SP17-TEMP-L86.doc

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE

Temperature & Humidity Monitoring Services

RFR #SP17-TEMP-L86

COMMBUYS Bid #BD-17-1084-POLGH-GHQ-12443

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY

DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE

Crime Laboratory

470 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702

Request for Response (RFR) Document Title: Temperature & Humidity Monitoring Services ASK "RFR Number/Document Number" \* MERGEFORMAT COMMBUYS Bid#: BD-17-1084-POLGH-GHQ-12443 Agency Document Number SP17-TEMP-L86 January 23, 2017

RFR Introduction and General Description

11.0 Procurement Scope and Description

11.1 Applicable Procurement Law

11.2 Acquisition Method:

11.3 Whether Single or Multiple Contractors are Required for Contract:

21.4 Entities Eligible to Use the Resulting Contract

21.5 Expected Duration of Contract (Initial Duration and any Options to Renew):

21.6 Anticipated Expenditures, Funding or Compensation:

31.7 Performance and Payment Time Frames Which Continue Beyond Duration of the Contract.

Estimated Procurement Calendar

32.0 Written questions via the Bid Q&A on COMMBUYS

42.1 Locating Bid Q&A

42.2 Amendment Deadline

Specifications

Terms:

64.1 Reporting.

4.2 Contractor's Terms and Conditions …………………………………………………………………… 6

4.3 Change Notification ………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

4.4 Invoices and Payments ………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

4.5 Tax Exempt …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7

Evaluation criteria

75.1 Mandatory requirements

75.2 Desirable specifications

75.3 Alternatives

85.4 Evaluation Components

5.5 Performance Measures …………………………………………………………………………………

Instructions for Submission of Responses:

106.1 Required Forms

Appendix 1 – Required Terms for all RFRs

117.1 General Procurement Information

117.1.1 Access to security-sensitive information

117.1.2 Alterations

117.1.3 Ownership of Submitted Quotes

117.1.4 Prohibitions

127.2 Terms and Requirements Pertaining to Awarded Contracts

127.2.1 Commonwealth Tax Exemption

127.2.2 Contractor’s Contact Information

127.2.3 Publicity

Appendix 2 - RFR - Required Specifications

APPENDIX 3 Instructions for Execution and Submission of Commonwealth Standard Forms

189.1 Commonwealth Standard Contract Form

189.2 Commonwealth Terms and Conditions

199.3 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (Mass. Substitute W9 Form)

199.4 Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing

199.5 Supplier Diversity Program Plan Form 1

209.6 Additional Environmentally Preferable Products / Practices

209.7 Prompt Payment Discount Form

209.8 Business Reference Form

appendix 4 - glossary

1 RFR Introduction and General Description

1.0 Procurement Scope and Description

The Massachusetts State Police Forensic Services Group is interested in qualified bidders that can provide a wireless computer-based, temperature and humidity monitoring control system for multiple locations.

On-line bid response should include Attachment A, Required forms, and Bidders must include a current curriculum vitae for each instructor, along with copies of any certifications/accreditations for each member of the bidders organization who will participate in any contracted service provided to the Department. Bidders should utilize best judgement and value estimation when responding to specifications of room size, sensor needs and signal transmission.

Electronic Quote Submission Instructions

Bidders are advised that Massachusetts State police (1) restricts submission of written questions to the Bid Q&A tool and (2) requires all responses to be submitted using the online submission tools available to active COMMBUYS account holders only. Bidders are solely responsible to monitor this site for Bid amendments, if any. Bidders may monitor the record by frequently checking the Header Information for the list of Amendments. Bidders with active COMMBUYS accounts may also monitor the record through COMMBUYS email notification and record tracking tools enabled when a vendor acknowledges receipt of a bid. To establish a COMMBUYS account, bidders must select the Register link on www.commbuys.com and complete the online subscription process.

1.1 Applicable Procurement Law

Executive Branch Goods and Services

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Legal Services

MGL c. 30, § 51, § 52 and § 65; c. 7, § 22; and 801 CMR 21.01(2) (b)

1.2 Acquisition Method:

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Fee-For-Service, and/or Outright Purchase

1.3 Whether Single or Multiple Contractors are Required for Contract:

Check One (“X”):

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Single Contractor

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Multiple Contractors- Contractor may be businesses or individuals

a. Estimated Number of Awards

The target maximum number of Contractors is a Single contract; the Purchasing Department may award more or fewer contracts, if it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth to do so. Any Contracts awarded from this RFR are for the use for Massachusetts State Police Only.

b. Adding Contractors after initial Contract Award

If, over the life of the contract, the Purchasing Department determines that additional Contractors may be added, these may be drawn from qualified companies which responded to this Solicitation but were not awarded Contracts. This is an Open Enrollment Contract. Under the open enrollment process, the Bid will be re-opened for bid several times a year if deemed necessary.

1.4 Entities Eligible to Use the Resulting Contract

Any contract resulting from this Bid will be open for use to the Issuing Entity, Massachusetts State Police, as well as those agencies that are legislatively mandated within the MSP General Appropriation Act, at the discretion of the MSP.

1.5 Expected Duration of Contract (Initial Duration and any Options to Renew):

Initial Duration

Total Maximum Contract Duration

72 mos.

Initial Number of Years/Months for the Initial Term Plus All Renewal Periods

1.6 Anticipated Expenditures, Funding or Compensation:

The total value of any fee for service contract created as a result of this solicitation will vary depending on the type of service rendered. The Commonwealth and Department make no guarantee that any commodities or services will be purchased from any Contract resulting from this solicitation.

If additional funds become available during the contract duration period, the department reserves the right to increase the maximum obligation to contract executed as a result of this RFR, subject to available funding, satisfactory contract performance and service or commodity needed.

Contract prices will remain fixed during the initial contract period. Contractors will have an opportunity to request a price increase if an option to renew is offered. Contractors will need to submit written justification and supporting documentation with price increase requests. The Department of State Police does not guarantee that increase requests will be granted.

1.7 Performance and Payment Time Frames Which Continue Beyond Duration of the Contract.

All term leases, rentals, maintenance or other agreements for services entered into during the duration of this contract and whose performance and payment time frames extend beyond the duration of this contract shall remain in effect for performance and payment purposes (limited to the time frame and services established per each written agreement). No new leases, rentals, maintenance or other agreements for services may be executed after the contract has expired. Any contract termination or suspension pursuant to this section shall not automatically terminate any leases, rentals, maintenance or other agreements for services already in place unless the department also terminates said leases, rentals, maintenance or other agreements for service, which were executed pursuant to the main contract.

2 Estimated Procurement Calendar

Times are Eastern Standard/Daylight Savings (US), as displayed on the COMMBUYS system clock displayed to Bidders after logging in. If there is a conflict between the dates in this Procurement Calendar and dates in the Bid’s Header, the dates in the Bid’s Header on COMMBUYS shall prevail. Bidders are responsible for checking the Bid record, including Bid Q&A, on COMMBUYS for Procurement Calendar updates.

2.0 Written questions via the Bid Q&A on COMMBUYS

The “Bid Q&A” provides the opportunity for Bidders to ask written questions and receive written answers from the SST regarding this Bid. All Bidders’ questions must be submitted through the Bid Q&A found on COMMBUYS (see below for instructions). Questions may be asked only prior to the Deadline for Submission of Questions stated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar. The issuing department reserves the right not to respond to questions submitted after this date. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to verify receipt of questions.

Please note that any questions submitted to the SST using any other medium (including those that are sent by mail, fax, email or voicemail, etc.) will not be answered. To reduce the number of redundant or duplicate questions, Bidders are asked to review all questions previously submitted to determine whether the Bidder’s question has already been posted.

Bidders are responsible for entering content suitable for public viewing, since all of the questions are accessible to the public. Bidders must not include any information that could be considered personal, security sensitive, inflammatory, incorrect, collusory, or otherwise objectionable, including information about the Bidder’s company or other companies. The SST reserves the right to edit or delete any submitted questions that raise any of these issues or that are not in the best interest of the Commonwealth or this Bid.

All answers are final when posted. Any subsequent revisions to previously provided answers will be dated.

It is the responsibility of the prospective Bidder and awarded Contractor to maintain an active registration in COMMBUYS and to keep current the email address of the Bidder’s contact person and prospective contract manager, if awarded a contract, and to monitor that email inbox for communications from the Purchasing Department, including requests for clarification. The Purchasing Department and the Commonwealth assume no responsibility if a prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s computer, network or internet service provider (ISP) cause email communications sent to/from the prospective Bidder/Awarded contractor and the Purchasing Department to be lost or rejected by any means including email or spam filtering.

2.1 Locating Bid Q&A

Log into COMMBUYS, locate the Bid, acknowledge receipt of the Bid, and scroll down to the bottom of the Bid Header page. The “Bid Q&A” button allows Bidders access to the Bid Q&A page.

2.2 Amendment Deadline

The SST reserves the right to make amendments to the Bid after initial publication. It is each Bidder’s responsibility to check COMMBUYS for any amendments, addenda or modifications to this Bid, and any Bid Q&A records related to this Bid. The SST and the Commonwealth accepts no responsibility and will provide no accommodation to Bidders who submit a Quote based on an out-of-date Bid or on information received from a source other than COMMBUYS.

3 Specifications

The Massachusetts State Police Forensic Services Group is interested in qualified bidders that can provide a wireless computer-based, temperature and humidity monitoring control system for our facilities located at:

124 Acton Street, Maynard, MA 01754; 59 Horse Pond Road, Sudbury, MA 01776; 720 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118; 458 Maple Street, Danvers, MA 01923; 190 Carando Drive, Springfield, MA 01104; 30 Riverside Drive, Lakeville, MA 02347; Route 28 Bourne Rotary, Bourne, MA 02532, and 150 Goddard Memorial Drive, Worcester, MA 01603

1) All services rendered under the terms of this RFR are not currently available on state wide contracts.

2) Bidder shall be ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 17025 certified.

3) Bidder should offer maintenance, unit and extended warranty costs on purchased equipment. Please denote cost(s) in “Fiscal Terms/Pricing” section below.

4) Bidders must provide for all their own travel expenses.

5) Bidder should be able to offer and provide maintenance and technical support by phone, internet or in person within twenty-four hours of notification.

6) Bidder should be able to provide initial training on how to use the system and then on an as needed basis.

7) Bidder should be able to offer and provide remote alarming as part of the temperature and humidity monitoring control system. All facilities are to be alarmed when the temperature and humidity levels are not within the desired range. It is desirable to be notified in various ways such as phone, email and fax.

8) The temperature and humidity monitoring control system should be a wireless, computer based system. The system should be user friendly and be able to have multiple users at one time. The computer software should be able to generate reports and graphs of the temperature and humidity monitoring. A preferred bidder should offer customization of the reports and data at no cost to the Commonwealth. The bidder must be able to continually provide computer software upgrades to the system at no cost to the Commonwealth.

9) The temperature and humidity monitoring control system must be able to monitor the temperatures of refrigerators (2 to 8(C) and freezers (-15 to -25(C) over a period of twenty-four hours as well as the temperature and humidity, in Fahrenheit, of the desired rooms. All temperatures and humidity history is to be stored in perpetuity. The temperature sensors must be NIST calibrated prior to delivery or upon installation. All facilities must be able to purchase more temperature and/or humidity sensors after the initial purchase. Bidders shall offer pricing for additional sensors after the initial purchase.

10) Bidder should be able to offer a calibration service to NIST calibrate of all temperature and humidity sensors every year to every two years.

11) Bid responses must through COMMBUYS by an authorized representative. Additional sheets may be uploaded as needed.

12) Bidder must provide three references. Reference must be current customer accounts for similar services. References must be supplied on reference form provided - Bidder may not use Massachusetts State Police employees as a reference.

13) This contract will be awarded up to a thirty-six-month period to start on the date of award. This contract also includes options to renew for two (2) additional thirty six-month periods (total up to nine years max- at the discretion of the State Police).

14) Bidder should note that all of the above requirements must be addressed and will be considered in the award of this RFR.

15) In response to this RFR, Bidders must offer prompt payment discounts (see prompt payment form) for early payment of their invoices. Discounts will be considered when evaluating responsive bids to determine which bids are considered as best value for purposes of making contract awards. Bidders will be given bonus points equivalent to the maximum percent discount offered.

16) Price quotes remain in effect for 90 days and become fixed upon award of the contract for the life of the contract, unless a lower price or negotiated price is agreed upon or until accepted by the procurement management team.

4. Terms:

· Bidders responding to this bid must complete and submit Attachment A- cost

· Compensation will be based solely on the pricing information provided by the bidder and accepted by the Department. Surcharges such as transportation, fuel, energy or insurance charges for example, are not allowed.

· The Department is looking for the “Best Value” response, which is timely, which supports the required performance outcomes, and which provides the greatest quantity of services at the highest quality.

· The Commonwealth and Department make no guarantee that any commodities or services will be purchased from any contract resulting from this bid.

4.1. Reporting.

Contractors are responsible for compliance with all other contract reporting requirements including, but not limited to, Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) and other contract reports, as required by this contract.

4.2. Contractor’s Terms and Conditions

The Department is not obligated and should not complete, sign or execute any contractor or vendor contracts, invoices or other terms and conditions. It must be clearly understood that the Standard Contract Form and the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions supersede any contractor or vendor contracts, invoices or other terms and conditions. If, by chance, any said contractor or vendor contracts, invoices or other terms and conditions are signed, the signed document is immediately considered invalid.

4.3. Change Notification.

Changes to the Contractor’s contact information, company name, legal address, payment address, tax identification number, authorized signatories, SDO-certification status, or EFT information must be promptly reported via email to the Department’s Contract Manager. In some cases additional paperwork will be required to effect the change.

Any change of address, including remit address, requires immediate written notification and submission of a new W-9 Form, Commonwealth Terms and Conditions and a brief letter written on contractor’s letterhead stating that their address has changed “from” and “to.” If written notification is not received changes cannot be done; therefore any payments will be sent to the address which is currently on file and with no late penalty to the Commonwealth.

4.4. Invoices and Payment.

Itemized invoices shall be sent to the proper office by the Contractor no later than 30 days after completion of services or receipt of goods. The Contractor’s invoices at a minimum shall include the following:

Name and address of Contractor

Telephone number, fax number, and e-mail contact address

Date of invoice and date of delivery

Name of Department contact person

Prompt payment discount terms

Valid MSP Purchase Order number

All invoices shall be itemized. Itemized invoices shall include a copy of all receipts and any backup documentation. Itemized invoices shall include a complete description for each charge such as number of billable hours, the hourly rate, an explanation and description of the work performed, etc.

Invoicing and credit issues must be resolved in a timely and efficient manner. A copy of the completed, signed and detailed receipt of deliverables, which includes the department employee signature, may be attached to the invoice.

All invoices will be paid in accordance with the Office of the Comptroller's Bill Paying Policy.

4.5. Tax Exempt.

Tax shall not be charged to Executive Branch Departments. The Contractor may request a copy of the Tax Exempt form from the Department.

5. Evaluation criteria

Bidder scores will be used to rank Bidders and will determine which Bidders will proceed to subsequent stages of the evaluation and/or enter into negotiations with the Commonwealth to receive a Contract award.

5.1. Mandatory requirements

Mandatory Specifications must be met in order for a Bid to be evaluated and may be used to disqualify Bidders. In addition, certain mandatory specifications have desirable components to them that may be evaluated by the SST. The SST reserves the right, in its discretion, to determine if non-compliance with a Mandatory Specification is insignificant or can be easily corrected.

Bid sections that include terms such as: “must”, “shall”, “will” and “required” are “mandatory.” Failure to meet the requirements of a mandatory specification without providing an alternate that is acceptable to the evaluators may result in the disqualification of a Bidder's proposal.

5.2. Desirable specifications

Desirable specifications will be scored according to the Evaluation Criteria.

RFR specifications prefaced with language such as: "desirable", "could," "can," "should," "preferably," "prefers," "suggested," and "requested" identify a desirable or discretionary item or factor that is considered by the Purchaser to be "desirable." The Purchaser has listed all desirable specifications which will receive points in the evaluation criteria.

5.3. Alternatives

A Quote which fails to meet any material term or condition of the Bid, including the submission of required attachments, may lose points or be deemed unresponsive and disqualified. Unless otherwise specified, Bidders may submit Quotes proposing alternatives which provide equivalent, better or more cost effective performance than achievable under the stated Bid specifications. These alternatives may include related commodities or services that may be available to enhance performance during the period of the Contract. The Quote should describe how any alternative achieves substantially equivalent or better performance to that of the Bid specifications.

The SST will determine if a proposed alternative method of performance achieves substantially equivalent or better performance. The goal of this Bid is to provide the best value of commodities and/or services to achieve the goals of the procurement.

5.4. Evaluation Components

Bidder scores will be used to rank Bidders and will determine which Bidders will proceed to subsequent stages of the evaluation and/or enter into negotiations with the Department to receive a Contract award.

The Department is looking for the “best value” response which provides the greatest quantify of services at the highest quality.

Below are the criteria and maximum points available:

Criteria;

Maximum Points Available

Bidder Qualifications / Experience

Pricing

Prompt Pay Discount

Subtotal:

Supplier Diversity Plan: (minimum of 10% weight)

Total:

Supplier Diversity Plan (minimum of 10% weight)

Bidders responding to this RFR are required to submit a Supplier Diversity Plan. Pursuant to Operational Services Division policy, the Bidders SDP must be evaluated at least a minimum of 10% of the total evaluation.

5.5. Performance Measures.

Any and all work performed through the duration of the contract must be guaranteed by the contractor to be completed in a workmanship-like manner and according to applicable codes and industry accepted standards. Contractors will only be expected to provide services in their area(s) of expertise; that is, the business for which they receive an award. Each contractor’s performance will be evaluated on an ongoing basis and will be utilized in determining whether or not to extend the contract. Purchasers may be surveyed as to their satisfaction with the contractor’s performance under the contract. Contractor performance will also be evaluated based on the number of complaints received from Purchasers. A high number of unresolved complaints will result in a warning to the contractor and may lead to early termination or non-renewal of that contractor’s contract.

6. Instructions for Submission of Responses:

Responses must be sent via the “Create Quote” functionality contained in COMMBUYS. For instructions concerning how to submit a Quote, please see Attachment: Instructions for Vendors Responding to Bids.

Any submission which fails to meet the submission requirements of the RFR will be found non-responsive without further evaluation unless the evaluation team, at its discretion, determines that the non-compliance is insubstantial and can be corrected. In these cases, the evaluation team may allow the vendor to make minor corrections to the submission.

a. Online Questions (Bid Q&A)

Written Questions must be entered by pressing the “Bid Q&A” tab for the Bid in COMMBUYS no later than the “Online Questions Due” date and time indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above). The issuing department reserves the right not to respond to questions submitted after this date. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to verify receipt of questions.

It is the responsibility of the prospective Bidder and awarded Contractor to maintain an active registration in COMMBUYS and to keep current the email address of the Bidder’s contact person and prospective contract manager, if awarded a contract, and to monitor that email inbox for communications from the Purchasing Department, including requests for clarification. The Purchasing Department and the Commonwealth assume no responsibility if a prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s computer, network or internet service provider (ISP) cause email communications sent to/from the prospective Bidder/Awarded contractor and the Purchasing Department to be lost or rejected by any means including email or spam filtering.

Written Responses to Questions will be released on or about the “Responses to Questions Posted Online” date indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

(Written questions and responses will be posted on the Bid Q&A Tab for this Bid in COMMBUYS.)

b. Bid Amendment Deadline

The Purchasing Department reserves the right to make amendments to the Bid after initial publication. It is each Bidder’s responsibility to check COMMBUYS for any amendments, addenda or modifications to this Bid, and any Bid Q&A records related to this Bid. The Purchasing Department and the Commonwealth accept no responsibility and will provide no accommodation to Bidders who submit a Quote based on an out-of-date Bid or on information received from a source other than COMMBUYS.

c. Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening Date/Time)

See the Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening) Date and Time indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

d. Estimated Contract Start Date

This is the approximate start date. The actual start date will be the Contract Effective Date which is the date the Contract is executed by the parties.

6.1. Required Forms

Responses to this RFR must contain the following documents:

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The above attachments are available as attachments as part of the Bid record on WWW.COMMBUYS.COM.

7. Appendix 1 – Required Terms for all RFRs

7.1. General Procurement Information

7.1.1. Access to security-sensitive information

Bidders agree to adhere to this section in the event that an eligible entity provides a Contractor with security-sensitive information which, pursuant to MGL c. 4, § 7, cls. 26(n), is generally exempt from public disclosure under the Commonwealth’s public records laws and must, for public safety purposes, be safeguarded from widespread public disclosure. This security-sensitive information is in the form of blueprints, plans, policies, procedures, schematic drawings, which relate to internal layout and structural elements, security measures, emergency preparedness, threat or vulnerability assessments, and/or any other records relating to the security or safety of persons (pursuant to MGL c. 66A) or buildings, structures, facilities, utilities, transportation, information technology or other infrastructure located within the Commonwealth. Qualified prospective Bidders that are interested in accessing this information for the purpose of preparing a Quote must, before being allowed to access the information, sign a confidentiality agreement, thereby agreeing to:

restrict the use of these sensitive records for any other purpose than as authorized and for the purpose of putting together a bid proposal;

safeguard the information while it is in their possession (consistent with Section 6 of the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions); and return such records and materials to the Commonwealth upon completion of the project.

7.1.2. Alterations

Bidders may not alter (manually or electronically) the Bid language or any Bid component files, except as directed in the RFR. Modifications to the body of the Bid, specifications, terms and conditions, or which change the intent of this Bid are prohibited and may disqualify a Quote.

7.1.3. Ownership of Submitted Quotes

The SST shall be under no obligation to return any Quotes or materials submitted by a Bidder in response to this Bid. All materials submitted by Bidders become the property of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will not be returned to the Bidder. The Commonwealth reserves the right to use any ideas, concepts, or configurations that are presented in a Bidder’s Quote, whether or not the Quote is selected for Contract award.

Quotes stored on COMMBUYS in the encrypted lock-box are the file of record. Bidders retain access to a read-only copy of this submission via COMMBUYS, as long as their account is active. Bidders may also retain a traditional paper copy or electronic copy on a separate computer or network drive or separate media, such as CD or DVD, as a backup.

7.1.4. Prohibitions

Bidders are prohibited from communicating directly with any employee of the procuring Department or any member of the SST regarding this RFR except as specified in this RFR, and no other individual Commonwealth employee or representative is authorized to provide any information or respond to any question or inquiry concerning this RFR. Bidders may contact the contact person using the contact information provided in the Header Information this Bid in the event that this RFR is incomplete or information is missing. Bidders experiencing technical problems accessing information or attachments stored on COMMBUYS should contact the COMMBUYS Helpdesk (see the document cover page for contact information).

In addition to the certifications found in the Commonwealth’s Standard Contract Form, by submitting a Quote, the Bidder certifies that the Quote has been arrived at independently and has been submitted without any communication, collaboration, or without any agreement, understanding or planned common course or action with, any other Bidder of the commodities and/or services described in the RFR.

7.2. Terms and Requirements Pertaining to Awarded Contracts

7.2.1. Commonwealth Tax Exemption

Invoices or invoices submitted to Massachusetts government entities must not include sales tax.

7.2.2. Contractor’s Contact Information

It is the Contractor’s responsibility to keep the Contractor’s Contract Manager information current. If this information changes, the Contractor must notify the Contract Manager by email immediately, using the address located in the Header Information of the Purchase Order or Master Blanket Purchase Order on COMMBUYS.

The Commonwealth assumes no responsibility if a Contractor’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the Contractor’s computer, network or internet service provider (ISP), cause e-mail communications between the Bidder and the SST to be lost or rejected by any means including email or spam filtering.

7.2.3. Publicity

Any Contractor awarded a contract under this Bid is prohibited from selling or distributing any information collected or derived from the Contract, including lists of participating Eligible Entities, Commonwealth employee names, telephone numbers or addresses, or any other information except as specifically authorized by the SST.

8. Appendix 2 - RFR - Required Specifications

In general, most of the required contractual stipulations are referenced in the Standard Contract Form and Instructions and the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions (either version). However, the following RFR provisions must appear in all Commonwealth competitive procurements conducted under 801 CMR 21.00:

COMMBUYS Market Center. COMMBUYS is the official source of information for this Bid and is publicly accessible at no charge at www.commbuys.com. Information contained in this document and in COMMBUYS, including file attachments, and information contained in the related Bid Questions and Answers (Q&A), are all components of the Bid, as referenced in COMMBUYS, and are incorporated into the Bid and any resulting contract.

Bidders are solely responsible for obtaining all information distributed for this Bid via COMMBUYS. Bid Q&A supports Bidder submission of written questions associated with a Bid and publication of official answers.

It is each Bidder’s responsibility to check COMMBUYS for:

· Any amendments, addenda or modifications to this Bid, and

· Any Bid Q&A records related to this Bid.

The Commonwealth accepts no responsibility and will provide no accommodation to Bidders who submit a Quote based on an out-of-date Bid or on information received from a source other than COMMBUYS.

COMMBUYS Subscription. Bidders may elect to obtain a free COMMBUYS Seller subscription which provides value-added features, including automated email notification associated with postings and modifications to COMMBUYS records. However, in order to respond to a Bid, Bidders must register and maintain an active COMMBUYS Seller subscription account.

All Bidders submitting a Quote (previously referred to as Response) in response to this Bid (previously referred to as Solicitation) agree that, if awarded a contract: (1) they will maintain an active seller account in COMMBUYS; (2) they will, when directed to do so by the procuring entity, activate and maintain a COMMBUYS-enabled catalog using Commonwealth Commodity Codes; (3) they will comply with all requests by the procuring entity to utilize COMMBUYS for the purposes of conducting all aspects of purchasing and invoicing with the Commonwealth, as added functionality for the COMMBUYS system is activated; (4) Bidder understands and acknowledges that all references to the Comm-PASS website or related requirements throughout this RFR, shall be superseded by comparable requirements pertaining to the COMMBUYS website; and (6) in the event the Commonwealth adopts an alternate market center system, successful Bidders will be required to utilize such system, as directed by the procuring entity. Commonwealth Commodity Codes are based on the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC).

The COMMBUYS system introduces new terminology, which bidders must be familiar with in order to conduct business with the Commonwealth. To view this terminology and to learn more about the COMMBUYS system, please visit the COMMBUYS Resource Center.

Multiple Quotes. Bidders may not submit Multiple Quotes in response to a Bid unless the RFR authorizes them to do so. If a Bidder submits multiple quotes in response to an RFR that does not authorize multiple responses, only the latest dated quote submitted prior to the bid opening date will be evaluated.

Quote Content. Bid specifications for delivery, shipping, billing and payment will prevail over any proposed Bidder terms entered as part of the Quote, unless otherwise specified in the Bid.

Supplier Diversity Program (SDP). Massachusetts Executive Order 524 established a policy to promote the award of state contracts in a manner that develops and strengthens Minority and Women Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) that resulted in the Supplier Diversity Program in Public Contracting. M/WBEs are strongly encouraged to submit responses to this RFR, either as prime vendors, joint venture partners or other type of business partnerships. Similarly, Executive Order 546 established the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (SDVOBE) Program to encourage the participation of businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans in all areas of state procurement and contracting, thereby including them in the SDP. All bidders must follow the requirements set forth in the SDP section of the RFR, which will detail the specific requirements relating to the prime vendor’s inclusion of M/WBEs and/or SDVOBEs. Bidders are required to develop creative initiatives to help foster new business relationships with M/WBEs and/or SDVOBEs within the primary industries affected by this RFR. In order to satisfy the compliance of this section and encourage bidder’s participation of SDP objectives, the Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) Plan for large procurements greater than $150,000 will be evaluated at 10% or more of the total evaluation. Once an SDP commitment, expressed as a percentage of contract revenues, is approved, the agency will then monitor the contractor’s performance, and use actual expenditures with SDO certified M/WBE contractors and the Center for Veterans Enterprise certified SDVOBEs to fulfill their own SDP expenditure benchmarks. M/WBE and SDVOBE participation must be incorporated into and monitored for all types of procurements regardless of size; however, submission of an SDP Plan is mandated only for large procurements over $150,000.

Unless otherwise specified in the RFR, the following SDP forms are required to be submitted by the deadlines noted below in order to meet the mandatory participation requirements of the SDP:

Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) Resources:

· Resources available to assist Prime Bidders in finding potential Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) partners can be found at: www.mass.gov/sdp

· Resources available to assist Prime Bidders in finding potential Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (SDVOBE) partners can be found on the Operational Services Division’s SDO webpage at: www.mass.gov/sdo

· The Operational Services Division’s Supplier Diversity Program offers training on the SDP Plan requirements. The dates of upcoming trainings can be found at: http://www.mass.gov/anf/budget-taxes-and-procurement/procurement-info-and-res/osd-events-and-training/osd-training-and-outreach.html In addition, the SDP Webinar can be located on the SDP website at www.mass.gov/SDP.

Supplier Diversity Program Subcontracting Policies. In addition to the Subcontracting Policies (See Subcontracting Policies section below and see Section 9, Subcontracting By Contractor, in the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions) that apply to all subcontracted services, agencies may define specific required deliverables for a contractor’s SDP Plan, including, but not limited to, documentation necessary to verify subcontractor commitments and expenditures with Minority- or Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprises (SDVOBE) for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing commitments made in a contractor’s Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) Plan.

Best Value Selection and Negotiation. The Strategic Sourcing Team or SST (formerly referred to as Procurement Management Team or PMT) may select the response(s) which demonstrates the best value overall, including proposed alternatives that will achieve the procurement goals of the department. The SST and a selected bidder, or a contractor, may negotiate a change in any element of contract performance or cost identified in the original RFR or the selected bidder’s or contractor’s response which results in lower costs or a more cost effective or better value than was presented in the selected bidder’s or contractor’s original response.

Bidder Communication. Bidders are prohibited from communicating directly with any employee of the procuring department or any member of the SST regarding this RFR except as specified in this RFR, and no other individual Commonwealth employee or representative is authorized to provide any information or respond to any question or inquiry concerning this RFR. Bidders may contact the contact person for this RFR in the event this RFR is incomplete or the bidder is having trouble obtaining any required attachments electronically through COMMBUYS.

Contract Expansion. If additional funds become available during the contract duration period, the department reserves the right to increase the maximum obligation to some or all contracts executed as a result of this RFR or to execute contracts with contractors not funded in the initial selection process, subject to available funding, satisfactory contract performance and service or commodity need.

Costs. Costs which are not specifically identified in the bidder’s response, and accepted by a department as part of a contract, will not be compensated under any contract awarded pursuant to this RFR. The Commonwealth will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by bidders responding to this RFR.

Electronic Communication/Update of Bidder’s/Contractor’s Contact Information. It is the responsibility of the prospective bidder and awarded contractor to keep current on COMMBUYS the email address of the bidder’s contact person and prospective contract manager, if awarded a contract, and to monitor that email inbox for communications from the SST, including requests for clarification. The SST and the Commonwealth assume no responsibility if a prospective bidder’s/awarded contractor’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the prospective bidder’s/awarded contractor’s computer, network or internet service provider (ISP) cause email communications sent to/from the prospective bidder/awarded contractor and the SST to be lost or rejected by any means including email or spam filtering.

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). All bidders responding to this RFR must agree to participate in the Commonwealth Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) program for receiving payments, unless the bidder can provide compelling proof that it would be unduly burdensome. EFT is a benefit to both contractors and the Commonwealth because it ensures fast, safe and reliable payment directly to contractors and saves both parties the cost of processing checks. Contractors are able to track and verify payments made electronically through the Comptroller’s Vendor Web system. A link to the EFT application can be found on the OSD Forms page (www.mass.gov/osd). Additional information about EFT is available on the VendorWeb site (www.mass.gov/osc). Click on MASSfinance.

Successful bidders, upon notification of contract award, will be required to enroll in EFT as a contract requirement by completing and submitting the Authorization for Electronic Funds Payment Form to this department for review, approval and forwarding to the Office of the Comptroller. If the bidder is already enrolled in the program, it may so indicate in its response. Because the Authorization for Electronic Funds Payment Form contains banking information, this form, and all information contained on this form, shall not be considered a public record and shall not be subject to public disclosure through a public records request.

The requirement to use EFT may be waived by the SST on a case-by-case basis if participation in the program would be unduly burdensome on the bidder. If a bidder is claiming that this requirement is a hardship or unduly burdensome, the specific reason must be documented in its response. The SST will consider such requests on a case-by-case basis and communicate the findings with the bidder.

Environmental Response Submission Compliance. In the event that paper submissions are required and in an effort to promote greater use of recycled and environmentally preferable products and minimize waste, all required paper responses that are submitted should comply with the following guidelines:

· All copies should be printed double sided.

· All submittals and copies should be printed on recycled paper with a minimum post-consumer content of 30% or on tree-free paper (i.e. paper made from raw materials other than trees, such as kenaf). To document the use of such paper, a photocopy of the ream cover/wrapper should be included with the response.

· Unless absolutely necessary, all responses and copies should minimize or eliminate use of non-recyclable or non re-usable materials such as plastic report covers, plastic dividers, vinyl sleeves and GBC binding. Three ringed binders, glued materials, paper clips and staples are acceptable.

· Bidders should submit materials in a format which allows for easy removal and recycling of paper materials.

· Bidders are encouraged to use other products which contain recycled content in their response documents. Such products may include, but are not limited to, folders, binders, paper clips, diskettes, envelopes, boxes, etc. Where appropriate, bidders should note which products in their responses are made with recycled materials.

· Unnecessary samples, attachments or documents not specifically asked for should not be submitted.

Executive Order 509, Establishing Nutrition Standards for Food Purchased and Served by State Agencies. Food purchased and served by state agencies must be in compliance with Executive Order 509, issued in January 2009. Under this Executive Order, all contracts resulting from procurements posted after July 1, 2009 that involve the purchase and provision of food must comply with nutrition guidelines established by the Department of Public Health (DPH). The nutrition guidelines are available at the Department’s website: Executive Order # 509 Guidance.

HIPAA: Business Associate Contractual Obligations. Bidders are notified that any department meeting the definition of a Covered Entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) will include in the RFR and resulting contract sufficient language establishing the successful bidder’s contractual obligations, if any, that the department will require in order for the department to comply with HIPAA and the privacy and security regulations promulgated thereunder (45 CFR Parts 160, 162, and 164) (the Privacy and Security Rules). For example, if the department determines that the successful bidder is a business associate performing functions or activities involving protected health information, as such terms are used in the Privacy and Security Rules, then the department will include in the RFR and resulting contract a sufficient description of business associate’s contractual obligations regarding the privacy and security of the protected health information, as listed in 45 CFR 164.314 and 164.504 (e), including, but not limited to, the bidder's obligation to: implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that reasonably and appropriately protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the protected health information (in whatever form it is maintained or used, including verbal communications); provide individuals access to their records; and strictly limit use and disclosure of the protected health information for only those purposes approved by the department. Further, the department reserves the right to add any requirement during the course of the contract that it determines it must include in the contract in order for the department to comply with the Privacy and Security Rules. Please see other sections of the RFR for any further HIPAA details, if applicable.

Minimum Quote (Bid Response) Duration. Bidders Quotes made in response to this Bid must remain in effect for at least 90 days from the date of quote submission.

Prompt Payment Discounts (PPD). All bidders responding to this procurement must agree to offer discounts through participation in the Commonwealth Prompt Payment Discount (PPD) initiative for receiving early and/or on-time payments, unless the bidder can provide compelling proof that it would be unduly burdensome. PPD benefits both contractors and the Commonwealth. Contractors benefit by increased, usable cash flow as a result of fast and efficient payments for commodities or services rendered. Participation in the Electronic Funds Transfer initiative further maximizes the benefits with payments directed to designated accounts, thus eliminating the impact of check clearance policies and traditional mail lead time or delays.