Consulting Services LOC
Revised: 09/24/2009
Memorandum for General RFP Services
To: Vendor with current valid proposal for General RFP #35953595 for Consulting Services
From: David L. Litchliter
CC: ITS Project File Number 38204ITS Project File Number 38204
Date: March 11, 2010
Subject: Letter of Configuration (LOC) Number 3820438204 for consulting services for the analysis, design, customization, integration and implementation of WorkSiteconsulting services for the analysis, design, customization, integration and implementation of WorkSite for the Mississippi Department of Environmental QualityMississippi Department of Environmental Quality MDEQ(MDEQ)
Contact Name: Cheryl YelvertonCheryl Yelverton
Contact Phone Number: 601-359-24012401
Contact E-mail Address:
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Consulting Services LOC
Revised: 09/24/2009
The Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) is seeking the services described below on behalf of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Our records indicate that your company currently has a valid proposal on file at ITS in response to General RFP #3595 for Consulting Services. Our preliminary review of this proposal indicates that your company offers services that are appropriate to the requirements of this project. Written responses for the requested services will be considered.
MANDATORY VENDOR CONFERENCE: Thursday, March 18, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (Central Time) at the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, 515 East Amite Street, Room 604B, Jackson, Mississippi, 39225
1. GENERAL LOC INSTRUCTIONS
1.1 Beginning with Item 2, label and respond to each outline point as it is labeled in the LOC.
1.2 The Vendor must respond with “ACKNOWLEDGED,” “WILL COMPLY,” or “AGREED” to each point in the LOC including the attached Standard Purchase Agreement, Attachment D.
1.2.1 “ACKNOWLEDGED” should be used when a Vendor response or Vendor compliance is not required. “ACKNOWLEDGED” simply means the Vendor is confirming to the State that he read the statement. This is commonly used in sections where the agency’s current operating environment is described or where general information is being given about the project.
1.2.2 “WILL COMPLY” or “AGREED” are used interchangeably to indicate that the Vendor will adhere to the requirement. These terms are used to respond to statements that specify that a Vendor or Vendor’s proposed solution must comply with a specific item or must perform a certain task.
1.3 If the Vendor cannot respond with “ACKNOWLEDGED,” “WILL COMPLY,” or “AGREED,” then the Vendor must respond with “EXCEPTION.” (See instructions in Item 12 regarding proposal exceptions.)
1.4 Where an outline point asks a question or requests information, the Vendor must respond with the specific answer or information requested in addition to “WILL COMPLY” or “AGREED”.
1.5 In addition to the above, Vendor must provide explicit details as to the manner and degree to which the proposal meets or exceeds each specification.
2. GENERAL OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND
The MDEQ is responsible for protecting the state’s air, land, and water. The MDEQ administers most of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs, including air, water and waste management activities; monitors, models, and regulates water use; and functions as the state geological survey. The mission of the MDEQ is to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of present and future generations of Mississippians by conserving and improving our environment and fostering wise economic growth through focused research and responsible regulation. The agency consists of four offices each headed by a director: 1) Office of Pollution Control (OPC); 2) Office of Land and Water Resources; 3) Office of Geology; and 4) Office of Administrative Services.
The MDEQ is seeking the services of a qualified vendor to provide consulting services for the analysis, design, customization, integration and implementation of WorkSite as the comprehensive Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solution across all offices of the MDEQ.
While MDEQ’s long-term goal is to implement WorkSite as the comprehensive ECM solution across all of its offices, MDEQ must work within its current funding constraints. With this LOC, the State has divided the implementation of the comprehensive ECM solution into defined deliverables and phases. It is the desire of the State to award this project to one vendor with the guarantee of the acquisition of specific deliverables for Phase I and then, as funding becomes available, utilize this acquisition to continue services for additional Phases comprised of deliverables defined herein. The State intends to use an iterative process of requesting Statements of Work (SOWs) for any additional Phase(s) requested. The cost for any future Phase(s) and/or deliverable(s) will be based upon pricing required via this LOC. The deliverables and phases for this project are defined primarily in Section 5 Scope of Work with others identified throughout the LOC.
3. PROCUREMENT PROJECT SCHEDULE
Task / DateRelease of LOC / March 11, 2010
Mandatory Vendor Conference / March 18, 2010
Deadline for Vendors’ Written Questions / March 25, 2010
Addendum with Vendors’ Questions and Answers / April 1, 2010
Proposals Due / April 22, 2010
Proposal Evaluation / April 23 – May 14, 2010
Presentation to ITS Board for Approval / May 27, 2010
Notification of Award / May 27, 2010
Contract Negotiations/Execution / May 27 – June 18, 2010
Awarded Work to Begin / Tuesday, February 16, 2010June 18, 2010
4. STATEMENTS OF UNDERSTANDING
4.1 Unless otherwise mutually decided, this project which includes all tasks necessary for the successful implementation of WorkSite as the comprehensive Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solution for the MDEQ will be known as enSTORE.
4.2 The requirements for the enSTORE as stated in this LOC No. 38204 or determined as a result of work requested via this LOC are understood to be based upon the requirements stated in General RFP No. 3595.
4.3 As stated in General RFP No. 3595, Section VII General Overview and Background and reiterated here, “. . . ITS has partnered with multiple state agencies to implement an enterprise-wide Content Management solution hosted in the State Data Center. This initiative has resulted in the implementation of Interwoven products including WorkSite (Content Management Product), TeamSite (Web Content Management Product), Records Manager, and WorkRoute. These products act as the enabling platform to support the web services and content management initiatives of Mississippi government agencies and institutions.”
4.4 This LOC No. 38204 is on behalf of a public agency of the State that is in need of “assistance with projects to implement, support, and enhance the State’s Interwoven-based Enterprise Content Management Solution.” From the issue date of this LOC until a Vendor is selected and the selection is announced, responding Vendors or their representatives may not communicate, either orally or in writing regarding this LOC with any statewide elected official, state officer or employee, member of the legislature or legislative employee except as noted herein. To ensure equal treatment for each responding Vendor, all questions regarding this LOC must be submitted in writing to the State’s Contact Person for the selection process, and not later than the last date for accepting responding Vendor questions provided in this LOC. All such questions will be answered officially by the State in writing. All such questions and answers will become addenda to this LOC. Vendors failing to comply with this requirement will be subject to disqualification.
4.4.1 The State contact person for the selection process is: Cheryl Yelverton, Technology Consultant, 301 North Lamar Street, Ste. 508, Jackson, Mississippi 39201, 601-359-2401, .
4.4.2 Vendor may consult with State representatives as designated by the State contact person identified in 4.4.1 above in response to State-initiated inquiries. Vendor may consult with State representatives during scheduled oral presentations and demonstrations excluding site visits.
4.5 On-site attendance at the Vendor Conference on Thursday, March 18, 2010, is MANDATORY for any Vendor who intends to submit an LOC response. No exceptions will be granted to this requirement. Any proposal received from a Vendor who did not have an authorized representative at the Vendor Conference will be rejected.
4.5.1 MDEQ will demonstrate their current business processes utilizing enSite, the current document management tool, at the Vendor Conference.
4.5.2 The MANDATORY Vendor Conference will be Thursday, March 18, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (Central Time), at the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, 515 East Amite Street, Room 604B, Jackson, Mississippi, 39225.
4.6 When referencing/identifying service(s) provided to the State, other Vendors may be listed in this LOC or in documents resulting from work requested via this LOC. Any mention of other Vendors in this LOC, or in documents resulting from work requested via this LOC, is subject to change based upon the expiration of any current agreements or the acquisition of future agreements during the lifecycle of the enSTORE project.
4.6.1 Awarded vendor(s) are expected to work in coordination with any Vendor with which the State has a current agreement.
4.7 MDEQ intends to be fully involved in all aspects of the project and will assign a project manager and appropriate QA/oversight personnel. MDEQ functional analysts will be fully involved as members of the project team and knowledge transfer will be a key element/requirement of this proposal.
4.8 It is the Vendor’s responsibility, in coordination with the State Project Manager, to perform all services requested via this LOC (including, but not limited to, analysis, design, customization and/or development, integration and implementation) with MDEQ approval points throughout the life of the phase/project.
4.9 All findings, documentation, and other deliverables under this agreement will become the exclusive property of MDEQ. Any termination of consulting services will result in the project team using any/all deliverables to secure proposals from alternate consultants for the remainder of the project.
4.10 All written deliverables described in this LOC or identified as necessary during the course of this project must be submitted MDEQ for review and approval.
4.10.1 All work plans required for this project must allow 10 business days for review by MDEQ of any written deliverable.
4.10.2 MDEQ will work with the awarded Vendor to perform an iterative review process for each deliverable.
4.11 ITS reserves the right to award this project to one or more Vendors for one or more individuals.
4.12 MDEQ intends to contract with the winning vendor for a phased implementation, consisting of three or more phases, as described in this LOC.
4.12.1 At the conclusion of Phase I, and any subsequent phase(s), the State will conduct a performance analysis to determine whether to continue the agreement for any additional phases(s) with the awarded vendor.
4.12.2 Upon the completion of Phase I or any subsequent phase(s), the State is under no obligation to continue with the awarded vendor for any additional phase(s).
4.12.3 If the State does not continue working with the awarded vendor for the initial phase or any additional phase(s), the State may release a subsequent LOC(s) for any additional phase(s) utilizing any/all deliverable(s) already produced during any phase(s) of this project.
4.12.4 The Phase I vendor (i.e., the initially awarded vendor) may be precluded from responding to any subsequent LOC(s) associated with the enSTORE project.
4.13 The anticipated start date is Friday, June 18, 2010. Awarded Vendor(s) will be notified of the actual start date upon completion of the evaluation and contract negotiation process.
4.14 Vendor acknowledges that if awarded, it will ensure its compliance with the Mississippi Employment Protection Act, Section 71-11-1, et seq. of the Mississippi Code Annotated (Supp2008), and will register and participate in the status verification system for all newly hired employees. The term “employee” as used herein means any person that is hired to perform work within the State of Mississippi. As used herein, “status verification system” means the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996 that is operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, also known as the E-Verify Program, or any other successor electronic verification system replacing the E-Verify Program. Vendor will agree to maintain records of such compliance and, upon request of the State, to provide a copy of each such verification to the State.
Vendor acknowledges and certifies that any person assigned to perform services hereunder meets the employment eligibility requirements of all immigration laws of the State of Mississippi.
Vendor acknowledges that violating the E-Verify Program (or successor thereto) requirements subjects Vendor to the following: (a) cancellation of any state or public contract and ineligibility for any state or public contract for up to three (3) years, with notice of such cancellation being made public, or (b) the loss of any license, permit, certification or other document granted to Vendor by an agency, department or governmental entity for the right to do business in Mississippi for up to one (1) year, or (c) both. Vendor would also be liable for any additional costs incurred by the State due to contract cancellation or loss of license or permit.
4.15 Subject to acceptance by ITS, the Vendor acknowledges that by submitting a proposal, the Vendor is contractually obligated to comply with all items in this LOC, including the Standard Purchase Agreement, Attachment D if included herein, except those listed as exceptions on the Proposal Exception Summary Form. If no Proposal Exception Summary Form is included, the Vendor is indicating that he takes no exceptions. This acknowledgement also contractually obligates any and all subcontractors that may be proposed. Vendors may not later take exception to any point during contract negotiations.
4.16 The Vendor must carefully detail the manner and degree by which the proposal meets or exceeds each specification. Vague or inconclusive responses will be judged as non-responses within the context of this evaluation.
4.17 Other Vendors may be listed in these requirements when referencing service(s) provided to the State.
4.17.1 The awarded Vendor will be expected to work in cooperation with any of the Vendors providing service(s) to the State as applicable to this acquisition and implementation.
4.17.2 The Vendor is required to sign a confidentiality agreement with MDEQ regarding proprietary information associated with any service(s) provided to the State by another Vendor.
4.17.3 Any mention of other Vendors in these requirements is subject to change based upon the expiration of any current agreements or the acquisition of future agreements during this LOC process.
4.18 MDEQ intends to be fully involved in all aspects of the project and will assign a project manager and appropriate QA/oversight personnel.