SEARCHS Maintenance and Operations

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Child Support Services Division (CSSD) is seeking a contractor to provide maintenance and operations for the State's System for the Enforcement and Recovery of Child Support (SEARCHS) through a Request for Proposal (RFP) released on November 23, 2020. The procurement focuses on comprehensive Facility Management (FM) support for a system that has been supporting the Child Support Program for over 25 years. The successful contractor will be responsible for system maintenance, enhancement, and operational support across multiple computing service categories, including analysis, design, programming, network services, and project management. Deliverables will be structured across three service schedules (A, B, and C), with each requiring detailed technical and financial proposals. The RFP requires offerors to submit company details, complete a pricing schedule, provide three client references, and demonstrate compliance with specific Executive Orders related to Equal Pay for Women and Dark Money spending. Proposals are due by January 19, 2021, at 2:00 PM MST, with an expected payment term of Net 30.

While the RFP does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises, it provides extensive technical documentation that potential bidders must carefully review, including interface documentation, security agreements, screen layouts, functionality descriptions, process flows, and a comprehensive data dictionary. The solicitation suggests a robust and complex technical environment that will require significant expertise in child support system maintenance and operations. Although no incumbent vendor is specifically mentioned, the SEARCHS system has been in operation for over 25 years, indicating a mature technological infrastructure that will require deep understanding and careful integration. While no precise budget range is specified in the available documentation, the comprehensive nature of the procurement and the multi-year system support requirements suggest a substantial contract value. Prospective bidders will need to demonstrate significant technical capabilities, project management expertise, and a thorough understanding of child support system maintenance and operational requirements to be competitive in this procurement.