SRC0000033450 RFP .docx

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The State of Ohio, through the Department of Administrative Services, Office of Procurement Services, on behalf of the Department of Youth Services, is issuing the following Request for Proposals (RFP):

OHIO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND EDUCATION PROGRAM RFP

Proposals received after the due date and time will not be evaluated.

This RFP consists of seven sections, eight parts, and three exhibits, totaling 77 consecutively numbered pages excluding the exhibits. Exhibits are included with this RFP as separate documents. Please verify that you have a complete copy of all documents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RFP Details

Contract

Exhibits to RFP and Contract

RFP DETAILS

Section 1 - Overview

A. Definitions in this RFP

The following definitions apply to the RFP and Contract.

Agency: The State entity or entities on behalf of which this RFP is issued.

Contract: The contract resulting from this RFP.

Contractor: The selected Offeror.

DAS: Ohio Department of Administrative Services.

Deliverable: Specified portions of the Work that must be provided by the Contractor to meet contractual requirements.

Offeror: A supplier submitting a Proposal in response to this RFP.

PREP Community Partner: A location, site, institution, agency, organization, etc. where PREP is delivered to youth.

Proposal: Competitive sealed proposals submitted by Offerors in response to this RFP.

State: State of Ohio.

Work: The scope of work described in this RFP.

B. Term of Contract

Once awarded, the term of the Contract will be as set forth in Part 8, Draft Contract. The State may solely renew this Contract at its discretion for a period of one month. Any further renewals will be by mutual agreement between the Contractor and the State as set forth in Part 8. The Contract and each renewal are subject to and contingent upon the discretionary decision of the Ohio General Assembly to appropriate funds for this Contract in each new biennium. The State may renew all or part of this Contract subject to the satisfactory performance of the Contractor and the needs of the Agency.

C. Purpose and Background

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit Proposals for the implementation of the Ohio Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), a federally funded initiative of the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) within the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Youth Services (Agency) oversees the implementation of PREP under the State PREP funding stream.

PREP equips adolescents with essential knowledge about abstinence and contraception with goals of preventing pregnancy and stopping the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and/or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In addition, the PREP curriculum targets three interrelated adult preparation subjects (financial literacy, healthy relationships and education and/or career success) to support youth in their transition into adulthood.

Grant administration guidance indicates PREP elements must include teaching abstinence and/or delaying sexual activity, increasing condom and contraceptive usage for sexually active youth, reducing teen pregnancy, and reducing the number of sexual partners. PREP prioritizes reaching vulnerable populations at higher risk, such as homeless youth, victims of human trafficking, youth in foster care, youth in juvenile justice systems, youth diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, pregnant and parenting youth under 21 years of age, and youth living in areas with high birth rates for teens. By focusing on these groups, PREP ensures that young people facing the greatest challenges have access to the education and resources they need to make healthy decisions and build a strong foundation for their future.

Ohio is the seventh largest state in the nation by population, with more than 11.8 million people, including over 1.57 million youth between the ages of 10 and 19, according to the U.S. census bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey.

Each year, thousands of Ohio youth become involved in juvenile justice and foster care systems. These populations often face the highest risks and challenges. As of September 2024, 549 youth between the ages of 10 and 21 were placed in Agency and Community Correctional Facilities in Ohio (www.acluohio.org). In addition, on any given day during 2023, there were approximately 500 children in county detention centers in the five largest counties by population in Ohio (Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery, and Summit) (www.cincinnati.com). Moreover, during the 2023-2024 school year, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce estimates that approximately 16,241 students were in foster care, with 41% of the students reported to be 11 years or older (https://education.ohio.gov). Ohio also has 611 school districts, with 336,393 students enrolled in alternative education during the 2021-2022 school year (https://forehaminstitute.org).

Adolescence is a crucial time for developing positive decision-making skills and building healthy relationships, yet data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that over 40% of Ohio high school students have engaged in sexual activity, with 29.2% currently sexually active. Among these students, less than half (46.2%) reported using a condom during their last sexual encounter, and less than a quarter (21.5%) reported using effective hormonal birth control. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2024, Ohio had a teen birth rate of 15.4 births per 1,000 females aged 15-19, ranking Ohio 18th in the nation. Although Ohio has seen a steady decline in teen birth rates over the past decade, Ohio has seen a rise in reported STI cases among youth ages 10-14, indicating an ongoing need for comprehensive sexual health education. Programs like PREP play a vital role in this process by using evidence-based strategies to educate youth on pregnancy and STI prevention and equipping youth with knowledge and resources to make informed, healthy decisions.

The CDC’s National Overview of STIs reported over 2.4 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis (including congenital syphilis) in 2023. Chlamydia rates were particularly high among females, with females aged 15-19 experiencing the second-highest rate. The Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) STD Surveillance Program recorded 15,459 chlamydia cases among youth ages 10-19 in 2023. National STI surveillance data indicates syphilis increased significantly during 2023 in 44 states, including Ohio. Additionally, HIV continues to be of concern. ODH’s HIV Surveillance Program reported that 21% of newly identified HIV diagnoses were among youth ages 15-24. These statistics demonstrate both the national and state-level urgency of addressing rising STI rates and reinforcing the need for continued sexual health education and prevention efforts.

Ohio PREP has reached a significant number of high school students. Most recent data indicate at least 83% of survey respondents reporting prior sexual activity before entering PREP. While 52% of exit survey participants indicated that PREP did not change their intentions regarding sexual activity, more than half of the respondents reported that it increased their likelihood of using condoms (57%) or other birth control methods (52%). This suggests that, while PREP may not directly alter sexual intentions, it plays a vital role in improving the use of protective measures, which is key to preventing unintended pregnancies and STIs.

Ohio PREP serves youth in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. The Agency has identified target high-teen pregnancy counties using 2023 U.S. Census Data to be prioritized by districts for PREP programming. These target counties are identified in the Scope of Work.

The 2024 PREP Performance Measures Fact Sheet (completed by FYSB, Office of Planning Evaluation and Research and Mathematica), revealed most PREP programs (60%) served youth in high school or beyond, and fewer than half (40%) served youth in middle school. The Data Evaluation Report completed by Ohio University reports that of youth attending PREP cohorts between October 2023 and September 2024, 92% were at the high school level, 74% were male, and the majority served were from juvenile justice systems.

Ohio PREP will focus on providing more services to specific underserved populations including youth in middle school and more young women. Additionally, to address the needs described in the purpose and background section, Ohio PREP has identified the following additional target populations:

1) Youth in foster care (including residential facilities, group homes, and other out of home and congregate settings).

2) Pregnant and parenting teens under 21 years of age.

3) Youth in juvenile justice systems (including Agency facilities, county detention centers, community correctional facilities, youth on parole and probation, and other court ordered settings).

4) Alternative schools (including magnet, home schools, virtual or online, credit recovery, community, charter, STEM, and special education schools).

D. Scope of Work Overview

An overview of the Work is provided below. The scope of work and requirements are provided in greater detail within Part 1, Scope of Work.

The Contractor must implement and administer PREP in its awarded district(s) by successfully completing the Work. The Contractor must meet a minimum target number of youth for PREP completion, prioritize PREP in counties with high teen pregnancies and provide reports detailing PREP metrics and outcomes. The Contractor must attend mandatory meetings and trainings, professional development opportunities, program monitoring meetings and fiscal reviews.

Section 2 – Procurement Authority, RFP Overview, and Schedule of Events

A. Procurement Authority and RFP Overview

This is a request for competitive sealed proposals under Section 125.071 of the Ohio Revised Code (R.C.) and Section 123:5-1-08 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). The State of Ohio, through the Department of Administrative Services, Office of Procurement Services, on behalf of the Department of Youth Services (the Agency), is soliciting Proposals for this Ohio Personal Responsibility and Education Program RFP.

If a suitable Proposal is made by an Offeror in response to this RFP, the State, through DAS, may enter into the Contract. The Contractor will perform all or part of the Work as specified in the Contract. This RFP provides details on what is required to submit a Proposal for the Work, how the State will evaluate the Proposals, and what will be required of the Contractor in performing the Work.

The State will award a Contract to one Contractor per district (a Contractor may be awarded more than one district). The districts are listed and described in Exhibit 1, Ohio Prep District Map, of this RFP. Each Offeror must submit a separate Proposal, including the Part 5 cost proposal, for each district where it seeks a Contract..

B. Schedule of Events

The schedule of events for the RFP process and Work is provided in the solicitation general information section in OhioBuys for this RFP. The State may change this schedule at any time. If the State changes the schedule before the Proposal due date, it will post an amendment to this RFP in the OhioBuys public portal. Offerors must not contact Agency staff or DAS (except as provided in this RFP) until the Contract award is announced.

There are references in this RFP to the Proposal due date. Unless it is clearly stated to the contrary, any such reference means the date and time that the Proposals are due.

Proposals received after 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Proposal due date will not be evaluated. Any failure to meet a deadline or any objection to the dates for performance of the Work may result in the State refusing to consider a Proposal.

Section 3 – General Instructions to Offeror

A. Introduction to General Instructions

The following sections provide details on how to get more information about this RFP and how to respond to this RFP. All responses must be complete and in the prescribed format.

B. Contacts

During the performance of the Work, a State representative (Agency Representative) will represent the Agency and be the primary contact for matters relating to the Work. The Agency Representative will be designated after the Contract award.

C. Inquiries

Offerors may not contact the State directly at any time during the solicitation process, however Offerors may make inquiries regarding this RFP any time during the inquiry period listed in OhioBuys.

To make an inquiry, Offerors must login to OhioBuys, navigate to the solicitation, open the Inquiry tab and submit their inquiry. Offerors will not receive a personalized e-mail response to their question, nor will they receive notification when the question has been answered. Offerors may view inquiries and responses on the OhioBuys Public Solicitations page by opening the Solicitation Overview and navigating to the inquiries section of that page.

Offerors are to base their proposal responses, and the details and costs of their proposed projects, on the requirements and performance expectations established in this RFP.

The State is under no obligation to acknowledge questions submitted through the Q&A process if those questions are not in accordance with these instructions or deadlines. The State does not consider questions asked during the inquiry period through the inquiry process as exceptions to the requirements or the terms and conditions of this RFP.

The State will attempt to respond to all inquiries within three business days of receipt, excluding State holidays. The State will not respond to any inquiries received after 8:00 a.m. on the inquiry end date listed in OhioBuys. The State will use its discretion in deciding whether to provide responses as part of this RFP process. Responses to inquiries are not considered changes to the RFP.

D. Restrictions on Communication

Other than the communication options described in this RFP, Offerors must not make unsolicited contact with any elected official or office of the State, any staff member of DAS or the Agency, or any agent or representative of DAS or the Agency, regarding this RFP. Offerors must not represent themselves to anyone as having the endorsement of the Agency or the State, nor as the Agency’s next supplier of the Work. For contractors currently doing business with the Agency, any communication regarding this RFP is prohibited except as provided for in this RFP. Any such unauthorized contact may result in an Offeror being disqualified from further consideration under this RFP. The State will not discuss the particulars of this RFP process with external parties.

E. Amendments to this RFP

If the State decides to revise this RFP before the Proposal due date, an amendment will be issued in OhioBuys as a new round. If an Offeror has submitted a Proposal prior to an amendment being issued and wishes to be considered, the Offeror must resubmit their Proposal in response to the latest round of the RFP. Proposals submitted in response to amended RFPs prior to the most recent amendment will not be opened or evaluated. The State may issue amendments to this RFP any time before Proposals are due, and it is each Offeror’s responsibility to check for amendments and other current information regarding this RFP.

Unless otherwise stated in the notice by the State, modifications and withdrawals must be submitted within OhioBuys prior to the end date of the amendment response period. If this RFP provides for a negotiation phase, this procedure will not apply to changes negotiated during that phase. Any modification that is broader in scope than the State has authorized may be rejected and treated as a withdrawal of the Offeror’s Proposal.

F. Proposal Submittal

Each Offeror must submit a technical proposal and a cost proposal as separate sections of its Proposal before the Proposal due date and time and pursuant to the instructions in Section 4, Requirements for Proposals. Proposals, including all components of the Proposals, must not be password protected or the State may reject any such Proposals.

Each section must be submitted in its own separate, electronic submission as indicated by the solicitation questionnaire. The submission with the technical proposal will be electronically sealed (the technical envelope), and the submission with the cost proposal will be separately electronically sealed (the financial envelope).

Each requirement of a Proposal represents only a part of the total basis for a decision to award the Contract, and a failure by an Offeror to make a required submission or meet a Mandatory Requirement (see Section 6, if applicable) normally will result in a rejection of that Proposal. The value assigned to each requirement is used to determine which Proposal is the most advantageous to the State in relation to the other Proposals received. It is not a basis for determining the importance of meeting that requirement.

Offerors must submit their Proposals electronically in OhioBuys before the noted time on the Proposal due date. Paper submissions will be destroyed and will not be considered. OhioBuys will not allow submission or modification to a submission after the deadline. An Offeror submitting an electronic Proposal must allow for adequate time for uploading a Proposal prior to the due date and time. Technical difficulties experienced by the Offeror will not be an exception.

Each Offeror must carefully review the requirements of this RFP and the contents of its Proposal. Once opened, Proposals cannot be altered or withdrawn, except as allowed by this RFP.

The State is not responsible for the accuracy of any information regarding this RFP that was gathered through a source other than the inquiry process described in the RFP.

The State may reject any Proposal if the Offeror takes exception to the terms and conditions of this RFP, includes unacceptable assumptions or conditions in its Proposal, fails to comply with the procedure for participating in the RFP process, or fails to meet any requirement of this RFP. The State also may reject any Proposal it believes is not in its interest to accept, cancel this RFP, or decide not to award a Contract to any or all of the Offerors responding to this RFP.

All Proposals and other material that Offerors submit will become the property of the State and may be returned only at the State's option. All Proposals will be open to the public after the State has awarded the Contract.

The State will retain all Proposals, or a copy of them, as part of the Contract file for at least six years. After the six-year retention period, the State may dispose of the Proposals and any copies of them.

The State is not responsible for any costs an Offeror incurs in responding to this RFP or from participating in the evaluation process or negotiations process (if any), regardless of whether the State awards the Contract through this process, decides not to go forward with the Contract award, cancels this RFP for any reason, or contracts for the Work through some other process or through another RFP.

G. Rejection of Proposals Generally

The State may reject any Proposal for the reasons listed in this RFP, that fails to comply with the procedure for participating in the RFP process, that fails to meet the RFP requirements, or that is not in the State’s interest to consider or to accept. In addition, the State may cancel this RFP, reject all Proposals, and seek to do the Work through a new RFP or by other means.

H. Exceptions

The State may reject any Proposal if the Offeror takes exception to the terms and conditions of the Contract or includes unacceptable assumptions or conditions in its Proposal.

I. Proprietary Information

As set forth in OAC 123:5-1-07 and 123:5-1-08, if an Offeror includes in its Proposal information it considers exempt from disclosure in a public records request, it must submit a redacted version of any document containing such information, as further described in this paragraph. Offerors must only redact (black out) the specific language that is exempt from disclosure pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Act. Examples of actions that are not acceptable for the protection of information in a Proposal include: (a) redaction of sections in their entirety simply because they may contain some information exempt from disclosure pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Act; (b) inclusion of a blanket confidentiality or copyright notice anywhere in the Proposal; and (c) redaction of the cost proposal in its entirety. Prices, makes, models, catalog numbers of the items offered, deliveries, and terms of payment will be available for public inspection regardless of any designation to the contrary.

In addition to the redacted document(s), Offerors must submit a list of each redaction, using the Offeror Redaction Justification Form (Form 7k) in Part 7, with a detailed legal explanation for each redaction to demonstrate that the redacted information is protected under the Ohio Public Records Act. A blanket statement that all redactions are exempt from disclosure pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Act and/or the Uniform Trade Secrets Act is not a sufficient explanation. The redacted version(s) must be submitted as an electronic copy in a searchable PDF format. The redacted version(s) and accompanying explanation, as submitted, will be available for inspection and released in response to public records requests.

By submitting a redacted Proposal, the Offeror agrees to indemnify the State, DAS, and the Agency for any court costs, statutory damages, attorney fees, or other award issued against the State, DAS, or the Agency for any violation of the Ohio Public Records Act resulting from the State, DAS, or the Agency providing the Offeror’s redacted version of its Proposal in response to a public records request.

By not submitting a redacted version of the Proposal with accompanying explanation, an Offeror consents to the release of the original Proposal submission in response to a public records request. If an improperly redacted version or insufficient explanation is submitted, the State will advise the Offeror in writing what portions of the Proposal are subject to disclosure in response to public records requests.

J. Changes to Proposals

The State will allow modifications of Proposals only if the State receives them before the Proposal due date. No modifications will be permitted after the Proposal due date, except as authorized by this RFP.

K. Offeror Warranties

By submitting a Proposal, the Offeror acknowledges it has read this RFP, understands it, and agrees to be bound by the requirements of this RFP.

Ohio Revised Code 9.24 prohibits the State from awarding a contract to any entity against whom the Auditor of State has issued a finding for recovery (a Finding) if the Finding is unresolved at the time of the award. This also applies to renewals of contracts. By submitting a Proposal, the Offeror warrants it is not subject to an unresolved Finding under R.C. 9.24 at the time of its submission. Additionally, the Offeror warrants it will notify DAS in writing immediately upon becoming subject to such an unresolved Finding after submitting its Proposal and before the award of a Contract under this RFP. Further, the State may treat any unresolved Finding against the Contractor that prevents a renewal of the Contract as a breach in accordance with the provisions of the Contract.

L. Notice on Use of Social Security Numbers as Federal Tax Identification Numbers

If an Offeror uses its Social Security Number as its Federal Taxpayer Identification Number, please be aware that the information submitted is a public record, and the State may be compelled by Ohio law to release Federal Taxpayer Identification Numbers as a public record. If an Offeror does not want to have its Social Security Number potentially disclosed as a Federal Taxpayer Identification Number, the State encourages Offerors to use a separate Employee Identification Number (EIN) obtained from the United States Internal Revenue Service to serve as the Federal Taxpayer Identification Number.

M. Offeror Registration

Offerors must provide evidence that they are registered with Ohio Shared Services to do business in the State of Ohio. To register to do business in Ohio and to access supplier forms, see Form 7b.

N. Multiple or Alternate Proposals

An Offeror must submit multiple Proposals if the Offeror would like to be considered for award of more than one Contract for this RFP, but the State requires each such Proposal be submitted separately from every other Proposal the Offeror makes. An Offeror must submit a separate Proposal for each district where it seeks a Contract. Additionally, the Offeror must treat every Proposal submitted as a separate and distinct submission and include in each Proposal all materials, information, documentation, and other items this RFP requires for a Proposal to be complete and acceptable. No alternate Proposal may incorporate materials by reference from another Proposal made by the Offeror or refer to another Proposal. The State will judge each alternate Proposal on its own merit.

O. Debriefing and Protests

The State maintains a policy that debriefing of the evaluation process will not be conducted. Offerors should not contact the State either during or after the solicitation process to request a debriefing. In lieu of a debriefing, Offerors may file a public records request with the State using the following link, https://ohiobuys.ohio.gov/page.aspx/en/prj/foia_request_extranet_manage.

This protest language only pertains to this RFP. An Offeror may file a protest objecting to the process of soliciting the Proposals or an Offeror objecting to the subsequent award of a Contract resulting from the RFP. The protest must be in writing and contain the following information:

1. The name, address, and telephone number of the protester;

1. The name and number of the RFP being protested;

1. A detailed statement of the legal and factual grounds for the protest, including copies of any relevant documents;

1. A request for a ruling by the State;

1. A statement as to the form of relief requested from the State; and

1. Any other information the protester believes to be essential to the determination of the factual and legal questions at issue in the written request.

The State will consider a timely protest if it is received at the filing location below within the following periods:

1. An Offeror must file a protest based on alleged improprieties in the issuance of the RFP or any other event preceding the Proposal due date, which are apparent or should be apparent, no later than five business days prior to the Proposal due date.

1. If the protest relates to the recommendation of the evaluation team for an award of the Contract, an Offeror must file the protest as soon as practicable after the Offerors are notified of the decision by the State regarding the Proposals.

Offerors must file all protests at the following location:

Department of Administrative Services Office of Procurement Services Records_Admin@das.ohio.gov SUBJECT: Insert this RFP Number and Index Number

P. Disclosure of Proposal Contents

The State will seek to open the Proposals in a manner that avoids disclosing their contents. Additionally, the State will seek to keep the contents of all Proposals confidential until the Contract is awarded.

Q. Unfair Competitive Advantage

Any and all prior work performed by the Offeror or its proposed subcontractor(s) that the State determines results in an unfair competitive advantage to that Offeror may result in the Offeror’s Proposal being rejected due to a conflict of interest. Pursuant to OAC 123:5-1-10, if an Offeror developed or assisted with the development of specifications for this RFP, the Offeror is ineligible to submit a Proposal and the Offeror’s Proposal will be rejected.

Section 4 – Requirements for Proposals

A. Proposal Format

These instructions describe the required format for a responsive Proposal.

Each Proposal must include sufficient data to allow the State to verify the total cost for the Work and all of the Offeror's claims of meeting the RFP's requirements. Each Proposal must respond to every request for information in this RFP, whether the request requires a simple "yes" or "no" or requires a detailed explanation. Simply repeating the RFP's requirement and agreeing to comply may be an unacceptable response and may cause the Proposal to be rejected.

Proposals should use a consistent contrasting font and color so that the responses are readily distinguishable to the State; using the color blue to provide responses is suggested to contrast with the black text of this document. Formats are acceptable that use different typefaces, styles, or shaded backgrounds, so long as the use of these formats is consistent throughout the Offeror’s Proposal and readily distinguishable from the original RFP. Below is an example of the required format for responding to the RFP requirements. Alterations to the State-provided RFP language are strictly prohibited. The State will electronically compare Offeror Proposals to the posted RFP, and deviations or alterations to the State’s RFP requirements may result in a rejection of the Proposal.

Illustrative Example: Customers Served in the Widget Space

Instructions: The Offeror is to describe the customers (i.e., companies, agencies, entities, etc.) served in the Widget domain and the nature of the services provided, as well as the duration of the service.

Offeror Response: The Acme Corporation has been in business for over 20 years. Acme is a leading supplier of Widget and Widget-based services with clients in a variety of sectors, including public (23 states) and private (125 companies).

Offerors are advised to limit Offeror marketing statements and pre-printed technical inserts to the area(s) of the Proposal applicable to those statement(s) and not include duplicative or otherwise repetitive statements throughout its Proposal.

Any additional links or documents incorporated by reference by the Offeror will not become part of the Contract unless expressly accepted by the State.

The Offeror may include any additional information it believes is relevant. All pages, except pre-printed technical inserts, must be sequentially numbered. Any material deviation from the format outlined in this RFP may result in a rejection of the non-conforming Proposal.

Technical Proposal: The Offeror’s technical proposal must be submitted in Microsoft Word® if possible (certain forms may be submitted as PDFs) through OhioBuys and as instructed in the technical questionnaire in OhioBuys. The technical proposal consists of all questionnaire responses and documents submitted in response to this RFP excluding the cost proposal. All technical proposal documents must be submitted in the order listed in subsection B(1) below.

Cost Proposal: The Offeror’s cost proposal must be submitted through OhioBuys as instructed in the cost questionnaire in OhioBuys. The cost proposal consists of a separate cost section as described in subsection B(2) below and in the required format of Part 5.

B. Proposal Specifics

Each Proposal must contain the following components.

1. Technical Proposal Components

a. Required Forms. Each Proposal must include the completed forms listed below. All required forms are included in Part 7 unless otherwise indicated.

i. Offeror Certification Form (Form 7a). The Offeror must complete the Offeror Certification Form.

ii. Offeror Registration Form (Form 7b). The Offeror must use the Offeror Registration Form to register with the State as applicable.

iii. Independent Contractor Acknowledgement Form (Form 7c). Unless the Offeror is a “business entity” as that term is defined in R.C. 145.037 (“an entity with five or more employees that is a corporation, association, firm, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity engaged in business”), the Offeror must have any individual performing services under the Contract complete the Independent Contractor Acknowledgement Form

iv. Subcontractor Utilization Form (Form 7d). For each proposed subcontractor, the Offeror must submit a completed Subcontractor Utilization Form signed by someone authorized to legally bind the subcontractor.

v. Offeror Profile Form (Form 7e). The Offeror must complete the Offeror Profile Form to describe the Offeror’s capability, capacity, and experience in support of the requirements in this RFP. The contact person listed must be the primary point of contact for any questions about the Proposal. Additionally, the Contract Signatory listed must be the individual authorized to sign the Contract for the Offeror if awarded.

The form must include the date the Offeror was established, its leadership, number of employees and any other background information that will help the State gauge the ability of the Offeror to fulfill the obligations of the Contract. The background information must include the Offeror’s background as well as a description of the personnel, internal procedures, and any other resources required under the terms of the Contract to ensure successful performance and Contract compliance. The Offeror must describe its current operational capacity and the ability to perform the additional workload in the Contract.

The financial stability of the Offeror must also be described and is considered a required component of the Proposal.

vi. Offeror Prior Project Experience and Qualifications Form (Form 7f). The Offeror must utilize the Offeror Prior Project Experience and Qualifications Form to document the Offeror’s previous experience and expertise by completing a form for a minimum of three previous projects in the previous five years. These projects must be of similar size, scope, and nature to the Work in this RFP. Details of the similarities must be included.

The form(s) must be filled out completely for each of the projects required. The form(s) contained in this RFP have been customized for the applicable Offeror requirements. Each page of the form(s) may contain minor variations. If an Offeror elects to duplicate the form electronically, the Offeror must carefully review each page of the form to ensure that it has been copied accurately. Failure to duplicate the form exactly may lead to the rejection of the Proposal.

When contacted, each reference provided must be willing to discuss the Offeror’s previous performance on projects detailed on the form(s).

If this RFP allows qualifications and experience to be met through a subcontractor, the Offeror must identify the subcontractor by name in the appropriate part of the form(s) for each reference.

vii. Affirmation and Disclosure Form (Form 7g). The Offeror must complete, sign, and submit the Affirmation and Disclosure Form by uploading the signed document with its Proposal.

viii. Preference Certification Form (Form 7h). Offerors claiming preference for Domestic Source End Products, the Ohio (Buy Ohio) preference, and/or Veteran Friendly Business Enterprise (VBE) must complete the Preference Certification Form.

ix. Candidate Information Education and Training Form (Form 7i). The Offeror must complete a Candidate Information Education and Training Form for each candidate named in this RFP.

x. Candidate Experience Requirement Form (Form 7j). The Offeror must complete a Candidate Experience Requirement Form for each candidate named in this RFP.

xi. Offeror Redaction Justification Form (Form 7k). The Offeror must complete the Offeror Redaction Justification Form pursuant to the instructions in Section 3, subsection I, Proprietary Information, and Form 7k if the Offeror includes in its Proposal information it considers exempt from disclosure in a public records request.

xii. Proposed Pre-Existing Materials and Commercial Software Form (Form 7l). The Offeror must complete the Proposed Pre-Existing Materials and Commercial Software Form pursuant to the instructions below.

xiii. Offeror Proposed Exceptions and Assumptions (Form 7m). The Offeror must complete the Offeror Proposed Exceptions and Assumptions form pursuant to the instructions for Exceptions and Assumptions below and in the form.

b. Scope of Work Response. The Offeror must provide a response to Part 1 – Scope of Work in this section of its Proposal. The content of Part 1 must not be modified. If the content of Part 1 is modified in any way, the Proposal may be disqualified. The Offeror must provide complete and coherent responses to Part 1 and demonstrate the ability to quickly undertake and successfully complete the Work under the Contract.

c. Acceptance of Terms and Conditions. The Offeror must include the entire content of Parts 2 through 4 as a single section in its Proposal. The Offeror must include a statement at the beginning of this section indicating that the Offeror has read, understands, and agrees to all of the terms and conditions contained in Parts 2 through 4.

d. Exceptions. If the Offeror has any exceptions or proposed changes to the technical requirements and/or the terms and conditions of this RFP, the Offeror must provide a comprehensive list of all such exceptions and proposed changes in Form 7m, Offeror Proposed Changes and Assumptions, of this RFP. In addition to listing the exceptions and proposed changes in Form 7m, the Offeror must also include its exceptions and proposed changes to the terms and conditions, if any, in a redlined format as an additional attachment to its Proposal. If any exception or proposed change is unacceptable to the State, the State may, in its sole discretion, request that the Offeror remove the exception or proposed change or may choose to reject the Proposal entirely. If the exceptions portion of Form 7m is left blank, the State will assume that the Offeror does not have any exceptions or proposed changes to the RFP. All agreed upon changes will become part of the Contract in Part 6, Mutually Agreed Upon Changes.

e. Assumptions. If the Offeror made any assumptions in preparing its Proposal, the Offeror must provide a comprehensive list of all such assumptions in Form 7m, Offeror Proposed Changes and Assumptions, of this RFP. If any assumption is unacceptable to the State, the State may, in its sole discretion, request that the Offeror remove the assumption or choose to reject the Proposal entirely. No assumptions may be included regarding the outcomes of negotiation, terms and conditions, or requirements. The assumptions listed in Form 7m of the Proposal, if any, must be inclusive of all assumptions with reference(s) to the section(s) of the RFP to which the assumption is applicable. Offerors should not include assumptions elsewhere in their Proposals. If the assumptions portion of Form 7m is left blank, the State will assume that the Offeror did not make any assumptions in preparing its Proposal.

f. Proof of Insurance. The Offeror must provide the certificate(s) of insurance required by Part 2 - Contract-Specific Terms and/or Conditions, if any, and Part 4 – Standard Terms and Conditions. The policy may be written on an occurrence or claims-made basis.

g. Legal Notice Address. The Offeror must provide the name, title, and address to which the State should send legal notices under the Contract.

h. Work Plan. The Offeror must submit a Work Plan that will be the basis of a later-created detailed comprehensive plan of action used to guide the Work, as applicable. In this plan, the Offeror must demonstrate a thorough understanding of the nature of the Work and what the Contractor must do to complete the Work properly. In addition, the Offeror must fully describe its current capacity, approach, methods, and specific processes and procedures for doing the Work. The elements of the Work Plan must include, at a minimum, all tasks and dependencies related to scope definition, requirements gathering, design, development, conversion, testing, benchmarking, implementation, training, and transition, as applicable.

The specifics of the Work Plan must include sufficient detail for the State to understand the Offeror’s knowledge and approach to the following: managing the Work; documenting planning decisions; facilitating communication among stakeholders; defining key management review as to content, scope, and schedule; and providing a baseline for progress measurement and Work control.

At a minimum, the Work Plan must include the following:

i. A description of the project management approach; and

ii. A high-level overview of the following subsidiary project management plans:

· Integration management,

· Scope management,

· Schedule management,

· Cost management,

· Quality management,

· Staffing management,

· Communications management, and

· Risk management (including constraints, planned responses, and contingencies).

If applicable to the Work, the Offeror must identify all proposed equipment needed for the Work during the installation, customization (as applicable), implementation, and ongoing operations phases. The Proposal must include the proposed manufacturer's name and model for all equipment. Additionally, the Offeror must identify any equipment that the State will require for the implementation and ongoing operation of the Work that is not otherwise specified in this RFP.

The State seeks insightful responses that describe proven state-of-the-art methods. Recommended solutions should demonstrate that the Offeror would be prepared to immediately undertake and successfully complete the Work. The Work Plan should clearly and specifically identify key Work personnel assignments. (NOTE: The Staffing Plan described below should be consistent with the Work Plan).

Additionally, in the Work Plan, the Offeror should address potential and known risks, and proposed risk mitigation strategies.

i. Staffing Plan and Time Commitment. The Offeror must provide a Staffing Plan identifying all proposed personnel by position that the Offeror proposes and that are required to do the Work. The Staffing Plan must show each individual’s responsibilities for the Work. The State also requires that the Staffing Plan match the proposed personnel and their qualifications to the activities and tasks set forth in the RFP for the Work. At a minimum, the Staffing Plan must identify the following proposed personnel: Project Manager.

In addition, the Staffing Plan must include the following information:

i. An organizational chart, including any subcontractors and key management and administrative personnel assigned to the Work.

ii. A contingency plan showing the ability to add more staff if needed to ensure meeting the Work due date(s).

iii. A statement and a chart that clearly indicate the time commitment of the proposed personnel for this Work during each of its phases.

iv. A statement indicating to what extent, if any, the proposed personnel may work on other projects or assignments that are not State related during the term of the Contract. The State may reject any Proposal that commits the proposed personnel to other projects during the term of the Work, if the State believes that any such commitment may be detrimental to the Offeror’s performance.

v. The Offeror must propose a Work team that collectively meets all of the requirements in this RFP. Each team member may have specific mandatory requirements listed in this RFP that the team member must individually meet.

vi. All proposed personnel must be named and meet the technical experience for the position.

In the case of any staffing requirements for a team of people, the Offeror must submit a team to do the Work that collectively meets all of the team requirements. The experience of multiple candidates may not be combined to meet a single requirement. Further, previous experience of the candidate submitted for a Project Manager position may not be used to meet any other team member requirements. Each candidate proposed for the Work team must meet at least one of the requirements.

j. Support Requirements from the State. The Offeror must describe the support it requests from the State in addition to any support the State has offered in this RFP. Specifically, the Offeror should address the following in this section of the Proposal:

i. The nature and extent of State support required in terms of staff roles, percentage of time available, etc.;

ii. The specific required assistance from State staff and the experience and/or qualification level required for such assistance; and

iii. Other support requirements.

The State may not be able or willing to provide the additional support the Offeror lists in this part of its Proposal. The Offeror must therefore indicate whether its request for additional support is a requirement for its performance. If any part of the list is a requirement, the State may reject the Proposal if the State is unwilling or unable to meet the requirements.

k. Pre-Existing Materials. If applicable, the Offeror must list any Pre-Existing Materials (defined in Part 4, section VI(D)) that will be included in a Deliverable in Form 7l in Part 7. The State may reject any Proposal that includes Pre-Existing Materials for a custom solution if the State believes that such is not appropriate or desirable for the Work.

l. Commercial Material. If applicable, the Offeror must list any Commercial Material (defined in Part 2, section C(2)), including Commercial Software (defined in Part 2, section C(3)), that the Offeror will deliver in which the State will have less than full ownership in Form 7l in Part 7. Generally, these will be from third parties. The Offeror need not list patented parts of equipment.

The Offeror must attach the applicable license agreement(s) for all Commercial Material for the State to review.

m. Information Security Assurances. The Offeror must provide assurance documentation of the Offeror’s effective design and implemented controls to meet the foundational trust principles of security, confidentiality, integrity, availability, and privacy. Documentation can include, but is not limited to, Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) No. 18, Service Organization Control 2 Type 2, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27001 certification, Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) Certification or Assessment, Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) status, StateRAMP status, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Attestation of Compliance (PCI-DSS AOC), or other relevant IT security assurance documentation. This documentation will be considered confidential information of the Offeror. If the Offeror does not have any such documentation, it must provide a statement to that effect in its Proposal.

2. Cost Proposal Components

0. Cost Proposal Form. The Offeror’s total cost for the Work must include all one-time and ongoing costs and be represented as not-to-exceed unit costs.

Contractor will be paid according to the fee structure within the Cost Proposal Form.

The Offeror must ensure its cost proposal is submitted separately from the technical proposal as indicated in the Proposal Submittal paragraph of Section 4, Requirements for Proposals. Cost information must not be included in the technical proposal.

The Offeror may not modify or reformat the Cost Proposal Form. The Offeror must complete the required portions of the Cost Proposal Form. Additionally, all portions of the Cost Proposal Form must be completed in the exact format provided. The Offeror must not include exceptions, additional terms and conditions, or assumptions in the submitted Cost Proposal Form. The State may reject any Proposal with a modified or reformatted Cost Proposal Form; a Cost Proposal Form that is not separately submitted; or a Cost Proposal Form that includes exceptions, additional terms and conditions, or assumptions.

The State will not be liable for any costs the Offeror does not identify in its cost proposal. There will be no additional reimbursement for travel or other related expenses.

a. Alternate Funding. All proposed costs must be based on providing a solution that would be fully funded by the State and independent of any Offeror-recommended alternative funding models.

Section 5 – Evaluation Process

A. Evaluation of Proposals Generally

To maintain fairness in the evaluation process, the State will obtain all information sought in a manner such that no Offeror is provided an unfair competitive advantage.

The evaluation process may consist of up to seven distinct phases:

1. Initial review;

2. Mandatory requirements evaluation, if applicable;

3. Technical evaluation;

4. Requests for more information;

5. Cost evaluation;

6. Determination of responsibility; and

7. Contract negotiations.

The State may decide whether phases four and seven are necessary, and the State may reorder the sequence of phases. The State also may add or remove sub-phases to any phase at any time if the State believes doing so will improve the evaluation process. The phases and some sub-phases are described below.

B. Initial Review

The State will review all Proposals for formatting and completeness. The State may reject incomplete or incorrectly formatted Proposals.