Lewiston First Responder Remaining Overtime Costs

The State of Maine Department of Public Safety is issuing Request for Applications (RFA) 202512158 to seek reimbursement proposals from local and county first responder agencies for overtime costs associated with the Lewiston mass casualty event and related subsequent events. This procurement targets law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services agencies that incurred overtime expenses during specific timeframes, including the initial 49-hour response period, the October 29, 2023 vigil, the November 3, 2023 Presidential visit, and other directly related activities. Eligible agencies must submit detailed documentation using a standardized overtime spreadsheet that captures comprehensive personnel information including position titles, number of employees, hours worked, hourly rates, fringe benefits, and specific action descriptions. The RFA requires submission through the Vendor Self Service System (VSS) by January 9, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time, with all questions due by December 12, 2025. The contract term is anticipated to run from January 19, 2026, through June 30, 2026, with the Department planning multiple awards across the 60 law enforcement and 23 Fire and EMS agencies that responded to the tragedy.

The RFA does not specify specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, but focuses on equitable distribution among first responder agencies that participated in the Lewiston response. Awards will be prioritized sequentially: first for overtime from the vigil, second for the Presidential visit, and third for other related overtime outside the initial 49-hour period. If funding is insufficient to cover all requests, the Department will issue proportional awards to ensure fair compensation. The funding source is the Supplemental Budget 2024-2025, with the remaining available funds being the focus of this solicitation. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the RFA indicates potential for partial awards and reserves the right for the Department to reject applications or modify allocations as deemed in the State's best interest. Only overtime reimbursement costs directly related to the specified events are allowable, with all other fund uses strictly prohibited. The total available funding and potential individual agency award amounts will depend on the comprehensive documentation submitted and the total overtime costs reported across all responding agencies.