Vendor Networking Opportunities List - posted 1.15.26.xlsx

This is a Vendor Networking Opportunities List supporting an Indiana Department of Administration Request for Proposal (RFP) 26-85961 for Vocational Rehabilitation Business Networks in Hamilton County. The document identifies companies and organizations available for networking purposes related to the VR Business Network project. The RFP seeks state or local public entities to develop and manage Vocational Rehabilitation Business Networks through an Interagency Cash Transfer Agreement, with primary deliverables including technical assistance to businesses, development of business partner networks, job shadows, site tours, and hiring opportunities for VR participants with disabilities. Contractors must establish a baseline of 15-20 formally engaged VR business network partners by the end of Year 1, with minimum 20% quarterly growth in Year 2, and submit quarterly progress reports with an assigned staff liaison. The pre-proposal conference is scheduled for January 7, 2026, at 9:30 AM Eastern Time, written questions are due by January 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM, and proposals must be submitted electronically through the Supplier Portal by February 11, 2026, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Contract award recommendations are anticipated in April 2026, with a two-year contract term and one optional two-year renewal available.

Annual budgets are anticipated to range from $100,000 to $500,000, with the current pilot project operating at approximately $300,000 annually. The RFP includes mandatory diversity set-asides requiring 8% Minority Business Enterprise participation, 11% Women Business Enterprise participation, and 3% Indiana Veteran Owned Small Business participation. Contractors must provide a non-federal match contribution ranging from $27,065 to $135,324 depending on project scope to access federal funds. The evaluation scoring totals 100 points (103 with bonus points), allocated across Management Assessment/Quality (60 points), Price (20 points), Buy Indiana Initiative (5 points), and diversity subcontractor commitments (5 points each for MBE, WBE, and IVOSB with potential 1-point bonuses). Solutions must comply with the State's Information Security Framework and integrate with existing state infrastructure, with preference for cloud-based service offerings deployed within a state-owned cloud tenant.