1301-27-R-RFQF-00003-V01

The Mississippi State Department of Health is requesting qualifications for an External Program Evaluator to support the WISEWOMAN cardiovascular disease prevention program under RFQ 1301-27-R-RFQF-00003, with proposals due September 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. CST.

The evaluator must hold a Master's degree or higher in Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, or a related field, with a minimum of 10 years of applied public health program evaluation experience. Required expertise includes CDC-funded cooperative agreements, cardiovascular risk reduction interventions, statistical software proficiency, and HIPAA and federal compliance knowledge. Bidders must provide at least three professional references and demonstrate financial stability through audited financial statements; agency staff must contact at least two references within two business days of the qualification opening date for a response to be considered responsive. Current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) is mandatory.

The scope encompasses developing and executing evaluation plans, analyzing program data, conducting mixed-methods research, and generating quarterly data briefs and annual evaluation reports aligned with CDC standards. All program data remains the property of MSDH, and any publications require written permission and collaborative authorship from MSDH leadership. Core evaluation activities may not be subcontracted without prior written approval.

The contract is firm-fixed price at $50,000 annually, with a 2.5-year initial term from December 1, 2026 through November 30, 2028 (total $125,000). Payment is distributed as 20 percent upon completion of the Evaluation Plan, 40 percent prorated across quarterly briefs, and 40 percent upon completion of the annual report and dashboard. The agency reserves the right to renew for up to three additional years, with a cumulative maximum term not to exceed five years. Evaluation uses a 100-point scale across three phases: Compliance (Pass/Fail), Technical (35 points), and Management (30 points). The anticipated notice of intent to award is September 30, 2026. No pre-submittal conference or site visit will be held.