Contract for WIC Div Undercover Compliance Buys

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking a contractor to conduct undercover compliance buys for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program through Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 250000002544. The primary objective is to investigate potential fraud and abuse among WIC-approved vendors by performing compliance checks at approximately 1,350 vendor locations across Michigan. The contractor will be responsible for hiring and maintaining trained undercover compliance investigators who will conduct approximately 250 compliance buys annually, targeting at least 5% of authorized vendors. Investigators must be 18 or older, able to blend into local communities, and willing to testify under oath if required. The contract will commence on October 1, 2025, and run for one year with potential renewal for up to four additional one-year periods. Key proposal submission details include a deadline of July 2, 2025, at 11:59 AM Eastern Time, with investigators required to document detailed reports within five business days of each compliance buy and donate purchased food items to non-profit organizations. The compliance buy investigations will involve attempting to purchase non-WIC items with WIC EBT cards, verifying proper transaction procedures, and assessing vendor adherence to program guidelines.

The RFP does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Pricing for the contract is structured on a per-unit basis, with rates differentiated by geographic location: Wayne County, Lower Peninsula outside Wayne County, and Upper Peninsula. Compensation will be provided for compliance buys and additional hours for hearing appearances, including 18 hours of in-person hearings and 30 hours of virtual hearings. While the specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the contract appears designed to support ongoing program integrity efforts with a focus on systematic vendor compliance monitoring. The investigation process emphasizes maintaining a professional, non-confrontational approach and avoiding entrapment, with a clear goal of protecting the integrity of the WIC program. No incumbent vendors are mentioned in the provided documentation, and there are no specific references to existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements beyond the standard reporting and investigation protocols outlined in the compliance buy report form.