Absence Management Implementation

The City of Cincinnati has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP 265X901106) for an Absence Management Implementation project through the Department of Enterprise Technology Solutions. The procurement seeks a professional services vendor to configure and implement Absence Management and Punch Time functionality within the city's existing workforce management platform, targeting approximately 6,000 employees across multiple departments. Key project deliverables include system discovery, configuration, testing, training, and post-implementation support, with the goal of creating a fully integrated system that accurately tracks employee leave and work hours while streamlining leave request workflows. The project requires a vendor capable of delivering a system compliant with city policies, union agreements, and memoranda of understanding. Proposals are due by 12:00 PM ET on September 24, 2025, through the city's Bonfire electronic portal, with a target go-live date in Q3 2026. The evaluation criteria include 25% for experience and expertise, 20% for technical approach and methodology, 20% for implementation timeline, 15% for cost and budget, 10% for experience with local government, and 10% for economic inclusion.

The City of Cincinnati has established an aspirational goal of spending 15% of total project dollars with Small Business Enterprises, including those owned by minorities and women. While no specific restrictions are mentioned for vendor participation, the RFP suggests a preference for vendors with demonstrated experience in local government technology implementations. The procurement does not specify an incumbent vendor or provide a precise budget range for the project. Potential bidders must complete and submit the Offeror Corporate and Contact Information form, which requires detailed disclosure of organizational structure, business history, and potential legal or contractual challenges. The RFP also mandates an Affidavit of Accuracy and Signature Page, which requires vendors to swear under penalty of perjury that they have not engaged in collusive practices and that all submitted information is true and complete. Vendors must be prepared to demonstrate their capability to integrate the new absence management system with the city's existing workforce management platform and support comprehensive employee self-service functionality.