MPA 368 Open Enrollment OE Arbitration and Mediation

The State of Rhode Island Division of Purchases is conducting an Open Enrollment Vendor Assessment (OEV20000034) to establish a Master Price Agreement (MPA) for arbitration and mediation services. This solicitation seeks to create a qualified vendor list for providing arbitration and mediation services on an as-needed basis to state agencies, quasi-governmental organizations, Rhode Island municipalities, and the legislative and judicial branches. Vendors will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis, with proposals submitted electronically through the Ocean State Procures system during the solicitation period from June 17, 2020 to September 30, 2020. The initial contract period will be approximately three years, beginning around June 1, 2020, with the potential for one additional 12-month renewal based on vendor performance and funding availability. Key requirements for vendors include maintaining specific insurance coverage, including $1 million in liability insurance, workers' compensation, and automobile liability. When specific projects arise, agencies will issue scopes of work and request price quotes from the qualified vendors, with proposals being evaluated based on qualifications and pricing.

The solicitation includes a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion, with a mandatory 10% set-aside for Minority-owned (MBE), Women-owned (WBE), and Veteran-owned (VBE) businesses. When requesting quotes for specific projects, agencies must obtain at least one quote from a certified MBE/WBE/VBE vendor if available on the qualified vendors list. A 1% contract administrative fee will be assessed on all purchase orders issued under the MPA, effective January 1, 2020, which will be used to implement and maintain the state's e-procurement system. While there is no guaranteed minimum purchasing activity, the MPA allows for flexible utilization by various government entities. The solicitation does not specify a specific budget range or award value, as services will be procured on an as-needed basis with vendor selection at the sole discretion of the user agency. Vendors must submit comprehensive proposals demonstrating their expertise in arbitration and mediation services, with the understanding that inclusion on the qualified vendor list does not guarantee any specific level of business.