4 of the RFP under Proposal Format, it states that the maximum length is 50 pages. Is this page limit inclusive of Exhibits A, B, C, the Signature Page, and all associated attachments?

Answer: Correct, the stated 50-page limit is for all exhibits and attachments.

Question 16: On page 2 of Exhibit A, under C. Program Details, 3. Program Activities, please clarify what is meant by a “12-hour per month Level of Effort.” Does that refer to the case manager or the participant, in terms of time contributed?

Answer: Level of Effort refers to the client’s participation in the program. All clients must spend at least 12 hours per month participating in the program, including all activities and case management services.

Question 17: Can grantees give their participants an incentive to volunteer for Employment First using state grant funds? If not, can grantees utilize incentives using other funding sources or possibly non-financial incentives?

Answer: Grantees may use non-federal funding sources to provide incentives to clients. Employment First funding cannot be used to reimburse for incentives.

Question 18: What is the reimbursement rate for staff time?

Answer: As a 50 percent reimbursement model, staff time dedicated to the Employment First program can be reimbursed 50 percent. Please note, staff time must be based on the vendor’s allocation of staff time and effort towards the program. Details of staff salary/wages, as well as all line item requests, should be provided within the “Narrative” column of Tab 10, within Exhibit B.

Question 19: Can we have an Example of a Service Plan to see if it aligns with what we have?

Answer: The Employment First Individualized Service Plan can be found on our website at https://cdhs.colorado.gov/colorado-employment-first, under the “Program forms and resources” section.

Question 20: If an organization has not previously been contracted to provide services through the SNAP E&T/Employment First program but has related programming that provide case management, employment and training support, and supportive payments to participants, is the organization eligible to apply - or is this RFP intended only for current contractors?

Answer: Correct, this RFP is intended for contractors who are currently or have previously provided SNAP E&T services.

Question 21: In the budget section where it asks for the total number of clients, does this refer to the total number of overall clients or only the number of clients we will be requesting reimbursement for through SNAP E&T? For example, if we have private funds to serve 100 clients, and plan for 50 of them to be SNAP E&T clients, do we list 100 or 50 as the “total number of clients?”

Answer: Total Number of Clients refers to SNAP clients who will receive services through SNAP E&T. In the example provided, 50 would be the “total number of clients”.

Question 22: We are waiting on some pending private grants that can be used for the SNAP E&T program. Can we submit a budget amendment to increase the funding if these grants come through?

Answer: At this time, the Department can not guarantee an increase in funding later in Federal Fiscal Year 2027. Details of this request may be discussed further during the budget negotiation meeting, if awarded.

Question 23: Can we use our approved NICRA provisional rate for fringe benefits, which is above the allowable percentage listed in the RFP?

Answer: Yes this is allowable. The Department will need a copy of your Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) to honor this request.

The remainder of the RFP is unchanged.

***End of Addendum #1*** image1.png