Treatment Services Solicitations
Frequently Asked Questions
Does one vendor have to bid on all RFPs in a catchment area?
No. Vendors can bid on any number of RFPs; however, they must bid on all services listed within the RFP.
How do I submit the RFP?
Bids can be submitted by mail (PO Box 432, Burlington, VT 05402), in person (11 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 402, Burlington, VT) or electronically (shawna_lapierre@vtp.uscourts.gov). Please organize the RFPs so sections are delineated. Binders can be used. All bids must be received by 5pm on August 20, 2021.
Are the urine collections time frames flexible?
Yes and No. There must be at least four random morning collection periods and at least four random collection periods per month for both male and female defendants/offenders. Male and female collections can be at the same time, or different times. Urine collection windows shall be at least two hours in length. Morning collections shall be between the hours of 7am and 11am and afternoon collections shall be between the hours of 2pm and 7pm. Vendor can choose the dates and times, as long as it meets the above criteria. For example, the collection window could be 9am to 4pm on one day, or 7am to 9am and 5pm to 7pm on separate days.
Proposals for BPAs require documentation that the vendor’s facility is in compliance with safety and health codes. ADAP generally performs evaluations and monitoring; however, due to the pandemic, they have issued statements of extension. Will those suffice?
Yes
Do vendors need to submit multiple years’ worth of safety and health code compliance documentation?
No. Only documentation that a vendor is currently in compliance is needed.
Section L of the RFP asks for a list of Offeror’s Staff Qualifications. The first column is titled “PC”. What does that stand for?
It stands for Project Code. It is the code of the service the person would be providing, for example 2010 for Individual SA counseling.
It appears some of the Drug Testing RFPs do not require additional supporting documentation other than the requirements found in Section A, Section B and Section E.6. Is this correct?
Yes. Drug Testing RFPs in catchment areas other than Chittenden and Rutland are Non-Competitive Purchase Orders (NCPO). Bids for NCPOs require less documentation than bids for Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA).
Are NCPOs only for one year?
Yes. Non-Competitive Purchase Orders (NCPO) and Competitive Purchase Orders (CPO) are awarded annually.
What are the certifications needed to provide different services?
This information can be found in Section C (Statement of Work) of the RFP. Required qualifications are listed under each service we are soliciting for. This information can also be found on slides 24 through 26 of the Offerors Conference PowerPoint, which is posted to the Solicitations/Resources link on our website (https://www.vtp.uscourts.gov/resources).
How can I obtain a copy of the recorded Offerors Conference?
Please email your request to shawna_lapierre@vtp.uscourts.gov
If another bid is technically acceptable and lower than my agency’s bid, can we negotiate a lower price after the closing date?
No. Our office will award a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) based on the offer that is found to be technically acceptable and the lowest price. There may be some catchment areas where BPAs can be awarded to more than one vendor if it’s in the government’s best interest to do so. If two or more vendors are on the same BPA, referrals will be rotated among them.
If my agency’s proposal is not the lowest price, will you tell us what the price was for the proposal that won the award?
We will disclose the total evaluated price for the agreement and which individual or agency won the award. We will not disclose the prices offered for each project code.