RFQ NURSE HOME SITTING SERVICES.docx

ANDREA SANDERS

COMMISSIONER

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

Nurse & Sitter Services

RFQ No. HSS3112025 RFx No. 3150006282 Date: May 7, 2025

CLOSING LOCATION

Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services 750 North State Street Jackson, Mississippi 39202

CONTACT

LaShunda Williams, RFQ Coordinator 601-359-4368 contracts@mdcps.ms.gov

CLOSING DATE & TIME

Responses must be received no later than June 18, 2025, 12:00 p.m., Central Standard Time

Table of Contents

SECTION 1: Procurement Process

1.1 Background

The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services was created as the state’s lead child welfare agency by the 2016 Mississippi Legislature, separating it from the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The mission of MDCPS is to lead Mississippi’s efforts in keeping children and youth safe and thriving by:

· strengthening families;

· preventing child abuse, neglect and exploitation; and,

· promoting child and family well-being and permanent family connections.

MDCPS is seeking to procure the services of vendors to provide Nursing and Sitter Services statewide. It is understood that any contract(s) resulting from RFQ No. HSS3112025 requires approval by MDCPS Commissioner/designee and/or PPRB. Any contract resulting from RFQ No. HSS3112025 shall become effective when fully executed by all parties.

Deadline to Submit Questions or Requests for Clarification May 16, 2025, 12:00 p.m., CST

Anticipated Posting of Answers to Questions and Requests for Clarifications May 20, 2025

Deadline to Submit the Required Letter of Intent May 27, 2025, 12:00 p.m., CST

Anticipated Initial Contract Term

August 7, 2025 – April 16, 2027

Note: MDCPS reserves the right to adjust this schedule as it deems necessary. MDCPS may post Answers to Questions or the Notice of Intent to Award on dates other than those stated above without amendment to this RFQ. The initial contract term shall be one (1) year and eight months, but MDCPS may change the dates of the initial contract term without amendment to this RFQ if the date changes are necessary because of the procurement schedule. No other dates shall be changed unless a written amendment is issued.

1.3 Questions and Requests for Clarification

Questions relating to the RFQ requirements, or the services shall be submitted in writing to the RFQ Coordinator(s) listed on the cover page of this RFQ at Contracts@mdcps.ms.gov no later than May 16, 2025, 12:00 p.m., CST. Offerors are cautioned that any statements made by any person at the agency shall not be relied upon where it contradicts any portion of this RFQ, unless it is subsequently ratified by a formal written amendment to the RFQ. All questions and answers will be published on the MDCPS website and the Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal website in a manner that all Offerors will be able to view.

When submitting questions and requests for clarifications, “RFQ No. HSS3112025, Nursing and Sitter Services Questions” should be the subject for the email. Question submittals should include a reference to the applicable RFQ section and be submitted in the format shown below:

1.

1.4 Required Letter of Intent

Offerors shall notify MDCPS of their intention to submit a qualifications package. The letter of intent (Attachment I) shall be submitted via email Contracts@mdcps.ms.gov by May 27, 2025, 12:00 p.m. CST. The letter of intent shall include the title and RFx number on the cover page of this RFQ, the Offeror’s organizational name and address, one (1) to two (2) sentences stating that the Offeror’s organization intends to submit a qualification package for this service, location of the service area, and the contact person’s name, title, phone number, fax number, Tax I.D. number, DUNS number, address, and email address. MDCPS will acknowledge receipt of the letter of intent via return email from contracts@mdcps.ms.gov. A NON-ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is a NON-RECEIPT of the required letter of intent. Automated email Delivery or Read receipts are not considered an acknowledgement. Timely delivery of the letter of intent is the sole responsibility of the Offeror.

1.5 Acceptance Period

The Agency will accept responses until June 18, 2025 at 12:00 p.m., CST. All responses shall be delivered to the RFQ Coordinator(s) listed on the cover page of this RFQ. Qualification submission requirements are contained in Section 3 of this RFQ.

1.6 Rejection of Qualifications

Any responses which do not conform to the requirements set forth in this RFQ may be rejected by MDCPS. Responses may be rejected for reasons which include, but are not limited to, the following:

· The response contains unauthorized amendments to the requirements of the RFQ.

· The response is conditional.

· The submission is incomplete or contains irregularities which make the statement of qualification indefinite or ambiguous.

· The response is received late. Late submissions will be maintained unopened in the procurement file.

· The submission is not signed by an authorized representative of the party.

· The submission contains false or misleading statements or references.

· The submission does not offer to provide all services required by the RFQ.

· Any other reason MDCPS determines to be in the best interest of the State.

1.7 Expenses Incurred in Preparing Offers

The MDCPS accepts no responsibility for any expense incurred by any Offeror in the preparation and presentation of an offer. Such expenses shall be borne exclusively by the Offeror.

1.8 Proprietary Information

The Offeror should identify any part of the submission considered to be proprietary information which may remain confidential in accordance with Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 25-61-9 and 79-23-1 (1972, as amended), as a “Trade Secret.” Any pages not marked accordingly will be subject to review by the general public after award of the contract. Requests to review the proprietary information will be handled in accordance with applicable legal procedures. The Offeror shall submit a completed Proprietary Information Form, attached to this RFQ as Attachment C. Additional submission requirements regarding any part of the qualification package marked as a “Trade Secret” are contained in Section 3 of this RFQ.

1.9 Restrictions on Communication with Agency Staff

At no time shall any Offeror or its personnel contact, or attempt to contact, any MDCPS staff regarding this RFQ except the RFQ Coordinator listed on the cover page of this RFQ in the manner prescribed in Section 1.3. Unauthorized contact regarding the RFQ with other employees of the agency may result in the potential Offeror being disqualified, and the potential Offeror may also be suspended or disbarred from the State.

1.10 Registration with Mississippi Secretary of State

By submitting a response, the Offeror certifies that it is registered to do business in the State of Mississippi as prescribed by Mississippi law and the Mississippi Secretary of State or, if not already registered, that it will do so within five (5) business days of being notified by the agency that it has been selected for contract award. Sole proprietors are not required to register with the Mississippi Secretary of State.

1.11 Debarment

By submitting a response, the Offeror certifies that it is not currently debarred from submitting qualifications for contracts issued by any political subdivision or agency of the State of Mississippi or federal government and that it is not an agent of a person or entity that is currently debarred from submitting a statement of qualification for contracts issued by any political subdivision or agency of the State of Mississippi or federal government. The Offeror shall submit a completed MDCPS Debarment Verification Form, attached to this RFQ as Attachment B. Attachment B shall be received by the MDCPS, in the response submitted by the Offeror, no later than 12:00 p.m., CST on May 8, 2025. The MDCPS reserves the right to deem any response not containing an executed MDCPS Debarment Verification Form as non-responsive to the RFQ.

1.12 Registration with Mississippi’s Accountability System for Governmental Information and Collaboration (MAGIC) If the Offeror is not already registered as a supplier in MAGIC, the Offeror should register as a supplier with the State of Mississippi. Registering as a supplier with the State of MS allows businesses to register for upcoming opportunity notifications by the products they supply, search the system for upcoming solicitations, respond to solicitations electronically, and receive purchase orders via e-mail. The registration can be completed at the following link: http://www.dfa.ms.gov/dfa-offices/mmrs/mississippi-suppliershttp://www.dfa.ms.gov/dfa-offices/mmrs/mississippi-suppliers-vendors/supplier-self-service/vendors/supplier-self-service/. Any questions regarding registration in MAGIC should be directed to the Mississippi Management and Reporting System (MMRS) staff by emailing mash@dfa.ms.gov or calling 601-359-1343.

1.13 Discussions with Offerors

Discussions may be conducted with Offerors who submit a response determined to be reasonably susceptible of being selected for award; however, proposals or qualifications may be accepted without such discussions. Likewise, MDCPS also reserves the right to accept any qualification package as submitted for contract award, without substantive negotiation of proposed terms, services or prices. For these reasons, all parties are advised to propose their most favorable terms initially.

1.14 Solicitation Document

The RFQ is comprised of the base RFQ document, any attachments, any amendments issued prior to the submission deadline, and any other documents released before contract award. The attachments to this RFQ are made a part of this RFQ as if copied herein in words and figures.

1.15 Acknowledgement of Amendments

Should an amendment to the RFQ be issued, it will be posted on the Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal website and the MDCPS website in a manner that all Offerors will be able to view. Further, Offerors must acknowledge receipt of any amendment to the solicitation by signing and returning the amendment (Attachment H) with the qualification package, by identifying the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on the amendment, or by letter. The acknowledgment should be received by the MDCPS by the time and at the place specified for receipt of qualifications as reflected in Section 1.2. It is the Offeror’s sole responsibility to monitor the websites for any updates or amendments to the RFQ.

MDCPS reserves the right to amend the contents of this RFQ as it deems necessary. This RFQ, all questions, requests for clarification, and answers, and any other amendments will be published on the Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal and the MDCPS website in a manner that all Offerors will be able to view. It is the sole responsibility of the Offeror to monitor the MDCPS website and the procurement portal for amendments to the RFQ to ensure their response complies with any such amendments.

1.16 Exceptions

Offerors taking exception to any part or section of the solicitation shall indicate such exceptions on the RFQ Exception(s) form, Attachment D. Failure to indicate any exception will be interpreted as the Offeror’s intent to comply fully with the requirements as written. Conditional or qualified responses, unless specifically allowed, shall be subject to rejection in whole or in part. The qualification package must contain a high degree of acceptance of contract terms and conditions listed in Attachment G of this RFQ.

1.17 Informalities and Irregularities

MDCPS has the right to waive minor defects or variations of a response 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 Offeror with the qualification package for MDCPS to properly evaluate qualifications, MDCPS has the right to require such additional information as it may deem necessary after the time set for receipt of qualifications, provided that the information requested does not change the price, quality, quantity, delivery, or performance time of the services being procured.

1.18 Right to Reject Qualifications

MDCPS reserves the right to reject any and all responses during any step of the procurement process, even after negotiations have begun. MDCPS reserves the right to reject any and all responses where the Offeror takes exception to the terms and conditions of the RFQ and/or fails to meet the terms and conditions and/or in any way attempts to limit the rights of MDCPS and/or the State of Mississippi, including but not limited to, the required contractual terms and provisions set forth in this RFQ.

1.19 Type of Contract

The resultant contract(s) from this RFQ shall consist of this RFQ and any amendments, the Offeror’s response, and/or Offeror’s best and final offer (as applicable). Compensation for services under a contract resulting from this RFQ will be in the form of a firm-fixed price agreement. Contract rights do not vest in any party until a contract is legally executed. MDCPS is under no obligation to award a contract following the issuance of this solicitation.

1.19.1 Any work performed by the awarded Offeror prior to start date of a valid, executed contract is done at Offeror’s sole risk. The State is under no obligation to pay for work performed prior to contract start date.

1.19.2 Required Contract Terms and Conditions

Any contract entered into between MDCPS and an Offeror pursuant to this RFQ shall include the required clauses found in Attachment G and those required by the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations as updated and replaced by PPRB.

1.19.3 Optional Contract Terms and Conditions

Any contract entered into between MDCPS and an Offeror pursuant to this RFQ may have at the discretion of the MDCPS, the optional clauses found in Appendix E of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations.

1.19.4 Price Adjustment to Account for Inflation

A price adjustment may be allowed which does not exceed the lesser of either 5% or the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Any such price adjustment will be effective only once per 12-month period, on the anniversary of the contract start date. If the CPI-U is a negative number, no adjustment in price shall be allowed. A negative CPI-U shall be counted against any subsequent increases in the CPI-U when calculating any price adjustment relative to later contract years. The Contractor shall provide any support for the request for a price adjustment required by MDCPS. MDCPS has the sole discretion to determine whether a price adjustment will be allowed. No price adjustment will be allowed other than as described in this paragraph. Any approval of a price adjustment shall be contained in a duly executed written amendment to this Contract.

1.20 General References Throughout the RFQ

Throughout this document, the various references below refer to the webpages or documents found at the specified link:

· “The MDCPS website” refers to the website found at www.mdcps.ms.gov.

· “The Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal” or “the procurement portal” refers to the website found at https://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Home/Buy.

· “The Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations” or “the PPRB OPSCR Rules and Regulations” refers to the rules and regulations found at https://www.dfa.ms.gov/personal-service-contract-review.

1.21 MDCPS Rights Reserved

By and through this RFQ, MDCPS hereby reserves its rights to the following:

· Reject any and/or all submissions received in response to this RFQ.

· Waive minor irregularities if MDCPS determines that waiver would be in its best interest and would not result in an unfair advantage for other Offerors and potential Offerors.

· Reject any timely and properly submitted response in its entirety for failing to meet any of the mandatory requirements identified herein.

· Select for contract or for negotiations, a statement of qualification other than that with the lowest cost.

· If negotiations fail to result in a contract or agreement prior to the anticipated contract start date, MDCPS may terminate negotiations and take such other action as MDCPS deems appropriate.

SECTION 2: Scope of Services and Requirements

2.1 Purpose

MDCPS is seeking to establish contract(s) for Nurse & Sitter Services.

It is understood that any contract resulting from this RFQ may require approval by the Public Procurement Review Board (PPRB). If any contract resulting from this RFQ is not approved by MDCPS and/or PPRB (if required), it is void and no payment shall be made.

2.2 Scope of Services

The Contractor will perform the following services upon request of the Agency in fulfillment of the purposes of this contract:

The contract will allow for service delivery in all Mississippi counties. Services will be provided by agencies licensed and approved by the State of Mississippi to deliver services to children through sitters, Certified Nursing Assistants, Behavioral aides, Licensed and Registered Nurses.

We are looking for sitters willing to sit in non-traditional settings such as hotels, group homes, and transitional living apartments. Sitters will need training in non-violent crisis intervention and be willing to perform some of the following duties:

· Assess and monitor the mental and emotional status of youth in foster care

· Assist with implementing treatment plan goals provided by qualified mental health professionals.

· Provide emotional support and crisis intervention to children dealing with behavioral health issues.

· Maintain client confidentiality and respect their rights.

· Assist clients with daily living activities such as meal prep, oral medication set-up, administer injectable medication as prescribed, and general health assessments.

MDCPS Responsibilities:

1. Provide detailed description of services to be provided, for example assistance with ADLs, transportation to medical appointments, food preparation and medication needs.

2. Anticipated timeframe for services (number of days, hours).

3. Location where services are to be provided and notification of location changes.

4. Provide sitter with an MDCPS emergency contact and hotline number.

Healthcare Service Responsibilities:

1. Provide a 24/7 point of contact for requesting sitter services and to report no shows.

2. Ensure staff is appropriately trained in CPR and verbal de-escalation strategies at a minimum. Additional training in nonviolent crisis intervention is preferred.

3. Provide sitter, CNA, Behavioral Aides or nurses for ongoing supervision and assistance to assigned youth based on needs identified by MDCPS.

4. Never leave youth alone unless prior written approval is obtained from MDCPS representative.

5. Do not transport youth to personal residence or bring family and friends to the location where services are being provided to youth.

6. Do not purchase or provide youth with tobacco products or alcohol.

7. Assist youth with ADLs and cleanliness as needed.

8. Contact MDCPS worker to report issues with behavior, food, clothing. These issues should also be submitted in writing to the Coordinated Care Unit at TherapeuticPlacement@mdcps.ms.gov.

9. Serious incidents or allegations of abuse must be reported to the MCIA hotline at 1-800-222- 8000.

10. Maintain and report monthly clients served, number of hours and services rendered to TherapeuticPlacement@mdcps.ms.gov.

Sitters may take youth on age-appropriate outings to assist with improving social skills if determined appropriate by their agency and the child’s caseworker/supervisor. Corporal punishment, profanity or extreme disciplinary measures should not be used with youth in foster care.

Sitters may take youth on age-appropriate outings to assist with improving social skills if determined appropriate by their agency and the child’s caseworker/supervisor. Corporal punishment, profanity or extreme disciplinary measures should not be used with youth in foster care.

2.3 Term

The anticipated term of the contract shall be for a period of one (1) year and eight months, beginning on August 1, 2025 and ending on April 16, 2027 the contract may be renewed at the discretion of MDCPS for a period of one (1) successive two-year period under the same prices, terms, and conditions as in the original contract, and subject to approval by the PPRB. The total number of renewal years permitted shall not exceed two years or extend past April 16, 2029.

Renewal years are subject to the needs of MDCPS, as well as the availability and appropriation of funds. MDCPS shall notify the contractor, on a timely basis, that funds are or are not available for the continuation of the contract for each succeeding fiscal period. A multi-term contract will be canceled if funds are not appropriated or otherwise made available to support the continuation of performance in any fiscal period succeeding the first; however, this does not affect either the State’s rights or the contractor’s rights under any termination clause in the contract.

2.4 Insurance

The company represents that it will maintain workers' compensation insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000.00 per occurrence which shall inure to the benefit of all the company’s personnel performing services under this Contract, comprehensive general liability or professional general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000.00 per occurrence, and employee fidelity bond insurance with minimum limits of $100,000.00. All general liability, professional liability and fidelity bond insurance will provide coverage to MDCPS as an additional insured.

All insurance policies shall be issued by companies authorized to do business under the laws of the State of Mississippi. A certificate of insurance providing the aforesaid coverage shall be furnished to MDCPS prior to commencement of services resulting from this RFQ. MDCPS reserves the right to request from carriers, certificates of insurance regarding the required coverage. Insurance carriers must be licensed or hold a Certificate of Authority from the Mississippi Department of Insurance.

The Offeror shall be prepared to provide evidence of required insurance upon request by the MDCPS at any point during the contract period and should consult with legal counsel regarding its obligations.

Contractor shall submit to Agency within five (5) business days of notification of intent to award, a certificate of insurance and/or bond which outlines the coverage and limits defined in the procurement and contract. There are no provisions for exceptions to this requirement. Failure to provide the certificates of insurance within five (5) business days may be cause for your submission to be declared non-responsive or for your contract to be cancelled.

Contractor shall not commence work under this contract until it obtains all insurance and/or bond required under this provision and furnishes a certificate or other form showing proof of current coverage to the State. After work commences, the Contractor will keep in force all required insurance and/or bond until the contract is terminated or expires.

The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that any subcontractors provide adequate insurance and/or bond coverage for the activities arising out of subcontracts.

In no event shall the requirement for an insurance, bond, or other surety be waived. Any failure to comply with the reporting provisions of this clause shall constitute a material breach of Contract and shall be grounds for immediate termination of this Contract by Agency.

2.5 Multiple Awards

MDCPS reserves the right to make multiple awards.

SECTION 3: Submission Requirements

3.1. Submission Deadline

All responses submitted in response to this RFQ must be received by the RFQ Coordinator listed on the cover page of this RFQ no later than June 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM, Central Standard Time.

Timely submission is the sole responsibility of the Offeror. Qualification packages received by the RFQ Coordinator after the specified time shall be rejected and maintained unopened as part of the procurement file. All Offerors are urged to take the possibility of delay into account when submitting a qualification package. The agency will not be responsible for mail delays, lost mail, or any other delivery failure. All risk of late arrival due to unanticipated delay – whether delivered by hand, U.S. Postal Service, courier or other delivery service or method – is entirely on the Offeror. A qualification package is considered delivered to the Agency when it is received by the RFQ coordinator.

The time and date of receipt shall be indicated on the envelope or package by the RFQ Coordinator. The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt is the time and date stamp of the RFQ Coordinator on the qualification package or other documentary evidence of receipt used by the RFQ Coordinator. Offerors may request the RFQ Coordinator provide them documentation of receipt of their qualification packages.

3.2 Manner of Submission

Responses must be submitted by U.S. Mail, other courier, or by hand delivery in a sealed envelope or package. The outside of the envelope or package should be marked:

Request for Qualifications for Nursing & Sitter Services Opening Date: June 18, 2025 RFQ No. 3150006282 RFQ Number: HSS3112025 Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services 750 North State Street Jackson, Mississippi 39202

SEALED QUALIFICATION PACKAGE

***DO NOT OPEN***

Responses submitted via facsimile (fax) machine, e-mail, or another electronic submission method will not be accepted.

3.3 Content of Qualification Package

All responses shall be in writing. Offerors shall submit a labeled binder containing one (1) original, signed qualification package and one (1) electronic copy of the qualification package. The original qualification package (physical copy – in the labeled binder) shall include six (6) tabs dividing appropriate sections of Offeror’s qualifications. The electronic copy shall be stored on a thumb drive that includes separate PDF file folders of each required Tab.

Each Tab should be labelled as follows and include the content discussed in Sections 3.3.1 through 3.3.6 of this RFQ.:

Electronic files shall not be password protected, shall be in .PDF format, and shall be capable of being copied to other media including a readable version of Microsoft Word.

In responding to the RFQ, use the outline as it appears below and label your responses accordingly. If the total number of pages exceeds the parameters stated below, the additional pages will be discarded and will not be reviewed by the Evaluation Committee. A non-response will result in disqualification of the application. Ensure that applicable fields are completed and that the Transmittal Letter signed.

Modifications or additions to any portion of the procurement document may be cause for rejection of the response. MDCPS reserves the right to decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether to reject a qualifications package with modifications or additions as non-responsive. As a precondition to qualification acceptance, MDCPS may request the Offeror to withdraw or modify those portions of the statement of qualification deemed non-responsive that do not affect quality, quantity, price, or delivery of the service. MDCPS reserves the right to address any minor informalities as provided by Section 3-202.12.4.1 of the PPRB OPSCR Rules and Regulations.

3.3.1 Transmittal Letter and Required Documentation

The Offeror should submit a Transmittal Letter which contains the following minimum information:

· The Offeror’s name, telephone number, location of Offeror’s principal place of business, and if different, the place of performance of services solicited by this RFQ.

· The age of the Offeror's business and the average number of employees the Offeror has employed for the past three (3) years;

· A statement the Offeror certifies that it is registered to do business in the State of Mississippi as prescribed by the Mississippi Secretary of State or, if not already registered, that it will do so within three (3) business days of written notification of award. Sole proprietors are not required to register with the Mississippi Secretary of State.

In addition to the Transmittal Letter, the following completed and signed documents should be included under Tab 1:

· Cover Sheet with Certifications and Assurances (Attachment A)

· Debarment Verification Form (Attachment B)

· Proprietary Information Form (Attachment C)

· Qualification Exception Summary (Attachment D)

· A minimum of 3 References (Attachment E)

· Acknowledgement of Amendments, if applicable (Attachment H)

· Copy of Previously Submitted Required Letter of Intent (Attachment I)

· Pre-Offeror’s Statement of Acknowledgement (Attachment J)

· Cost Form (Attachment L)

· Completed W-9

3.3.2 Minimum Qualifications and Information

The Offeror must submit documentation demonstrating that it meets the following minimum qualifications:

· The Offeror must receive a minimum total score of 12 from two references on the Reference Score Sheet, provided as Attachment F to this RFQ. The Offeror must have or have had contracts or projects with the references submitted on Attachment E under which services similar in scope, size, or discipline to the services required herein were performed or undertaken during the past three (3) years. References must be familiar with the Offeror’s abilities in the areas involved with this RFQ. MDCPS will use these references to determine the Offeror’s ability to perform the services. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to ensure that the reference contact information is correct and current. Offerors should verify before submitting their response that the contact person and phone number are correct for each reference. MDCPS staff must be able to reach at least two (2) references for an Offeror within two (2) business days of qualification opening. The Offeror may submit as many references as desired. MDCPS will begin contacting references at the top of the list and will continue down the list until MDCPS completes a Reference Score Sheet for two (2) references.

· The Offeror must be financially stable or solvent. Each Offeror shall submit copies of the most recent year’s independently audited finance statements as well as financial statements for the preceding two (2) years. The submission must include the audit opinion, the balance sheet, and statements of income, retained earnings, cash flows, notes to the financial statements, and account balances for the past six (6) months. If independently audited financial statements do not exist, Offeror must state the reason and, instead, submit sufficient information to enable the Agency to assess the financial stability or solvency of the Offeror, such as financial statements, credit ratings, a line of credit, or other financial arrangements sufficient to enable the Offeror to be capable of meeting the requirements of the RFQ.

· The Offeror must be an agency licensed and approved by the State of Mississippi to deliver in-home services to children through nurses & sitters.

· The Offeror must have provided a minimum of 40 nursing employee placements over the previous two years.

· The Offeror must have been in business and providing services similar to those being solicited in this RFQ for a minimum of two (2) years (i.e. one-to-one observation/care for children and youth in MS custody who may have behavioral health or medical needs).

· The Offeror must be able to serve multiple regions and/or counties in the State of Mississippi

3.3.3 Technical Information

Offerors should submit a plan giving as many details as is practical explaining how the services will be performed pursuant to Section 2.2 of this RFQ and information for quality control and assurance programs.

3.3.4 Cost Information

Offerors must submit a Cost Form using Attachment L. All pricing submitted on Attachment L should include all necessary expenditures to provide services requested in this RFQ with no additional or hidden fees. In addition, Offerors should submit a detailed cost summary as a separate attachment to justify the rate provided.

3.3.5 Management Information

There are no requirements regarding identifying information in the Management response, and Offerors should feel free to include any identifying information it deems necessary for a complete statement of qualification.

Offerors should provide the following information in the Management section:

· Detailed approach to the management of the program and ability to keep the program on target and to ensure that the requested services are provided;

· Offeror’s plan to ensure that all requests are being met and the ability to identify and resolve problems which occur;

· Identification of in-house resources vs. contracted resources;

· Describe the experience of the firm in providing services of similar scope and size as those required by this RFQ (Refer to Section 2.2) and working with children and youth. Provide the number of years that the company has been providing services, and provide a statement on the extent of any corporate expansion required to handle the service;

· Documentation of experience in performing similar work by employees and when appropriate, sub-contractors and understanding the importance of interacting with the appropriate MDCPS staff and presenting a plan to do so appropriately;

· Resumes listing abilities, qualifications and experience of all other individuals who will be assigned to provide the required services; and

· Method(s) for estimating and documenting personnel hours spent by staff on program activities to be sure they are sound and fair (i.e., personnel, equipment, facilities, to perform the services currently available or demonstrated to be made available at the time of contracting).

3.3.6 Public Copy of Complete Qualification Package

The Offeror shall prepare a complete copy of the qualification package (as required by Sections 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4, and 3.3.5) and redact any information the Offeror deems to be a Trade Secret. For additional information about what constitutes a Trade Secret, see Section 1.8 of this RFQ and Miss. Code Ann. §§ 25-61-1, et seq. and 79-23-1. The redacted copy of the complete qualification package shall be considered the “Public Copy” of the Offeror’s qualification package.

The Public Copy of the qualification package is considered a public record and is subject to release by MDCPS without notice to the Offeror pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. §§ 25-61-1 et seq. MDCPS may release the Public Copy pursuant to requests under the Mississippi Public Records Act or any other reason deemed necessary by MDCPS. Should the Offeror be awarded a contract, the Public Copy will also be posted to the Transparency Mississippi website.

If an Offeror does not submit a Public Copy, the Agency will consider the statement of qualification submitted in response to Sections 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4, and 3.3.5, to be the Public Copy and subject to being released, in full, without notice to the Offeror.

SECTION 4: Evaluation and Award

Application Review and Selection Staff from MDCPS will conduct an initial review to ensure that the format requirements outlined in this RFQ have been fulfilled. If any of the material format or substantive requirements is missing or incorrect, the application may be disqualified.

All applications that pass the initial review will be submitted to an evaluation committee that shall evaluate and score the applications. The committee may consist of MDCPS staff, representatives from local advisory boards, and any other individuals that MDCPS deems capable and appropriate for the selection of potential providers. The committee shall not include potential contractors, and no committee member may apply or assist others in applying for this contract.

The purpose of the evaluation is to determine which applicants demonstrate the skills, expertise and experience to successfully perform the tasks specified in the RFQ. Each committee member will read and score each application using a standardized scoring instrument. The scoring instrument will reflect the requirements of the RFQ.

An applicant may not be recommended for funding, regardless of the merits of the application submitted, if it has a history of contract non-compliance with the requirements of MDCPS or other funding source or poor past or current contract performance with any MDCPS or other funding source. The applicant may be given a provisional award with the stipulation that special terms and conditions regarding the areas of concern will be a part of the contract.

The committee will make an award recommendation to the Commissioner, or designee, who will make the final recommendation to the Division of Procurement. Prior to making an award, the MDCPS may choose to conduct interviews with applicants. The purpose of the interviews would be to ask follow-up questions that may arise from the review committee and collect any additional information not gleaned from the RFQ responses. MDCPS may also request additional information necessary to determine the applicant’s financial stability, ability to perform on schedule or willingness to incorporate additional features in the application, and any other relevant information necessary to make the award.

MDCPS will evaluate the Offerors’ response in three steps.

4.1 Step One: Determination of Responsive and Responsible Offerors Responses will be reviewed to determine whether the Offeror will be deemed responsive and responsible. Responses which do not comply with the minimum specifications may be deemed Non-Responsive or Not Responsible and rejected immediately, receiving no further consideration. The Offeror shall be notified in writing if their submission is deemed Non-Responsive and/or Not Responsible and is thereby rejected.

4.1.1 Responsive Respondent

Offeror must submit a response which conforms in all material respects to this RFQ, as determined by MDCPS.

Nonconforming Terms and Conditions: A response that includes terms and conditions that do not conform to the terms and conditions in the qualification document is subject to rejection as non-responsive. The MDCPS reserves the right to permit the Offeror to withdraw nonconforming terms and conditions from its response prior to a determination by the MDCPS of non-responsiveness based on the submission of nonconforming terms and conditions.

Conditioning Qualifications Upon Other Awards: Any statement of qualification which is conditioned upon receiving award of both the particular contract being solicited and another Mississippi contract shall be deemed non-responsive and not acceptable.

4.1.2 Responsible Respondent

Offeror must have capability in all respects to perform fully the contract requirements and the integrity and reliability which will assure good faith performance, as determined by MDCPS. At a minimum, an Offeror must meet or exceed the minimum qualifications as stated in Section 3.3.2 to be deemed responsible.

4.2 Step Two: Evaluation Committee

Submissions that satisfactorily complete Step One will be reviewed and analyzed by an evaluation committee to determine if the response adequately meet the needs of MDCPS. The evaluation committee will award points using the factors listed below. There are a total of 100 points available.

4.2.1 Technical Factors (Proposed Methodology) - 33 Points (33%)

· Does the offeror demonstrate a clear understanding of the scope of work and related objectives? (Does the offeror understand what work needs to be done?) (15 points)

· Has the past performance of the offeror's proposed methodology been documented? (Has the offeror done this work in the past?) (10 points)

· Does the offeror include quality control and assurance programs? (Does the offeror have, or can they keep valid workers?) (8 points)

4.2.2 Cost Factors (Price) – 35 Points (35%)

· Points awarded for price will be calculated utilizing the formula documented in Attachment M.

4.2.3 Management Factors – 32 Points (32%)

· History and experience in performing the work: (10 points)

· Does the offeror document a record of reliability? (4 points)

· Does the offeror demonstrate a track record of service as evidenced by on-time, on budget, and contract compliance performance? (5 points)

· Does the offeror document industry or program experience? Has the offeror dealt with state contracts in the past? (5 points)

· Availability of personnel, facilities, equipment and other resources: (8 points)

4.3 Step Three: Negotiation

MDCPS will contact the Offerors with the submission which best meets the agency’s needs (based on factors evaluated in Step Two) and may attempt to negotiate an agreement that is deemed acceptable to both parties.

4.3.1 Negotiating with Next-Ranked Vendor

Should negotiations discussed in Section 4.3 fail to result in a contract that is acceptable to both parties or the State ceases doing business with any Contractor selected through this RFQ process, for any reason, the State reserves the right to initiate negotiations with the next ranked vendor.

4.4 Award

Following evaluation, the Agency will issue a Notice of Intent to Award to the responsible Offeror(s) whose submission is determined in writing, to be the most advantageous to the State taking into consideration price and the evaluation factors set forth in the RFQ. No other factors or criteria shall be used in the evaluation.

4.4.1 Notice of Intent to Award

The Notice of Intent to Award for this procurement will be made available to the public through posting on the Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal website and the agency website. All participating Offerors will be notified in writing of MDCPS’ intent to award a contract and identify the selected Offeror.

4.4.2 Notice of Contract Award

Following issuance of the Notice of Intent to Award, successful negotiation of the contract, and approval of the contract by the Public Procurement Review Board and any other required entities, MDCPS make a Notice of Contract Award available to the public.

SECTION 5: Debriefing

5.1 Post-Award Vendor Debriefing

A respondent, successful or unsuccessful, may request a post-award debriefing, in writing, by U.S. mail or electronic submission. The written request must be received by the Chief Procurement Officer, LaShunda Williams of the MDCPS within three (3) business days of notification of the contract award. A post-award debriefing is a meeting and not a hearing; therefore, legal representation is not required. A debriefing typically occurs within three (3) business days of receipt of the request. If a respondent prefers to have legal representation present, the respondent must notify the Chief Procurement Officer, LaShunda Williams in writing and identify its attorney by name, address, and telephone number. The MDCPS will schedule and/or suspend and reschedule the meeting at a time when a Representative of the Office of the Mississippi Attorney General can be present.

At a minimum, the debriefing information shall include the following:

1. The agency’s evaluation of significant weaknesses or deficiencies in the vendor’s bid, proposal, or qualifications, if applicable;

2. The overall evaluated cost or price, and technical rating, if applicable, of the successful vendor(s) and the debriefed vendor;

3. The overall ranking of all vendors, when any ranking was developed by the agency during the selection process;

4. A summary of the rationale for award; and,

5. Reasonable responses to relevant questions about selection procedures contained in the solicitation, applicable regulations, and other applicable authorities that were followed.

For additional information regarding Post-Award Debriefing, as well as the information that may be provided and excluded, please see Section 7-113, Post-Award Vendor Debriefing, of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract Review Rules and Regulations as updated and replaced by PPRB.

ATTACHMENT A: Cover Sheet with Certifications and Assurances Organization Name:__________________________________________________________________________ Organization’s Physical Address: _______________________________________________________________ Organization’s Mailing Address:________________________________________________________________ Organization’s Principal Place of Business:________________________________________________________ Organization’s Place of Performance of Services (if different):_________________________________________ Contact Person’s Name:_______________________________________________________________________ Contact Person’s Title:________________________________________________________________________ Contact Person’s Phone No.:___________________________________________________________________ Contact Person’s Fax No.:_____________________________________________________________________ Contact Person’s Email Address:________________________________________________________________ Tax I.D. Number: ____________________________________________________________________ DUNS Number:_____________________________________________________________________ Age of business: _________ Average number of employees over the past three (3) years: __________ Indicate if this organization is minority or women owned (For Classification Purposes ONLY):

Minority-Owned________________ Women-Owned ______________ Indicate the underlying philosophy of the firm in providing the services required within this solicitation:

By signing below, the Company Representative certifies that he/she has authority to bind the company, and further acknowledges on behalf of the company:

1. That he/she has thoroughly read and understands this Request for Qualifications and the attachments thereto;

2. That the company meets all requirements and acknowledges all certifications contained in this Request for Qualifications and the attachments thereto;

3. That the company agrees to all provisions of this Request for Qualifications and the attachments thereto including, but not limited to, the Required and Optional Clauses to be included in any contract resulting from this RFQ (Attachments G);

4. That the company will perform the services required at the prices quoted;

5. That, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the cost or pricing data submitted is accurate, complete, and current as of the submission date;

6. That the company has, or will secure, at its own expense, applicable licensed and certified personnel or personnel with requisite credentials who shall be qualified to perform the duties required to be performed under this Request for Qualifications.

7. NON-DEBARMENT: By submitting a qualification, the respondent certifies that it is not currently debarred from submitting qualifications for contracts issued by any political subdivision or agency of the State of Mississippi and that it is not an agent of a person or entity that is currently debarred from submitting qualifications for contracts issued by any political subdivision or agency of the State of Mississippi.

8. REPRESENTATION REGARDING CONTINGENT FEES

Contractor represents that it has not retained a person to solicit or secure a state contract upon an agreement or understanding for a commission, percentage,…