S000000300 Q & A~1.pdf

Reference Question Answer

Section 1.2.A As a result of this

RFP, TSS OSP intends to award a contract to a single Contractor.

Due to the broad scope and subject matter complexity of the RFP, would the State consider a multi-award approach based on an MSA with more than one qualified company to give the State the option to select the most qualified and cost competitive contractor for the specific project from a qualified contractor list?

The State is only considering award to a single Contractor.

2 Due date, RFP Section 1.4 Will TSS please extend the proposal opening date by 2 weeks given the breadth of scope included in the solicitation as well as the holiday season?

The proposal due date will not be extended.

3 Q&A, RFP Section 1.5

Can TSS respond to vendor questions on a rolling basis instead of at one point in time on January 5th given the size of the procurements scope as well as the holiday season?

The clarification period will not be extended. Prospective Contractors should contact the procurement specialist named in the RFP with any further clarifications required per Section 1.5.

Section 2.3.A.5 Ongoing support and guidance during the planning, development, and implementation

Elements of the RFP scope, other than 2.3 do not mention implementation work, does this preclude the successful bidder from winning any potential follow on implementation work?

Section 2.3 of the RFP references the services to be provided to all executive branch agencies.

5 Section 2.3 Please provide a list of the executive branch statewide agencies to be included in the strategic alignment, review, and effectiveness?

Please see Attachment A posted with the RFP in ARBuy.

6 Section 2.3 Can an estimate of FTE for each agency be provided?

This information is included as part of the collected data referenced in

Section 2.12 of the RFP.

7 Section 2.4 How many position titles/classifications does the State have and are all to be included in the pay structure review?

Please see the answer to question 6.

8 Section 2.4 How many employees do the included titles cover? Please see the answer to question 6.

9 Section 2.4 Does the State use a job evaluation system or have a process for measuring the value of its positions and establishing grade assignments?

This information is not necessary to provide a responsive proposal.

10 Section 2.4 How many pay structures does the state currently utilize? Please see the answer to question 9.

11 Section 2.4 Does the state desire an implementation plan/cost analysis for the proposed changes?

Contractors should include these in the Project Work Plan and Strategic

Management Plan.

12 Section 2.8 How many executive branch agencies are included in the scope of this proposal?

Please see the answer to question 5.

13 Section 2.8

What current tools or software do you have in place for automation? If none, is the cost of software/tools and maintenance to be included in the budget as an expense?

Please see the answer to question 9. The cost for proposed software should not be included in the cost proposal. It may be included as part of the Recommended Options response.

14 Section 2.8 Does the State prefer COTs over custom solutions? Please see the answer to question 9.

15 Section 2.8

Will the Contractor be allowed to interview third-party vendors for reviewing current processes for recommendations for best practices (ex:

WEX for Fleet Fuel Management)

The awarded Contractor will be allowed to interview third-party vendors.

16 Section 2.8 Can the Contractor partner with an offshore subcontractor/firm to support software implementation and code delivery?

No.

17 Section 2.8 Would the State prefer fixed fee per deliverable or fixed fee divided equally by duration of the project?

Prospective Contractors should complete the Official Price Sheet as provided with the RFP. Payment milestones can be discussed during the

Discussions Phase.

18 Section 2.8

If the Contractor provides a minority-owned business (MOB) subcontractor as part of the response, is the MOB required to be register in the State of

Arkansas or is registration in their respective state sufficient?

Prospective Contractors should review the Minority Businesses section in

Arkansas Procurement Law to determine if they, or a subcontractor, meet the requirements.

Section 3.2 100 points will be awarded to any Prospective

Contractor(s) that meet this preference

Would the State consider removing the scoring element referenced in

Section 3.2 (Table C) for the following reasons: the value of existing contracts has no relevance as to whether a conflict of interest exists; and it gives preference to bidders that were presumably not awarded contracts by the State for valid reasons, or bidders that did not choose to bid on prior work? As an alternative to such scoring element, would the State consider requiring that each bidder provide a representation that its bidding and subsequent performance of the work, if awarded, would not, to the bidders knowledge, constitute a conflict of interest in violation of applicable law, and if a conflict of interest should arise, the bidder further commits to notify the State of such conflict?

No.

20 Budget, General RFP Does TSS have an anticipated budget amount for the requested scope of services or can TSS provide an anticipated budget range?

Please see the answer to question 9.

Questions and Answers

S000000300 Strategic Management Consultant Services

State of Arkansas- Department of Transformation and Shared Services

21 Project Scope

For the RFP revised pay plan outcome, does OPM want to include a review of internal job classifications and/or a focus on best practice models from states comparable to Arkansas?

Prospective Contractors should provide recommendations on the revision of the State's pay plan.

22 Project Scope Does OPM have specific objectives for its revised pay plan outcome? If yes, please provide the objectives.

Please see the answer to question 9.

23 Project Scope Does OPM have a current Performance Evaluation System? If yes, please provide the name and a brief description of the system.

The current performance evaluation system used by the State of Arkansas is in an SAP Fiori application the State calls EASE (Empowering Arkansas

State Employees).

24 Project Scope

Does OPM have a specific cost savings range they would like to see in the next few years based on efficiency gains? If yes, can you please provide more details.

Prospective Contractors should provide recommendations and projected cost savings.

25 RFP Document Can you clarify the process (if any) for gathering feedback and addressing concerns from end-users and stakeholders during the project?

Prospective Contractors should include this information as part of the

Project Work Plan.

26 RFP Document What mechanisms are in place to measure the success of organizational change efforts?

Please see the answer to question 9.

27 RFP Document Are there any cultural considerations or specific challenges that need to be addressed in change management?

Please see the answer to question 9.

28 RFP Document Are there any constraints or limitations in resource allocation that could impact delivery?

Prospective Contractors should include this information as part of the Risk response.

29 RFP Document Are there any current preferred reporting mechanisms in place to track progress and address deviations from proposed plans?

Please see the answer to question 9.

30 RFP Document Are there any specific contractual or legal requirements that may impact the approach and our ability to deliver on the scope?

Please see the posted RFP and attached blank SRV-1 form.

31 RFP Document Are there any critical milestones that we need to account for?

Known milestone due dates are included in the RFP. Further milestones and due dates will be submitted by the Prospective Contractor during

Discussions.

32 RFP Document Are there any particular metrics or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are considered key to the stakeholders on this project?

A Prospective Contractor should submit proposed performance standard

(KPIs) during the Discussions Phase.

33 RFP Document What training, onboarding and development initiatives are planned to facilitate organizational change?

Please see the answer to question 9.

34 RFP Document Are there preferred communication plans in place to keep stakeholders informed of progress?

Please see the answer to question 9.

35 SRV-1

Does the SR V-1 need to be completed with the response submission? Or post award?

The SRV-1 form will be completed prior to award with the anticipated contract awardee.

Contract and Grant Disclosure

Form

Does the contract and grant disclosure form need to be completed with the response submission? Or post award?

Per 1.6.B.3, EO 98-04 must be submitted prior to contract award, but may be included with the Prospective Contractor's proposal.

37 NDA How should redlines to the NDA be submitted?

Prospective Contractors should submit any requested redlines to the NDA to the procurement specialist named in the RFP.

38 Terms and Conditions How should redlines to the terms and conditions be submitted?

Prospective Contractors should submit any requested redlines to the terms and conditions during the Discussions phase.

Submission Requirements

Checklist - Information for evaluation

Experience (2 pages or less) o Solution (5 pages or less) o Risk (2 pages or less)

Please confirm if the page limits mentioned here are for the overall solution from RFP sections. 2.3 - 2.8, or would each major section like 2.3,

2.4 etc be allotted 5 pages each?

Prospective Contractors shall not exceed the five-page limit for their

Solution response. The response should include a high-level approach for meeting the requirements of the RFP.