RFP-RFX3180002944-2026-05-07-15-25-56.pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP Number: RFx 3180002944

Comprehensive State Health Plan Issue Date: May 8, 2026

CLOSING TIME AND DATE

Proposals must be received before:

2:00 pm CST, June 4, 2026

PROPOSAL COORDINATOR

Dorthy Young

Telephone: (601) 576-7954 E-mail: procurement@msdh.ms.gov

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Section 1 - Background, Authority and Purpose

The Mississippi State Department of Health (hereinafter “Agency”) has issued this solicitation (RFx number 3180002944) for the purpose of attaining sealed competitive proposals from qualified vendors to provide Comprehensive State Health Plan.

The Agency seeks a qualified vendor to assist with the development and publication of the Mississippi Comprehensive State Health Plan (MCSHP or Plan). This statewide planning document will provide a data-driven, forward-looking assessment of the health of Mississippians and the capacity, structure, and projected needs of the State’s public health and healthcare systems. Designed to promote statewide alignment with the Department’s mission, “To protect and advance the health, well-being, and safety of everyone in Mississippi", the Plan will serve as a foundational public health and healthcare planning resource for MSDH and other state agencies, healthcare providers, community partners, and external stakeholders. The Contractor will work in partnership with MSDH to: develop a statewide health planning framework and process as further detailed in the deliverables section of this RFP; provide MSDH with a data-driven, third-party assessment of Mississippi’s rural healthcare system identifying access gaps, workforce needs, and priority challenges to inform actionable, evidence-based policy and planning recommendations; review and incorporate relevant findings from the 2022 State Health Assessment (SHA) and the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) to ensure continuity, alignment, and evolution of long-term, statewide health planning objectives; assess alignment of statewide health system needs, strategies, and priorities with relevant federal program objectives (e.g. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) to support informed investment and planning decisions; and facilitate collaboration with stakeholder representatives. The goal of this project is to develop and publish a statewide planning document that provides a data-driven, forward-looking assessment of the health of Mississippians and the capacity, structure, and projected needs of the State’s public health and healthcare systems. The Agency desires to contract with an experienced vendor that possesses the necessary abilities and resources to provide the services specified within this Request for Proposal (RFP). The Agency seeks to enter into a multi-term, firm fixed price, requirements contract for the aforementioned services. This RFP, any amendment thereto, as well as the awarded vendor’s proposal, and any requested best and final offer shall constitute the Contract. This RFP may be canceled at the sole discretion of the Agency pursuant to the requirements in Section 6.10 of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations. Any proposal may also be rejected in whole or in part when in the best interest of the Agency pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.10 of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations.

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $205,990,180.16, with 99.96% funded by CMS/HHS ($205,907,220.16) and 0.04% funded by non-government sources ($82,960).

The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

The Agency desires to contract with an experienced vendor that possesses the necessary abilities and resources to provide the services specified within this Request for Proposal (RFP). The Agency seeks to enter into a multi-term, firm fixed price, requirements contract for the aforementioned services. This RFP, any amendment thereto, as well as the awarded vendor’s proposal, and any requested best and final offer shall constitute the Contract.

The initial period of performance of any contract resulting from this RFP will be four years, tentatively scheduled to begin on or about July 2, 2026 and to end on September 30, 2027. The Agency reserves the right to renew the Contract for up to one additional year at the sole discretion of the Agency.

Section 2 - Timeline

Request for Proposal Issue Date: May 8, 2026

Request for Reconsideration - Solicitation: May 13, 2026

Questions and Requests for Clarification to Agency Deadline:

May 15, 2026, 10:00am

Question Response Deadline: May 20, 2026, 3:00pm

Proposal Package Submission Deadline: June 4, 2026, 2:00pm

Proposal Opening: June 4, 2026, 2:00pm

Anticipated Date of the Notice of Intent to Award:

June 9, 2026, 3:00pm

Request for Reconsideration - Award: June 12, 2026

Anticipated Contract(s) Effective Date/Services Begin:

July 2, 2026, 3:00pm

Section 3 - Contact and Questions/Requests for Clarification

3.1 Vendors must carefully review this solicitation, the Contract, risk management provisions, and all attachments for defects, questionable, or objectionable material.

3.2 The Agency will not be bound by any verbal or written information that is not contained within this RFP unless formally noticed and issued by the contact person as an RFP amendment. Vendors are cautioned that any statements made by agency personnel that materially change any portion of the proposal document shall not be relied upon unless subsequently ratified by a formal written addendum to the proposal document.

3.3 All vendor communications regarding this RFP must be directed through the Agency portal or to the designated Proposal Coordinator. Unauthorized contact regarding the RFP with other employees of the Agency may result in the vendor being disqualified, and the vendor may also be suspended, disbarred, or removed from consideration for award of contracts with the State of Mississippi for a period of two (2) years.

3.4 Pre-Proposal Conference, Tour, or Site Visit: No pre-proposal conference, tour, or site visit will be held for this RFP.

3.5 Acknowledgement of Amendments: Should an amendment to the RFP be issued, it will be posted on the Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal website and the agency's website in a manner that all vendors will be able to view. Vendors must acknowledge receipt of any amendment to the solicitation by signing and returning the amendment with the proposal package, by identifying the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on the RFP amendment, or by letter. The acknowledgment should be received by the agency by the time, date, and at the place specified for receipt of proposals. It is the vendor’s sole responsibility to monitor the websites for any updates or amendments to the RFP. Questions and Answer document(s) and/or Summary of Pre-Proposal Conference, Tour, or Site Visit, if any are issued/posted on the Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal website and the agency's website, must be treated the same as an RFP Amendment.

3.6 Vendors must provide a signed Acknowledgements of RFP Amendment(s), Questions and Answer document(s), and/or Summary of Pre-Proposal Conference, Tour, or Site Visit, if any were issued/posted on the Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal website and the agency's website.

3.7 The RFP is comprised of the base RFP document, any attachments, any amendments issued prior to the submission deadline, and any other documents released before contract award.

Section 4 - Solicitation Clauses

Acknowledgment of Amendments

Offeror shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment to the RFP in writing. The acknowledgement shall be submitted acknowledging receipt of any amendment to the solicitation by signing and returning the amendment with the proposal package, by identifying the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on the proposal, or by letter. The acknowledgment should be received by the agency by the time, date, and at the place specified for receipt of proposals. It is the Offeror’s sole responsibility to monitor the websites for any updates or amendments to the RFB. Each Proposer, offeror or applicant shall submit a written acknowledgement of every amendment to the Agency on or before the submission deadline.

Applicable Law

The contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Mississippi, excluding its conflicts of laws provisions, and any litigation with respect thereto shall be brought in the courts of Mississippi.

Approval

It is understood that if this contract requires approval by the Public Procurement Review Board (“PPRB”) and/or the Department of Finance and Administration Office of Personal Service Contract Review (“OPSCR”), and this contract is not approved by PPRB and/or OPSCR, it is void and no payment shall be made hereunder.

Availability of Funds

It is expressly understood and agreed that the obligation of MSDH to proceed under this agreement is contingent upon the availability of funds. If the funds anticipated for the continuing time fulfillment of the agreement are, at any time, not forthcoming or insufficient, regardless of the source of funding, MSDH shall have the right upon 10 business days written notice to Contractor, to terminate this agreement without damage, penalty, cost or expense to the MSDH of any kind whatsoever. The effective date of termination shall be as specified in the notice of termination.

Certification of Independent Price Determination

By submitting a proposal the offeror certifies that the prices submitted in response to the solicitation have been arrived at independently and without any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other offeror or competitor for the purpose of restricting competition.

Compliance with Equal Opportunity In Employment Policy

Contractor understands that the MSDH is an equal opportunity employer and therefore, maintains a policy which prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, physical handicap, disability, genetic information, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. All such discrimination is unlawful, and Contractor agrees during the term of the agreement that Contractor will strictly adhere to this policy in its employment practices and provision of services.

Compliance with Laws

Contractor shall comply with, and all activities under this agreement shall be subject to, all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as now existing and as may be amended or modified.

Contract Rights

Contract rights do not vest in any party until a contract is legally executed. The MSDH is under no obligation to award a contract following issuance of this solicitation.

E-Payment

Offeror agrees to accept all payments in United States currency via the State of Mississippi’s electronic payment and remittance vehicle. The Agency agrees to make payment in accordance with Mississippi “Timely Payments for Purchases by Public Bodies” laws, which generally provide for payment of undisputed amounts by the Agency within 45 calendar days of receipt of invoice. Mississippi Code Annotated § 31-7-301, et seq.

E-Verification

If applicable, Offeror represents and warrants that it will ensure its compliance with the Mississippi Employment Protection Act and will register and participate in the status verification system for all newly hired employees.

Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 71-11-1 and 71-11-3. Contractor agrees to provide a copy of each verification upon request of the MSDH subject to approval by any agencies of the United States Government. Contractor further represents and warrants that any person assigned to perform services hereafter meets the employment eligibility requirements of all immigration laws.

The breach of this clause may subject Contractor to the following: (1) termination of this contract and exclusion pursuant to Chapter 15 of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations; (2) the loss of any license, permit, certification or other document granted to Contractor by an agency, department, or governmental entity for the right to do business in Mississippi; or (3) both. In the event of such termination, Contractor would also be liable for any additional costs incurred by the Agency due to Contract cancellation or loss of license or permit to do business in the state.

Expenses Incurred in the Procurement Process

All parties participating in the procurement process with regard to this solicitation shall bear their own costs of participation, pursuant to Section 1.4.4 of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations.

Minor Informalities and Irregularities

The MSDH has the right to waive minor defects or variations of a proposal from the exact requirements of the specifications that do not affect the price, quality, quantity, delivery, or performance of the services being procured and if doing so does not create an unfair advantage for any offeror. If insufficient information is submitted by a proposer, offeror or applicant for the MSDH to properly evaluate the offer, the MSDH has the right to require such additional information as it may deem necessary after the submission deadline, provided that the information requested does not change the price, quality, quantity, delivery, or performance time of the services being procured and such a request does not create an unfair advantage for any proposer, offeror or applicant. (Information requested may include, for example, a copy of business or professional licenses, or a work schedule.)

Offeror's or Contractor's Representation Regarding Contingent Fees

By responding to the solicitation, executing the contract the offeror or contractor represents that it has not retained any person or agency on a percentage, commission, or other contingent arrangement to secure this contract. If the offeror or contractor cannot make such a representation, a full and complete explanation shall be submitted in writing with the offeror’s response.

Paymode

Payments by MSDH using the state’s accounting system shall be made and remittance information provided electronically as directed by the state and deposited into the bank account of Contractor’s choice. The MSDH may, at its sole discretion, require Contractor to electronically submit invoices and supporting documentation at any time during the term of this Agreement. Contractor understands and agrees that the Agency is exempt from the payment of Mississippi taxes. All payments shall be in United States currency.

Procurement Regulations

This solicitation or contract shall be governed by the applicable provisions of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations, a copy of which is available on the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration’s website (www.dfa.ms.gov). Any offeror responding to a solicitation for personal and professional services and any contractor doing business with a state Agency is deemed to be on notice of all requirements therein.

Property Rights

Property rights do not inure to any Offeror until such time as services have been provided under a legally executed contract. No party responding to this RFP has a legitimate claim of entitlement to be awarded a contract or to the provision of work thereunder. The MSDH is under no obligation to award a contract and may terminate a legally executed contract at any time.

Representation Regarding Gratuities

Offeror represents that it has not, is not, and will not offer, give, or agree to give any employee or former employee of MSDH a gratuity or offer of employment in connection with any approval, disapproval, recommendation, development, or any other action or decision related to the solicitation and resulting contract.

Offeror further represents that no employee or former employee of MSDH has or is soliciting, demanding, accepting, or agreeing to accept a gratuity or offer of employment for the reasons previously stated; any such action by an employee or former employee in the future, if any, will be rejected by offeror or contractor. Offeror further represents that it is in compliance with the Mississippi Ethics in Government laws, codified at Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 25-4-101 through 25-4-121, and has not solicited any employee or former employee to act in violation of said law.

Required Public Records and Transparency

Upon execution of a contract, the provisions of the contract which contain the personal or professional services provided, the unit prices, the overall price to be paid, and the term of the contract shall not be deemed to be a trade secret or confidential commercial or financial information pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated § 25- 61-9(7). The contract shall be posted publicly on www.transparency.ms.gov and shall be available for at the Agency for examination, inspection, or reproduction by the public. The proposer, offeror, applicant or contractor acknowledges and agrees that the MSDH and this contract are subject to the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983 codified at Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 25-61-1, et seq. and its exceptions, Mississippi Code Annotated § 79-23-1, and the Mississippi Accountability and Transparency Act of 2008, codified at Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 27-104-151, et seq.

Stop Work Order

The MSDH may, by written order to Contractor at any time, require Contractor to stop all or any part of the work called for by this contract. This order shall be for a period of time specified by the MSDH. Upon receipt of such an order, Contractor shall forthwith comply with its terms and take all reasonable steps to minimize any further cost to the MSDH. Upon expiration of the stop work order, Contractor shall resume providing the services which were subject to the stop work order, unless the MSDH has terminated that part of the agreement or terminated the agreement in its entirety. The MSDH is not liable for payment for services which were not rendered due to the stop work order.

Termination

Termination for Convenience. The MSDH may, when the interests of the Agency so require, terminate this contract in whole or in part, for the convenience of the Agency. The MSDH shall give written notice of the termination to Contractor specifying the part of the contract terminated and when termination becomes effective. Contractor shall incur no further obligations in connection with the terminated work and on the date set in the notice of termination Contractor will stop work to the extent specified. Contractor shall complete the work not terminated by the notice of termination and may incur obligations as are necessary to do so.

Termination for Default. If the MSDH gives the Contractor a notice that the personal or professional services are being provided in a manner that is deficient, the Contractor shall have 30 days to cure the deficiency. If the Contractor fails to cure the deficiency, the MSDH may terminate the contract for default and the Contractor will be liable for the additional cost to the MSDH to procure the personal and professional services from another source. Termination under this paragraph could result in Contractor being excluded from future contract awards pursuant to Chapter 15 of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations. Any termination wrongly labelled termination for default shall be deemed a termination for convenience.

Section 5 - Scope of Services

Scope of Services to Be Performed

This section contains information on services and procedures that the Vendor must provide or adhere to, in servicing the Agency’s account, either directly or through identified subcontractors. The descriptions are not all-inclusive, but are provided to alert you to services or procedures that may require additional planning or programming on your part. The following is a list of services the Agency expects the successful Vendor to provide.

Please respond by restating each service listed below, including the number, and confirm your intention to provide the service as described, respond by stating, “Confirmed”. If your company can provide the service, but not exactly as described, respond by stating, “Confirmed, but with exceptions”, and state the specific exceptions.

If your company is currently unable to provide a listed service, respond by stating, “Unable to provide this service”. Any additional details regarding these services should be provided in your responses to the questionnaire, or as additional information included as an appendix to your proposal.

Vendor shall provide services, and otherwise do all things necessary for or incidental to the performance of work, as set forth below:

State Furnished Property/Services:

MSDH will provide reasonable access to existing, relevant materials and resources necessary to support development and publication of the Mississippi Comprehensive State Health Plan, including but not limited to:

• The 2022 State Health Assessment (SHA) and State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP);

• Relevant MSDH reports, datasets, and planning documents, subject to applicable confidentiality and data-use requirements;

• Access to designated MSDH staff for coordination, review, and consultation;

• Assistance with coordination of stakeholder outreach to state agencies and key partners, as appropriate.

MSDH will retain responsibility for policy decisions, approvals, and implementation of the Plan.

Contractor-Furnished Property:

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, expertise, tools, software, data analysis resources, meeting facilitation tools, and materials necessary to perform the required services. The Contractor is responsible for providing any equipment, technology, or materials required to meet the scope of work, including those necessary for data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and development of required deliverables.

Description of Specific, Results-Oriented Tasks:

The Contractor shall perform the following mandatory, results-oriented tasks necessary to support the development and publication of the Mississippi Comprehensive State Health Plan.

1. Comprehensive Planning Framework and Process

The Contractor shall develop and execute a clear, transparent, and operationalized planning framework to guide development of the Comprehensive State Health Plan. This task shall include:

• Development of a detailed strategic planning roadmap and workplan outlining key phases, milestones, and decision points;

• Establishment of a structured planning process that supports statewide alignment and cross-sector coordination;

• Regular coordination with MSDH staff to support progress tracking, issue resolution, and alignment with agency priorities; and

• Documentation of the planning methodology and process used to inform development of the Plan.

Expected Result: A well-defined, reproducible planning framework that clearly explains how priorities, strategies, and recommendations in the Plan were developed.

2. Statewide Health Status, Trends, and Systems Assessment

The Contractor shall conduct a comprehensive, data-driven assessment to describe the current and projected health of Mississippians and the capacity and structure of the State’s public health and healthcare systems. This task shall include:

• Assessment of population health outcomes and health disparities;

• Evaluation of public health infrastructure and foundational capabilities;

• Analysis of healthcare facilities, services, and resource capacity;

• Assessment of healthcare workforce availability, distribution, and challenges;

• Identification of access gaps, system vulnerabilities, and emerging trends; and

• A focused assessment of Mississippi’s rural healthcare system, including access to care, workforce challenges, and system sustainability.

Expected Result: A statewide health and systems assessment that provides the analytical foundation for a comprehensive, forward-looking State Health Plan.

3. Integration of Statutory and Regulatory Health Planning Requirements

The Contractor shall review and incorporate applicable statutory and regulatory health planning requirements into the Comprehensive State Health Plan as one integrated component of the broader planning framework.

This task shall include:

• Review of relevant health planning statutes, regulations, and guidance, including those related to Certificate of Need (CON);

• Synthesis of existing CON criteria, standards, service areas, and methodologies for inclusion in the Plan;

and

• Review of existing health planning documents and manuals to ensure consistency and alignment.

Certificate of Need (CON) Planning-Level Review

As part of this task, the Contractor shall review existing Certificate of Need (CON) criteria, standards, and methodologies and assess their alignment with current healthcare delivery models, utilization patterns, and population needs. The Contractor shall identify gaps, outdated assumptions, and opportunities for modernization and incorporate planning-level findings and recommendations into the Comprehensive State Health Plan. This review is intended to support planning and policy development and does not include implementation, regulatory revision, or formula redevelopment.

Expected Result: A Comprehensive State Health Plan that integrates statutory and regulatory health planning requirements, including CON-related considerations, in a clear, cohesive manner that informs future policy development without supplanting existing regulatory processes.

4. CMS Alignment and Investment-Relevant Planning Analysis

The Contractor shall assess alignment of statewide health system needs and planning priorities with relevant federal program objectives, including those of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This task shall include:

• Identification of areas where statewide health priorities align with CMS program objectives;

• Assessment of healthcare access, quality, workforce, and rural system needs relevant to federal funding and policy considerations; and

• Development of planning-level guidance to inform future state and federal investment decisions.

This task is limited to planning and analysis and does not include program implementation or funding administration.

Expected Result: A Comprehensive State Health Plan that is credible, investment-ready, and aligned with relevant federal health system priorities.

5. Stakeholder Engagement and Vetting of Proposed Plan Elements

The Contractor shall design and implement a structured stakeholder engagement process to inform development of the Comprehensive State Health Plan. This task shall include:

• Identification and engagement of internal and external stakeholders across public health, healthcare delivery, community organizations, academia, and other relevant sectors;

• Facilitation of opportunities for stakeholder input throughout Plan development;

• Documentation and synthesis of stakeholder feedback; and

• Presentation and discussion of proposed Plan priorities, strategies, and changes with MSDH staff and stakeholders, as requested.

Expected Result: Documented stakeholder input that informs and strengthens the credibility, relevance, and usability of the Comprehensive State Health Plan.

6. Drafting, Finalization, and Publication of the Comprehensive State Health Plan

The Contractor shall draft, revise, and finalize the Mississippi Comprehensive State Health Plan for public release. This task shall include:

• Preparation of a draft Plan that reflects the required assessments, analyses, and stakeholder input;

• Coordination with MSDH to review and revise draft materials;

• Development of a final Plan suitable for public dissemination and policy reference; and

• Preparation of supporting materials such as an executive summary, graphics, and summaries appropriate for diverse audiences.

Expected Result: A finalized, publishable Comprehensive State Health Plan that serves as a foundational statewide health planning document.

Quality Assurance:

Performance quality will be evaluated based on:

• Timely submission of deliverables in accordance with the approved Project Work Plan;

• Accuracy, completeness, and analytical rigor of assessments and recommendations;

• Demonstrated alignment with MSDH priorities, statutory requirements, and CMS program objectives;

• Quality and effectiveness of stakeholder engagement activities;

• Responsiveness to MSDH feedback and requested revisions.

MSDH will monitor progress through scheduled check-ins, review of interim deliverables, and quarterly progress reports. Payments may be tied to satisfactory completion and acceptance of deliverables. If performance deficiencies are identified, MSDH may require corrective action, revised work products, or adjusted timelines.

Applicable Laws, Rules, and Directives:

The Contractor shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, including but not limited to:

• Miss. Code Ann. Title 41, including §§ 41-7-173 and 41-7-185;

• Applicable MSDH rules and policies;

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) program requirements, where applicable;

• Any applicable federal grant requirements;

• Mississippi procurement laws and regulations.

References to applicable laws and directives may be found on the Mississippi Legislature and MSDH websites.

Technical Exhibits: N/A

Deliverables:

The Contractor shall provide the deliverables described below in accordance with the approved Project Work Plan and Timeline. All deliverables are subject to review and written acceptance by MSDH as further detailed in this section. Acceptance of deliverables is contingent upon MSDH’s determination that the work product meets the objectives and requirements of this RFP.

1. Project Initiation and Planning

• Project Work Plan and Timeline: A detailed work plan outlining project phases, milestones, deliverables, stakeholder engagement activities, and review points.

Due: Within 20 calendar days of contract execution.

2. Assessment and Analytic Deliverables

• Statewide Health Status and Systems Assessment Report: A comprehensive, data-driven assessment of population health status, public health infrastructure, healthcare facilities and resources, workforce capacity, rural healthcare systems, access gaps, disparities, and emerging system needs.

Due: Within 150 calendar days of contract execution.

• Statutory and Regulatory Planning Integration Memorandum: A planning-level summary of applicable statutory and regulatory health planning requirements, including Certificate of Need (CON) considerations, describing how such requirements are integrated into the Comprehensive State Health Plan. This deliverable shall include planning-level findings and recommendations only and shall not include regulatory revisions or formula redevelopment.

Due: By or before October 15, 2026

3. Drafting and Review Deliverables

• Annotated Outline and Framework of the Comprehensive State Health Plan: A detailed outline with annotated descriptions of proposed content to support early MSDH review prior to full drafting.

Due: By or before October 31, 2026

• Substantially Complete Draft Comprehensive State Health Plan: A substantially complete draft of the Mississippi Comprehensive State Health Plan incorporating required assessments, analyses, statutory integration, and stakeholder input. This draft is expected to be largely complete and suitable for comprehensive MSDH review.

Due: By or before March 15, 2026.

• Stakeholder Engagement Summary: Documentation of stakeholder engagement activities, including participants, methods, key themes, and how input informed the draft Plan.

Due: Within 180 days of contract execution

4. Refinement and Finalization Deliverables

• Presentation of Substantially Complete Draft MCSHP to MS State Board of Health (MSBOH): The Contractor shall prepare and deliver a formal presentation of the substantially complete draft Mississippi Comprehensive State Health Plan to the Mississippi State Board of Health, or a designated committee thereof, as requested by MSDH. The presentation shall summarize key findings, priorities, and recommended strategies and provide an opportunity for Board member questions and feedback. The Contractor shall document feedback received and, as directed by MSDH, incorporate relevant input into subsequent revisions of the Plan.

Due: By or before April 14, 2027.

• Response to MSDH Review and Comment Summary: A written summary documenting MSDH and MSBOH feedback on the substantially complete draft and the Contractor’s responses and proposed revisions.

Due: By or before April 30, 2027

• Revised Draft Comprehensive State Health Plan: An updated draft reflecting MSDH feedback, additional data, and refinements.

Due: By or before June 14, 2027.

• Final Comprehensive State Health Plan: A final, publishable version suitable for public dissemination, policy reference, and use by federal and external partners.

Due: By or before July 14, 2027.

5. Ongoing Reporting

• Quarterly Progress Reports: Brief written reports summarizing completed activities, upcoming tasks, risks, and mitigation strategies.

Due: Quarterly throughout the contract term.

Approval-Gated Deliverables: The Contractor shall not proceed to subsequent phases of work until the following deliverables have been reviewed and approved in writing by MSDH. Approval may include conditional approval subject to revisions.

Approval-gated deliverables include:

1. Project Work Plan and Timeline

2. Statewide Health Status and Systems Assessment Report

3. Statutory and Regulatory Planning Integration Memorandum

4. Annotated Outline and Framework of the Comprehensive State Health Plan

5. Substantially Complete Draft Comprehensive State Health Plan

Review and Revision Process

• MSDH shall have ten (10) to thirty (30) business days to review major deliverables, depending on scope and complexity, as specified in the approved Project Work Plan.

• MSDH will provide consolidated written comments to the Contractor.

• The Contractor shall submit revised deliverables within five (5) to twenty (20) business days, depending on the nature of the revisions.

• Review and revision timelines may be adjusted by mutual written agreement.

Location of Work:

Work may be performed remotely. Periodic in-person meetings within the State of Mississippi may be required, subject to MSDH direction. The State will not provide dedicated workspace for the Contractor. The Contractor is responsible for all travel-related expenses.

Federal Requirements:

To the extent federal funds or federal program alignment apply, the Contractor shall comply with all applicable federal requirements, including those of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Contractor shall cooperate with any required federal reviews or approvals and provide documentation as requested by MSDH to demonstrate compliance

Vendor Responsibilities

Vendor shall:

• Assign a Vendor Account Representative to work directly with the Agency Representative.

• Perform all services provided in the Contract between the Vendor and the Agency in accordance with customary and reasonable industry standards as well as in strict conformance to all laws, statutes, and ordinances and the applicable rules, regulations, methods and procedures of all government boards, bureaus, offices, and other agents. The Contractor shall be responsible for the complete performance of all work; for the methods, means, and equipment used; and for furnishing all materials, tools, apparatus, and property of every description used in connection therewith. No statement within this RFP shall negate compliance with any applicable governing regulation. The absence of detail specifications or the omission of detail description shall be recognized as meaning that only the best commercial practices are to prevail and that only first quality materials and workmanship are to be used.

Vendor shall also:

• Administer and maintain all employment and payroll records, payroll processing, and payment of payroll checks and taxes, including the deductions required by state, federal, and local laws such as social security and withholding taxes for their business and employees;

• Make all unemployment compensation contributions as required by federal and state law(s) and process claims as required for their business and employees;

• Perform a background check and/or drug screening prior to placement if requested by the Contracting Agency and verify and/or provide the results; and,

• Replace immediately, at no additional expense to the Contracting Agency, any employee not performing satisfactorily.

Section 6 - Proposal Evaluation and Basis for Award

6.1 All proposals received in response to this RFP by the stated deadline will receive a comprehensive, fair, and impartial evaluation. A formal scoring methodology comprised of three phases – compliance, analysis, and finalist, will be utilized with each proposal required to pass the previous phase in order to qualify for further evaluation in the next phase. Agency will use an evaluation committee to review and evaluate the proposals using a 100-point scale as well as consensus scoring. Consensus scoring involves solidarity or general agreement of opinion among evaluators, based on information and data contained in the RFP proposals. The evaluation of any proposal may be suspended and/or terminated at the Agency’s discretion at any point during the evaluation process at which time the Agency determines that said proposal and/or vendor fails to meet any of the mandatory requirements as stated in this RFP, the proposal is determined to contain fatal deficiencies to the extent that the likelihood of selection for contract negotiations is minimal, or Agency and/or the Board receives reliable information that would make contracting with the vendor impractical or otherwise not in the best interests of the Board and/or the State of Mississippi.

6.2 Compliance Phase: In this initial phase of the evaluation process, all proposals received are reviewed by the Agency Procurement Director and/or designee to determine if mandatory RFP requirements have been satisfied, meaning whether a proposal/vendor is responsive, responsible, and/or acceptable. Compliance requirements are not assigned a point percentage or score, but are simply recorded as Pass or Fail.

• Every statement containing “must,” “shall,” “will,” etc., is a mandatory requirement. Failure to respond leads to mandatory proposal disqualification. Such mandatory requirements are to be clear and (preferably) standing alone.

• Every statement containing “may,” “can,” “should,” etc., is a desirable requirement. Vendors may ignore these if they wish. The only penalty for doing so is a possible loss of scoring points if the requirement has scoring points tied to it.

A Pass score is assigned to each factor for which the response to the question(s) defined is “Yes.” In the event that any factor receives a Fail score or for some reason cannot be evaluated, an explanation of the problem or concern and the corresponding question must be evaluated and made part of the record, to include any allowable waivers.

Proposals with errors that do not alter the substance of the proposal can be accepted, and the Agency Procurement Director may allow the vendor to correct the problem prior to review as long as the irregularities are insignificant mistakes that can be waived or corrected without prejudice to other vendors. The Agency has the right to waive minor defects or variations of a proposal from the exact requirements of the specifications that do not affect the price, quality, quantity, delivery, or performance time of the services being procured. If insufficient information is submitted by a vendor with the proposal for the Agency to properly evaluate the proposal, the Agency has the right to require such additional information as it may deem necessary after the time set for receipt of proposals, provided that the information requested does not change the price, quality, quantity, delivery, or performance time of the services being procured. Discussions may be conducted with vendors who submit proposals determined to be reasonably susceptible of being selected for the award, but proposals may also be accepted without such discussions. If any component received a Fail score (a “No” response) on any item or contains an item which for some reason cannot be evaluated, it shall be deemed as non-responsive and/or non-responsible. Failure to comply with these RFP requirements may result in the proposal being eliminated from further consideration. All proposals which are determined to be responsive, responsible, and/or acceptable will continue on to next phase.

6.3 Analysis Phase: In this phase of the evaluation process, the evaluation committee utilizes consensus scoring to determine numerical scores for each proposal.

6.4 Finalist Phase: In this phase of the evaluation process, the evaluation committee seeks to determine from among the finalists whose proposal is the most advantageous to Agency and the Board. Upon completion of the Analysis Phase, the evaluation committee reviews and compares the numerical scores from among the Vendors in order to determine finalists. The top scoring Vendor, as well as all other Vendors with scores within ten points of the top scoring Vendor, will be named as finalists and will be further evaluated. This phase may consist of the following components:

• Best and Final Offer (BAFO) – At the Agency’s discretion, all finalists may be given the opportunity to provide a BAFO relative to their cost proposal. The Agency will notify finalists if a BAFO may be submitted, and will establish a date and time for submission. Although a finalist is under no obligation to submit such an offer, any such BAFO should include any applicable revised financial exhibits and must be signed by an appropriate representative of your company. If a finalist chooses to not make a BAFO, the financial proposal included in your company’s response to this RFP will be considered as the BAFO.

Unsolicited BAFOs, including but not limited to such offers submitted by non-finalists, will not be accepted. The numerical scores for the Cost factor from the Analysis Phase will be adjusted for any BAFO received from a finalist.

6.5 Upon completion of the evaluation of proposals, the evaluation committee will determine the top scoring proposal and provide a recommendation to the Board. The Board will make a determination as to the proposal deemed most advantageous to the Board and will authorize the issuance of a notice of intent-to-award the Contract to the selected vendor and authorize contract negotiations with the selected vendor. Subsequent to such authorization by the Board, all participating vendors will be notified in writing of the contract award and will be afforded the opportunity to participate in a post-award vendor debriefing.

6.6 The Agency intends to award one or more contract(s) to provide the services described in this RFP to the responsible and responsive vendor(s) determined in writing to be the most advantageous to the State taking into consideration price and the evaluation factors set forth in this RFP. No other factors or criteria shall be used in the evaluation. This RFP may result in a single or multiple award, depending on which is in the best interest of the Agency/State. The number of awards is at the sole discretion of the Agency.

Section 7 - Minimum Vendor Qualifications

The following minimum Vendor requirements are mandatory. Failure to meet any of these requirements will result in disqualification of the proposal submitted by your company. Please respond by restating each minimum requirement, including the number, listed below with documentation that proves specifically how your company meets that minimum criteria. Please include in your responses the total number of years and types of experience of your company. If, in the opinion of the procurement team, you fail to prove that your company meets any of these minimum requirements, the proposal will be disqualified from further evaluation. If this happens, you will be notified of the decision and will have an opportunity to provide additional information to prove your company does meet the minimum requirements. It is incumbent upon the disqualified Vendor to respond timely and completely to any such notice as unreasonable delays and/or non-responsive submissions may result in the disqualification being upheld without further review.

The Vendor must have:

Prior Experience

Vendor must have been in business and provided services equivalent or similar in requirements and scale to those described in this RFP for a minimum of five (5) years. The determination of the length of time an entity has provided these services will be based upon the initial date the Vendor established a contractual relationship to provide such services. For each client, please specify:

• Client information, including the name, title, address, email address, and phone number of a person whom we may contact to confirm as needed,

• The type of work your company provided to the client,

• Contract effective dates for the time period(s) your company provided services to the client.

1. Organizational Experience

The proposer must demonstrate a minimum of five (5) years of experience conducting statewide or multi-jurisdictional health planning, health systems assessment, or comparable large-scale health policy or planning initiatives.

Experience must include work involving healthcare systems, public health, or population health, and must demonstrate the ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects.

2. Statewide or Large-Scale Health Planning Experience

The proposer must have successfully completed at least two (2) projects that involved one or more of the following:

• Development of a state health plan, health systems plan, or health improvement plan;

• Comprehensive assessment of healthcare facilities, workforce, or health system capacity;

• Statewide or regional health needs assessment with policy or investment implications.

At least one project must have involved a state agency or statewide entity.

3. CMS Alignment and Federal Program Experience

The proposer must demonstrate experience aligning health planning or system transformation efforts with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) programs, initiatives, or funding requirements.

Relevant experience may include, but is not limited to:

• Medicaid or Medicare-related system assessments;

• CMS innovation models or waiver-related planning;

• Rural health transformation, access, or workforce initiatives supported by federal funding.

4. Rural Health Systems Expertise

The proposer must demonstrate substantive experience assessing or supporting rural healthcare systems, including analysis of:

• Access to care in rural or underserved areas;

• Rural healthcare workforce availability and needs;

• Financial sustainability or capacity of rural hospitals or providers.

Experience in Southern or predominantly rural states is preferred but not required.

5. Third-Party Assessment and Validation Capability

The proposer must demonstrate the ability to conduct an independent, objective, third-party assessment of statewide health systems or planning efforts, including validation of existing strategies, identification of gaps, and development of evidence-based recommendations.

Proposers must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could impair independence.

6. Multidisciplinary Team Qualifications

The proposer must identify a project team with demonstrated expertise in the following areas:

• Public health and population health analysis;

• Healthcare delivery systems and facilities planning;

• Health workforce assessment;

• Health data analysis and forecasting;

• Stakeholder and community engagement;

• Health equity and social determinants of health.

Key personnel must have relevant professional credentials, education, or equivalent experience appropriate to their roles.

7. Data Analysis and Stakeholder Engagement Capacity

The proposer must demonstrate:

• Experience using quantitative and qualitative data to inform health planning; and

• Capacity to design and facilitate inclusive stakeholder engagement processes across diverse sectors and communities.

Preference may be given to proposers with demonstrated experience supporting state health planning efforts that inform funding allocation, regulatory decision-making, or long-term system transformation initiatives.

Financial Stability or Solvency

Vendor must

• Be legally authorized to do business in the State of Mississippi or demonstrate the ability to obtain such authorization prior to contract execution;

• Be financially stable or solvent, if required. Each vendor shall submit copies of the most recent years independently audited financial statements as well as financial statements for the preceding three (3) years, if they exists. The submission must include the audit opinion, the balance sheet, and statements of income, retained earnings, cash flows, and the notes to the financial statements. If independently audited financial statements do not exist, Vendor must state the reason and, instead submit sufficient information to enable the Agency to access the financial stability or solvency of the vendor, such as financial statements, credit ratings, a line of credit, or other financial arrangements sufficient to enable the Vendor to be capable of meeting the requirements of this RFP.

Resources and Facilities

The Vendor must have adequate resources and facilities to render the requested services referenced herein,…