MPA 490 OE Private/Claims Investigator Svcs. & Investigative Svcs. - Title IX

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), the Office of Institutional Equity at Rhode Island College (RIC), and the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) are conducting an Open Enrollment (OE) Master Price Agreement (MPA) procurement for private/claims investigator services and investigative services related to Title IX. The primary objective is to identify qualified individuals or firms capable of conducting comprehensive investigations across multiple areas, including educator misconduct, human resource investigations, and institutional equity matters aligned with nondiscrimination and Title IX compliance. Key deliverables will involve supporting investigatory processes for these educational institutions, with vendors expected to demonstrate expertise in conducting thorough, impartial investigations. The contract term is set to begin approximately January 1, 2026, and will run for three years, with potential renewals for two additional 12-month periods contingent upon vendor performance and fund availability. Evaluation criteria will include factors such as price, expertise, and availability, with a technical evaluation committee reviewing proposals. Vendors must submit proposals electronically through the Ocean State Procures platform, with all submissions considered irrevocable for 180 days following the opening date, and the final due date for submissions is December 31, 2028.

The solicitation includes specific requirements for minority business enterprise (MBE) participation and mandates comprehensive insurance coverage for potential vendors. Vendors will be subject to a 1% contract administrative fee on total annual spend, and the Master Price Agreement may be utilized by various state agencies, including Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, as well as political subdivisions like cities, towns, schools, and quasi-public agencies. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the broad scope of the agreement suggests potential for significant contract opportunities across multiple institutions. The State reserves the right to make multiple awards and select vendors at its sole discretion, indicating a flexible approach to vendor selection. The procurement is designed to be inclusive, allowing ongoing submissions through the Open Enrollment process, which means qualified vendors can potentially be added to the pool of approved investigators throughout the contract period. No specific incumbent vendors are mentioned in the documentation, and there are no explicit restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond, beyond the requirement to meet the technical and professional qualifications outlined in the solicitation.