Customized Employment Subject Matter Expert Services

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP 250000002663) for Customized Employment Subject Matter Expert Services to support Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons in providing statewide mentoring, technical assistance, consultation, and community of practice facilitation to vendors serving individuals with significant disabilities. The RFP seeks contractors with extensive customized employment experience to deliver primarily remote services with potential in-state travel reimbursement, requiring staff availability during normal State working hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST) and potentially during evening and weekend hours as needed. A mandatory minimum qualification requires that at least one staff member must have completed Association of Rehabilitation Educators training with customized employment emphasis and have delivered customized employment services for a minimum of one year resulting in at least one job placement. Proposals are due electronically through the Michigan SIGMA VSS system by 3:00 p.m. Eastern on July 25, 2025, with written questions accepted until 3:00 p.m. Eastern on July 9, 2025 and answers posted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on July 11, 2025. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point technical scale with 80 points required to advance to pricing evaluation, with scoring distributed across the Statement of Work (20 points for project scope and service delivery methods, 20 points for additional scope details, 30 points for remaining sections) and responses to the Vendor Questions Worksheet (30 points). The anticipated contract commencement date is October 1, 2025, for an initial one-year term ending September 30, 2026, with renewal options for up to two additional one-year periods at the State's discretion, and contractor activities must commence within three business days of receiving a delivery order.

This solicitation is subject to federal compliance requirements, including debarment and suspension verification through the System for Award Management, Byrd Anti-Lobbying Certification for contracts exceeding $100,000, prohibitions on covered telecommunications equipment or services, compliance with the Clean Air Act and Federal Water Pollution Control Act for contracts exceeding $150,000, domestic preferences for United States-produced goods, affirmative socioeconomic steps for small and minority businesses when subcontracting occurs, and procurement of EPA-designated recovered materials. Pricing must be firm for the entire contract term with any adjustments requiring documented evidence of actual cost changes subject to State approval, and invoices must be submitted within 30 days of month-end with payment made via Electronic Funds Transfer. The RFP does not specify set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting organizational types, nor does it identify incumbent vendors, current contractors, or specific budget ranges for this procurement. Contractor staff must submit monthly activity reports documenting mentoring, technical assistance, consultation, and community of practice activities to demonstrate compliance with contract obligations. Bidders should note that this contract is funded in whole or in part with federal government funds, making all federal provisions mandatory and taking precedence over state terms and conditions where federal law requires specific compliance obligations.