Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES & RURAL TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH (GO-NORTH)
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
OFFICIAL RESPONSES TO VENDOR QUESTIONS - PART 1
No. Question Answer
The RFP states that
the Evaluation Vendor
will "Identify readiness,
strengths, gaps, risks,
and areas where
additional support may
be needed." Is the
purpose of this to
1. Both. The RFP includes evaluation and implementation science components.
identify readiness for
participating in data
collection for the
evaluation or readiness
for the actual
implementation of
services that they are
contracted to do?
What is the State's
expectation for the
level and frequency of
Proposers should plan to engage with all contracted hubs/organizations and some sub-
on-site support,
contractors/subrecipients. A recommended approach to engagement for evaluation purposes
trainings or meetings
should be included in the proposal. Contracted Hub organizations can be located on the GO-
that would be required
NORTH website: https://www.gonorth.nh.gov/contracts-awards; Nine (9) additional procurements
2. for the Evaluation
are expected which will result in more partners to engage in evaluation efforts. See the GO-
Vendor, and the
NORTH website for a list of planned procurements
estimated number of
https://www.gonorth.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt1086/files/media/media_document/nh-rht-plan-
entities that would
summary.pdf
require on-site
training?
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
Official Q&A
Page 1 of 29

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES & RURAL TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH (GO-NORTH)
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
No. Question Answer
What is the estimated
number of out-of-state
meetings that are
expected to take place
each year that the
Evaluation Vendor will
Yes, the evaluation contractor will need to include travel in their budget. One out of state meeting
3. need to attend and is
per year can be budgeted at this time.
the evaluation vendor
responsible for
budgeting travel for
these out-of-state
meetings?
Does the state expect
the Evaluation Vendor
The Evaluation contractor is expected to support GO-NORTH with communication of progress,
to create and maintain
impact, and lessons learned. A dashboard - internal or external facing - is not required but could
4. public-facing
be included in a proposal. The selected vendor shall work collaboratively with GO-NORTH to
dashboards, or is that
determine the best course of action.
the role of the
State/GO-NORTH?
What is the primary
avenue for interfacing
While the evaluation vendor will work closely with the hubs and other vendors, GO-NORTH will
with stakeholders for
be the primary avenue for interface.
doing evaluation,
implementation
Contracted Hub organizations can be located on the GO-NORTH website:
planning, and
5. https://www.gonorth.nh.gov/contracts-awards; Nine (9) additional procurements are expected
continuous
which will result in more partners to engage in evaluation efforts. See the GO-NORTH website for
improvement-is it
a list of planned procurements
through Hubs or GO-
https://www.gonorth.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt1086/files/media/media_document/nh-rht-plan-
NORTH? Or to actual
summary.pdf
provider/vendor
entities directly?
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
Official Q&A
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GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES & RURAL TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH (GO-NORTH)
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
No. Question Answer
Relatedly, how many
different entities (e.g.,
Hubs, vendors) would
the Evaluation Vendor
regularly interface
with?
Which entities would
the Evaluation Vendor
work with that would
be responsible for GO-NORTH will use the findings of the evaluation vendor to determine if mid-course corrections
planning and are needed, and GO-NORTH will work with the hub or vendor to implement those changes based
6. implementing change on the evaluation findings.
(e.g. "mid-course
corrections") based on
the evaluation
findings?
Does a subconsultant's
existing physical
presence in New
Hampshire (NH) satisfy
the NH presence Please see page 4 of the RFP, "Requirement and Scope of Work." In addition, please use the
requirement for the questions in Appendix B to provide additional guidance on what may constitute adequate New
prime vendor, provided Hampshire presence, such as those that ask about on-site support and knowledge of NH based
the subconsultant is a organizations.
7.
named team member
with a defined and
substantive scope of
work under the
contract?
If a subconsultant has
sufficient NH presence,
does GO-NORTH
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
Official Q&A
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GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES & RURAL TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH (GO-NORTH)
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
No. Question Answer
expect the prime
vendor to also maintain
an independent NH
presence, or is the
team's collective NH
presence the operative
standard?
For vendors electing to
submit a plan to
establish an NH
presence within 60
days of contract
execution, what
documentation or
commitments does
GO-NORTH expect to
see in the proposal
itself to evaluate the
plan's adequacy?
Will GO-NORTH
facilitate data use
agreements (DUAs)
between the selected
evaluator and relevant
GO-NORTH will facilitate the development of data use agreements, as needed, with state
NH state agencies
agencies. Upon contract execution recommended data systems and analytic guidance will be
8. (including DHHS,
provided.
Medicaid, and the
Bureau of Information
Services) for access to
administrative datasets
required for outcome
evaluation? Or will the
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
Official Q&A
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GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES & RURAL TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH (GO-NORTH)
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
No. Question Answer
selected evaluator be
responsible for
independently
negotiating data
access agreements?
Which specific
administrative data
systems does GO-
NORTH anticipate the
evaluator will need
access to? Are any of
those data systems
subject to restrictions
that may limit the
evaluator's ability to
conduct individual-level
or sub-county
analysis?
The RFP indicates the
selected vendor will
collect and review
performance data from
GO-NORTH Hubs on a
monthly basis and
Upon contract execution, guidance on reporting will be provided. There is no data sharing
provide evaluation
9. platform currently, but GO-NORTH will explore this in collaboration with the evaluation contractor.
support tailored to
each hub
organization's
capacity. Will hub
organizations be
required to report
performance data
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
Official Q&A
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GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES & RURAL TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH (GO-NORTH)
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
No. Question Answer
directly to the
evaluator, to GO-
NORTH with the
evaluator receiving
access, or through a
shared reporting
platform?
What is GO-NORTH's
expectation for the
content and scope of
Annual Report #1,
given the evaluator's
late entry into the Year
1 period? Specifically,
is the evaluator
expected to
retrospectively
document and analyze
Year 1 implementation The required reporting content for annual report #1 will be adjusted based on the date of contract
10. based on existing execution (G&C approval).
records and data, or is
Annual Report #1
primarily a baseline
and infrastructure
document? Given the
August 7, 2026 due
date for Annual Report
#1 and the likely late-
June or early-July
contract execution
date, is GO-NORTH
open to negotiating a
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
Official Q&A
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GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES & RURAL TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH (GO-NORTH)
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
No. Question Answer
modified timeline for
this first deliverable
during contract
discussions or as a
contingency if
execution is later than
anticipated?
Can GO-NORTH
clarify whether there As stated on page 8 of the RFP, to remain in compliance with the terms of a contract, the
are any specific data Selected Vendor shall protect confidential or sensitive information and comply with applicable
security, privacy, or privacy, security, and data-sharing requirements
system requirements
11. (e.g., HIPAA or CMS-
specific standards)
beyond those
incorporated by
reference?
Guidance on pre-approval will be provided upon contract execution. The following are examples
Can GO-NORTH of items that must be pre-approved by CMS and GO-NORTH: Publications that report results
clarify expectations from or describe information obtained, through this award External formal presentation of any
regarding publication report or statistical or analytical material based on information obtained through this award.
or external Formal presentation includes papers, articles, professional publication, speeches, and testimony.
presentation of findings External presentation-related material, such as abstracts, power point presentations or other slide
developed under this decks, posters, and videos.
12.
project, including
whether such activities Public materials specific to the program including but not limited to, brochures, recruitment
may be permitted materials, informational materials, advertisements, website copy, website pages, videos, and op-
subject to prior written ed articles.
approval?
Press release or media advisory concerning the outcome of activities supported through this
award.
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
Official Q&A
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GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES & RURAL TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH (GO-NORTH)
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
No. Question Answer
Media interviews, media requests, releases of information, filming, and broadcasts.
Can GO-NORTH
clarify whether any
limitations on
contractor liability may
be considered as part
The State will not consider waiving or limiting contractor liability.
13. of contract
negotiations, including
alignment of liability
with the scope and
nature of services?
Does the State expect
the vendor to host any
datasets, and if so, will
those datasets contain
To the extent possible, GO-NORTH seeks to use HIPAA de-identified aggregated data rather
PHI/PII? Additionally,
than personally identifiable data. Access to systems will be provided, as needed, to carry out the
does the State
scope of services in the contract. There is no expectation for the evaluation contractor to host
14. anticipate providing
data sets, although this could be included in the proposal to the extent that it is part of the overall
vendors access to data
evaluation approach.
containing PHI/PII, or
will all data provided
be aggregated or
deidentified?
Can the State provide
examples of tools,
resources, and/or The proposer may include recommended tools, resources, and platforms in the proposal.
15.
platforms available to
perform data collection
and transformations?
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
Official Q&A
Page 8 of 29

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES & RURAL TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH (GO-NORTH)
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
No. Question Answer
Does the State have
an estimate for the
number of ad hoc
executive summaries No, GO-NORTH does not have such an estimate.
16.
and presentations that
may be requested in a
year?
Is the State willing to
negotiate the
Indemnification clause
listed in Section 13 of No, GO-NORTH will not consider waiving or negotiating the indemnification clause.
17.
Form P-37?
For "Item 2:
Performance
Monitoring,
Transparency, and
Data Review" of the
All data components in the RFP relate to evaluation.
18. RFP SOW, are the
performance data and
metrics outlined in the
SOW related to
evaluation only?
Can you clarify Proposers should plan to engage with all contracted hubs/organizations and some sub-
how HUB contractors/sub-recipients, at the direction of GO-NORTH. A recommended approach to
19. organizations will be engagement for evaluation purposes should be included in the proposal. Contracted Hub
involved? organizations can be located on the GO-NORTH website: https://www.gonorth.nh.gov/contracts-
awards; Nine (9) additional procurements are expected which will result in more partners to
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
Official Q&A
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GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES & RURAL TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH (GO-NORTH)
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
No. Question Answer
engage in evaluation efforts. Please refer to the GO-NORTH project narrative for more
information the current hubs, including their approved contracts. The document is available at the
following link:
https://www.gonorth.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt1086/files/media/media_document/nh-rhtc-project-
narrative.pdf
Can bidders partner
with a HUB on
the proposal or would No, this would be a conflict of interest.
20.
this be a conflict of
interest?
How many hub
organizations are there
or do you anticipate A list of the contracted Hub organizations can be located on the GO-NORTH website:
there to be who will be https://www.gonorth.nh.gov/contracts-awards; Nine (9) additional procurements are expected
providing performance which will result in more partners to engage in evaluation efforts. See the GO-NORTH website for
21. metrics/data? Will a list of planned procurements:
those only be coming https://www.gonorth.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt1086/files/media/media_document/nh-rht-plan-
from the 5 contracted summary.pdf
hub organizations
mentioned on page 8?
What specific
evaluation activities do
you expect will require
on-site deployment on GO-NORTH expects this to be a rare occurrence, but one example would be a last minute
22. immediate or short- request from the federal funder.
notice and/or after-
hours/weekend
support?
RFP 2026-001 - Evaluation Services for Rural Health Transformation Grant
Official Q&A
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