RFP Q and A 2 3-7-24.pdf
PDF 157 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Preferred Programming Vendors State and local contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- BPM042571
- Issued by
- Maryland
About this file
This document is a Question and Answer (Q&A) session related to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund (Maryland Auto) for Preferred Programming Vendors. The RFP seeks to establish a pool of qualified vendors to provide programming services for a period of 3 years. Maryland Auto plans to offer 4-5 programming projects per year, but the specific volume is subject to change. Respondents are required to provide hourly rate pricing for various labor categories, and Maryland Auto will evaluate the submissions to select up to 6-7 preferred vendors. There are no incumbent vendors, as this is the first time Maryland Auto has issued this type of RFP.
Regarding pricing, Maryland Auto has requested that respondents provide a rate sheet detailing each labor category and hourly rate, as well as any package pricing for service offerings. The contract term is 3 years, and Maryland Auto encourages participation from Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) vendors. Maryland Auto will not disclose specific budget or spending information, but they have noted that they do not intend to automatically add current vendors to the preferred list, and all interested parties must submit a response to the RFP.
View the file
Other files for this state and local contract opportunity
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| RFP Q and A - 3-14-24.pdf | ||
| RFP Q and A - 3-28-24.pdf | ||
| RFP Q and A - 4-2-24 (FINAL).pdf | ||
| RFP Q and A 1-3-1-2024.pdf | ||
| Preferred Programming Vendors Award 5.31.24.pdf | ||
| RFP Q and A - 3-21-24.pdf | ||
| RFP-Programming Prefered Vendor 2024.pdf |
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Text version
3/8/2024
Refer questions regarding RFP ID BPM042571
Preferred Programming Vendors (BPM042571) - Lot : 1 / Round : 1: eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA)
Questions as of 3/7/2024:
1) There is no format for pricing information. For how many labor categories do you need the pricing for? – Like Project Manager, Sr. Programmer, Mid-level Programmer, Se. Engineer etc. If there is no specific format and price categories how would you evaluate pricing with other vendors?
Answer – Please provide a rate sheet that shows each labor category and hourly rate. If you have service offerings that have a package price include that in your rate sheet.
2) For how many years do you need the pricing for – like 3 or 5 years?
Answer – 3 years would be a fair term for pricing.
3) What is theterm of this contract? i.e. Preferred vendor for 3 years or 5 years etc.
Answer – 3 years would be a fair term for pricing. Successful bidders will be placed on Maryland Auto’s Preferred programming vendor list and receive solicitations for projects for a period of 3 years. Additional contract terms are listed in the RFP under Part V.
4) What are the historical volumes of spending annually in the program?
Answer – We plan to offer 4-5 projects a year, but that could change. We do not disclose budgetary or actual numbers.
5) Are there any incumbent companies that currently provide these services to the agency? If yes, who are they?
Answer – While we have vendors that provide services for us now, they will also have to apply to be on our preferred programming vendor list as they will not be automatically added. We are not disclosing those vendors currently.
https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/bpm/process_manage_extranet/67246 https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/bpm/process_manage_extranet/67246
6) Is there any forecasted/approved budget for this opportunity?
Answer – We plan to offer 4-5 projects a year, but that could change. We do not disclose budgetary or actual numbers.
7) The submission package must include pricing. The RFP states " Include all pricing information in your response (hourly rate). The cost must be clearly stated. Total price must contain all direct and indirect costs, including out-of-pocket expenses. Include discounted pricing for Government agencies where applicable." Will Maryland Auto provide a pricing format? What types of services and/or personnel does the agency want us to price?
Answer – Please provide a rate sheet that shows each labor category and hourly rate. If you have service offerings that have a package price include that in your rate sheet. The services we require are based on the programming languages listed in the RFP.
8) Can you provide an example of how to express pricing (Part II.5)?
9) In Part II, under Evaluation Criteria, you mention "Compliance with Security Standards".
What are those Security Standards? Can you provide a document or a link to them?
Answer – Standard web development security is used. You will develop within the environment that we set up with. Thereafter, we will own the software that is developed.
We will review the Security Standards in more detail during the interview process.
10) Once a vendor is added to the preferred vendors list, will they have to go through another evaluation process when submitting bids on projects? If so, what is the process of the second evaluation.
Answer – We will assign, or solicit interest for certain projects based on the skillsets that you attest to. We will provide project requirements and expect that SOW’s will be submitted including pricing and timelines.
11) Can you provide an example of how to express pricing (Part II.5)?
12) How many vendors does the state intend to award?
Answer – This will depend on how many submit but at this point we project no more than 6 or 7 vendors.
13) How many vendors are currently performing under the current contract?
Answer – This is our first Preferred Programming Vendor RFP.
14) Is the award price of the current contract publicly available? Can the state provide it?
Answer – This is our first Preferred Programming Vendor RFP.
15) Are we expected to submit resumes along with this RFP?
Answer – No, we are not looking for programmers with specific skillsets or experience but to build a bench of preferred vendors capable, within their organization(s), to adapt to our project specific needs as opportunities arise.
16) Are there any Procurement Program Participating Goals such as Maryland MBE certified?
Answer –We highly encourage participation by Minority Business Enterprise Vendors.
17) Once vendor(s) are selected would MAIF then send out staffing requests to those vendors?
Answer – No, we are not looking for programmers with specific skillsets or experience but to build a bench of preferred vendors capable, within their organization(s), to adapt to our project specific needs as opportunities arise. We will assign, or solicit interest in certain projects based on the skillsets that you attest to. We will provide requirements and expect that SOW’s will be submitted including pricing and timelines.
18) What is the estimated amount of FTE's or Programmers are expected for this initiative?
Answer – No estimates for FTE, we are not looking for vendors with a certain amount of programmers with specific skillsets or experience but instead to build a bench of preferred vendors capable, within their organization(s), to adapt to our project specific needs as opportunities arise. We will assign projects based on the skillsets that you attest to. We will provide requirements and expect that SOW’s will be submitted including pricing and timelines.
19) What type of data is required in the Preferred Programming Vendor List?
Answer – Part III explains the submission expectations. For the pricing section please provide a rate sheet that shows each labor category and hourly rate. If you have service offerings that have a package price include that in your rate sheet. The services we require are based on the programming languages listed in the RFP.
20) If Maryland Auto is an independent state agency, do you fall under DoIT serving?
o If ‘2’ is yes, will DoIT provide hosting service?
o If ‘2’ is no, will you provide hosting service on site?
Answer - Please provide a rate sheet that shows each labor category and hourly rate. If services we require are based on the programming languages listed in the RFP.
21) Is this project for internal management for Auto Insurance staff?
Answer – No, we are looking to build a bench of preferred vendors capable, within their organization(s), to adapt to our project specific needs as opportunities arise.. We will provide requirements and expect SOW’s returned that included pricing and timelines.
22) Can you also include (in Part 2. Preferred Programming Language) using different technologies such as C#, MVC Framework, and IIS?
Answer – No, we are only interested in vendors that offer programming in the languages/software that we listed in Part II of the RFP.
23) Are we able to include subcontractors in our proposal submission, if so can we use subcontractors past performance?
Answer – Only if those subcontractors are managed by you, but we would expect that the successful bidding vendor manages development.If subcontract work is required the final submission will be the responsibility of and treated as the work product of the successful bidding vendor.
24) Can we submit more than 3 references in our propsal submission?
Answer – Yes.
25) Can you please provide the resource titles list and their years of experience expected for this RFP??
Answer – We are not looking for programmers with specific skillsets or experience but to build a bench of preferred vendors capable, within their organization(s), to adapt to our project specific needs as opportunities arise.. We will provide requirements and expect SOW’s returned, that included pricing and timelines, as specific opportunities arise during the preferred contracting period.
26) Do you expect the resources to be full-time or part-time resources for this project?
Answer – We are not looking for programmers with specific skillsets or experience but to build a bench of preferred vendors capable, within their organization(s), to adapt to our project specific needs as opportunities arise.. We will provide requirements and expect SOW’s returned, that included pricing and timelines, as specific opportunities arise during the preferred contracting period.
27) Based on the programming languages list (skillset like PHP, Java, Cobol, etc.) shared in the RFP, can we provide the rates for both specific and combined skillsets?
Answer – yes.
28) Could you please provide an overview of your legacy software and project needs.
Answer – we can review in more detail during the interview process. Some example projects may include:
1. Creating API's from our legacy application to allow other systems to interface.
2. Various projects where our legacy application interfaces with external vendor software
3. Proof of Concept projects where we are interested in new features or technology to improve our applications (we are not looking to replace). For Example our use of Laravel is new and we could use some help with new ideas.
29) What are the specific challenges or pain points that you’re looking to address through these projects?
Answer – see sample projects in questions 28, we want to get more projects completed and leverage strong relationships with a talented group of preferred vendors to achieve that goal.
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