Warmline Solicitation Evaluation Criteria.docx

This Solicitation Evaluation Criteria document outlines the assessment methodology for Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services Third Party Warmline Services contract (Solicitation Number 123190 O3). The solicitation seeks a qualified vendor to provide statewide 24/7 intake and referral support services connecting families with community resources to prevent unnecessary child welfare interventions. Proposals are due October 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. The contract includes a three-year initial term with potential renewals contingent on performance and mutual agreement, with implementation occurring across four phases—Discovery, Development and Community Engagement, Pilot Program, and Full-Scale Launch—over a 12-month period from contract execution. Vendors must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience managing community-based prevention services, serve at least three client groups, and handle intake and support for approximately 5,000 families annually. The call center must be physically located and staffed within Nebraska and comply with rigorous technical requirements including cloud-based hosting, data encryption, HIPAA, HITECH, Section 508, and NIST standards.

The evaluation process comprises three primary scoring categories: Corporate Overview (25 points), Technical Response (50 points), and Cost Sheet (25 points), totaling 100 points without oral interviews, which may increase the total to 150 points if required. Cost sheet points are awarded using a lowest-cost comparison formula, with the lowest bidder receiving maximum cost points and other proposals receiving proportional points based on the ratio of lowest cost to submitted cost. Mandatory requirements for all responses include a manually signed or DocuSign-executed Contractual Agreement Form, Corporate Overview, Technical Response, and Cost Sheet; responses failing to address these requirements are excluded from further evaluation. The solicitation does not explicitly designate set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or identify an incumbent vendor. No specific budget ranges are stated in the evaluation criteria, though the comprehensive technical requirements and multi-phase implementation structure suggest substantial investment requirements.