MPA 439 Escrow and Title Services

The State of Rhode Island Division of Purchases is issuing an Open Enrollment Vendor Assessment solicitation (OEV26006453) to establish a Master Price Agreement for escrow and title services available statewide to all state agencies, municipalities, institutions of higher education, and quasi-public agencies. The procurement seeks qualified title firms and licensed attorneys to provide comprehensive real estate services including representation at closings, real estate title searches, preparation of title reports, drafting of real estate escrow agreements, and issuance of title insurance policies on an as-and-when-required basis. Vendors must demonstrate Rhode Island Bar Association licensure, Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation title agent licensure, resumes of key staff, and maintain an office location within 30 miles of Rhode Island. The initial contract term will run for three years beginning May 1, 2026, with two optional 12-month renewal periods available at the state's sole discretion, with pricing established on a firm and fixed basis through May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2031. All vendors must carry professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance of $2,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, in addition to general liability, workers compensation, and automobile liability insurance. The state will withhold a 0.33% contract administrative fee from invoices, and will reimburse all documented direct costs related to closings including recording fees, taxes, and documentary stamps. The vendor question and answer period runs from March 19, 2026, at 9:15 a.m. EDT through April 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EDT, with proposals due by April 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. submitted electronically through Ocean State Procures. Evaluation is conducted on a pass/fail basis, with the state reserving the right to award to one or multiple qualified vendors at its sole discretion based on cost alone.

The procurement is subject to Rhode Island General Laws 37-14.1 et al., which mandate that all qualifying procurements include Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) with a minimum award of 15 percent of the dollar value of the entire procurement; prime contractors must submit an executed MBE Participation Acknowledgment Form confirming compliance obligations and providing monthly reporting documentation to the MBE Compliance Office verifying payments to MBE subcontractors. All vendors are eligible to respond regardless of business size or certification status, and vendors must be registered in the Ocean State Procures system prior to submission with all costs associated with proposal development to be borne by the responding vendor. No guarantee of purchasing activity is provided, and utilization will be based on factors including price, expertise, and vendor availability once specific needs are determined by user agencies. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. The specific award value or budget range is not disclosed in the solicitation documentation; however, pricing submissions are required across multiple service categories including hourly rates for attorney representation, title insurance rates per thousand dollars of coverage, and various hourly rates for title search, preparation, closing document preparation, and document review services.