30-25366-OGC-RD2 Legal Services

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Request for Proposal #: 30-25366-OGC-RD2
Legal Services to Prepare J-1 Visa Waiver Applications
Date of Issue: June 8, 2026
Proposal Opening Date: August 10, 2026
At 02:00 PM ET
Direct all inquiries concerning this RFP to:
Chandra Banner
Contract Specialist

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
Request for Proposal #
30-25366-OGC-RD2
______________________________________________________
For internal State agency processing, including tabulation of proposals, provide your company's eVP (Electronic
Vendor Portal) Number. Pursuant to G.S. 132-1.10(b) this identification number shall not be released to the public.
This page will be removed and shredded, or otherwise kept confidential, before the procurement file is made
available for public inspection.
This page shall be filled out and returned with your proposal.
Failure to do so may subject your proposal to rejection.
___________________________________________________
Vendor Name
______________________________
Vendor eVP#
Note: For a contract to be awarded to you, your company (you) must be a North Carolina registered
vendor in good standing. You must enter the vendor number assigned through eVP (Electronic Vendor
Portal). If you do not have a vendor number, register at
https://vendor.ncgov.com/vendor/login
Ver: 11/2023

Proposal Number: 30-25366-OGC-RD2 Vendor: __________________________________________
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DIVISION OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Refer ALL Inquiries regarding this RFP to the Request for Proposal #: 30-25366-OGC-RD2
procurement lead through the Message Board in Proposals will be publicly opened: August 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET
the Sourcing Tool. See section 2.5 for details.
Using Agency: Office of General Counsel Commodity No. and Description: 801218
Requisition No.: N/A Legal Services to prepare J-1 Visa Waiver applications
EXECUTION
In compliance with this Request for Proposals (RFP), and subject to all the conditions herein, the undersigned Vendor offers and agrees to
furnish and deliver any or all items upon which prices are bid, at the prices set opposite each item within the time specified herein.
By executing this proposal, the undersigned Vendor understands that false certification is a Class I felony and certifies that:
this proposal is submitted competitively and without collusion (G.S. 143-54),
none of its officers, directors, or owners of an unincorporated business entity has been convicted of any violations of Chapter 78A
of the General Statutes, the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (G.S. 143-59.2), and
it is not an ineligible Vendor as set forth in G.S. 143-59.1.
Furthermore, by executing this proposal, the undersigned certifies to the best of Vendor's knowledge and belief, that:
it and its principals are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible or voluntarily excluded
from covered transactions by any Federal or State department or agency.
As required by G.S. 143-48.5, the undersigned Vendor certifies that it, and each of its sub-Contractors for any Contract awarded as a result
of this RFP, complies with the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the NC General Statutes, including the requirement for each employer
with more than 25 employees in North Carolina to verify the work authorization of its employees through the federal E-Verify system.
As required by Executive Order 24 (2017), the undersigned vendor certifies will comply with all Federal and State requirements concerning
fair employment and that it does not and will not discriminate, harass, or retaliate against any employee in connection with performance of
any Contract arising from this solicitation.
G.S. 133-32 and Executive Order 24 (2009) prohibit the offer to, or acceptance by, any State Employee associated with the preparing plans,
specifications, estimates for public contracts; or awarding or administering public contracts; or inspecting or supervising delivery of the public
contract of any gift from anyone with a contract with the State, or from any person seeking to do business with the State. By execution of
this response to the RFP, the undersigned certifies, for Vendor's entire organization and its employees or agents, that Vendor is not aware
that any such gift has been offered, accepted, or promised by any employees of your organization.
By executing this bid, Vendor certifies that it has read and agreed to the INSTRUCTION TO VENDORS and the NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL
TERMS AND CONDITIONS incorporated herein. These documents can be accessed from the Ariba Sourcing Tool.
Failure to execute/sign proposal prior to submittal may render proposal invalid and it MAY BE REJECTED. Late proposals
shall not be accepted.
COMPLETE/FORMAL NAME OF VENDOR:
STREET ADDRESS: P.O. BOX: ZIP:
CITY & STATE & ZIP: TELEPHONE NUMBER: TOLL FREE TEL. NO:
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE (SEE INSTRUCTIONS TO VENDORS ITEM #21):
PRINT NAME & TITLE OF PERSON SIGNING ON BEHALF OF VENDOR: FAX NUMBER:
VENDOR'S AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE*: DATE: EMAIL:
Ver: 11/2023 1

Proposal Number: 30-25366-OGC Vendor: ____________________________________
VALIDITY PERIOD
Offer shall be valid for at least one hundred and twenty days (120) days from date of bid opening, unless otherwise stated here: ___ days,
or if extended by mutual agreement of the parties in writing. Any withdrawal of this offer shall be made in writing, effective upon receipt by
the agency issuing this RFP.
ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL
If your proposal is accepted, all provisions of this RFP, along with the written results of any negotiations, shall constitute the written
agreement between the parties ("Contract"). The NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS are incorporated herein and shall
apply. Depending upon the Goods or Services being offered, other terms and conditions may apply, as mutually agreed.
FOR STATE USE ONLY: Offer accepted and Contract awarded this________ day of __________, 20____, as indicated on
The attached certification, by ____________________________________________________________________.
(Authorized Representative of Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities)
Ver: 11/2023 2

Proposal Number: 30-25366-OGC Vendor: ____________________________________
Contents
1.0 PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND ............................................................................................. 4
1.1 CONTRACT TERM .................................................................................................................. 4
2.0 GENERAL INFORMATION ....................................................................................................... 4
2.1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENT ............................................................................. 4
2.2 E-PROCUREMENT FEE ......................................................................................................... 4
2.3 NOTICE TO VENDORS REGARDING RFP TERMS AND CONDITIONS ............................... 5
2.4 RFP SCHEDULE ..................................................................................................................... 5
2.5 PROPOSAL QUESTIONS ....................................................................................................... 6
2.6 PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL ....................................................................................................... 6
2.7 PROPOSAL CONTENTS ....................................................................................................... 7
2.8 ALTERNATE PROPOSALS .................................................................................................... 7
2.9 DEFINITIONS, ACRONYMS, AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................... 7
3.0 METHOD OF AWARD AND PROPOSAL EVALUATION PROCESS ....................................... 7
3.1 METHOD OF AWARD ............................................................................................................. 7
3.2 CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS DURING EVALUATION......... 8
3.3 PROPOSAL EVALUATION PROCESS ................................................................................... 8
3.4 EVALUATION CRITERIA ........................................................................................................ 9
3.5 PERFORMANCE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES ............................................................... 9
3.6 INTERPRETATION OF TERMS AND PHRASES .................................................................. 10
4.0 REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................... 10
4.1 PRICING ................................................................................................................................ 10
4.2 INVOICES .............................................................................................................................. 10
4.3 FINANCIAL STABILITY ........................................................................................................ 10
4.4 HUB PARTICIPATION .......................................................................................................... 10
4.5 VENDOR EXPERIENCE ........................................................................................................ 11
4.6 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 11
4.7 BACKGROUND CHECKS ..................................................................................................... 11
4.8 PERSONNEL ......................................................................................................................... 11
4.9 VENDOR'S REPRESENTATIONS ........................................................................................ 12
4.10 AGENCY INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS MODIFICATION ................................................. 12
4.11 LICENSE ............................................................................................................................... 12
4.12 ESTIMATED QUANTITIES .................................................................................................... 12
5.0 SPECIFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF WORK .......................................................................... 12
5.1 GENERAL ............................................................................................................................. 13
5.2 TASKS/DELIVERABLES ...................................................................................................... 13
5.3 PROJECT ORGANIZATION .................................................................................................. 14
5.4 TECHNICAL APPROACH ..................................................................................................... 14
6.0 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION............................................................................................. 14
6.1 CONTRACT MANAGER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ......................................................... 14
6.2 POST AWARD PROJECT REVIEW MEETINGS .................................................................. 15
6.3 CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT ............................................................................................ 15
6.4 STATUS REPORTS .............................................................................................................. 15
6.5 ACCEPTANCE OF WORK .................................................................................................... 15
6.6 TRANSITION ASSISTANCE ................................................................................................. 15
6.7 DISPUTE RESOLUTION ....................................................................................................... 16
6.8 CONTRACT CHANGES ........................................................................................................ 16
6.9 ATTACHMENTS .................................................................................................................... 16
ATTACHMENT A: PRICING............................................................................................................... 17
Ver: 11/2023 3

Proposal Number: 30-25366-OGC Vendor: ____________________________________
1.0 PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is the largest agency in state government,
responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing the human service needs for
fragile populations like the mentally ill, deaf, blind developmentally disabled, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve
economic independence. The department has over 16,000 employees and is divided into 30 divisions and offices. The DHHS
Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice and consultation to DHHS Central Administration and Divisions.
NCDHHS is seeking to improve recruitment, hiring and retention of physicians by participating in the North Carolina Conrad
30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program. A J-1 Visa Waiver allows foreign medical graduate physicians who are training in a US
Residency/Fellowship program under a J-1 Visa to seek a waiver of the J-1 Visa requirement to return to their home country
for two (2) years. An employer files a J-1 Waiver application and, when obtained, the employer then sponsors the foreign
medical graduate for a change from J-1 into H-1B Temporary Worker status or employment authorized status. This
immigration process eliminates the foreign medical graduate's obligation to return to their home country. The foreign medical
graduate is then legally obligated to work for the employer for a minimum of three (3) years, which builds retention. The
employer may creatively collaborate with the foreign medical graduate to extend this commitment for additional periods of
time by undertaking sponsorship for permanent residence (green card).
The Office of Rural Health (ORH) manages the North Carolina Conrad 30 J-1 Visa Waiver program that ensures 30 waivers
annually to increase the number of physicians practicing in rural and underserved areas. For NCDHHS to participate in filling
critical positions through this option, there are state and federal requirements that must be met and state and federal
application procedures to implement.
The NCDHHS OGC is seeking legal services from an attorney(s) with significant immigration law experience to provide legal
advice and assistance to the Department in the J-1 Visa Waiver and H1-B Visa processes; to ensure that state and federal
applications, with all required documentation, are completed and to provide services necessary to ensure successful
applications. Services will be on an as needed basis, when facilities are recruiting a potential job candidate who is a foreign
medical graduate with interest in pursuing the J-1 Visa Waiver.
The intent of this solicitation is to award an Agency Term Contract.
1.1 CONTRACT TERM
The Contract shall have an initial term of three (3) years, beginning on the date of final Contract execution (the "Effective
Date") or October 1, 2026, whichever is later.
At the end of the Contract's initial term, the State shall have the option, in its sole discretion, to renew the Contract on the
same terms and conditions for up to two (2) additional one-year terms. The State will give the Vendor written notice of its
intent to exercise each option no later than thirty (30) days before the end of the Contract's then-current term. In addition to
any optional renewal terms, and with the Vendor's concurrence, the State reserves the right to extend the Contract after the
last active term.
Proposals shall be submitted in accordance with the terms and conditions of this RFP and any addenda issued hereto.
2.0 GENERAL INFORMATION
2.1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENT
This RFP is comprised of the base RFP document, any attachments, and any addenda released before Contract award, which
are incorporated herein by reference.
2.2 E-PROCUREMENT FEE
ATTENTION: This is an NC eProcurement solicitation facilitated by the Ariba Network. The E-Procurement fee may apply to
this solicitation. See the paragraph entitled ELECTRONIC PROCUREMENT of the North Carolina General Terms and
Conditions.
Ver: 11/2023 4

Proposal Number: 30-25366-OGC Vendor: ____________________________________
General information on the E-Procurement Services can be found at: http://eprocurement.nc.gov/.
What is the Ariba Network?
The Ariba Network is a web-based platform that serves as a connection point for buyers and vendors. Vendors can log in to
the Ariba Network to view purchase orders, respond to electronic requests for quotes, participate in Sourcing Events, and
collaborate with buyers on contract documents.
For training on how to use the Sourcing Tool to view solicitations, submit questions, develop responses, upload documents,
and submit offers to the State, Vendors should go to the following site:
http://eprocurement.nc.gov/training/vendor-training.
2.3 NOTICE TO VENDORS REGARDING RFP TERMS AND CONDITIONS
It shall be the Vendor's responsibility to read the Instructions to Vendors, the North Carolina General Terms and Conditions,
all relevant exhibits and attachments, and any other components made a part of this RFP and comply with all requirements
and specifications herein. Vendors are also responsible for obtaining and complying with all Addenda and other changes that
may be issued in connection with this RFP.
If Vendors have questions, issues, regarding any component of this RFP, those must be submitted as questions in accordance
with the instructions in the PROPOSAL QUESTIONS Section. If the State determines that any changes will be made as a result
of the questions asked, then such decisions will be communicated in the form of an RFP addendum. The State may also elect
to leave open the possibility for later negotiation of specific provisions of the Contract that have been addressed during the
question-and-answer period, prior to contract award.
Other than through the process of negotiation under 01 NCAC 05B.0503, the State rejects and will not be required to evaluate
or consider any additional or modified terms and conditions submitted with Vendor's proposal or otherwise. This applies to
any language appearing in or attached to the document as part of the Vendor's proposal that purports to vary any terms and
conditions or Vendors' instructions herein or to render the proposal non-binding or subject to further negotiation. Vendor's
proposal shall constitute a firm offer that shall be held open for the period required herein ("Validity Period" above).
The State may exercise in its discretion to consider Vendor proposed modifications. By execution and delivery of this RFP
Response, the Vendor agrees that any additional or modified terms and conditions, whether submitted purposely or
inadvertently, shall have no force or effect, and will be disregarded unless expressly agreed upon through negotiations and
incorporated by way of a Best and Final Offer (BAFO). Noncompliance with, or any attempt to alter or delete, this paragraph
shall constitute sufficient grounds to reject Vendor's proposal as nonresponsive.
2.4 RFP SCHEDULE
The table below shows the intended schedule for this RFP. The State will make every effort to adhere to this schedule.
Event Responsibility Date and Time
Issue RFP State June 8, 2026
Submit Written Vendor June 22, 2026, by 5:00 PM ET
Questions
Provide Response to State June 29, 2026
Questions
Submit Proposals Vendor August 10, 2026, by 2:00 PM EST
Proposals will be opened on 08/010/26 at 2:00 PM ET via the following link:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/281511574675179?p=9HKxT54UGwgQATrgAr
Contract Award State October 2026
Ver: 11/2023 5

Proposal Number: 30-25366-OGC Vendor: ____________________________________
2.5 PROPOSAL QUESTIONS
Upon review of the RFP documents, Vendors may have questions to clarify or interpret the RFP in order to submit the best
proposal possible. To accommodate the Proposal Questions process, Vendors shall submit any such questions by the "Submit
Written Questions" date and time provided in the RFP SCHEDULE Section above, unless modified by Addendum.
Questions related to the content of the solicitation, or the procurement process should be directed to the person on the title
page of this document via the Sourcing Tool's message board by the date and time specified in the RFP SCHEDULE Section of
this RFP. Vendors will enter "RFP # 30-25366-RD2 - Questions" as the subject of the message. Question submittals should
include a reference to the applicable RFP section. This is the only manner in which questions will be received.
Questions or issues related to using the Sourcing Tool itself can be directed to the North Carolina eProcurement Help Desk at
888-211-7440, Option 2. Help Desk representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM ET to 5:00 PM ET.
Questions received prior to the submission deadline date, the State's response, and any additional terms deemed necessary
by the State will be posted in the Sourcing Tool in the form of an addendum and shall become an Addendum to this RFP. No
information, instruction or advice provided orally or informally by any State personnel, whether made in response to a
question or otherwise in connection with this RFP, shall be considered authoritative or binding. Vendors shall rely only on
written material contained in the RFP and an addendum to this RFP.
2.6 PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is an absolute requirement. Late bids, regardless of cause, will not be opened or considered, and will
be automatically disqualified from further consideration. Vendor shall bear the sole risk of late submission due to unintended
or unanticipated delay. It is the Vendor's sole responsibility to ensure its proposal has been received as described in this RFP
by the specified time and date of opening. Failure to submit a proposal in strict accordance with instructions provided shall
constitute sufficient cause to reject a Vendor's proposal(s). Solicitation responses are subject to Sealed Bidding requirements.
Vendor's proposals for this procurement must be submitted through the Sourcing Tool. For training on how to use the Sourcing
Tool to view solicitations, submit questions, develop responses, upload documents, and submit offers to the State, Vendors
should go to the following site: https://eprocurement.nc.gov/training/vendor-training
Questions or issues related to using the Sourcing Tool itself can be directed to the North Carolina eProcurement Help Desk at
888-211-7440, Option 2. Help Desk representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST.
Tips for Using the Sourcing Tool
a. Vendors should review available training and confirm that they are able to access the Sourcing Event, enter responses,
and upload files well in advance of the date and time response are due to allow sufficient time to seek assistance from
the North Carolina eProcurement Help Desk.
b. Vendors may submit their responses early to make sure there are no issues, and then submit a revised response any
time prior to the response due date and time. The State will only review the most recent response.
c. Vendors should respond to all relevant sections of the Sourcing Event. Certain questions or items are required in order
to submit a response and are denoted with an asterisk. The Sourcing Tool will not allow a response to be submitted
unless all required items are completed. The Sourcing Tool will provide error messages to help identify any required
information that is missing when response is submitted.
d. Simply saving your response in the Sourcing Tool is not the same as submitting your response to the State. Vendors
should make sure they complete the submission process and receive a message that their response was successfully
submitted.
e. Only Proposals submitted through the Content Section of the Ariba Sourcing Event will be considered. Proposals
submitted through the Message Board will not be accepted or considered for award.
If confidential and proprietary information is included in the proposal, also submit one (1) signed, REDACTED copy of the
proposal. Such information may include trade secrets defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. 66-152 and other information exempted
Ver: 11/2023 6

Proposal Number: 30-25366-OGC Vendor: ____________________________________
from the Public Records Act pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 132- 1.2. Vendor may designate information, Products, Services
or appropriate portions of its response as confidential, consistent with and to the extent permitted under the statutes and
rules set forth above. By so redacting any page, or portion of a page, the Vendor warrants that it has formed a good faith
opinion, having received such necessary or proper review by counsel and other knowledgeable advisors, that the portions
determined to be confidential and proprietary and redacted as such, meet the requirements of the Rules and Statutes set
forth above. However, under no circumstances shall price information be designated as confidential.
If the Vendor does not provide a redacted version of the proposal with its proposal submission, the Department may
release an unredacted version if a record request is received.
2.7 PROPOSAL CONTENTS
Vendors shall provide responses to all questions and complete all attachments for this RFP that require the Vendor to provide
information and upload them to the Sourcing Event in the Sourcing Tool. Vendor may not be able to submit its response in the
Sourcing Tool unless all required items are addressed. Vendors shall provide authorized signatures where requested. Failure to
provide all required items, or Vendor's submission of incomplete items, may result in the State rejecting Vendor's proposal, in
the State's sole discretion.
Vendor shall include the following items and attachments in the Sourcing Tool:
a) Completed and signed version of all EXECUTION PAGES, along with the body of the RFP.
b) Signed receipt pages of any addenda released in conjunction with this RFP, if required to be returned.
c) Vendor's Proposal addressing all Specifications of this RFP.
d) Completed version of ATTACHMENT A: PRICING
e) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT D: HUB SUPPLEMENTAL VENDOR INFORMATION
f) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT E: CUSTOMER REFERENCE FORM
g) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT F: LOCATION OF WORKERS UTILIZED BY VENDOR
h) Completed and signed version of ATTACHMENT G: CERTIFICATION OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
2.8 ALTERNATE PROPOSALS
Unless provided otherwise in this RFP, Vendor may submit alternate proposals for comparable Goods, various methods or
levels of Service(s), or that propose different options. Alternate proposals must specifically identify the RFP requirements and
advantage(s) addressed by the alternate proposal. Each proposal must be for a specific set of Goods and Services and must
include specific pricing. Each proposal must be complete and independent of other proposals offered. If a Vendor chooses to
respond with various offerings, Vendor shall follow the specific instructions for uploading Alternate Proposals in the Sourcing
Tool.
2.9 DEFINITIONS, ACRONYMS, AND ABBREVIATIONS
Relevant definitions for this RFP are provided in 01 NCAC 05A .0112 and in the Instructions to Vendors found in the Sourcing
Tool, which are incorporated herein by this reference.
3.0 METHOD OF AWARD AND PROPOSAL EVALUATION PROCESS
3.1 METHOD OF AWARD
North Carolina G.S. 143-52 provides a general list of criteria the State shall use to award contracts, as supplemented by the
additional criteria herein. The Goods or Services being procured shall dictate the application and order of criteria; however, all
award decisions shall be in the State's best interest. All qualified proposals will be evaluated, and awards will be made to the
Vendor(s) meeting the specific RFP Specifications and achieving the highest and best final evaluation, based on the criteria
described below.
Ver: 11/2023 7

Proposal Number: 30-25366-OGC Vendor: ____________________________________
While the intent of this RFP is to award a Contract(s) to a single Vendor the State reserves the right to make separate awards
to different Vendors for one or more line-items, to not award one or more line-items or to cancel this RFP in its entirety without
awarding a Contract, if it is considered to be most advantageous to the State to do so.
The State reserves the right to waive any minor informality or technicality in proposals received.
3.2 CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS DURING EVALUATION
While this RFP is under evaluation, the responding Vendor, including any subcontractors and suppliers, is prohibited from
engaging in conversations intended to influence the outcome of the evaluation. See Paragraph 29 of the Instructions to Vendors
entitled COMMUNICTIONS BY VENDORS.
Each Vendor submitting a proposal to this RFP, including its employees, agents, subcontractors, suppliers, subsidiaries and
affiliates, is prohibited from having any communications with any person inside or outside the using agency; issuing agency;
other government agency office or body (including the purchaser named above, any department secretary, agency head,
members of the General Assembly and Governor's office); or private entity, if the communication refers to the content of
Vendor's proposal or qualifications, the content of another Vendor's proposal, another Vendor's qualifications or ability to
perform a resulting contract, and/or the transmittal of any other communication of information that could be reasonably
considered to have the effect of directly or indirectly influencing the evaluation of proposals, the award of a contract, or both.
Any Vendor not in compliance with this provision shall be disqualified from evaluation and award. A Vendor's proposal may be
disqualified if its subcontractor and/or supplier engage in any of the foregoing communications during the time that the
procurement is active (i.e., the issuance date of the procurement until the date of contract award or cancellation of the
procurement). Only those discussions, communications or transmittals of information authorized or initiated by the issuing
agency for this RFP, or inquiries directed to the purchaser named in this RFP regarding requirements of the RFP (prior to
proposal submission) or the status of the award (after submission) are excepted from this provision.
3.3 PROPOSAL EVALUATION PROCESS
Only responsive submissions will be evaluated.
The State will conduct a One-Step evaluation of Proposals:
Proposals will be received according to the method stated in the Proposal Submittal Section above.
All proposals must be received by the issuing agency not later than the date and time specified in the RFP SCHEDULE
Section above, unless modified by Addendum. Vendors are cautioned that this is a request for offers, not an offer or
request to contract, and the State reserves the unqualified right to reject any and all offers at any time if such rejection is
deemed to be in the best interest of the State.
At the date and time provided in the RFP SCHEDULE Section above, unless modified by Addendum, the proposal from each
responding Vendor will be opened publicly and all offers (except those that have been previously withdrawn, or voided
bids) will be tabulated. The tabulation shall be made public at the time it is created. When negotiations after receipt of
bids are authorized pursuant to G.S. 143-49 and 01 NCAC 05B.0503, only the names of offerors and the Goods and Services
offered shall be tabulated at the time of opening. If negotiation is anticipated, cost and price shall become available for
public inspection at the time of the award. Interested parties are cautioned that these costs and their components are
subject to further evaluation for completeness and correctness and therefore may not be an exact indicator of a Vendor's
pricing position.
At their option, the evaluators may request oral presentations or discussions with any or all Vendors for clarification or to
amplify the materials presented in any part of the proposal. Vendors are cautioned, however, that the evaluators are not
required to request presentations or other clarification-and often do not. Therefore, all proposals should be complete
and reflect the most favorable terms available from the Vendor.
Upon completion of the evaluation process, the State will make award(s) based on the evaluation and post the award(s)
to the electronic Vendor Portal (eVP), https://evp.nc.gov, under the RFP number for this solicitation. Award of a Contract
Ver: 11/2023 8