RFP-06A-202605094 | Environmental Packaging Stewardship Services

The RFP-06A-202605094 for Environmental Packaging Stewardship Services solicits proposals to manage and administer Maine’s Packaging Stewardship Program under state statutes 38 M.R.S. § 2146 and regulation 06-096 C.M.R. ch. 428. The contract requires the contractor to oversee the collection and disbursement of funds to support infrastructure development, public education, and recycling initiatives across the state. The initial performance period begins September 15, 2026, and extends through January 30, 2030, with three optional two-year renewal periods available through January 30, 2036, contingent upon funding and satisfactory performance. All services must be performed in Maine, with no physical delivery required, as the work is entirely service-based. The contractor must develop and maintain a secure, accessible system that complies with FedRAMP standards, supports multi-factor authentication and single sign-on, ensures 99.5% uptime with recovery objectives of less than eight hours and 24 hours respectively, and provides full data ownership and control to the Department of Environmental Protection, prohibiting any data retention post-contract. Systems must be ADA-compliant, support role-based access, maintain audit trails, and remain physically and logically isolated within the Continental United States. Proposal submissions must be structured into four distinct electronic files via the Maine Vendor Self Service portal, with strict adherence to format requirements: Files 1–3 must be PDFs containing mandatory appendices on certification, qualifications, technical approach, and work planning, while File 4—a cost proposal—must be submitted in Excel format. Each appendix serves as a binding contractual commitment upon award, including certifications of responsibility, confidentiality safeguards, organizational experience, subcontractor disclosures, and detailed technical and financial responses. Proposals are evaluated on a 100-point scale, with 45 points allocated to proposed services, 30 to organizational qualifications and experience, and 25 to cost competitiveness, with award based on best value, not lowest price. Bidders must disclose any conflicts of interest, comply with strict data handling and ownership rules, and provide 30-day advance notice for operational changes. No federal acquisition regulation clauses are used; instead, contractual obligations are established through state-specific appendices and the post-award IT Service Contract with a non-disclosure agreement. Proposals must be submitted by August 3, 2026