Financial & Strategic Consulting and Advisory Services

The State of Michigan's Department of Technology, Management, & Budget issued Request for Proposal 260000000042 for Financial & Strategic Consulting and Advisory Services, a comprehensive procurement designed to secure expert advisory support across financial and strategic planning initiatives. The RFP was posted on November 7, 2026, with proposals due on November 26, 2026. The procurement sought qualified consulting firms capable of delivering financial advisory, strategic planning, and related consulting services over an initial three-year contract term with options for up to five additional renewal periods. The evaluation process consisted of a two-phase approach: a technical evaluation scored out of 100 points with a mandatory minimum threshold of 80 points required to advance to the next stage, followed by oral presentations for the top five bidders that assessed company background, case study responses, and vendor experience. Seven firms submitted proposals for consideration: Baker Tilly Advisory Group, Crowe, Guidehouse, KPMG, Plante Moran Realpoint, Watson & Yates, and Bean Consulting & CO. The State announced its intention to award the contract on February 27, 2026, pending State Administrative Board approval.

Guidehouse was selected as the recommended awardee based on superior performance throughout both evaluation phases, achieving perfect scores of 100 points in both technical evaluation and oral presentation components. The award recommendation totals $13,000,000.00, with Guidehouse's pricing structure including hourly rates ranging from $80 for para-professional support to $370 for partner-level services. The evaluation determined that Guidehouse provided the best overall value to the State of Michigan based on a responsive and responsible proposal, superior experience with the scope of work, and competitive pricing. No bidders qualified as Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses or Geographically Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, indicating no applicable set-aside designations for this procurement. Unsuccessful bidders are encouraged to contact Solicitation Manager Adam Ashley to schedule debriefing sessions to understand the State's rationale for non-selection and identify improvement opportunities for future opportunities.