PHILIP D. MURPHY

Governor State of New Jersey

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

DIVISION OF PURCHASE AND PROPERTY

PROCUREMENT BUREAU

33 WEST STATE STREET

P. O. BOX 230

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08625-0230

ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO

State Treasurer

TAHESHA L. WAY

Lt. Governor

AMY F. DAVIS, ESQ.

Acting Director https://www.njstart.gov

August 13, 2025

To: All Interested Bidders

Re: Bid Solicitation # 25DPP01098 T3155 - Health Policy Consulting and Support

Previous Quote Submission Due Date: August 21, 2025 (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time) Revised Quote Submission Due Date: August 28, 2025 (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Bid Amendment #7

The following constitutes Bid Amendment #7 to the above referenced Bid Solicitation:

· This Bid Amendment includes:

· Extension of the Quote Submission Due Date to August 28, 2025 (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time);

· Answers to questions; and

· Revisions to the Bid Solicitation and attachments, as specified below.

· Please note that for all additions, deletions, clarifications, and modifications to the Bid Solicitation, please refer to the Revised Bid Solicitation titled “T3155 Revised Bid Solicitation 08.13.2025” and hereafter referred to in this document as “Revised Bid Solicitation”. The following revisions are included in the Revised Bid Solicitation:

· Table of Contents – addition added;

· Section 3.12, Quote Content – revised;

· Section 3.17, Contract Schedule – deletions;

· Section 3.13.12, State of New Jersey Security Due Diligence Third-Party Information Security Questionnaire – removed;

· Section 3.26, State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions – revised;

· Section 4.1, Engagement Response Requirements – revised;

· Section 4.2.6, Labor Rate Titles – added;

· Section 6.1, Security Plan – removed;

· Section 6.5, Privacy – revised;

· Section 7.1, Indemnification Insurance– revised;

· Section 7.1.2, Insurance – added; and

· Section 9.3, Contract-Specific Definitions – addition added.

· Please note that Attachment 3 – State of New Jersey Third Party Information Security Questionnaire (10/8/2024) has been removed from this Bid Solicitation. Bidders are instructed to not include Attachment #3 as part of the Quote.

· Please note that Attachment 2 - Bid Solicitation Checklist has been revised to reflect the removal of Attachment 3. Please refer to “T3155 Revised Attachment 2 - Bid Solicitation Checklist 08.13.2025” for the updated version of this attachment.

It is the sole responsibility of the Bidder to be knowledgeable of all of the additions, deletions, clarifications, and modifications to the Bid Solicitation and/or the New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions relative to this Bid Solicitation as set forth in all Bid Amendments.

All other instructions, terms, and conditions of the Bid Solicitation shall remain the same.

Bid Solicitation #25DPP01098 T3155 - Health Policy Consulting and Support

Answers to Questions

Where applicable, each question references the appropriate Bid Solicitation section.

Note: These question have been paraphrased in the interest of readability and clarity

Section Reference Question (Bolded) and Answer

Please be advised that all Quotes shall be submitted electronically through NJSTART.

Yes. Prior to the Quote Opening Deadline, a Bidder should review the documents comprising the submitted Quote to ensure that all of the required documents have been completed and attached. Oftentimes a Quote is deemed non-responsive because a Bidder fails to attach a required form or attaches a blank form. To review a submitted a Quote, a Bidder should log into NJSTART and review each document attached to the Quote submission. Instructions on how to review a submitted Quote can be found in the Quick Reference Guide entitled How to Review a Submitted Quote, which is available on the NJSTART Vendor Support Page under Vendor Reference Guides.

It is recommended that users utilize Microsoft Edge to view PDFs. Certain PDF forms cannot be opened in the Chrome or Firefox built in PDF viewers that are enabled by default. If using Chrome or Firefox it is recommended that the file is downloaded instead by clicking the download button in the upper right-hand corner of the browser after an error message is received. An alternative option is to disable the built in PDF viewers in Chrome or Firefox.

As stated in Revised Bid Solicitation Section 2.2, Exceptions to the State of NJ Standard Terms and Conditions (SSTC): “Questions regarding the State of New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions and exceptions to mandatory requirements MUST be posed during the Electronic Question and Answer period and shall contain the Bidder’s suggested changes and the reason(s) for the suggested change(s).”

Additionally, as stated in Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.11, Bidder Additional Terms Submitted with the Quote:

“A Bidder may submit additional terms as part of its Quote. Additional terms are Bidder-proposed terms or conditions that do not conflict with the scope of work required in this Bid Solicitation, the terms and conditions of this Bid Solicitation, or the State of New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions. Bidder proposed terms or conditions that conflict with those contained in the State of New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions will render a Quote non-responsive. It is incumbent upon the Bidder to identify and remove its conflicting proposed terms and conditions prior to Quote submission.

Quotes including Bidder proposed additional terms may be accepted, rejected, or negotiated, in whole or in part, at the State’s sole discretion.

If Bidder intends to propose terms and conditions that conflict with the State of New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions, those Bidder proposed terms and conditions shall only be considered if submitted and agreed to pursuant to the electronic question and answer procedure. Bidders shall not submit exceptions or modifications as part of the Quote or on the “Terms and Conditions” Tab through NJSTART.”

Proposed exceptions submitted during the question and answer period will not impact the scoring of a Bidder’s Quote. However, a Bidder’s exceptions or proposed terms or conditions included as part of the Quote that conflict with those contained in the Bid Solicitation and/or State of New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions will render a Quote non-responsive. If a Bidder’s Quote is deemed non-responsive it will not be technically evaluated and scored.

Please also see the answer to Question #4.

The State confirms that the Quote opening date is synonymous with the Bid submission deadline.

Please reference the Bid Opening Date in NJSTART under this Bid Solicitation and any future Bid Amendments.

Please reference Revised Bid Solicitation Section 2.3, Bid Amendments, for additional information.

The State will allow this support so long as the federal grant allows for it.

Yes, Bidders are allowed to include Contracts of a similar size and scope if the client referenced no longer works on the referenced contract.

Yes, current, and prior contracts with the State are acceptable references.

The State does not accept the proposed modification. The State declines to waive any potential legal rights or to limit its potential risks beyond those outlined in the Bid Solicitation.

The State is uncertain of the question being asked, but will provide the below responses:

A. A Bidder can have multiple individuals under any one (1) role. Billing shall be on a per-person basis and based on the awarded hourly rate for the respective role being performed.

B. A Bidder can have one (1) individual serve multiple roles; however, this individual can only bill for the performance of one (1) role at a time. Double billing, i.e. charging for two hourly rates under two (2) roles for the same individual in the same hour(s) is strictly prohibited.

As specified by Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.7, Joint Venture, authorized signatories from each party comprising the Joint Venture must sign the Offer and Acceptance Page. Each party to the Joint Venture must individually complete and comply with all the forms and certification requirements in Bid Solicitation Section 3 – Quote Submission Requirements.

If submitting as a Joint Venture, only one (1) Quote is to be submitted by the Joint Venture.

Per Revised Bid Solicitation Section 1.1, Purpose and Intent: “It is the intent of the State of New Jersey (State) to award up to six (6) Contracts to those responsible Bidders whose Quotes, conforming to this Bid Solicitation are most advantageous to the State of New Jersey (State), price and other factors considered.”

Yes, the State will accept electronic signatures on forms and documents.

A Bidder can participate in more than one (1) Quote, but only if they are listed as a Subcontractor in each. However, a Bidder cannot participate in multiple Quotes if they are listed a Subcontractor in one and a primary Contractor in another.

No expected frequency can be provided as work varies from Mini-Bid to Mini-Bid. However, some Mini-Bids may require in-person engagement, though most will not.

A Bidder can organize its Quote in accordance with Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.12, Quote Content, in multiple attachments or as a single attachment, as long as the Quote submission requirements are met.

Question 2 - [Please describe] how to provide pricing so that [the State is] able to evaluate [Bidder] proposals with an “apples to apples” comparison to other [Bidders].

Pricing is to be submitted on the State-Supplied Price Sheet per the instructions set forth in Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.26, State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions. Descriptions for those labor rate titles found in the State-Supplied Price Sheet are listed in Revised Bid Solicitation Section 4.2.6, Labor Rate Titles.

The State hopes to have the subject Contract in place by Quarter 4 of 2025; however, this is only an estimate and subject to change.

No, there is no page limit for a Bidder’s Quote submission. The Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of the Bidder’s Quote.

All questions submitted by the specified deadline have been answered as part of this Bid Amendment.

The State has addressed all questions at once as part of this Bid Amendment. Please see the answer to Question #20.

Issuance of a Mini-Bid Request Will any of the Mini-Bid requests rely on Federal funds?

Depending on the nature of the Mini-Bid request by the requesting Using Agency, there is a possibility some Mini-Bids will be funded federally.

Assignment of a Task Order Which State agencies are considered "Using Agencies" eligible to solicit Mini-Bids from approved Contractors under this Bid Solicitation?

Using Agency is defined in the Revised Bid Solicitation Section 9.2, Definitions as a State department or agency, a quasi-State governmental entity, or an Intrastate Cooperative Purchasing participant, authorized to purchase products and/or services under a Contract procured by the Division.

Please reference Revised Bid Solicitation Section 1.6, Interstate Cooperative Purchasing for additional information.

Contract Amount Section 1.4. With the understanding that any estimate of the value of this Contract Award shall not represent a maximum nor a minimum, will the [State] provide an estimate or a range for the size of the Contract per year or in aggregate over 5 years?

The State declines to provide the estimated value of this Contract due to the engagement based nature of this Bid Solicitation and other factors.

Contract Amount Question 1 - What is the budget that has been approved or allocated for this effort?

The State declines to provide the estimated budget for this Contract due to the engagement based nature of this Bid Solicitation and other factors.

Question 2 - Is there a total budget set for all known Mini-Bid requests? If yes, what is this amount?

The Mini-Bid request budget will vary per request.

Intrastate Cooperative Purchasing Section 1.6. Can the State provide a list of the State’s Intrastate Cooperative Purchasing Participants?

As defined by Revised Bid Solicitation Section 9.2, Cooperative Purchasing Participants, include quasi-State entities, counties, municipalities, school districts, volunteer fire departments, first aid squads, independent institutions of higher learning, County colleges, and State colleges.

Optional Pre-Quote Conference Question 1 - Section 2.5. It is indicated that the Optional Pre-Quote Conference may have been recorded, in addition to the PowerPoint that was shared. Is a recording of the event available to prospective bidders who were unable to attend?

No, the Optional Pre-Quote Conference was not recorded. The PowerPoint presentation is available in the ‘Attachments’ tab in NJSTART. The document is labeled as ‘T3155 Optional Pre-Quote Conference Powerpoint 02.11.2025.’

Question 2 - Is a list of vendors that attended the event available?

A list of firms that attended the Pre-Quote conference has been uploaded under the ‘Attachments’ tab in NJSTART as ‘T3155 Bid Amendment #2 04.11.2025 - Bid Opening to 05.23.2025’.

Quote Submission Is there a page limit for a [Bidder]’s response?

No, there is no page limit for a Bidder’s Quote submission. The Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of the Bidder’s Quote.

Quote Submission Experience with Contracts of a Similar Size and Scope Question 1 - Where exactly on the NJSTART portal should Bidders submit the Technical Quote, management overview, Contract management, Contract schedule, organizational experience, location, organization charts, resumes, and experience with contracts of similar size and scope?

Bidders may refer to the Vendor Registration and Submit a Quote Quick Reference Guides for instructions on how to enroll in NJSTART and how to submit an electronic Quote through NJSTART. The Quick Reference Guide entitled Submit a Quote is available under the Vendor Quick Reference Guides tab here: https://www.nj.gov/treasury/purchase/vendor.shtml.

Please reference Revised Bid Solicitation Section 1, Introduction and Summary and Section 3.1, Quote Submission for additional information.

Further, Bidders may reach out directly to NJSTART Vendor email support at: njstart.treas.nj.gov

Question 2 - Should all of these elements of the Bid Solicitation response be submitted together as a single narrative attachment in NJSTART?

The State does not have a required method Bidders must use to submit their Quotes.

A Bidder can organize its Quote in accordance with Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.12, Quote Content, in multiple attachments or as a single attachment, as long as the Quote submission requirements are met.

Subcontractor Utilization Plan How does [the State] differentiate between a Joint Venture and a Subcontractor?

A Joint Venture, as defined in Revised Bid Solicitation Section 9.2, Definitions, is “A business undertaking by two (2) or more entities to share risk and responsibility for a specific project.”

In contrast, as defined in Revised Bid Solicitation Section 9.2, Definitions, a Subcontractor is “An entity having an arrangement with a Contractor whereby the Contractor uses the products and/or services of that entity to fulfill some of its obligations in a State Contract while retaining full responsibility for the performance of all Contractor obligations…”

The Subcontractor has no legal relationship with the State.

Small Business Set-Aside Contracts If a [Small Business Enterprise] (SBE) is included in a Joint Venture or as a Subcontractor, would that count towards the SBE set aside for one out of the six (6) selected vendors?

As stated in Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.8, Small Business Set-Aside Contracts, in order to be eligible for the partial Set-Aside Contract award, the Bidder must be registered as a qualified small business with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES). A Joint Venture as an entity must be registered as a qualified small business for the SBE set-aside to apply.

Further, a Quote including an SBE as a Subcontractor would not count toward the SBE set-aside. The partial SBE set-aside for this Bid Solicitation is reserved for a SBE submitting their Quote as the primary Contractor.

Small-Business Set-Aside Contracts To qualify for a small business set aside, does the [Bidder] need to be the prime contractor?

Yes, to qualify for the SBE partial set-aside award, the Bidder submitting a Quote as a primary Contractor must be registered as a qualified small business. Refer to Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.8, Small Business Set-Aside Contracts.

& Section 3.9 Disabled Veteran’s Business Set-Aside Contract

Section 3.8 and 3.9. Can the State confirm that the one (1) set-aside for a Small Business and one (1) set-aside for a Disabled Veterans’ Business shall come out of the total of up to six (6) awards, such that no more than (4) awards will be made to [Bidders] that are neither Small Business nor Disabled Veterans’ Business, unless the State does not receive responsive Quotes in the competitive range with acceptable pricing from a Small Business and/or Disabled Veterans’ Business?

Correct. The State intends to make up to six (6) awards, with one (1) award set-aside for qualifying Small Businesses and one (1) award set-aside for qualifying Disabled Veterans’ Businesses. If no responsive Quotes in the competitive range with acceptable pricing are received from qualified Small Businesses and/or qualifying Disabled Veterans’ Businesses to be awarded a set-aside Contract, the Division reserves the right to award the set-aside Contract to a non-Small Business and/or non-Disabled Veterans’ Business Bidder.

Refer to Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.8 and 3.9 for additional information.

Quote Content This section includes the following language - “If a preprinted or other document included as part of the Quote contains a URL, a printed copy of the information should be provided and will be considered as part of the Quote.” Can the State please clarify what this means? For example, if we provide a hyperlink in our response to a public deliverable to add more depth to our experience, is that permissible or do we need to attach a PDF copy to our electronic submission as well?

Information accessed by hyperlinks and URLs change over time and if the Quote documents contain a hyperlink or URL, a printed copy of the information should be provided. A PDF copy is acceptable.

Quote Content Bid Solicitation Section 3.12, Quote Content, outlines the required Quote requirements which includes a Technical Quote. Are [Bidders] expected to include their responses to Section 3.21, Location, Section 3.22, Organization Charts, etc. as part of the Technical Quote?

While not required, yes, Bidders should include their responses to Revised Bid Solicitation Sections 3.16, Contract Management, to Section 3.25, Financial Capability, as a part of their Technical Quote.

However, a Technical Quote and a management overview are required per Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.14, Technical Quote, and Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.15, Management Overview.

The Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of Bidder’s Quote.

A Bidder can organize its Quote in accordance with Bid Solicitation Section 3.12, Quote Content, as long as the Quote submission requirements are met.

Forms, Registrations and Certifications to be Submitted with Quote Where exactly on the NJSTART portal should Bidders submit required forms that cannot be completed electronically in NJSTART on the “Terms and Categories” Tab within the Vendor Profile? We assume the remaining forms should be submitted via the Attachments tab in NJSTART but please validate this assumption.

If a Bidder wants to add forms/attachments to their NJSTART profile, the Bidder would uploaded them under the attachments section on their NJSTART profile. To get to this section, Bidders would need to:

1. Be logged in as a seller admin role user;

2. Click on ‘Maintain General Organization Information’; and

3. Scroll down to attachments section.

If a Bidder is completing a Quote and wants to submit files/forms and/or required attachments, the attachments should be added under the attachments tab of their Quote submission in NJSTART.

Subcontractor Utilization Plan

Is it mandatory to subcontract?

No, it is not mandatory to subcontract. However, if subcontracting, the Bidder must utilize the Subcontractor Utilization Form.

Please reference Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.13.8, Subcontractor Utilization Plan for additional information.

Subcontractor Utilization Plan Please advise how the Bidder should complete the ‘Subcontractor’ tab in NJSTART if the Subcontractor is not already listed in NJSTART.

The Bidder will not utilize the ‘Subcontractor’ tab in NJSTART to submit Subcontractors not already registered in NJSTART. These Subcontractors are to be listed and detailed with a completed and uploaded Subcontractor Utilization Plan, found in Attachment 2 – Bid Solicitation Checklist under the Bid ‘Attachments’ tab in NJSTART.

Technical Quote Is there a recommended page length for the Technical Quote?

No, there is no recommended page length for the Technical Quote.

Technical Quote Please confirm the State's preference for the Technical Quote (3.14) to include the following elements of the Bid Solicitation: Management Overview (3.15), Contract Management (3.16), Contract Schedule (3.17), Organizational Experience (3.20), Organizational Charts (3.22), Resumes (3.23), Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope (3.24), and Financial Capacity of the Bidder (3.25).

Please see the answer to Question #35.

and Section 3.15 Management Overview Please provide additional detail to distinguish the information being requested in Section 3.14, Technical Quote, versus the information being requested in Section 3.15, Management Overview, as they both appear to be requesting similar information regarding the Bidder’s approach to accomplishing the work.

The management overview specified by Section 3.15 can be viewed as a part of the technical quote specified by Section 3.14, or addressed separately within the Quote. While there may be overlap between the two (2) sections, the Bidder must ensure that all requirements from both sections are met as part of the Quote submission.

and Section 3.15 Management Overview [Both Bid Solicitation Sections 3.14 and 3.15] seem to ask for Bidders to explain their approach to providing items in the Scope of Work. Can [the State] clarify the difference between what is being asked for in [both Sections]?

Please see the answer to Question #41.

Contract Schedule Section 3.17 of the [Bid Solicitation] requires a draft Contract schedule for performance of the work. Since this is a multiple award vehicle with no specific task orders yet issued, it is unclear what this schedule should include. Will the State please clarify or remove this requirement?

The State agrees to remove this section. Please refer to Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.17, Contract Schedule, as this section has been revised to state “Not applicable to this procurement”.

Contract Schedule Section 3.17 requests a draft Contract schedule. Because there are no sample task orders or other concrete information about upcoming Mini-Bids, [could the State] clarify if [the State is] seeking a sample format for a schedule or something else?

Please see the answer to Question #43.

Contract Schedule Bid Solicitation Section 3.17, Contract Schedule, asks for a Contract Schedule. Can [the State] provide more detail on what the state is looking for in response to this requirement within the context of this panel procurement?

Contract Schedule Since the State will be procuring work through the Mini-Bid process, there are no specific projects included in the Scope of Work. Can the State please clarify what it requires Bidders to provide in response to this section?

Contract Schedule Regarding the request for a contract schedule, does the State prefer the inclusion of a sample contract schedule in the absence of the details for contracts to be determined during the future “Mini-Bid” process? Instead, would the State prefer a contract schedule that relates to the broader terms outlined by this Bid Solicitation?

Contract Schedule Can [the State] provide clarification if any key dates are part of this Bid Solicitation and if not, what date-related information to include in a draft contract schedule?

Due to the engagement based nature of this Bid Solicitation, key dates are not specified by this Bid Solicitation. Please see the answer to Question #43.

Contract Schedule Bid Solicitation Section 3.17, Contract Schedule, asks for a “Contracts schedule”. Since key dates are not defined, does the State expect a workplan with key tasks, sub-tasks, and deliverables as part of our proposal submission? If not, please clarify what should be include in the response to [this Section].

Contract Schedule Since this is an MSA [Bid Solicitation], can the [State] clarify what activities should be included in the draft Contract Schedule?

Contract Schedule Bid Solicitation Section 3.17, Contract Schedule, mentions key dates but none are mentioned in the document. [Please provide the key dates.]

Organizational Experience References are requested in this section; however, they are also requested as part of 3.23 (Resumes) and 3.24 (Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope). Can the State please confirm that the references provided in 3.23 and 3.24 will suffice to meet the reference requirements in 3.20?

No, the references provided for Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.23, Resumes, and Section 3.24, Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope, will not satisfy the reference request set forth in Revised Bid Solicitation Sections 3.20, Organizational Experience. Resumes per Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.23, Resumes, relate to individual personnel. References per Bid Solicitation 3.24, Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope, relate to contracts undertaken by the Contractor that are comparable to the work found in this Bid Solicitation.

However, Bidders may use references already included in both Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.23, Resumes, and Section 3.24, Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope for Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.20, Organizational Experience, should the Bidder find said references adequately address the request set forth in Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.20, Organizational Experience, which requires information relating, but not limited to, to the firm’s organizational structure and capabilities.

The Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of the Bidder’s Quote.

Organizational Experience May a Bidder with organizational experience at Federal agencies submit, and will the [State] consider, a Contractor Performance Assessment Report (CPAR) as part of the references for its organizational experience?

Yes, the State will accept a CPAR as part of its references for its organizational experience.

Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope

Is there a limit to the number of (a) references and (b) resumes respondents are permitted to include in the Technical Quote?

No, there are no limits to the number of references and resumes Bidders are permitted to provide.

The Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of the Bidder’s Quote.

and Section 3.24 Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope Both sections ask for references and contact information for similar completed projects. Please clarify what should be included in the response to Section 3.20, Organizational Experience, versus Section 3.24, Experience with Contracts of a Similar Size and Scope.

Please see the answer to Question #52.

Organizational Charts In regards to organizational charts, would the State prefer to see evidence of a respondent’s overall organizational structure or a sample of a team we might put together to address a future "Mini-Bid"?

The Bidder should include an organization chart, with names showing management, supervisory and other key personnel (including Subcontractor management, supervisory, or other key personnel) to be assigned to the Contract. The chart should include the labor category and title of each such individual.

Organization Charts and Section 3.23 Resumes Will the [State] please confirm which of the following positions from the Price Sheet it considers "management, supervisory, and key personnel" for purposes of organization chart and resume requirements? Partner/Principal, Consultant, Manager/Director, Associate.

It is the responsibility of the Bidder to determine its management, supervisory, and key personnel to be assigned to the Contract as part of its Quote. The Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of Bidder’s Quote

and Section 8.8 State’s Right to Check References Because [the State is asking] for a lot of references, including references for all projects on resumes, can [the State] notify [Bidders] to let [Bidders] know which references [the State] might contact so [Bidders] do not have to notify all clients that could be mentioned?

No, the State will not notify Bidders as to which references the State will contact.

Resumes "With respect to each similar Contract, the name and address of each reference together with a person to contact for a reference check and a telephone number.” Will the State accept a limited number of contract references similar in scope and size from the [Bidder] or is the [Bidder] required to submit contact information for all similar contracts?

The State recommends including the information specified by the referenced Bid Solicitation section. The State notes that the requested references are specified as a “should”, which denotes that which is permissible or recommended, not mandatory.

Resumes For previous contract experience, will the [State] consider blinded or non-identifiable client information due to confidentiality and proprietary agreements?

The State requires the submission of a full non-redacted Quote in order to be considered for award. If a Bidder wishes to request the redaction of certain information in their Quote, they must submit the completed signed Confidentiality/Commitment to Defend Form. However, any Quote having required information (shall/must) which is not visible will be considered non-responsive.

Please reference Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.13.7, Confidentiality/Commitment to Defend for additional information.

Resumes When referring to similar contracts in size and scope in the Bid Solicitation Section 3.23, Resumes, is the State only interested in staff experience with similar contracts as consultants in their current roles or can respondents include staff experience supporting contracts throughout their careers?

No, the Bidder’s prepared resumes is not limited to staff experience with contracts as consultants in their current roles. Bidders can include staff experience supporting contracts throughout the individual’s career.

Resumes States “With respect to each similar Contract, the name and address of each reference together with a person to contact for a reference check and a telephone number.” If a staff member worked on five (5) different contracts, are they expected to provide a reference from each project?

Yes, a referred staff member should provide a reference from each referenced project.

In accordance with Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.23 (D), Resumes, “Resumes should include the following: With respect to each similar Contract, the name and address of each reference together with a person to contact for a reference check and a telephone number.”

Please note that the Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of Bidder’s Quote.

Resumes May the Bidder exclude references from the staff resumes since references for similar projects will be included in the response to Section 3.24, Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope?

Please see the answer to Question #62. The absence of these references may affect the State’s evaluation and scoring of the Bidder’s Quote.

Please note that the Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of Bidder’s Quote.

Resumes Regarding Section 3.23, Resumes, the Bidder plans to submit detailed information on professionals likely to be proposed on future Mini-Bids. Is there flexibility for professionals not mentioned in this response to later be proposed on future Mini-Bids?

Professionals not listed in the Bidder’s Quote for this Bid Solicitation may be proposed on future Mini-Bids. Please refer to Revised Bid Solicitation Section 5.5, Substitution of Staff.

Resumes Does the [State] have any minimum requirements, or a minimum number, for resumes provided?

No, the State has neither minimum requirements for the resumes nor a minimum number of resumes to be provided.

The Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of Bidder’s Quote

Resumes As it related to Section 3.23, Resumes: Will the State consider blinded or non-identifiable information due to confidentiality and proprietary agreements?

Please see the answer to Question #60.

Resumes and Section 3.24 Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope Both of these sections have the potential to have substantial requirements for references. Due to State policy changes, the majority of our State clients are no longer permitted to provide references for proposals. Given this limitation, we would like to confirm whether the State will instead accept two (2) or three (3) total references for robust projects that include many aspects related to items described in the Scope of Work in this proposal?

The State recommends including the information specified by the referenced Bid Solicitation section. The State notes that the requested references are specified as a “should”, which denotes that which is permissible or recommended, not mandatory.

The State will accept any number of references that the Bidder’s determined adequately fulfils the request for references as set forth in Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.23, Resumes, and Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.24, Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope. The Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of the Bidder’s Quote.

Experience with Contracts of a Similar Size and Scope "The Bidder should provide a comprehensive listing of contracts of similar size and scope that it has successfully completed, as evidence of the Bidder’s ability to successfully complete services similar to those required by this Bid Solicitation."

What time period should the listing of contracts of similar size and scope encompass?

No time period is specified for the Bidder’s listing of experience with contracts of a similar size and scope to this Bid Solicitation.

Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope In order for Bidders to provide a comprehensive listing of contracts similar in size, will the [State] please provide an estimated budget or budget range for this Bid Solicitation?

Please see the answer to Question #25. A budget is not necessary for a Bidder to provide a comprehensive listing of contracts similar in size and scope. For information related to the types of projects anticipated under this Contract, please refer to Revised Bid Solicitation Section 4.0, Scope of Work.

Experience with Contracts of Similar Size and Scope In order for Bidders to provide a comprehensive listing of contracts similar in size, will the [State] please provide an estimated total level of effort (hours) expected to be used on the Contract, either in a year or in aggregate?

The State is unable to provide an estimated total of effort (hours) as future engagement work will vary from Mini-Bid to Mini-Bid. For information related to the types of projects anticipated under this Contract, please refer to Revised Bid Solicitation Section 4.0, Scope of Work.

Financial Capability of the Bidder Section 3.25 requires a certified financial statement. If a privately held for-profit entity does not currently have audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal period (because they are not typically required), would alternative financial documentation—such as unaudited financial statements or other evidence of financial stability- be acceptable with an initial submission?

If the Bidder cannot provide the information requested in Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.25, Financial Capability of the Bidder, they should submit the following documents as an alternative:

OPTION A

A compiled statement from an Certified Public Accountant setting forth the same information required for the audited or reviewed financial statements, together with a certification from the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, that the financial statements and other information included in the statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the Bidder as of, and for, the periods presented in the statements; or if this information is unavailable; or

OPTION B

Uncertified income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements and all notes to financial statements for the two most recent years. In addition, the Bidder should submit a bank letter which sets forth its current financial position and at a minimum addresses the Bidder’s account/lien/credit line standing.

Financial Capability of the Bidder “For privately held companies the Bidder should provide the certified financial statement (audited or reviewed) in accordance with applicable standards by an independent Certified Public Accountant, including a balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flow, and all applicable notes for the most recent calendar year or the Bidder’s most recent fiscal year.”

Will the state accept alternative evidence of financial stability, such as a letter from an auditor or Dun & Bradstreet Report, in lieu of audited financial statements?

Please see the answer to Question #71.

Financial Capability of the Bidder Section 3.25 says that if a financial statement is not provided with the quote, the State may still require the Bidder to submit it within seven days. Please clarify when the seven (7) day period would begin (e.g., from data of quote submission, from date of request which may be later than quote submission, etc.)

If not provided with the Quote, the seven (7) business day period to submit the requested financial statement begins upon the date of request from the State.

Financial Capability of the Bidder Please clarify what constitutes a financial statement that is “reviewed” in accordance with applicable standards by an independent Certified Public Accountant.

Per Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.25, Financial Capability of the Bidder, a financial statement that is reviewed in accordance with applicable standards by an independent Certified Public Accountant should include a report with a balance sheet, income statement, a statement of cash flow, and all applicable notes for the most recent calendar year or the Bidder’s most recent fiscal year.

State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions Per Bid Solicitation Section 3.26, pricing should be provided for 6 categories of staff. Is the list provided written in anticipated order of cost where Partner/Principal is highest hourly rate and Administrative Support is the lowest hourly rate? We are asking because consultant is second on list but from a title standpoint sounds like a lower level than Manager/Director. If [the State has] any descriptions of the titles or qualifications at each level, that would be helpful.

No, the list of titles provided in the State-Supplied Price Sheet is not written in anticipated order of cost.

State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions Will the All-Inclusive Hourly Rates agreed upon between the State and the selected Contractors: (a) be made public, (b) be accessible to all Contractors on NJSTART; (c) be accessible only to the Contractors selected for this Contract; or (d) remain confidential?

All terms of publicly awarded contracts are made available to the public after Award.

State-Supplied Price Sheet Within each [Mini-Bid], there is a potential for a wide range of activities within the scope. In the [Bidder’s] response to the [Bid Solicitation], will the [State] consider a range of prices for each [Mini-Bid]?

No, the State will not consider a range of pricing within a price line on the State-Supplied Price Sheet. The Bidder must submit an All-Inclusive HOURLY RATE price for price lines 1 to 6 for all five (5) Contract years, not a range, for the titles listed in the State-Supplied Price Sheet. Per Revised Bid Solicitation Section 4.1 (F.4), Engagement Response Requirements, lower prices may be submitted in response to a Mini-Bid request, but shall not exceed the base value as provided in the Bidder’s original Quote.

For additional information, refer to Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.26, State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions.

State-Supplied Price Sheet Will the [State] accept a blinded rate for the hourly rate?

It is unclear what is meant by a ‘blinded rate’. Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.26, State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions, states that the Bidder shall complete all yellow cells, and shall provide an All-Inclusive HOURLY RATE price for price lines 1 to 6 for all five (5) Contract years for the labor rate titles listed therein. The State refers all Bidders to Section 9.2, Definitions, for a definition of the term All-Inclusive Hourly Rate.

If the intended question was whether the State will keep the pricing confidential or not, please refer to Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.13.7, Confidentiality/Commitment to Defend.

Awarded Contract pricing will be publicly posted on NJSTART.

Programmatic Assessment Should the vendor include a summative budget for all activities in [Bid Solicitation] [4.2.2A-H], or individual budgets for each activity?

The Contractor should include individual budgets for each activity within the Mini-Bid request.

State-Supplied Price Sheet Could the [State] provide a maximum price for services that may be provided under a [Mini-Bid] agreement?

A Using Agency may potentially specify a not-to-exceed price based on budgetary or other factors as part of its Mini-Bid request.

State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions Can the State provide details on the experience and skills that define the title categorizations in the price sheet?

The Bid Solicitation does not include minimum experience and skill requirements for the labor rate titles. However, Contractor staff must be capable to perform the roles assigned by the Contractor in accordance with this Bid Solicitation and any resulting Mini-Bid request.

The Bidder should include the level of detail it determines necessary to assist the Evaluation Committee in its review of Bidder’s Quote

State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions Are labor categories static, or can they be proposed to align with specific expertise needs as the scope of the Mini-Bid evolves (i.e., a subject matter expert that aligns to the Mini-Bid requirements but does not neatly fit into one of the contracted labor categories)?

No, labor categories are not static. Depending on the work required by a particular Mini-Bid, a Bidder’s internal labor categories may be interpreted and translated by the Contractor to allow for the recommendation of that personnel that best fits those labor titles included in the Bid Solicitation. No new labor categories beyond those listed in the State-Supplied Price Sheet may be added, either in response to this Bid Solicitation or any Mini-Bid Request. Please refer to Revised Bid Solicitation Section 4.1 (F.4), Engagement Response Requirements, and Revised Bid Solicitation Section 4.2.6, Labor Rate Titles.

State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions Should pricing be included with the technical proposal, or should it be uploaded as a separate attachment?

The State-Supplied Price Sheet can be included as part of the Technical Proposal, but the State prefers that the Bidder upload the State-Supplied Price Sheet as a separate attachment as part of the Quote submission. Refer to Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.12, Quote Content.

Please note in accordance with Revised Bid Solicitation Section 3.26, State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions, “The Bidder shall not alter or modify the structure or format of the State-Supplied Price Sheet. Any additional or supplemental versions of the State-Supplied Price Sheet will not be accepted and may result in the Bidder’s Quote being deemed non-responsive.”

State-Supplied Price Sheet Instructions Can the State confirm that the Contractor can add additional…