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Dear VRS Community Partners,
I’m pleased to share that the VRS Request for Proposals for the July 2022 contracts is now published in the Minnesota State Register and on DEED’s Competitive Grants and Contracts webpage. VRS requests proposals from organizations and businesses to work as a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program Community Partner providing employment services for individuals with disabilities in the Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Program.
Information Session
An information session will be held via Zoom to provide guidance on the RFP, RFP Attachments, and Sample Master Contract.
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Date: April 25, 2022
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Time: 9:00 a.m.
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Register: To join the VRS P/T Contracts RFP Information Session, please register in advance for this meeting at https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdOusrjkuErQeHOCu96BkNYG0_IzeT-Y. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Accommodations: If you need accommodations for this Information Session, please contact Kim.Babine@state.mn.us.
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Recording: The Information Session will be recorded and posted to the VRS website along with meeting materials.
Request for Proposals
The Request for Proposals contains information about what is required with your proposal/RFP response.
Sample P/T Contract
We have updated the Sample Master P/T Contract language based on updates mandated for all state contracts by the Minnesota Department of Administration’s Office of State Procurement. Please review carefully now. We will also go through the contract language in detail in the information session listed below.
Questions
- Please submit questions regarding the RFP via email to Kim.Babine@state.mn.us. Please include the following email subject line "VRS RFP Question: (organization name)."
- Because this is an official RFP, your Community Partnerships Program Specialist contract liaison will not be able to answer questions regarding the RFP or your application during what is called the “initial solicitation period” which goes to May 9, 2021. Please direct all questions to me using the above subject line format.
- Questions submitted before 12:00 p.m. on April 27, 2022 will be answered via posting on this website by April 29, 2022. Questions received after 12:00 p.m. on April 27, 2022 will be posted to this website on a timely basis.
- VRS will also send an email notice to the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Community Partner email list serve when question and answers are posted. To be added to the email list serve, please contact Karla.F.Eckhoff@state.mn.us.
RFP Response Submission Attachments
RFP Responses must include all required attachments listed below.
- Attachment A: Application
- Note: "Attachment A: Application" is a web-based form that will result in a PDF emailed to Kim.Babine@state.mn.us. It is possible to start completing the form and save your progress without submitting. You will receive a unique link to return to your form. When you submit the form, you will receive a confirmation email that you have completed and submitted the form. You will not receive a PDF copy of the completed form immediately. Kim Babine will forward your completed PDF copy upon receipt. If you require an alternative format, please contact Kim.Babine@state.mn.us.
- Attachment B: Responder Declarations
- Attachment C: Exceptions to State Terms and Conditions
- Attachment D: Cost Detail
- Note: "Attachment D: Cost Detail" is a web-based form that will result in a PDF emailed to Kim.Babine@state.mn.us. It is possible to start completing the form and save your progress without submitting. You will receive a unique link to return to your form. When you submit the form, you will receive a confirmation email that you have completed and submitted the form. You will not receive a PDF copy of the completed form immediately. Kim Babine will forward your completed PDF copy upon receipt. If you require an alternative format, please contact Kim.Babine@state.mn.us.
- Attachment E: Workforce and Equal Pay Declaration
Proposal Submissions
- A complete proposal includes Attachments A, B, C, D, and E and other documentation outlined in Attachment A.
- Online submission of the web-based forms for Attachment A: Application and Attachment D: Cost Detail is sufficient.
- After completing the online web-based forms, please send an email to Kim.Babine@state.mn.uswith the subject line: "RFP Response [Name of Organization]." The email should include:
- Attachment B: Responder Declarations – completed and signed
- Attachment C: Exceptions to State Terms and Conditions – completed and signed
- Attachment E: Workforce and Equal Pay Declaration – completed and signed
- Other documentation outlined in Attachment A
Initial Deadlines
- Proposals for initial evaluation must be received by 4:30 p.m., Monday, May 9, 2022.
- To ensure a contract start date of July 1, 2022, proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m., Monday, May 23, 2022.
- This Request for Proposals is an ongoing solicitation. RFP responses are welcome beyond May 23, 2022, and will be considered on an as needed basis. Those RFP proposal responses after May 23, 2022 may result in a contract start date later than July 1, 2022.
Contracted Services
VRS has made updates to definitions of services and how definitions will appear on contracts. These are posted on the VRS Community Partner Guide Contracted Services webpage. These will be discussed in detail at the information session.
After Proposal/RFP Response Submission
Again, because this is an official RFP, there is an “initial solicitation period” during which VRS cannot begin to evaluate proposals. This “initial solicitation period” ends May 9, 2022. After May 9, VRS will begin the official evaluation of your proposal. The evaluation process is outlined in the RFP.
If your proposal passes the initial evaluation, each responding organization will have a consultation with a VRS Community Partnerships Program Specialist contract liaison. At the consultation, your organization will discuss services, rates, and review a draft of your PT contract.
Stay Up to Date With VRS
VRS archives email messages our VRS external website. To be added to the email list serve, please contact Karla.F.Eckhoff@state.mn.us.
My best,
Kim
Kim Babine
VRS Director of Community Partnerships
651-259-7349
Kim.Babine@state.mn.us
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