Strengthening Enforcement Capacity in Housing & Lending Prac

The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is soliciting proposals for development and delivery of curriculum and training to strengthen enforcement capacity in housing and lending practices, with proposals due August 13, 2026, and a question deadline of August 3, 2026. RFP 260000001628 does not specify a contract value, but contains no set-asides or local-vendor preferences.

The scope requires the contractor to assess MDCR enforcement division processes; develop tools and frameworks for discrimination identification; integrate workflows between investigators and attorneys; build AI-related training and tools enabling staff to identify and investigate unlawful discrimination in automated or AI-enabled systems; address legal updates in housing and AI law; and support public education and outreach to housing providers and seekers. All work must be completed within one year from the contract effective date of September 11, 2026. The contractor must appoint one dedicated contractor representative and two key personnel positions—one in Legal, Civil Rights & Regulatory expertise and one in Housing Data Engineering—approved by the State and responsive within 24 hours. Unauthorized removal of key personnel without State written consent triggers liquidated damages of $5,000 per individual plus up to $3,000 in additional daily credits if a 30-calendar-day shadowing period is not provided for replacements. Late or improper completion of contract activities incurs liquidated damages of $1,000 plus $100 per day. All digital deliverables must comply with ADA accessibility standards and State Digital Standards. The contractor must submit a detailed project plan within 30 calendar days of award, including milestone schedules and bi-weekly written status reports. Pricing must be firm for the entire contract term.

Technical evaluation weighs Experience (30 points), Vision on Strengthening MDCR Enforcement Capacity (30 points), Vision on AI Impact and Responsive AI Use (30 points), and ADA Compliance (10 points), for 100 total points. Proposals scoring 80 or more points advance to pricing evaluation. The contract term is September 11, 2026, through September 10, 2027, with renewal options for up to three additional one-year periods at the State's sole discretion. Contractors must maintain Commercial General Liability ($2 million aggregate), Professional Liability/Errors and Omissions ($3 million aggregate), Cyber Liability ($1 million), and other specified coverages with A.M. Best A- VII minimum ratings. Intellectual property created under the contract becomes the sole property of the State.