Online Legal Reserch and Related Tools

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General is issuing a solicitation to procure comprehensive online legal research software services and related tools for use by the Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Public Defender, and Office of Administrative Hearings, with access also extended to other state agencies. The contract, structured as a firm fixed price with indefinite quantity provisions, will span an initial five-year period with two optional two-year extensions, and is estimated to be valued between 500,000 and 2 million dollars. The procurement emphasizes compliance with Maryland regulations, including cybersecurity, accessibility, and environmental standards, and mandates detailed proposals addressing technical approach, qualifications, and pricing. Proposals are due by October 6, 2025, with questions accepted until September 22, 2025, and must be submitted via email in separate searchable PDF volumes for technical and financial components. The contract will be awarded based on a competitive process prioritizing technical merit, with greater weight given to technical factors over price, and will include provisions for security, audit, conflict of interest, and performance monitoring. The contractual framework incorporates multiple Maryland-specific regulations and policies, notably the Maryland Code and COMAR provisions, but does not reference FAR clauses or federal acquisition regulations. Key contractual clauses address dispute resolution, nondiscrimination, data ownership, and security requirements, including annual SOC 2 Type 2 audits and breach notification protocols. Security provisions specify that contractor personnel with access to State data must adhere to State IT security policies, and no security clearances or background checks are explicitly mandated. The contract emphasizes ongoing performance monitoring through service level agreements, with acceptance occurring at the State’s designated location upon receipt and inspection of deliverables, which are primarily digital services. Payment procedures require invoices to be submitted electronically, with payments due within 30 days of receipt of a proper invoice, and include detailed invoicing and remittance instructions. The procurement also mandates various certifications and affidavits, including conflict of interest disclosures, employee healthcare certification, and, if applicable, diversity addenda, although no specific MBE or VSBE subcontracting goals are set for this contract. Overall, the agreement ensures rigorous compliance, security, and performance standards tailored to the digital legal research services being procured.