Strategic Planning

Location:	Vermont
Posted:	Mar 17, 2026
Due:	Mar 19, 2026
Agency:	State of Vermont
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Vermont Veterans’ Home

325 North Street

Bennington, Vermont 05201

(802) 447-6510

SEALED BID

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Strategic Planning

ISSUE DATE

QUESTIONS DUE

RFP RESPONSES DUE BY

February 25, 2026

March 6, 2026

March 19, 2026 – 2:00 PM (EST)

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL NOTIFICATIONS, RELEASES, AND ADDENDUMS ASSOCIATED

WITH THIS RFP WILL BE POSTED AT:

http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php

THE STATE WILL MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO CONTACT INTERESTED PARTIES WITH UPDATED

INFORMATION. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH BIDDER TO PERIODICALLY CHECK THE

ABOVE WEBPAGEFOR ANY AND ALL NOTIFICATIONS, RELEASES AND ADDENDUMS

ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RFP.

STATE CONTACT:

E-MAIL:

Steven J. McClafferty, FHFMA, CSSGB

steven.mcclafferty@vermont.gov

1. OVERVIEW:

1.1. SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Through this Request for Proposal (RFP) the Board of

Trustees and the Vermont Veterans’ Home (hereinafter the “State”) is seeking to establish

contracts with one or more companies that can provide Strategic Planning Services.

1.2. CONTRACT PERIOD: Contracts arising from this RFP will be for a period of three (3)

years, with an option to renew for up to two additional twelve-month periods. The State

anticipates the start date for such contract(s) will be May 1, 2026.

1.3. SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT: All communications concerning this RFP are to be

addressed in writing to the State Contact listed on the front page of this RFP. Actual or

attempted contact with any other individual from the State concerning this RFP is strictly

prohibited and may result in disqualification.

1.4. QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD: Any bidder requiring clarification of any section of this

RFP or wishing to comment on any requirement of the RFP must submit specific questions in writing

no later than the deadline for question indicated on the first page of this RFP. Questions may be e-

mailed to the point of contact on the front page of this RFP. Questions or comments not raised in

writing on or before the last day of the question period are thereafter waived. At the close of the

question period a copy of all questions or comments and the State's responses will be posted on the

State’s web site http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php . Every effort will be made to post this

information as soon as possible after the question period ends, contingent on the number and

complexity of the questions. All information provided by vendors during this process will be public

and bidders shall not provide confidential information.

2. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS/DESIRED OUTCOMES:

2.1.The State of Vermont is interested in obtaining bids to meet the needs as outlined in Attachment A

– Scope of Work for the Strategic Plan.

3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

3.1.1. PRICING: Bidders must price the terms of this solicitation at their best pricing. Any and

all costs that Bidder wishes the State to consider must be submitted for consideration.

3.1.2. Prices and/or rates shall remain firm for the initial term of the contract. The pricing policy

submitted by Bidder must (i) be clearly structured, accountable, and auditable and (ii) cover the

full spectrum of materials and/or services required.

3.1.3. Cooperative Agreements. Bidders that have been awarded similar contracts through a

competitive bidding process with another state and/or cooperative are welcome to submit the

pricing in response to this solicitation.

3.2. STATEMENT OF RIGHTS: The State shall have the authority to evaluate Responses and select

the Bidder(s) as may be determined to be in the best interest of the State and consistent with the

goals and performance requirements outlined in this RFP. The State of Vermont reserves the right

to obtain clarification or additional information necessary to properly evaluate a proposal. Failure

of bidder to respond to a request for additional information or clarification could result in

rejection of that bidder's proposal. To secure a project that is deemed to be in the best interest of

the State, the State reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, in whole or in part, with

or without cause, and to waive technicalities in submissions. The State also reserves the right to

make purchases outside of the awarded contracts where it is deemed in the best interest of the

State.

3.2.1. Best and Final Offer (BAFO). At any time after submission of Responses and prior to the

final selection of Bidder(s) for Contract negotiation or execution, the State may invite

Bidder(s) to provide a BAFO. The state reserves the right to request BAFOs from only those

Bidders that meet the minimum qualification requirements and/or have not been eliminated

from consideration during the evaluation process.

3.3. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:

3.3.1. Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCOI): An OCOI arises when a bidder as a

business entity has interests (for example, customers, partners, contracts) that could

undermine, or reasonably be perceived to undermine, its faithful and unbiased performance

of a contract with the State that may result from this solicitation.

3.3.2. Personal Conflict of Interest (PCOI): A PCOI arises when an interest held by an

individual, agent or employee of a bidder could undermine, or reasonably be perceived to

undermine, its faithful and unbiased performance of a contract with the State that may result

from this solicitation.

3.3.3. Requirements: The State does not seek to contract with any individual or business entity

having a conflict of interest which cannot be mitigated to the State’s satisfaction. To ensure

the State’s awareness of actual, potential, or reasonably perceived PCOIs and OCOIs, bidders

shall:

a) Prior to submitting a proposal, conduct an internal review of its current affiliations and

activities and identify actual, potential, or reasonably perceived PCOIs or OCOIs relative

to a contract with the State that may result from this solicitation.

b) Disclose in your proposal any actual or potential PCOI or OCOI or the existence of any

facts that may cause a reasonably prudent person to perceive a PCOI or OCOI with respect

to a contract with the State that may result from this solicitation. Disclose, also, any actions

proposed to mitigate the PCOI or OCOI.

3.3.4. The State shall have sole discretion to determine whether a PCOI or OCOI can be

mitigated to the State’s satisfaction and may discuss the conflict with the bidder if and to the

extent the State deems discussion necessary to its determination. The State reserves the right

to (a) reject from further consideration any proposal having a PCOI or OCIO that cannot be

mitigated to the State’s full satisfaction and (b) terminate a contract upon discovery that a

contractor failed to disclose facts pertaining to a PCOI or OCOI in its proposal, or otherwise

misrepresented relevant information to the State.

3.4. WORKER CLASSIFICATION COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS: In accordance with

Section 32 of The Vermont Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Act No. 54), Bidders must

comply with the following provisions and requirements.

3.4.1. Self Reporting: For bid amounts exceeding $250,000.00, Bidder shall complete the

appropriate section in the attached Certificate of Compliance for purposes of self-reporting

information relating to past violations, convictions, suspensions, and any other information

related to past performance relative to coding and classification of workers. The State is

requiring information on any violations that occurred in the previous 12 months.

3.4.2. Subcontractor Reporting: For bid amounts exceeding $250,000.00, Bidders are hereby

notified that upon award of contract, and prior to contract execution, the State shall be

provided with a list of all proposed subcontractors and subcontractors’ subcontractors,

together with the identity of those subcontractors’ workers compensation insurance

providers, and additional required or requested information, as applicable, in accordance with

Section 32 of The Vermont Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Act No. 54). This

requirement does not apply to subcontractors providing supplies only and no labor to the

overall contract or project. This list MUST be updated and provided to the State as additional

subcontractors are hired. A sample form is available online at

http://bgs.vermont.gov/purchasing-contracting/forms. The subcontractor reporting form is

not required to be submitted with the bid response.

3.5. EXECUTIVE ORDER 05-16: CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS IN STATE

PROCUREMENTS:

For bid amounts exceeding $25,000.00 Bidders are requested to complete the Climate Change

Considerations in State Procurements Certification, which is included in the Certificate of

Compliance for this RFP.

After consideration of all relevant factors, a bidder that demonstrates business practices that

promote clean energy and address climate change as identified in the Certification, shall be given

favorable consideration in the competitive bidding process. Such favorable consideration shall be

consistent with and not supersede any preference given to resident bidders of the State and/or

products raised or manufactured in the State, as explained in the Method of Award section. But,

such favorable consideration shall not be employed if prohibited by law or other relevant

authority or agreement.

3.5.1. METHOD OF AWARD: Awards will be made in the best interest of the State. The State

will be awarding one contract for services. All other considerations being equal, preference

will be given first to resident bidders of the State and/or to products raised or manufactured in

the State, and then to bidders who have practices that promote clean energy and address

climate change, as identified in the applicable Certificate of Compliance.

3.5.1.1. Evaluation Criteria: Consideration shall be given to the Bidder’s project

approach and methodology, qualifications and experience, ability to provide the services

within the defined timeline, cost, and/or success in completing similar projects, as

applicable, and to the extent specified below:

Criteria

Point Range

Responsiveness of the proposal

0 – 10 Points

Relevant Technical Experience of the firm

0 - 30 Points

Qualification and experience of assigned staff

0 – 30 Points

Total Technical Points

0 – 70 Points

Cost Factors

0 – 30 Points

Maximum Points

0 – 100 Points

3.6. CONTRACT NEGOTIATION: Upon completion of the evaluation process, the State will

contract with one bidder negotiate a contract with, based on the evaluation findings and other

criteria deemed relevant for ensuring that the decision made is in the best interest of the State. In

the event State is not successful in negotiating a contract with a selected bidder, the State reserves

the option of negotiating with another bidder, or to end the proposal process entirely.

3.7. COST OF PREPARATION: Bidder shall be solely responsible for all expenses incurred in the

preparation of a response to this RFP and shall be responsible for all expenses associated with any

presentations or demonstrations associated with this request and/or any proposals made.

3.8. CONTRACT TERMS: The selected bidder(s) will be expected to sign a contract with the State,

including the Standard Contract Form and Attachment C as attached to this RFP for reference

3.8.1. Business Registration. To be awarded a contract by the State of Vermont a bidder (except

an individual doing business in his/her own name) must be registered with the Vermont

Secretary of State’s office https://sos.vermont.gov/corporations/registration/ and must obtain a

Contractor’s Business Account Number issued by the Vermont Department of Taxes

http://tax.vermont.gov/ .

3.8.2. The contract will obligate the bidder to provide the services and/or products identified in its

bid, at the prices listed.

3.8.3. Payment Terms. Percentage discounts may be offered for prompt payments of invoices;

however, such discounts must be in effect for a period of 30 days or more in order to be

considered in making awards.

4. CONTENT AND FORMAT OF RESPONSES: The content and format requirements listed below

are the minimum requirements for State evaluation. These requirements are not intended to limit the

content of a Bidder’s proposal. Bidders may include additional information or offer alternative

solutions for the State’s consideration. However, the State discourages overly lengthy and costly

proposals, and Bidders are advised to include only such information in their response as may be

relevant to the requirements of this solicitation.

4.1.Unsolicited Bidder-Confidential Information Prohibited. Bidders are hereby expressly

directed not to include any confidential information in their proposal submissions, except as

specifically permitted below. By submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, bidders

acknowledge and agree to abide by the terms and conditions outlined in this document, including

the prohibition on submitting confidential information. This prohibition reduces the burden on the

State while preventing bidder-confidential information from entering the public record.

4.2.Disclosure under Public Records Act. All information received by the State in response to this

solicitation will become part of the contract file and subject to public disclosure in accordance

with the State’s Public Records Act, 1 V.S.A. § 315 et seq. The State may also choose to publicly

post responses to this solicitation and the resulting agreement(s), following conclusion of this

procurement process.

4.3.State Not Responsible for Disclosure of Unmarked Bidder-Confidential Information. It is the

sole responsibility of the bidder to ensure that, other than where specifically directed or permitted

by this RFP and accordingly marked as described below, no information that should not be

publicly disclosed is included in their proposal materials, including any 1) trade secrets or

intellectual property, 2) proprietary financial or business information, 3) personal information, or

4) any other information that should not be disclosed to the public. For example, bidders should

avoid including specific details of their proprietary technologies or methodologies that they

consider confidential, and any references to previous client engagements should be presented in a

manner that does not disclose the client's confidential information.

4.4. The bid should include a Cover Letter and Technical Response and Price Schedule.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

TITLE	QUESTIONS DUE	ANSWERS POSTED	DUE DATE	NO POSTING AFTER
Strategic Planning	03/06/2026 03:00PM	Strategic Planning Responses to questions 3.2026 (03/17/2026)	03/19/2026 02:00PM

Strategic Planning

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See also