RFR FWE-TITLE-25 (Title Examination Services Qualified Contractor List)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through the Department of Fish and Game and other authorized departments including the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Agricultural Resources, and Department of Environmental Protection, is seeking professional title examination services through a rolling enrollment procurement. This Request for Response (RFR) FWE-TITLE-25 aims to establish a Qualified Contractors List of attorneys who can perform comprehensive title examinations for land acquisitions, exchanges, and dispositions. Qualified contractors must have at least five years of title examination experience, be members of the Massachusetts Bar in good standing, and maintain $1,000,000 in professional errors and omissions insurance. The procurement requires detailed deliverables including a Certificate of Title, Narrative of Title, Examiner's Sketch, and Abstract of Title, with examinations covering records dating back at least 50 years. Proposals will be accepted until July 1, 2033, with the earliest potential contract start date of January 1, 2026, and a contract end date of December 31, 2033. Bidders must submit documentation including a cover letter, attorney standing records, county experience, hourly rates, personnel resumes, and a signed contractor acknowledgment form.

The procurement includes a Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) preference, which means SBPP participants meeting the best value criteria will be prioritized for contract awards. The contract will be structured as a fee-for-service arrangement, with multiple vendors selected to the qualified contractors list. The estimated annual value per qualified contractor is less than $250,000, with approximately 50-70 title examination service projects anticipated annually across the authorized departments. Contractors can potentially increase their competitiveness by offering prompt payment discounts and agreeing to electronic funds transfer. The Commonwealth requires vendors to complete several administrative forms, including an Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Form, a Prompt Payment Discount Form, a W-9 Form, and either a Sole Proprietor or Corporate Authorized Signatory Form. While no specific incumbent vendors are mentioned, the procurement appears designed to create a flexible, competitive pool of title examination professionals who can support various state environmental and land management initiatives.