RHRFP2604 - IPRO RFP1379 Specs_AMD 1.doc

STATE OF IDAHO

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

Third Party Administrator - Ladder Payments - RHTP Rural Health Transformation Plan and Program (RHTP) Grant

RHRFP2604 / IPRO RFP1379

Issue Date 06/30/2026

AMENDED 07/28/2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

1RFP ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

OVERVIEW

QUESTIONS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

PROPOSAL FORMAT

PROPOSAL REVIEW, EVALUATION, AND AWARD

MANDATORY SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Business Information Organization and Staffing

SCOPE OF WORK

APPENDIX A -- COST PROPOSAL AND BILLING PROCEDURE

APPENDIX B -- REPORTS

APPENDIX C -- STATE OF IDAHO CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS WITH ARTICLE 6

APPENDIX D -- RIDERS

APPENDIX E -- IDAHO TERMS AND CONDITIONS BACKGROUND AND LIMITATIONS

ATTACHMENT 1 -- OFFEROR QUESTIONS

ATTACHMENT 2 -- MODIFICATION AND EXCEPTION FORM

ATTACHMENT 3 -- PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

ATTACHMENT 4 -- STATE SIGNATURE PAGE

ATTACHMENT 5 -- COVER FORM

ATTACHMENT 6 -- IDAHO GOVERNOR’S RHTP TASK FORCE

ATTACHMENT 7 -- LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

ATTACHMENT 8 -- Idaho RHTP Abstract ATTACHMENT 9 -- Idaho RHTP Eligibility Map ATTACHMENT 10 -- Rural Cities within Partially Urban Counties in Idaho ATTACHMENT 11 -- RHTP Service Commitment Fact Sheet

RFP ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION TC "RFP ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION" \f C \l "1"

Grants/Contracts Officer kristin.perry@dhw.idaho.gov

Submit Proposal to:

Submit electronically via IPRO Electronic Submission:

IPRO LOGIN

Pre-Proposal Conference Date/Time:

Pre-Proposal Conference Location:

Tuesday, 07/14/2026, 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time By Microsoft Teams only You must email the RFP Lead by the Pre-Proposal Registration Deadline to receive conference details. Late registrations will not be guaranteed to receive conferencing information. There will not be an in-person conference.

Microsoft Team Meeting ID: 211 213 949 870 843 Passcode: SZ9Zd33k

OVERVIEW TC "1

OVERVIEW" \f C \l "1" 1.1 Purpose The Department, through its Rural Health Transformation Plan and Program (RHTP) funded under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) services cooperative agreement CMS-RHT-2001, seeks a qualified contractor to implement a rural workforce incentive program (Program) designed to recruit and retain healthcare professionals in rural Idaho communities through:

· ladder payments (a tiered system based on workforce priorities and geographic need),

· recruitment incentives (signing bonuses and relocation stipends for particularly hard-to-fill positions and shift gaps),

· retention bonuses (for healthcare professionals meeting multi-year service commitments), and

· healthcare education awards (for students accepted into a healthcare education program, with an emphasis on post-graduate programs).

1.2 Background Information The Department will serve as the lead agency for administering the RHTP Grant funding award for the state of Idaho. As such, the Department is committed to removing barriers to treatment, improving health outcomes, and promoting patient-centered care. The Idaho RHTP website address is: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/providers/rural-health-transformation-program-grant/about-rural-health-transformation-program-grant.

As the grant recipient, the Department manages the entire grant award and is responsible for distributing funding to other Idaho state agencies, contractors, and subgrantees in alignment with the projects awarded by CMS. This distribution will be carried out in accordance with both state and federal regulations, specifically procurement rules, to facilitate the execution of RHTP work. The state’s RHTP is a critical mechanism to advance a sustainable, data-driven model of care that enhances access, quality, and outcomes.

Idaho’s RHTP https://publicdocuments.dhw.idaho.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=35081&dbid=0&repo=PUBLIC-DOCUMENTS is a multi-year strategic plan including five (5) major initiatives designed to strengthen rural health systems, increase access to care, enhance quality outcomes, expand workforce capacity, and promote financial sustainability. These initiatives address CMS’ strategic goals for this grant to transform healthcare for residents in the state’s rural areas.

The five (5) initiatives are:

Initiative 1. Improving rural access to care through technology

· Facility technology assessments and shared infrastructure

· Telehealth expansion

· Digital health

· Cybersecurity modernization and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools

· Emergency communication systems implementation and enrollment

· Health management and data analytics tools

· Electronic Health Record (EHR) software and upgrades

Initiative 2. Ensuring accessible, quality care through innovative models

· Diagnostic and care access innovations

· Health extenders

· Emergency Medical Services (EMS) expansion and workforce stabilization

· Understand opportunities to leverage health extenders and optimize service delivery

Initiative 3. Sustaining rural workforce with training, recruitment, and retention

· Ladder payments based on priority positions and rural presence

· Healthcare career exploration and advancement programs

· Work-based learning

· Graduate medical education (GME) programs

Initiative 4. Implementing population specific, evidence-based projects to Make America Healthy Again

· Chronic disease prevention and treatment

· Behavioral health prevention and treatment

· Maternal and child health efforts

Initiative 5. Investing in rural health infrastructure and partnerships

· Healthcare facility renovations

· Pharmacy solutions

· Clinical equipment purchases

· Vehicles for patient transport and rural mobile health units

· Healthcare facilities federal, state, and local safety code compliance

· Tribal RHTP support

Idaho’s RHTP leverages partnerships with state and local agencies, tribal partners, healthcare providers and community organizations to ensure locally responsive solutions.

This plan will work to modernize electronic and logistical infrastructure, strengthen community-to-clinician connections, and further integrate healthcare and community-based services across settings and types of care.

The Program addresses critical staffing shortages and supports essential healthcare workforce gaps in rural counties (See Attachment 9: Idaho RHTP Eligibility Map) throughout the state of Idaho.

The Department expects the contractor to bring Program design expertise, administrative capacity, financial controls, data systems, participant management processes, reporting capability, and compliance infrastructure necessary to operate a statewide incentive Program. The contractor’s responsibilities include recommending the Program model, including eligibility criteria, award structures, payment methodologies, participant agreements, outreach processes, data collection methods, and monitoring procedures. The Department will retain final approval authority for Program design decisions, policy decisions, award structures, eligibility standards, payment limits, participant agreement terms, and any materials submitted for federal review.

The desired outcome is a transparent, compliant, and operationally sustainable Program that increases recruitment of health professionals into rural Idaho, improves long-term retention, supports essential clinical services, and provides the Department with reliable data to evaluate workforce impact.

QUESTIONS TC "2

QUESTIONS" \f C \l "1" 2.1 Restrictions on Communications

From the issue date of this RFP, until a Contract is awarded, or the RFP is cancelled, vendors are prohibited from communications regarding this RFP with Department staff, evaluation committee members, or other associated individuals, except the Department’s RFP Lead.

2.2 Pre-Proposal Conference

A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held at the time indicated in the RFP Administrative Information Section, page 1 of this RFP. This will be your opportunity to ask questions of Department staff. All interested parties are invited to participate by an established call in number. To receive conference details, participants must register for the Pre-Proposal Conference no later than Monday, 07/13/2026, 12:00 p.m. (NOON) Mountain Time by submitting the completed Attachment 3 -- Pre-Proposal Conference Registration Form via e-mail to the RFP Lead at kristin.perry@dhw.idaho.gov . Late registrations will not be guaranteed to receive conferencing information. Vendors are strongly encouraged to submit questions to the RFP Lead prior to the pre-proposal conference. Any oral answers given by the Department during the pre-proposal conference are unofficial and will not be binding on the State. Conference attendance is at the vendor’s own expense.

2.3 Questions and Vendor Proposed Modifications and Exceptions to Requirements, Terms, or Conditions

Questions must be submitted, by email, to the RFP Lead by the date and time indicated in the RFP Administrative Information Section, page 1 of this RFP in order to be considered. Vendors are strongly encouraged to submit any proposed questions, and or modifications to the requirements, terms, or conditions at this time. Written questions must be submitted using Attachment 1 -- Offeror Questions and requested modifications and or exceptions, must be submitted using Attachment 2 -- Modification and Exception Form. The RFP Lead is the only contact for this Solicitation. All correspondence must be in writing. Official answers to all written questions will be posted on the State’s eProcurement system (IPRO) as an amendment to this RFP.

2.3.1 Proposed modifications and exceptions to requirements, terms or conditions must contain the following:

a.

The rationale for the specific requirement being unacceptable to the party submitting the question (define the deficiency).

b.

Recommended verbiage for the State’s consideration that is consistent in content, context, and form with the State’s requirement that is being questioned.

c.

Explanation of how the State’s acceptance of the recommended verbiage is fair and equitable to both the State and to the party submitting the question.

2.3.2 The State will not consider any modifications or exceptions that are not identified specifically on Attachment 2 and that are submitted after the Question deadline.

2.3.3 The State has sole discretion to determine if the modifications or exceptions submitted by an Offeror would result in a material change or otherwise threaten the integrity of the procurement process. Pursuant to IDAPA 38.05.01.084, the State may only negotiate non-material modifications or exceptions. Modifications or exceptions which the State determines to be material, or which otherwise threaten the integrity of the procurement process, will not be accepted or negotiated.

2.3.4 Except as otherwise provided in the Solicitation document, including the State of Idaho Standard Contract Terms and Conditions with Article 6 (updated July 2024) the State will not consider modifications or exceptions to the requirements, terms, or conditions which are proposed after the Question deadline.

2.3.5 Proposals which condition the Proposal based upon the State accepting other terms and conditions not found in the RFP, or which take exception to the State’s terms and conditions, will be found non-responsive, and no further consideration of the Proposal will be given.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS TC "3

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS" \f C \l "1" 3.1 General Instructions

3.1.1 Proposals must be submitted as detailed in 3.1.6 below. Except as otherwise addressed in this Solicitation, all submission materials must be submitted at the same time. If multiple submissions are received, only the latest timely submission will be considered.

3.1.2 Alternate proposals are not allowed.

3.1.3 All files must be in Microsoft Word, Excel or searchable PDF format. The only exceptions are Attachment 1 – Offeror Questions and Attachment 2 -- Modification and Exception Form which must be submitted in Word format. The electronic version must NOT be password protected or locked in any way.

3.1.4 All Offerors participating in this Solicitation must establish an account in the IPRO system as it is necessary in order to submit your response and award the resulting Contract(s). Establishing an account is free and only takes a few minutes.

3.1.5 Vendors are strongly encouraged to begin the process of submitting the response far enough in advance of the Closing Date to allow for resolution of technical difficulties. Be advised that the State is not responsible for a Vendor’s failure to timely submit a responsive submission due to any technical or technological difficulties. See IDAPA 38.05.01.61.

3.1.6 Both the Technical Proposal and the Appendix A - Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure must be submitted electronically through IPRO. Failure to input this data in IPRO will result in the Proposal being found non-responsive. Download the Excel spreadsheet titled “Appendix A – Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure” found in the Question Section of IPRO. Complete the spreadsheet, upload it back into IPRO in an Excel spreadsheet format. Upload your Technical Proposal into the appropriate Question Section in IPRO.

3.1.7 The current version of the Solicitation Instructions to Vendors is incorporated by reference into this Solicitation, and attached or referenced in any resulting Contract, as if set forth in their entirety. This document can be downloaded at https://purchasing.idaho.gov/vendor-resources/; or copies obtained by contacting the Division of Purchasing at 208-327-7465 or purchasing@adm.idaho.gov. Failure by any Offeror to obtain a copy of this document or the State of Idaho Contract Terms and Conditions with Article 6 - Appendix C shall in no way constitute or be deemed a waiver by the State of any term, condition or requirement contained in the referenced documents; and no liability will be assumed by the Department for an Offeror’s failure to consider the State of Idaho Standard Contract Terms and Conditions with Article 6 and Solicitation Instructions to Vendors in preparing its response to the solicitation.

SPECIAL TERMS PRECEDENCE: The State of Idaho Contract Terms and Conditions with Article 6 have been adapted for use by the Department of Health and Welfare and are included with this Solicitation as Appendix C. It also includes the Rural Health Transformation Program Additional Contract Terms and Conditions.

3.2 Trade Secrets

Paragraph 28 of the Solicitation Instructions to Vendors describes trade secrets to “include a formula, pattern, compilation, program, computer program, device, method, technique or process that derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by other persons and is subject to the efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.” In addition to marking each page of the document with a trade secret notation (as applicable; and as provided in Paragraph 28 of the Solicitation Instructions to Vendors), Offerors must also:

3.2.1 Identify with particularity the precise text, illustration, or other information contained within each page marked “trade secret” (it is not sufficient to simply mark the entire page). The specific information you deem “trade secret” within each noted page must be highlighted, italicized, identified by asterisks, contained within a text border, or otherwise clearly delineated from other text/information and specifically identified as a “trade secret.”

3.2.2 Provide a separate document entitled “List of Redacted Trade Secret Information” which provides a succinct list of all trade secret information noted in your Proposal; listed in the order it appears in your submittal documents, identified by Page #, Section #/Paragraph #, Title of Section/Paragraph, specific portions of text/illustrations; or in a manner otherwise sufficient to allow the State’s procurement personnel to determine the precise text/material subject to the notation. Additionally, this list must identify with each notation the specific basis for your position that the materials be treated as exempt from disclosure and how material complies with the Public Records Law.

3.2.3 If your Technical Proposal contains trade secret information, you must also upload a redacted copy with all trade secret information removed or blacked out. The redacted copy must be uploaded into IPRO into the appropriate Question Section in IPRO with the word “redacted” in the file name.

3.3 Electronic Submission of Proposals 3.3.1 Proposals must be submitted through IPRO, at https://sms-idaho-prd.tam.inforgov.com/fsm/SupplyManagementSupplier/page/XiSupplyManagementSupplierPage?csk.SupplierGroup=LUMA. When submitting through IPRO, upload your Technical Proposal and Appendix A - Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure, and all other required submittal items in the appropriate Question Sections. Remember to submit an additional redacted version of the TECHNICAL PROPOSAL if you have identified trade secrets.

3.3.2 The Technical Proposal and Appendix A - Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure must be separate files submitted at the same time.

3.3.3 Offerors are further advised to upload response materials with descriptive file names, organized and consolidated in a manner which allows evaluators to efficiently navigate the Offeror’s response.

PROPOSAL FORMAT TC "4

PROPOSAL FORMAT" \f C \l "1" These instructions describe the format to be used when submitting a Proposal. The format is designed to ensure a complete submission of information necessary for an equitable analysis and evaluation of submitted Proposals. There is no intent to limit the content of Proposals.

4.1 Table of Contents

Include a table of contents in the Technical Proposal identifying the contents of each Section, including page numbers of major subsections.

4.2 Format Proposals shall follow the numerical order of this RFP starting at the beginning and continuing through the end of the RFP. Proposal Sections and subsections must be identified with the corresponding numbers and headings used in this RFP. Respond to RFP Sections marked with an evaluation code. In your response, restate the RFP Section and follow with your response.

Offerors are encouraged to use a different color font, bold text, italics, or other indicator to clearly distinguish the RFP Section from the Offeror’s response.

4.3 Evaluation Codes

(M) Mandatory Response - failure to respond to any (M) Section, or to comply with any mandatory specification or requirement, will render Offeror’s Proposal non-responsive and no further evaluation will occur.

(ME)

Mandatory and Evaluated Response - failure to respond to any (ME) Section, or to comply with any mandatory specification or requirement in an (ME) Section, will render Offeror’s Proposal non-responsive and no further evaluation will occur. Offeror must respond to these sections as directed; points will be awarded based on predetermined criteria.

(E) Evaluated Response - a response is desired and will be evaluated. If Offeror cannot meet the requirement, or chooses not to respond for any reason, zero (0) points will be awarded for the Section. If Offeror responds, points will be awarded based on predetermined criteria.

Note: Offerors are directed to IDAPA 38.05.01.074.02.a, which allow the designated State official to waive minor informalities. The State also reserves the right to seek clarification on any M, ME or E requirement.

PROPOSAL REVIEW, EVALUATION, AND AWARD TC "5

PROPOSAL REVIEW, EVALUATION, AND AWARD" \f C \l "1" 5.1 Overview

The objective of the State in soliciting and evaluating Proposals is to ensure the selection of a firm or individual that will produce the best possible results for the funds expended.

5.1.1 All Proposals will be reviewed first to ensure that they meet the Mandatory Submission Requirements of the RFP as addressed in Sections noted with an (M) or (ME). Any Proposal(s) not meeting the Mandatory Submission Requirements may be found non-responsive.

5.1.2 Evaluation Criteria

Technical Proposal:

Mandatory Submission Requirements Met Pass/Fail

Business Information (Section 7) 100 points

Organization and Staffing (Section 8) 100 points

Scope of Work (Section 9) 400 points

Cost Proposal:

Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure (Appendix A) 400 points

Total Points 1000 points

5.2 Technical Proposal

5.2.1 The Technical Proposal will be reviewed first on a “pass” or “fail” basis to determine compliance with those requirements listed in the RFP with an (M) or (ME). All Proposals which are determined by the Department, in its sole discretion, to be responsive in this regard will continue in the evaluation process outlined in this Section.

5.2.2 The Technical Proposal will be reviewed, evaluated, and scored by one (1) or more Technical Proposal Evaluation Committee(s).

5.2.3 The scores for the Technical Proposal will be normalized as follows: The Technical Proposal with the highest overall total technical score will receive a score of six hundred (600) points. Other Technical Proposals will be assigned a portion of the maximum score using the formula:

X raw score of Technical Proposal being evaluated highest raw technical score

5.3 Oral Presentations/Demonstrations 5.3.1 Oral demonstrations will not be conducted for this RFP.

5.4 Appendix A - Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure 5.4.1 The Appendix A - Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure will be reviewed first to determine if it meets the mandatory requirements of the RFP. All Proposals which are determined by the Department, in its sole discretion, to be responsive in this regard will continue in the evaluation process outlined in this Section.

5.4.2 The Appendix A - Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure will only be evaluated for Offerors who receive the top three (3) technical scores.

5.4.3 The scores for the Appendix A - Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure will be normalized as follows: The cost evaluation will be based on the total cost proposed for required services as itemized in Appendix A. The Proposal with the lowest FIVE (5) YEAR TOTAL will receive a score of four hundred (400). Other Proposals will be assigned a portion of the maximum score using the formula:

X lowest Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure being evaluated

5.5 Responsibility

Pursuant to IDAPA 38.05.01.081, the RFP Lead may, in the State’s sole discretion, conduct a review to determine if the apparent high point Offeror is responsible. As part of the responsibility review, the RFP Lead may:

5.5.1 Require the apparent high point Offeror to provide credit or financial reports to the satisfaction of the Department.

5.5.2 Require the apparent high point Offeror to provide a reference list and contact the Offeror’s references, which may include sending references a reference questionnaire.

5.5.3 Conduct other responsibility reviews at the discretion of the RFP Lead.

Failure to provide requested documentation may result in the Offeror being deemed non-responsible. Nothing herein shall prevent the State from using other means to determine Offeror’s responsibility.

5.6 Award

Award of Contract will be made to the responsive, responsible Offeror whose Proposal receives the highest number of total normalized points.

MANDATORY SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS TC "6

MANDATORY SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS" \f C \l "1" A complete response begins with the mandatory items identified in this list and the following Sections. NOTE: THIS CHECKLIST IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY ONLY; OFFERORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING ALL MANDATORY SECTIONS, ATTACHMENTS, SUBMITTAL ITEMS, ETC., REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE IDENTIFIED IN THIS LIST.

(M) State Signature Page: Upload a completed, signed, Attachment 4 -- State Signature Page in the appropriate Question Section of IPRO.

(M) Cover Form: Upload a completed, signed, Attachment 5, Cover Form in the appropriate Question Section of IPRO

(M) Acknowledgement of Amendments: If the RFP is amended, the Offeror must acknowledge each amendment with a signature on the acknowledgement form provided with each amendment. Failure to return a signed copy of each amendment acknowledgement form with the Proposal may result in the Proposal being found non-responsive. See IDAPA 38.05.01.52. Upload a completed, signed, Acknowledgement of Amendments form in the appropriate Question Section of IPRO.

Section 7: Provide a response to all (E) (M) and (ME) Sections, and any other required submittal items.

Section 8: Provide a response to all (E) (M) and (ME) Sections, and any other required submittal items.

Section 9: Provide a response to all (E) (M) and (ME) Sections, and any other required submittal items.

(ME) Appendix A - Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure: Offerors are required to upload their Appendix A – Cost Proposal and Billing Procedure in the Question Section in IPRO in an Excel spreadsheet format.

Technical Proposal: Offerors are required to upload their Technical Proposal in the Question Section in IPRO.

Trade Secret Redactions: If applicable, the Offeror must upload a redacted copy of Technical Proposal and list of Trade Secret redactions, as detailed in Section 3.2.2.

Insurance: Review the required types and levels of insurance—these are mandatory requirements. If you do not already have the required types and levels of insurance, you are strongly encouraged to contact your insurance representative to find out if you will be able to obtain the required insurance. (The Offeror should not purchase additional insurance in reliance of being awarded a Contract). If you are awarded a Contract, failure to provide proof of the required insurance will be grounds for termination of the Contract. DO NOT SUBMIT WITH PROPOSAL.

Business Information TC "7 Business Information" \f C \l "1" 7.1

(E) Business Profile

Provide a profile of your business including Offeror’s business history, description of current service area, and customer base.

7.2

(E) Experience

Describe in detail your knowledge and experience in providing services similar to those required in this RFP, specifically:

7.2.1 Experience with healthcare workforce incentive programs, award programs, loan repayment programs, grant administration, participant payment programs, service obligation monitoring, or similar federally funded programs is preferred and will be scored higher.

7.3 Faith-based Organization

If you are a faith-based organization describe how you will:

7.3.1 Segregate Contract funds in a separate account if federal funds;

7.3.2 Serve all participants without regard to religion, religious belief, refusal to hold a religious belief, or refusal to actively participate in a religious practice;

7.3.3 Ensure that State-referred clients’ participation in religious activities, including worship, scripture study, prayer or proselytization, is only on a voluntary basis;

7.3.4 Notify participants of the religious nature of the organization, their right to be served without religious discrimination, their right not to take part in inherently religious activities, their right to request an alternative provider and the process for doing so;

7.3.5 Ensure that Contract funds are not expended on inherently religious activities; and

7.3.6 Comply with applicable terms of 42 CFR Parts 54 and 54a, and 45 CFR 260 and 1050.

Organization and Staffing TC "8 Organization and Staffing" \f C \l "1" Describe your qualifications to successfully complete the requirements of the RFP by providing a detailed response to the following:

8.1

(E) Project Lead

Identify the person who will be the dedicated Project Lead if Offeror is awarded a Contract. Provide a description of the proposed Project Lead’s experience and qualifications. You may submit a resume in response to this Section.

8.2 (ME) Key Personnel and Qualifications

Provide a list of key management, customer service and other roles to be used in the fulfillment of the Contract (in addition to the Project Lead). Provide role descriptions, including requisite qualifications and experience of the person(s)/role(s) identified, as well as an explanation of how the person in that role will contribute to the project. Your response should demonstrate the extent to which you have the expertise to accomplish the Scope of Work.

8.2.1 Specifically, Offerors must demonstrate organizational capacity, staffing, financial controls, data systems, compliance infrastructure, and relevant experience necessary to design, administer, monitor, report on, and evaluate a statewide rural healthcare workforce incentive program funded with federal funds.

8.3 Subcontractors

If the Offeror utilizes any entity other than the entity submitting the Proposal to provide any of the services required by this RFP, the relationship between the two (2) entities is considered that of a contractor-subcontractor for the purpose of this Section, regardless of whether a relationship is based on an actual written Contract between the two (2).

8.3.1 If you intend to utilize subcontractors, describe the extent to which subcontractors will be used to comply with Contract requirements.

8.3.2 Include each position providing service and provide a detailed description of how the subcontractors are anticipated to be involved under the Contract (including requisite qualifications/experience).

8.3.3 If applicable, provide resumes for those subcontractors who will be managing and or directly providing services under the Contract.

8.3.4 Include a description of how the Offeror will ensure that all subcontractors and their employees will meet all requirements.

8.3.5 Offerors must disclose the location of the subcontractor’s business office and the location(s) of where the actual work will be performed.

8.3.6 If you do not intend to utilize subcontractors, provide a statement to that effect.

Note: The information provided for subcontractors, if any, will be evaluated as part of the Key Personnel and Qualifications section 8.2 above.

SCOPE OF WORK (SOW) TC "9

SCOPE OF WORK" \f C \l "1" All Sections of the SOW are required Contract services. Use this Proposal outline as part of your response to the RFP by restating each Section number and then providing your response. Keep in mind, the evaluators will be scoring your Proposal based on the methodologies proposed and the completeness of the response to each item listed below. Describe how you will meet each requirement marked (ME) Mandatory Evaluated and (E) Evaluated by describing, in detail, your organization’s qualification and experience (rather than simply restating the question or confirming compliance without additional supporting information); as well as how your organization plans to meet SOW requirements detailed in this RFP. The Proposal should address methodologies, pertinent timelines, personnel, activities, and other pertinent information in order to implement the SOW successfully to achieve full compliance with all tasks and deliverables. Offerors must identify any information or resources needed from the Department in order to perform any of the work. By providing a response to this Solicitation, you affirm you agree to and will comply with the following requirements.

I. General Requirements A. Definitions

1. Rural County: A county designated as rural by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) definition of “rural” or as otherwise defined by the State of Idaho. FORHP defines rural areas as all non-metropolitan counties and certain census tracts within metropolitan counties that demonstrate rural characteristics based on Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes, population density, and geographic factors. See Attachment 9: Eligible Rural Areas Map and Attachment 10: Idaho Rural Cities Partially Urban Counties.

2. Essential Role: A professional healthcare position providing direct patient care and identified as high priority due to workforce shortages or community need. The Department may provide additional information when it becomes available, to factor into this definition such as the Idaho LAUNCH In-Demand Career List or RHTP Workforce and Workplace Assessment Results.

3. Ladder Payments: Escalating financial incentives based on workforce priority classification and geographic rural designation.

4. Service Obligation: Eligible providers must maintain active clinical practice at an approved service site(s). Providers receiving incentives must fulfill a minimum five (5) consecutive years of full-time service in a rural Idaho community.

a.

Full-time service consists of at least thirty-two (32) hours per week of direct patient care for a minimum of forty-five (45) weeks annually. The Department will update the Contractor if at any point in time this changes based on federal requirements.

5. Participant: Any healthcare professional, student, healthcare provider, or healthcare entity receiving funds under this Program.

6. Rural Healthcare Workforce Incentive Program (Program): The Department-approved program designed to recruit, retain, and support health professionals and eligible healthcare students in rural Idaho communities through approved incentive payments, healthcare education awards, service obligations, participant monitoring, reporting, and related administrative activities.

7. Rural Health Transformation Plan and Program (RHTP) Grant Award: The federal grant award administered by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to support approved rural health transformation activities, including funding, reporting, compliance, evaluation, and related state and federal award requirements.

8. Eligible Health Professionals: Healthcare professionals, providers, and students who meet Department-approved Program criteria and support rural healthcare workforce needs in Idaho. This may include but is not limited to individuals recruited into eligible rural Idaho clinical positions; current healthcare professionals providing full-time direct patient care in eligible rural Idaho communities; individuals serving in essential, high-need, hard-to-fill, frontier, or challenging-shift roles; and students enrolled in accredited healthcare education programs leading to Idaho clinical licensure or certification. Priority may be given to individuals in professions experiencing rural workforce shortages, individuals with rural Idaho ties, Idaho residents, individuals completing rural clinical training, and individuals who demonstrate an intent to practice in rural Idaho beyond the required service obligation. Additional sources of information related to this definition include the Idaho LAUNCH In-Demand Career List and RHTP Workforce and Workplace Assessment Results.

B. Contract Governance and Roles

1. The Contractor must designate and provide contact information for a Contract Administrator/Manager who must serve as the primary point of contact for the Department’s Contract Monitor and be responsible for Contract acceptance, amendments, oversight, and coordination of all Contract activities.

2. The Contractor must designate appropriate staff responsible for:

a. Contract management and service delivery;

b. Development and submission of invoices and budget-related actions;

c. Developing and deploying outreach strategies to promote the ladder payments; and

d. Technical assistance for provider entities and individuals applying for and/or receiving ladder payments.

3. The Contractor must not:

a. Exercise programmatic, regulatory, or policy authority; or

b. Represent itself as an agent of the Department or the State of Idaho.

4. The Contractor must ensure alignment with Idaho’s RHTP, clarify roles and responsibilities, and avoid duplication or overlap of deliverables, work with the Department staff, other RHTP contractors, and key stakeholders, when completing Contract activities and deliverables.

C. Coordination and Collaboration

1. The Contractor must work collaboratively with the Department and relevant stakeholders to support Program implementation.

2. The Contractor must manage and administer retention, recruitment, and education awards included in other RHTP awarded subgrants. The Department will provide this information to the vendor when applicable.

3. Within fifteen (15) calendar days of the Contract effective date, the Contractor must participate in a Department-facilitated Contract kick-off meeting (virtual or in-person) to review Contract requirements, timelines, and expectations.

4. All costs associated with participation in Contract-related meetings must be the sole responsibility of the Contractor.

D.

Work Authorization and Approval Requirements

1. The Contractor must design and recommend Program components but must not implement Program components until the required approvals from the Department and/or federal partner have been received. For the purposes of the Contract:

a. Contractor Recommendation means a proposed Program design, methodology, policy, process, tool, or deliverable submitted by the Contractor.

b. Department Approval means written approval issued by the Department authorizing the Contractor to use, implement, or proceed with the approved item.

c. Federal Approval means Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) or other federal approval required for a Program component, deliverable, payment methodology, eligibility standard, or implementation material, as determined by the Department.

d. Implementation Authority means written authorization from the Department allowing the Contractor to begin using an approved Program component or begin the next dependent phase of work.

2. The Contractor must not implement Program components unless the Department has provided written approval. If the Department determines federal approval is required, the Contractor must not implement the affected component until federal approval is received. The Contractor must support the Department in preparing materials for CMS or federal review and must not implement any Program component requiring such approval until the required approval is received.

3. The Contractor must build federal review timelines into the project schedule, including an estimated review period of up to sixty (60) calendar days for CMS, or other federal review when applicable. Federal review timelines are outside the Contractor’s and Department’s control when the Contractor has submitted complete and timely materials and responded promptly to Department requests for revisions or additional information. Federal review may take more or less time depending on the nature of the Program component, federal reviewer requirements, and the need for additional information or revisions.

4. The Department may authorize the Contractor to proceed with work that is not dependent on a pending Department or federal approval. Any such authorization must be in writing and must clearly identify the scope of permitted work.

5. Department or federal approval of a deliverable does not relieve the Contractor of responsibility for accuracy, completeness, compliance, data security, internal controls, or performance obligations under the Contract.

6. Any additional services, changes in scope, or changes resulting from Department direction, federal guidance, or state requirements must be authorized in writing by the Department before work begins. Work performed without required authorization may be deemed non-payable.

E. Budget and Financial Management

1. The Contractor must submit a complete line-item budget, totaling the amount agreed to from the submitted proposal, no later than one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days prior to the start of each subsequent Contract term.

2. All budgets must receive prior approval from the Department and CMS, as applicable, before the Contract will be amended.

3. The Contractor must maintain financial and administrative systems capable of demonstrating compliance with federal grant requirements and must cooperate fully with any Department, state, or federal monitoring, review, audit, or investigation.

4. The Contractor must manage all federal funds associated with the Program in accordance with applicable federal regulations and financial management standards. Program funds must be tracked separately and used solely for authorized Program purposes and allowable costs.

5. Federal funds provided to the Contractor for Program incentive payments must be used solely for allowable Program costs. Allowable Program costs related to incentive payments may include Department-approved costs necessary to administer, verify, issue, track, reconcile, report, and monitor Program payments, including recruitment incentives, retention bonuses, and healthcare education awards. Allowable costs may include, but are not limited to, participant payments approved under the Program; eligibility verification; licensure, employment, service-site, and service-obligation verification; payment authorization and processing; participant agreements; tax documentation collection and organizing; payment tracking; financial reconciliation; overpayment recovery; compliance monitoring; audit support; reporting; and data system functions directly necessary to administer and monitor Program payments. All costs must be adequately documented, allocable, and consistent with the approved budget and Program Design Plan, and allowable under applicable federal and state requirements.

6. The Contractor must implement safeguards to prevent, detect, and address fraud, waste, or abuse related to Program funds. At minimum, the Contractor must maintain internal controls and Department-approved written procedures addressing:

a. Participant eligibility verification prior to payment;

b. Verification of service obligations and employment status;

c. Separation of duties between eligibility determination, payment authorization, and financial disbursement;

d. Documentation supporting all payments issued to participants;

e. Fraud prevention and financial controls; and

f. Reporting of suspected misuse of Program funds.

7. The Contractor must promptly notify the Department of any suspected or confirmed fraud, misuse of funds, misrepresentation by participants, overpayment, duplicate payment, payment made based on inaccurate information, payment made to an ineligible participant, or other irregularity related to Program administration. Notification must occur within five (5) business days of discovery.

8. If Program funds are issued in error, the Contractor must take appropriate action to recover the funds in coordination with the Department. The Contractor must maintain procedures for tracking overpayments, monitoring repayment activity, documenting recovery efforts, and accounting for recovered funds in financial reports submitted to the Department.

F. Compliance Requirements

1. The Contractor must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, executive orders, award conditions, and guidance governing performance of services under the Contract.

2. The Contract is supported by federal award funds and is subject to all applicable federal funding requirements. The Contractor must comply with, at minimum:

a. 2 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for federal awards;

b. 2 CFR Part 300, as applicable;

c. Public Law 119-21, Section 71401;

d. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting requirements under 2 CFR Part 170;

e. Applicable CMS, CMS Innovation Center, and other federal agency guidance; and

f. Applicable Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requirements.

3. The Contractor must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements related to data privacy, confidentiality, non-discrimination, professional licensing, healthcare workforce requirements, financial management, reporting, and audit readiness.

4. The Contractor must maintain Department-approved written policies addressing organizational and individual conflicts of interest related to Program administration. Staff involved in eligibility determinations, award decisions, or payment authorization must not participate in decisions where a financial, professional, or personal conflict of interest exists. For purposes of this requirement, a personal conflict of interest includes any family, household, close personal, supervisory, employment, business, or other relationship that could reasonably appear to affect the staff member’s objectivity, impartiality, or independent judgment. The Contractor must document the disclosure, recusal, reassignment, and resolution of any identified conflict of interest.

5. The Contractor must disclose to the Department any actual or potential conflict of interest related to Program administration within five (5) business days of identification. The Department reserves the right to require mitigation measures or reassignment of responsibilities to prevent conflicts of interest.

6. The Contractor must comply with all applicable confidentiality and data protection requirements, including Idaho Administrative Procedures Act (IDAPA) 16.05.01, Use and Disclosure of Department Records. The Contractor must implement appropriate administrative, technical, physical, and procedural safeguards to protect sensitive, confidential, and Program-related data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

7. All systems used to store, process, or transmit Program data must comply with applicable federal and Idaho state laws, regulations, Idaho Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) security standards, cybersecurity requirements, and data protection policies. The Contractor must notify the Department within twenty-four (24) hours of any actual or suspected data breach or security incident involving Program data.

8. The Contractor must collect and maintain tax documentation, provide participants with tax reporting information, and maintain records necessary to support tax reporting, compliance, and audit requirements. The Contractor must provide the Department with information necessary to fulfill any applicable tax reporting obligations.

9. The Department reserves the right to require corrective action, recovery of funds, additional reporting, enhanced monitoring, reassignment of responsibilities, payment withholding, or other remedies permitted under the Contract or applicable law if noncompliance, fraud, waste, abuse, conflicts of interest, data security concerns, or other compliance deficiencies are identified.

10. Steven’s Amendment

a. In accordance with the “Steven’s Amendment” in the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, the Subgrantee must not issue any statements, press release, request for proposals, bid solicitations, and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal money unless it clearly states the following:

i. “This document was 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 one hundred eighty-five million nine hundred seventy-four thousand three hundred sixty-seven dollars and eighty-one cents ($185,974,367.81) with one hundred (100) percent funded by CMS/HHS. 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.”

11. The Contractor must maintain industry-standard security and internal control practices and provide independent assurance reports (e.g., Security Operations Center [SOC] Type II) upon request, if available.

12. Ownership of Information: The Department and HHS must have unlimited rights to own, possess, use, disclose, transfer, or duplicate all information and data, copyrighted or otherwise, developed, derived, documented or furnished by the Contractor under the Contract.

G.

Data and System Management

1. System Responsibility and System of Record

a. The Contractor must be responsible for maintaining and administering the Program database or information system.

b. The Contractor’s system must serve as the system of record for Program data unless otherwise directed by the Department.

2. Department Access and Oversight

a. The Department will maintain full access to all Program data and system functionality for oversight, monitoring, reporting, and audit purposes.

b. The Department will retain ownership of all Program data.

3. System Standards and Compliance

a. The Contractor must ensure all systems comply with ITS requirements and applicable state and federal security standards.

b. The Contractor must utilize Department-approved systems or platforms when required or directed.

4. Central Repository and Integration

a. The Department may maintain or require a centralized repository for reporting, integration, or backup purposes.

b. Use of a Department repository does not relieve the Contractor of responsibility for system administration, data accuracy, or completeness.

5. Data Portability and Transition

a. The Contractor must ensure full data portability and transferability.

b. The Contractor must support transition activities and ensure continuity of operations at the expiration or termination of the Contract.

H.

Department Responsibilities

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