North Carolina Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative (NC-PUDi)

North Carolina Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative (NC-PUDi) is sponsored by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

OPCS RFA TEMPLATE-ONE STEP ## REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS ## NC Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative – RFA 30-DMH-PUDI-2020 ## RFA Posted June 12, 2019 ## Questions Due June 28, 2019 ## Applications Due July 24, 2019 ## Anticipated Notice of Award August 28, 2019 ## Anticipated Performance Period October 1, 2019 – September 20, 2022 ## Service NC Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative ## Issuing Agency NC DHHS DMH/DD/SAS Community Wellness, Prevention & Health Integration Team ## E-mail Applications and Questions to Michael Eisen Email Michael.

eisen@dhhs. nc.

gov THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY SUBMITS THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION AND CERTIFIES THAT: (1) he or she is authorized to bind the named Contractor to the terms of this RFA and Application; (2) the Contractor hereby offers and agrees to provide services in the manner and at the costs described in this RFA and Application; (3) this Application shall be valid for 60 days after the end of the application period in which it is submitted.

## To Be Completed by Contractor: > Contractor Name: Catchment Area # (see p.

5): > Contractor’s Street Address: E-Mail Address: > City, State & Street Address Zip: Telephone Number: > Name & Title of Authorized Representative: DUNS Number: > Signature of Authorized Representative: Date: ## Unsigned or Incomplete Applications Shall Be Returned Without Being Reviewed NOTICE OF AWARD/FOR NC DHHS USE ONLY : Application accepted and Contract # __________ awarded on ____________.

The Contract shall begin on ______________, and shall terminate on ___________. By:__________________________________________________________________________ Signature of Authorized Representative Printed Name of Authorized Representative Title of Authorized Representative OPCS RFA TEMPLATE-ONE STEP ## Article Title Page No. ## 2. 1 Contractor’s Obligations 4 ## 3.

0 Performance Standards and Expectations 5 ## 5. 0 Proposal Requirements 7 ## 6. 0 Evaluation Process 8 ## 6.

1 Evaluation of General Requirements 8 ## 6. 2 Evaluation of Technical Requirements 9 ## 6. 3 Evaluation of Cost Proposals 9 ## 6.

4 Determination of Successful Proposal 9 ## 7. 0 General Information on Submitting Proposals 9 ## 8. 0 General Terms and Conditions 11 ## 10.

0 Execution of Proposal 17 ## 11. 0 Certification Regarding Lobbying 19 ## 12. 0 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions 20 ## 13.

0 Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 22 ## 14. 0 Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke 24 Applications for this award are limited to universities that are part of the North Carolina system. Questions about this award may be sent to Tammie.

B. Houck@dhhs. nc.

gov prior to June 28, 2019 at 5:00p. m. Questions and answers regarding this award will be posted to: https://www.

ncdhhs. gov/about/grant-opportunities/mental-health-developmental-disabilities-substance-abuse-services-grant-opportunities by Contract Period : The initial contract period is anticipated to begin October 1, 2019 and continue through September 30, 2020 .

Pending available funding, the State has the option to renew the contract for this RFA under the same terms and conditions for an additional period of twenty-four (24) months or through September 30, 2022.

Page 2 The mission of the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services is to provide people with, or at risk of, alcohol abuse problems and their families, the necessary prevention, intervention, and treatment services and support they need to live successfully in communities of their choice.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (hereinafter referred to as the “Division”) is soliciting emailed electronic proposals from qualified offerors to establish a contract through competitive bidding.

The purpose of this RFA is to acquire the services of a qualified contractor, (hereinafter referred to as the “Offeror”) to facilitate implementation of specific state projects to prevent underage and excessive alcohol use.

The purpose of this project is to also continue the work previously done by the North Carolina Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative (NC-PUDI) for the development, evaluation, and training associated with environmental management strategies to prevent underage alcohol use that have been supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Program (EUDL) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Substance Abuse Block Grant.

The selected Offeror (Contractor) will be responsible for program management, improvement, expansion, and further development: a) Technical assistance; b) Training in program improvements and implementation; c) Data collection management, analysis and reporting; and, d) Coordination of the Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative Task Force.

The Contractor will be responsible for: 1) Providing technical support and oversight of grants to Community Collaboratives a. Grant funding for approximately 15 Community Collaboratives (to be determined) to implement environmental management-based strategies to prevent underage drinking and access to alcohol. Community Collaboratives are funded based on a competitive process and review.

2) Coordination of the implementation of environmental management strategies to prevent underage drinking 3) Providing technical assistance to Community Collaboratives for the implementation of activities funded through this project 4) Providing ongoing program and training activities to assist the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services NC-PUDi Program Manager in the maintenance and utilization of statewide collaborations to prevent underage drinking.

The Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMHDDSAS) supports and enhances efforts by state and local organizations to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors, and the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors (minors are defined as individuals, younger than age 21).

Under the NC-PUDi the Division also supports public advertising programs to educate businesses and the public about statutory prohibitions and sanctions regarding underage alcohol use as well as supporting innovative programs designed to prevent and address underage drinking.

Consistent with State and Federal laws and regulations, the NC-PUDi implements environmental management strategies designed to prevent underage drinking in North Carolina. The NC-PUDi currently supports Community Collaboratives throughout the state.

The NC-PUDi project involves Page 3 giving local community organizations grants and technical assistance to implement environmental management strategies to prevent underage drinking in their communities recommended by the Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center (UDETC) and the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. Underage use of alcohol is prevalent in North Carolina.

Based on the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Survey (2017), 26. 5% of high school students drank alcohol in the past 30 days and 12. 4% of high school students binge drank in the past 30 days.

This contract will support the North Carolina Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative (NC-PUDI) in its efforts to prevent underage alcohol consumption and the resulting social, health, and economic consequences in the State of North Carolina. The contract will support continued utilization and further development of innovative strategies to help achieve the goal of preventing underage drinking by building upon NC-PUDi activities.

This continuing effort is designed to further support and develop Community Collaboratives working to implement environmental management strategies to prevent underage drinking. A Community Collaborative (or Coalition) is an alliance among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause.

It may be described as a joining of ‘factions’, usually those with overlapping interests rather than opposing. The NC Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative collaborates work within their communities to implement strategies that prevent underage drinking and create a sustainable movement to stop practices that make underage drinking both easy and acceptable.

DMHDDSAS : North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services EUDL Program: The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Grant Program.

NC -DHHS: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services NC-PUDi: North Carolina Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative OJJDP: The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention SABG: Substance Abuse Block Grant SAMSHA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration UDETC: Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center YRBS: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System The work required of this contract is for development, evaluation, and training associated with environmental management strategies to prevent underage alcohol use that are directed by the state and recommended by the Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center (UDETC) and the Federal Department of Health and Human Services.

Page 4 ## 2. 1 Contractor’s Obligations: I.

Provide oversight of grant funding for approximately fifteen (15) Community Collaboratives (to be determined) to implement environmental management strategies to prevent underage drinking: A) Use best and promising practices and evidence-based research regarding environmental management strategies; B) Provide technical support to grantee Community Collaboratives; C) Provide training and technical assistance to Community Collaboratives in the use of best and promising practices and evidence-based interventions; D) Evaluate and make recommendations on data collected by grantee Community Collaboratives; and, E) Ensure timely implementation of projects contracted to Community Collaboratives.

1) Provide training, technical assistance, consultation, development and implementation of contracted activities reflecting best or promising practices and/or evidence-based research to grantee Community Collaboratives. Activities will include, but not be limited to, community mobilization and law enforcement partnership efforts such as: a) Alcohol purchase surveys; c) Implementation of the Talk It Up. Lock It Up!

™ campaign; e) Responsible seller/server training; g) Youth empowerment; and, 2) Maintain and enhance useful tools for the implementation of NC-PUDI strategies. 3) Oversee the collection, evaluation, and reporting of performance measures, as required by the NC-PUDI. a.

Community Collaboratives will conduct at least two rounds of alcohol purchase surveys at a minimum of 24 surveys per round; complete six documented examples of media advocacy. 4) Create reports regarding the activities and effectiveness of grantee Community Collaboratives. 5) Attend regular meetings (at least once per month, as needed) with DMHDDSAS staff and NC-PUDi grantees at locations throughout North Carolina.

6) Provide recommendations regarding the NC-PUDi project improvements and modifications reflecting best and promising practices and evidence-based approaches to community-based environmental management strategic programs. 7) The Project Coordinator(s) will oversee data collection and assist in the coordination of law enforcement activity to reduce sales of alcohol to underage persons in North Carolina. Page 5 ## 3.

0 Performance Standards and Expectations The Community Wellness, Prevention and Health Integration Team of the NC-DMHDDSAS will work with the Contractor to optimize the efficiency and quality of program management including selecting, subcontracting, and overseeing grants to community organizations that implement state-supported NC-PUDi projects; overseeing the NC-PUDI program implementation by community organizations; overseeing data collection by Community Collaboratives; and overseeing the reporting process, including synthesis of reports and data obtained from the grantee Community Collaboratives.

The Contract Administrator will provide feedback to the Contractor on a regular basis. Activities will include, but not be limited to, community mobilization and law enforcement partnership efforts such as: alcohol purchase surveys, merchant education, responsible seller/server training, sobriety checkpoints, media advocacy, youth empowerment, and policy advocacy.

Short term outcomes include increasing quality youth participation, enhancing community mobilization efforts and community/law enforcement partnerships; these short-term outcomes will be measured by collecting performance measure data from grant recipients.

Long term outcomes include reductions in youth alcohol consumption (current use, binge drinking, age of onset) and will be tracked using the North Carolina YRBS and local data, if available. The expected outcome of the contract will be to maintain the baseline non-compliance rate from the comprehensive alcohol purchase surveys. The baseline will be from the results of the surveys of the program year that ends in September 2019.

Specific to alcohol purchase surveys, a measure of efficiency will be based on achieving the goal of completing 1500 Alcohol Purchase Surveys statewide (~15 funded Community Collaboratives), resulting in maintaining the baseline rate of the comprehensive alcohol purchase surveys non-compliance rate. The baseline will be from the results of the project year that ends in September 2019. II.

Provide quarterly reports of Community Collaboratives activity in the implementation of the strategies. A monthly and year to date breakdown related to alcohol purchase surveys will be included in the quarterly report identifying amount expended, the number of surveys completed, and compliance rate.

Data measurement strategies include: 1) Semi-annual contractor progress reports of all NC-PUDi activities by the Contractor/Community Collaboratives. These reports are due to the Division contract administrator on April 15 th and October 15 th of each year submitted electronically.

The semi-annual reports must cover related activities occurring during the six-month periods of October 1 st through March 31st and April 1 st through September 30th. The report must be written in a narrative form.

2) Semi-annual report to the Division contract administrator on April 15 th and October 15 th of each year submitted electronically regarding results from Quarterly Reports of Community Collaboratives activity in the implementation of the strategies. The semi-annual reports must cover related activities occurring during the six-month periods of October 1 st through March 31st and April 1 st through September 30th.

3) The reports must include a narrative summary, as well as graphs/charts of data reported or collected by the grantee Community Collaborative organizations. These reports will provide a narrative summary of data collected by and information reported by grantee Community Collaboratives. a.

Grantee Community Collaboratives will be required to collect and report data as part of performance measures and data/evaluation criteria. The following measures will be included in the data collection and will be available for subsequent reports and evaluation: Page 6 i. Youth/Statewide Task Force Measures 1.

Number of youths involved in educational work with law enforcement on underage drinking operations 2. Number of youths actively involved in grantee/Collaboratives activities or underage drinking prevention 1. Number of grantees involved in statewide and local underage drinking media campaigns, including a breakdown of number of grantees involved in media campaigns aimed at adults and number aimed at youth 4.

Acknowledgement of funding will be on all printed materials and presentations. 1. Number of grantees or communities that will implement a preventing underage drinking enforcement activity that is not currently being implemented at the community level 2.

Number of grantees that will make innovative changes to commonly used underage drinking enforcement operations 3. Number of grantees that plan to incorporate an innovative data gathering or evaluation component to their underage drinking enforcement operations 4) Submitting electronically to the NC-DMHDDSAS contract administrator a Final Report within 45 days of the end date of the funding period.

This report must include a summary of progress toward the achievement of the originally stated project/program goals and objectives; a list of significant accomplishments; and a list of publications/materials resulting from this contract. The last six-month Progress Report can serve as the Final Report providing it includes everything stated in the aforementioned Final Report description.

5) Documentation of Contractor activities in an electronic file containing all deliverables, including documents such as meeting agendas and minutes, lists of speakers who present at NC-PUDi meetings, documents generated as part of technical assistance and training, and reports received quarterly and delivered semiannually. Deliverables shall be monitored by site visits and required quarterly progress reports.

The Contractor agrees to participate in periodic site visits as needed (with a minimum of one per year) as determined by the Division. If the Contractor is deemed out of compliance, program staff shall provide technical assistance; and funds may be withheld until the Contractor is back in compliance with deliverables. If technical assistance does not prove beneficial, the Contract may then be terminated.

Page 7 Funding for this award is from the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant , Prevention Set-Aside funds, CFDA number 93. 959. Awardees must adhere to all applicable requirements in Uniform Guidance Code of Federal Regulations Part 200 related to Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards; Uniform Guidance Part 74 ;and Uniform Guidance Part 75 .

To ensure the uninterrupted continuation and timely implementation of the PUDi, the Division seeks experienced and capable Offerors located in North Carolina to provide program development and implementation, technical assistance, and training in the areas of environmental management strategies to prevent underage and excessive alcohol use, and development and evaluation of innovative prevention programs.

Offerors must be in business at least five (5) years providing the types of services outlined in this RFA and must demonstrate this ability in their proposal. Only North Carolina public universities may apply.

The Offeror must identify key staff and include resumes for the following type(s) of positions or other positions identified in the proposal:  The Offeror must identify a Project Director that is a licensed clinical psychologist with at least five (5) years expertise in the study of assessments, prevention, and treatment of adolescent mental health and substance abuse problems, especially for youth either at risk or involved in alcohol use.

The Project Director must have expertise in conducting evaluation and outcome studies, with knowledge and experience in the areas of environmental management strategies designed to prevent underage drinking and substance abuse prevention.

 A Program Manager that is a Certified Substance Abuse Prevention Consultant with at least four (4) years’ experience working with multiple communities on environmental management strategies for preventing underage and excessive alcohol use. The Offeror must demonstrate that a Project Manager is either currently on staff and ready to provide services or will be hired and in place at the time of the award.

The Program Manager must have experience in the collection of data and creation of reports and familiarity with using QuintaDB. Additional demonstrated experience in reviewing and disseminating recommendations regarding evidence-based and best practice prevention programs and interventions for use with adolescents with specific expertise regarding preventing underage drinking.

Experience as a substance abuse prevention provider, community collaborative leader and technical assistance provider (to providers and community level collaboratives) is strongly preferred.

 Current staff with at least five (5) years’ experience and successful track record coordinating Preventing Underage Drinking Initiatives at the state and local level (i.e. prior and recent work with local collaboratives/coalitions) under the direction of the Division with oversight provided by the state Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative Program Manager.

Demonstrated subject matter expertise regarding alcohol policy and advocacy and experience providing technical assistance and training on environmental management strategies is required.

 A minimum of one (1) Administrative Assistant with a least two (2) years of experience in working with community organizations and providing assistance with managing financial service reports, organizing meetings and has excellent organizational, written and oral skills.

 Current knowledge of national efforts to prevent underage drinking as evidence by participation and/or attendance at national conferences or meetings (e.g. Alcohol Policy Conference; U. S. Alcohol Policy Alliance).

 Bookkeeping staff and legal resources for managing the finances of the PUDi, especially in managing subcontracts to grantee community collaborative organizations. Page 8 The Offeror must provide a description of proposed criteria and procedures for identifying and selecting subcontractors. In addition, the Offeror must provide a description of how input from Division staff could be included in these procedures.

The Contractor shall require subcontractors to comply with all provisions herein. The Contractor shall be held liable for compliance with all duties, functions, credentialing and qualifications required by the RFA, whether performed by the Contractor or a Subcontractor.

Additionally, the contractor must be able to (1) conduct monthly meetings at a location centrally located within the state and easily accessible by Division employees providing contract oversight; and (2) conduct quarterly meetings with grantee community collaboratives at a location centrally located within the state. Deliverables shall be monitored by site visits and required reports.

The Contractor agrees to participate in periodic site visits as needed (with a minimum of one per year) as determined by the Division. If the Contractor is deemed out of compliance, program staff shall provide technical assistance; and funds may be withheld until the Contractor is back in compliance with deliverables. If technical assistance does not prove beneficial, the Contract may then be terminated.

## 5. 0 Proposal Requirements Qualified offerors are encouraged to submit a proposal for performing the services described herein. All proposals must be submitted strictly in accordance with the requirements of the RFA.

Failure to include any required information in the proposal may disqualify an organization as a potential contactor. Proposals shall be submitted in the following order and shall be of sufficient detail to describe the following: A. Organization Background and Experience - A detailed written narrative of the overall history, experience, professionalism, and qualifications of the organization and accreditations.

B. Financial Statement – Evidence of financial stability over the last five (5) years. C.

Project Organization - A detailed proposal of staffing, deployment, and organization of staff assigned to this project. D. Technical Approach - A narrative demonstrating the Offeror’s understanding of the planning, facilitation, and execution of the objectives included in the Introduction, Scope of Work and Vendor Requirements in Sections 1.

0 – 4. 0 and the Offeror’s work plan in order to accomplish these objectives. Offerors will provide a narrative of how the organization will perform all services as specified in Section 2.

0. E. References – Three (3) professional references including point of contact, email address and phone number.

F. Experience with Similar Projects - A list of prior contract awards for providing similar services to other state agencies, including a telephone number, email address and point of contact. G.

Cost Proposal - Offerors shall complete Attachment 1 of this RFA and attach a Narrative detailing each proposed cost for the contract period of October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2021. H. Written statement that states the Offeror meets HIPPA Regulations and North Carolina Privacy Law.

I. Certificates of Insurance - Copies of certificates of insurance with respect to each of the insurance policies to be maintained in compliance with the general terms and conditions. J.

Execution of Proposal – Complete and include Attachment 2 K. Federal Certifications – See Attachments 3, 4, 5 and 6 . The Contractor will be required to sign the attached Certifications at the time of award.

Page 9 ## 6. 0 Evaluation Process The State shall conduct a comprehensive, fair, and impartial evaluation of the proposals received in response to this request. All proposals shall be evaluated using a one-step methodology.

As provided by statute, award will be based on the best bid (most advantageous to the State) as determined by consideration of the evaluation factors listed below. At their option, the evaluators may request oral presentations or discussion with any or all offerors for the purpose of clarification or to amplify the materials presented in any part of the proposal.

However, offerors are cautioned that the evaluators are not required to request clarification; therefore, all proposals should be complete and reflect the most favorable terms available from the offeror. Offerors are cautioned that this is a request for offers, not a request to contract, and the State reserves the unqualified right to reject any and all offers when such rejection is deemed to be in the best interest of the State.

The award of a contract to one Vendor does not mean that the other proposals lack merit. ## 6. 1 Evaluation of General Requirements Proposals will be evaluated according to completeness, content, and experience with similar projects, ability of the Offeror and its staff, and cost.

Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale: 30 points for cost proposal and 70 points for technical proposal. ## 6. 2 Evaluation of Technical Requirements 1.

The State will evaluate the experience, organizational resources, and qualifications of the Offeror. 2. The evaluation criteria will give priority to experience in providing similar services as detailed in Section 4.

0. , “Eligibility”. 3.

The State will evaluate the Offeror’s response to Technical Requirements to determine if it complies with the instructions to Offerors as described in this RFA. 4. Technical proposal will account for a maximum score of 70 of points as follows: 30 points – Offeror strengths, capabilities, and experience based on organizational background, references, past and current projects.

40 points – Description of work, approach, deliverables, organizational structure, and staffing qualifications. ## 6. 3 Evaluation of Cost Proposals 1.

The State will evaluate the Cost Proposal for completeness and reasonableness 2. The State may reject any Proposal where the Cost Proposal is incomplete or in which there are significant inconsistencies. 3.

The cost proposal will account for a maximum score of 30 points. ## 6. 4 Determination of Successful Proposal Page 10 1.

All qualified applications will be evaluated and the Offeror whose proposal is deemed to be in the best interest of the State will be recommended as the successful Offeror. 2. When final approval is received, the State will notify the selected Offeror and the State will post the award on the State website under the RFA number.

## 7. 0 General Information On Submitting Proposals 1. EXCEPTIONS: All proposals are subject to the terms and conditions outlined herein.

All responses shall be controlled by such terms and conditions and the submission of other terms and conditions, price lists, catalogs, and/or other documents as part of an offeror's response will be waived and have no effect either on this Request for Proposals or on any contract that may be awarded resulting from this solicitation.

Offeror specifically agrees to the conditions set forth in the above paragraph by signature to the proposal. 2. CERTIFICATION: By executing the proposal, the signer certifies that this proposal is submitted competitively and without collusion (G.

S. 143-54), that none of our officers, directors, or owners of an unincorporated business entity has been convicted of any violations of Chapter 78A of the General Statutes, the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (G. S.

143-59. 2), and that we are not an ineligible vendor as set forth in G. S.

143-59. 1. False certification is a Class I felony.

3. ORAL EXPLANATIONS: The State shall not be bound by oral explanations or instructions given at any time during the competitive process or after award. 4.

REFERENCE TO OTHER DATA: Only information which is received in response to this RFA will be evaluated; reference to information previously submitted shall not be evaluated. 5. ELABORATE PROPOSALS: Elaborate proposals in the form of brochures or other presentations beyond that necessary to present a complete and effective proposal are not desired.

6. COST FOR PROPOSAL PREPARATION: Any costs incurred by offerors in preparing or submitting offers are the offerors' sole responsibility; the State of North Carolina will not reimburse any offeror for any costs incurred prior to award. 7.

TIME FOR ACCEPTANCE: Each proposal shall state that it is a firm offer which may be accepted within a period of 90 days. The 90-day period is requested to allow for unforeseen delays. 8.

TITLES: Titles and headings in this RFA and any subsequent contract are for convenience only and shall have no binding force or effect. 9. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PROPOSALS: In submitting its proposal the offeror agrees not to discuss or otherwise reveal the contents of the proposal to any source outside of the using or issuing agency, government or private, until after the award of the contract.

Offerors not in compliance with this provision may be disqualified, at the option of the State, from contract award. Only discussions authorized by the issuing agency are exempt from this provision. 10.

RIGHT TO SUBMITTED MATERIAL: All responses, inquiries, or correspondence relating to or in reference to the RFA, and all other reports, charts, displays, schedules, exhibits, and other documentation submitted by the offerors shall become the property of the State when received. Page 11 11.

OFFEROR’S REPRESENTATIVE: Each offeror shall submit with its proposal the name, address, and telephone number of the person(s) with authority to bind the organization and answer questions or provide clarification concerning the organizations proposal. 12.

SUBCONTRACTING: Offerors may propose to subcontract portions of the work provided that their proposals clearly indicate what work they plan to subcontract and to whom and that all information required about the prime contractor is also included for each proposed subcontractor. 13.

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: Trade secrets or similar proprietary data which the offeror does not wish disclosed to other than personnel involved in the evaluation or contract administration will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by NCAC T01:05B. 1501 and G. S.

132-1. 3 if identified as follows: Each page shall be identified in boldface at the top and bottom as "CONFIDENTIAL". Any section of the proposal which is to remain confidential shall also be so marked in boldface on the title page of that section.

Cost information may not be deemed confidential. In spite of what is labeled as confidential, the determination as to whether or not it is shall be determined by North Carolina law. 14.

HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES: Pursuant to General Statute 143-48 and Executive Order #150, NC DHHS invites and encourages participation in this procurement process by businesses owned by minorities, women, disabled, disabled business enterprises and non-profit work centers for the blind and severely disabled.

When an offeror wants to protest a contract awarded by the Secretary of Administration or by an agency over $25,000 resulting from this solicitation, they must submit a written request to the State Purchasing Officer at The NC Department of Administration, Division of Purchase and Contract, 1305 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1305. (Location is 4 th Floor, 116 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603-8002.)

This request must be received in the Division of Purchase and Contract located within thirty (30) consecutive calendar days from the date of the contract award.

When an offeror wants to protest a contract awarded by an agency or university resulting from this solicitation that is over $10,000 but less than $25,000 for any agency, or any contract awarded by a university, they must submit a written request to the issuing procurement officer at the address of the issuing agency.

This request must be received in that office within thirty (30) consecutive calendar days from the date of the contract award. Protest letters must contain specific reasons and any supporting documentation for the protest. Note: Contract award notices are sent only to those actually awarded contracts, and not to every person or firm responding to this solicitation.

Contract status and Award notices are posted on the Internet at http://www. state. nc.

us/pandc/ . All protests will be handled pursuant to the North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 1, Department of Administration, Chapter 5, Purchase and Contract, Section