Contract for WIC Div Undercover Compliance Buys

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 250000002128 seeking a contractor to conduct undercover compliance buys for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The primary objective is to investigate potential fraud and abuse among WIC-authorized vendors, with an estimated 250 compliance buys to be conducted annually across Michigan. Investigators will be required to perform various types of compliance checks, including attempting to purchase non-WIC items with WIC EBT cards, verifying transaction procedures, and documenting vendor interactions using a detailed MDHHS-5959 Compliance Buy Report form. Qualified investigators must be 18 or older, have no criminal record, and possess the ability to blend into different community settings while maintaining confidentiality and avoiding entrapment. The proposal is due by May 29, 2025, with an anticipated contract start date of October 1, 2025, and the initial contract term is one year with potential for up to four additional one-year renewals. Investigators will be responsible for donating purchased items to non-profit organizations, completing comprehensive reports within specified timeframes, and being prepared to testify under oath at in-person or virtual hearings in Lansing, Michigan.

The RFP does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Investigators will be required to conduct compliance buys across diverse locations including Wayne County, Lower Peninsula, and Upper Peninsula regions of Michigan. The contract includes a unit-based pricing structure with compensation for compliance buys and hearing appearances, though the total annual contract value is not explicitly stated in the provided documents. The successful contractor will need to provide trained investigators capable of conducting detailed, objective investigations that document potential WIC vendor violations, including improper UPC scanning, incorrect WIC card usage, identification verification, pricing accuracy, and overall store conditions. The contract requires meticulous documentation using the MDHHS-5959 form, which includes extensive sections for recording transaction details, store conditions, and investigator observations. While specific budget ranges are not disclosed, the contract provides a framework for compensation based on the number and type of compliance buys and hearing appearances conducted.