Evaluation of Maine's Rural Health Transformation Program

The State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services is requesting proposals for independent evaluation services for Maine's Rural Health Transformation Program under RFP 202608126, with proposals due September 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. through the Vendor Self Service System and questions due by August 18, 2026.

The scope requires design and implementation of a comprehensive five-year evaluation assessing program implementation, identifying quality improvement opportunities, documenting lessons learned and promising practices, and demonstrating program outcomes and value. The evaluator must develop a detailed evaluation plan within 120 days of contract start, including key evaluation questions, conceptual frameworks, evaluation design and methodology, and reporting schedules. Deliverables include the initial comprehensive evaluation plan, annual evaluation and quality improvement reports, success stories and case studies, executive summaries and presentation materials, quarterly progress reports due 30 days after each quarter end, and a final evaluation report at project conclusion. The evaluator must design and implement qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, coordinate with the Department's RHTP team to identify data sources, obtain required Institutional Review Board approvals, conduct data analysis and synthesis, establish weekly or bi-weekly meetings with Department RHTP staff, and present findings to the State's RHTP Governance and Advisory Committees.

The initial contract period runs November 1, 2026 through October 31, 2027, with two optional renewal periods: November 1, 2027 through October 31, 2029, and November 1, 2029 through October 31, 2031. Total annual funding available cannot exceed the Department's CMS-approved budget of $750,000. One award is anticipated. Evaluation is scored on a 100-point scale: 35 points for Organization Qualifications and Experience, 40 points for Proposed Services, and 25 points for Cost Proposal (lowest bid receives 25 points, with higher bids receiving proportionally fewer points). Bidders must submit three project examples from the past five years, provide three years of financial statements, disclose any litigation within the past five years, and provide proof of general liability and professional liability insurance. Contract execution requires State Procurement Review Committee approval and is not effective until at least fourteen calendar days after award notification.