NIA1-271-260000000665-2 | Notice of Intent to Award for RFP 260000001532

The solicitation NIA1-271-260000000665-2, issued by the Michigan Department of Treasury under OPS Bldg, seeks strategic communications and marketing services for the MET and MiABLE programs under NAICS code 541820. Proposals were due by July 28, 2026, through the SIGMA VSS portal, with evaluation based on technical merit and price using a best value trade-off approach rather than lowest price technically acceptable. Technical evaluation accounted for 85% of the scoring and was weighted across four factors: Delivery Capabilities (30%), Product Quality (30%), Service Capabilities (25%), and the Vendor Questions Worksheet (15%). Proposals had to achieve a minimum score of 80 out of 100 on technical evaluation to be eligible for price consideration; those scoring below this threshold were disqualified. Key deliverables included detailed project plans, sample reports, resumes of at least 12 key personnel per program, compliance with accessibility standards matching ADA and Section 508, and accurate disclosures of employment affiliations—deficiencies in any of these areas led to score reductions or non-responsiveness. Pricing structures were vendor-specific, encompassing account management fees, media placement agency percentages (15%–17%), and three-year contract totals ranging from approximately $170,000 to over $2.4 million, with no CLINs or formal line-item breakdowns provided. Attachments referenced in vendor submissions—such as MET or MiABLE plans, communication plans, board reports, and weekly report samples—were inconsistently labeled or incomplete, and no formal list of attachments or standardized identifiers were provided. The contract requires Michigan-based personnel reporting, verification of five years of gross sales for experience validation, and full transparency regarding subcontractor relationships, with omissions such as unlisted affiliations resulting in deficiencies. No formal contract clauses, packaging requirements, invoicing systems (WAWF/IPP), remittance details, accounting codes (AAC/TAS/ACRN), COR/COTR/PCO contacts, or security clearance mandates were identified. The award will be made to the offeror offering the optimal combination of highest technical score and lowest priced compliant proposal, with no options or renewal terms specified in the documentation.