Notice of Intent to award RFP 210000001796

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued RFP 21-1793 to procure economic research services for an updated study on the cost of raising children. The solicitation sought a qualified contractor to conduct comprehensive economic research examining the financial needs of parents and children based on current family structures, including scenarios where parents maintain separate households. The project requires eight specific deliverables: an economic study overview, original research on child-rearing costs, a self-support reserve study, analysis of parenting time costs, research on duplicated and non-duplicated expenses, health care cost analysis, identification of federal data elements, and a lifestyle cost study. The contract term spans three years with optional renewal periods of up to two additional one-year terms. The RFP was posted on June 10, 2021, with proposal submissions due by July 12, 2021. Technical evaluation criteria were weighted across four categories: product quality (35 points), service capabilities (25 points), delivery capabilities (25 points), and vendor questions worksheet responses (15 points), with a minimum threshold of 80 points required before pricing proposals would be evaluated.

One proposal was received from the Center for Policy Research, located in Denver, Colorado, which achieved a technical score of 89 out of 100 points and was recommended for contract award pending State Administrative Board approval. The recommended award amount totals $148,065.00, with pricing distributed across the eight deliverables ranging from $13,489 for federal data elements to $27,512 for the lifestyle cost study. The evaluation committee identified minor deficiencies in the vendor's proposal regarding recommendations for adjustment of duplicated expenses and the depth of health care coverage analysis; however, these deficiencies did not prevent the recommendation for award. No set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent vendor information were specified in the available documentation. The Notice of Intent to Award was posted on July 21, 2021, with a final award deadline of July 27, 2021.