Professional Nursing and CNA Services

INVITATION FOR BIDS
IFB 2026-9.3
RFx #3160008232
Professional Nursing Services
Issue Date:
September 16, 2026
CLOSING DATE and TIME:
Bids must be received by:
October 19, 2026, AT 4:30 p.m. CST
Ellisville State School
Administration Building 1
1101 Highway 11 South
Ellisville, Mississippi 39437
BID COORDINATOR:
Armendia Pierce
Telephone: (601) 477-5615
E-mail: Armendia.Pierce@ess.ms.gov

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Section 1 - Background, Authority, and Purpose
Ellisville State School at the South Mississippi Regional Center (hereinafter "Agency") has issued this invitation
for the purpose of soliciting sealed bids from qualified staffing agencies to provide Professional Nursing
Services. The Agency would like assistance in providing qualified and experienced nursing care for the Persons-
served at the Community Homes located at in Poplarville, MS, Wiggins, MS, Gautier, MS, and Biloxi, MS.
Ellisville State School at South Mississippi Regional Center is a state-operated regional program providing
comprehensive services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program is under the
jurisdiction of the Mississippi Board of Mental Health. Administratively, it is in the Bureau of Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities division of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. The Agency offers services
to people in a residential setting and provides an array of programs and services in the community through the
Community Services System.
Section 2 - Timeline
IFB Issue Date September 16, 2026
Bid Package Submission Deadline October 19, 2026, 4:30 PM, CST
Bid Opening October 20, 2026, 10:00 AM, CST
Anticipated Date of the October 23, 2026, 4:30 PM, CST
Notice of Intent to Award
Anticipated October 28, 2026, 4:30 PM, CST
Reconsideration of the Intent to Award
Anticipated Contract Start January 1, 2027
Section 3 - Questions or Requests for Clarification
3.1 Please email all questions to Armendia Pierce at armendia.pierce@ess.ms.gov.
3.2 The Agency will not be bound by any verbal or written information that is not contained within this IFB
unless formally noticed and issued by the contact person as an IFB amendment. Bidders are cautioned that
any statements made by Agency personnel that materially change any portion of the bid document shall not
be relied upon unless subsequently ratified by a formal written amendment to the bid document.
3.3 All vendor communications regarding this IFB must be directed to the Bid Coordinator/Procurement Officer.
Any questions or requests for clarification must be submitted in writing. Unauthorized contact regarding the
IFB with other employees of the Agency may result in the vendor being disqualified, and the vendor may
also be suspended or disbarred from doing business in the State.
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3.4 No Pre-Bid Conference, Tour, or Site Visit will be held for this IFB.
3.5 Attachments to the IFB
All Attachments to this IFB are fully incorporated into the IFB.
3.6 Acknowledgement of Amendments: Upon the issuing of any amendment to the IFB, the amendment will
be posted on the Mississippi Contract/Procurement Opportunity Search Portal website and the Agency's
website in a manner that all bidders will be able to view. Further, bidders must acknowledge receipt of any
amendment to the solicitation by signing and returning the amendment with the bid package, by identifying
the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on the bid form, or by letter. The
acknowledgment should be received by the Agency by the time, date, and at the place specified for receipt
of bids. It is the bidder's sole responsibility to monitor the websites for any updates or amendments to the
IFB.
3.7 Request for Reconsideration of the Terms of the Solicitation: Any potential Vendor may request that
Ellisville State School reconsider the solicitation terms. This reconsideration request can be accomplished
by reference to Section 5.2.4 of the Public Procurement Review Board Office of Personal Service Contract
Review Rules and Regulations. The Potential Vendor shall file any such request within three (3) business days
following the date of public notice of the solicitation. The potential Vendor must submit the included form,
Attachment I. The form shall be submitted to the Agency Procurement Official/Bid Coordinator AND the
Director of the Office of Office of Personal Service Contract Review (OPSCR), as defined in Section 5.2.1 of
the PPRB OPSCR Rules and Regulations. It shall be the responsibility of the vendor to ensure the request is
timely received by all required parties. Failure to timely request reconsideration in compliance with this
Section results in waiver of any claim regarding the terms of the solicitation.
3.8 Cancellation of Solicitation or Rejection of Individual Bids
At the Agency's sole discretion, an IFB may be canceled or any or all responses to the solicitation may be
rejected, in whole or in part, when the Agency determines that this action is in the Agency's best interest.
3.9 Contract Rights
Contract rights do not vest in any party until a contract is legally executed. The Agency is under no obligation
to award a contract following issuance of this solicitation.
3.10 Property Rights
Property rights do not inure to any Bidder until such time as services have been provided under a legally
executed contract. No party responding to this IFB has a legitimate claim of entitlement to be awarded a
contract or to the provision of work thereunder. The Ellisville State School is under no obligation to award
a contract and may terminate a legally executed contract at any time.
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Section 4 - Scope of Services
The Agency invites bids for three categories of services, collectively referred to as "professional nursing
services". The Awarded Contractor will perform and complete in a timely and satisfactory manner the
services described in Attachment "J", captioned "Scope of Services", which is attached hereto and made
a part hereof by reference.
Location of Work: The work is to be performed, completed, and managed at the following location(s):
Poplarville, MS, Community Homes; Wiggins, MS, Community Homes; Gautier, MS, Community Homes;
and Biloxi, MS, Community Homes
4.2 The Awarded Contractor shall:
4.2.1 Provide an adequate required number of qualified, competent, well-trained, drug-free, and
appropriately dressed nurses to perform the required duties during the required shifts, seven (7)
days a week, including weekends and holidays, as needed;
4.2.2 Accurately describe the required job duties to all professional nursing employees;
4.2.3 Assign an Account Representative to work directly with the designated Agency Representative
managing the contract;
4.2.4 Designate a contact person for communication with Contracting Agency who is available twenty-four
(24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week, three hundred and sixty-five (365) days per year; at the
discretion of the Contracting Agency, the Awarded Contractor may designate more than one person
to meet this requirement;
4.2.5 At the request of the Contracting Agency, arrange for a Contracting Agency to interview any
professional nursing staff that may be placed at the Contracting Agency for up to one hour, at the
Vendor's expense; and
4.2.6 Certify that all nurse personnel have no adverse finding of abuse or negligent appropriation of abuse;
4.2.7 Provide a copy of the current license or certification, as applicable, for each Awarded Contractor's
professional nursing employee assigned to the Contracting Agency. The license or certification shall
be provided at the time designated by the Contracting Agency, but no later than when the employee
clocks in for his or her first shift at the Contracting Agency;
4.2.8 Provide orientation for all contract professional nursing employees before the first assignment to the
Contracting Agency, including a competency checklist in oxygen administration, glucose monitoring,
medication administration, HIPAA compliance, patient safety, and any information about the facility
required by the Contracting Agency;
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4.2.9 Ensure that contract professional nursing employees fully comply with the Contracting Agency's
policies and procedures, the applicable standards of care, Joint Commission standards, and all
applicable regulations now existing or as may be modified;
4.2.10 Provide an Abuse Registry Check for all professional nursing staff placed at the Contracting Agency;
4.2.11 The Awarded Contractor shall complete a criminal background check for every employee assigned
to the Contracting Agency. The background check shall be according to the State of Mississippi's
required criminal background check [MS Code 43-11-13 (2025)]. The results of the background
check shall be presented to the Contracting Agency:
4.2.12 before the employee reports to the assignment;
4.2.13 In addition, this criminal background check shall be administered every two years;
4.2.13.1 The Awarded Contractor's professional nursing employees are also required to submit:
4.2.13.1.1 current Driver's License from the State of Mississippi
4.2.13.1.2 Social Security Card
4.2.13.1.3 TB Skin test-within two (2) years Q-Gold, within one (1) year if regular 2-step
4.2.13.1.4 Drug test
4.2.13.1.5 High School Diploma
4.2.13.1.6 CPR Certification
4.2.13.1.7 Covid/Flu Test-Administered by the Agency
4.2.13.1.8 MANDT training-prior to working in the Pecan Grove Unit
4.2.13.1.9 MANDT training within sixty (60) days for work in other areas
4.2.13.1.10 Mandatory Abuse and Neglect Yearly In-Service
4.2.14 All state facilities are non-smoking; the Awarded Contractor and its personnel shall adhere to this
requirement. The use of tobacco products is prohibited, except within designated smoking areas.
4.2.15 It is illegal to have in one's possession any illegal drug or alcoholic beverage while on state property;
the Awarded Contract shall comply with all State laws while on Agency property.
4.2.16 The Awarded Contractor's employees should refrain from using foul, abusive, or profane language
on state property.
4.2.17 The Contracting Agency reserves the right to inspect and search Awarded Contractor's personnel
and/or vehicles anytime while on facility grounds.
4.2.18 Contractors are required to sign-in and sign-out at most state facilities. Security provisions for all
state facilities must be strictly observed by the Awarded Contractor.
4.2.19 Be responsible for all damages and shall be held responsible for replacing or repairing any damage
due to negligence on the part of the Awarded Contractor or Awarded Contractor's personnel to any
person(s) and/or property. The Awarded Contractor shall replace and repair any damage to any
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building or property, including but not limited to the replacement of any cracked or broken concrete
(sidewalks, curbs, etc.) caused by on-site activities. The Contracting Agency may withhold payment
or make such deductions as deemed necessary to ensure reimbursement or replacement for loss or
damage to property.
4.2.20 Exercise precautions at all times for the protection of people (including employees) and property.
The Awarded Contractor shall make such investigations to enable them to fully understand the
facilities, difficulties, and restrictions attending the execution of the work on-site. The delivered
services shall always be properly supervised and adequately manned by experienced personnel. All
work shall be accomplished by skilled workers familiar with and trained to do this type of work.
Workers shall be qualified to operate and/or use the equipment necessary to accomplish this work.
The Awarded Contractor shall be responsible for the supervision and direction of the work performed
by its personnel. The Awarded Contractor shall be responsible for instructing its personnel in all
safety measures. All equipment used by the Awarded Contractor shall be maintained in safe
operating condition at all times and be free from defects or wear that may in any way constitute a
hazard to any person or persons on state property. All incidents involving the Contracting Agency's
property or personnel shall be reported to the designated Agency contact immediately upon
occurrence.
4.2.21 Abide by all State and/or Agency policies, procedures, ordinances, and/or laws pertaining to the
Contracting Agency's operation at all times, including but not limited to the items listed above.
Deviations from these policies by the Awarded Contractor or its personnel will not be tolerated and
will be considered grounds for contract termination.
4.2.22 Perform all services provided in the contract between the Awarded Contractor and the Contracting
Agency in accordance with customary and reasonable industry standards as well as in strict
conformance to all laws, statutes, and ordinances and the applicable rules, regulations, methods and
procedures of all government boards, bureaus, offices, and other agents. The Awarded Contractor
shall be responsible for the complete performance of all work; for the methods, means, and
equipment used; and for furnishing all materials, tools, apparatus, and property of every description
used in connection therewith. No statement within this IFB shall negate compliance with any
applicable governing regulation. The absence of detail specifications or the omission of detail
description shall be recognized as meaning that only the best commercial practices are to prevail,
and that only first quality materials and workmanship are to be used.
4.3 The Awarded Contractor shall also:
4.3.1 Administer and maintain all employment and payroll records, payroll processing, and payment of
payroll checks and taxes, including the deductions required by state, federal, and local laws such as
social security and withholding taxes for their business and employees. It is the sole responsibility
of the Awarded Contractor to be in compliance with laws or regulations requiring an employer to
withhold and/or pay employment-related taxes or withholdings required by law;
4.3.2 Make all unemployment compensation contributions as required by federal and state law(s) and
process claims as required for their business and employees;
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4.3.3 Ensure that the contract professional nursing employee understands work commitments and reports
to work at the time and place specified by the Contracting Agency;
4.3.4 Replace immediately, at no additional expense to the Contracting Agency, any employee performing
unsatisfactorily.
Section 5 - Basis for Award
5.1 All bids will be reviewed first to determine whether a vendor is responsive, responsible, and/or acceptable.
Requirements are not assigned a point percentage and/or score but are instead simply recorded as PASS or
FAIL. Bids with errors that do not alter the substance of the bid can be accepted, and the Agency Chief
Procurement Officer may allow the bidder to correct the problem prior to review as long as the irregularities
are insignificant mistakes that can be waived or corrected without prejudice to other bidders.
5.2 The Agency has the right to waive minor defects or variations of a bid from the exact requirements of the
specifications that do not affect the price, quality, quantity, delivery, or performance time of the services
being procured. If insufficient information is submitted by a bidder with the bid for the Agency to properly
evaluate the bid, the Agency has the right to require such additional information as it may deem necessary
after the time set for receipt of bids, provided that the information requested does not change the price,
quality, quantity, delivery, or performance time of the services being procured.
5.3 All bids which are determined to be responsive, responsible, and/or acceptable will continue on to the price
bid or cost evaluation.
5.4 The Agency intends to award one (1) contract to provide the services described in this IFB to the lowest
responsible and responsive bidder.
5.5 Bid Evaluation Process: For each responsive and responsible bidder, Ellisville State School will first consider
the number of CNAs, LPNs, and RNs that can be supplied. From the number of bidders that have submitted
a bid with adequate staffing numbers for the service categories, Ellisville State School will calculate the
average of the hourly rates from the service categories combined. Ellisville State School will then choose
the lowest bidder.
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Section 6 - Minimum Bidder Qualifications
The vendor must have:
6.1 Prior Experience: Contractor must have been in business and provided services similar in requirements and
scale to those described in this IFB for a minimum of five (5) years.
6.2 Bidder must have placed at least 40 nursing employees within the past two years.
6.3 Bidder must maintain an office in the SMRC area and provide all required information for verification.
6.4 Required Certification, Accreditation, and/or Licenses: Awarded Contractor shall provide copies of all valid
licenses and certificates required for performance of the work. The copies shall be delivered to the Agency
no later than ten (10) days after Awarded Contractor receives the Notice of Intent to Award from the Agency.
Current copies of licenses and certificates shall be provided to the Agency within twenty-four (24) hours of
demand at any time during the contract term. The Awarded Contractor must possess and maintain the
minimum vendor certifications, accreditations, and/or licensures described in this IFB, by way of illustration
and not limitation, the following:
1. A Health Care Staffing Services (HCSS) Certification
2. Documentation showing current registration to do business in the State of Mississippi and good standing
with the Secretary of State.
6.5 A minimum score of six (6) on the Reference Score Sheet (Attachment D) from reference interviews by
Agency staff with two (2) bidder references (for a total minimum scoring requirement of twelve (12) points),
as well as all other requirements of this IFB.
6.6 The bidder may be required before the award of any contract to show to the complete satisfaction of the
Agency that it has the necessary facilities, ability, and financial resources to provide the service specified
therein in a satisfactory manner. The bidder may also be required to give a past history and references in
order to satisfy the Agency in regard to the bidder's qualifications. The Agency may make reasonable
investigations deemed necessary and proper to determine the ability of the bidder to perform the work, and
the bidder shall furnish to the Agency all information for this purpose that may be requested. The Agency
reserves the right to reject any bid if the evidence submitted by, or investigation of, the bidder fails to satisfy
the Agency that the bidder is properly qualified to carry out the obligations of the contract and to complete
the work described therein. Evaluation of the bidder's qualifications shall include:
1. the ability, capacity, skill, and financial resources to perform the work or provide the service required;
2. the ability of the bidder to perform the work or provide the service promptly or within the specified
time, without delay or interference;
3. the character, integrity, reputation, judgment, experience, and efficiency of the bidder; and,
4. the quality of performance of previous contracts or services.
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Section 7 - Duration
The estimated period of performance of any contract resulting from this IFB is tentatively scheduled to begin
on or about January 1, 2027, and to end on June 30, 2027, Upon written agreement of both parties at least
ninety (90) days prior to each contract anniversary date, the contract may be renewed by the Agency for a
period of four (4) successive one-year period(s) under the same prices, terms, and conditions as in the
original contract. The total number of renewal years permitted shall not exceed four (4).
Section 8 - Bid Submission Requirements
8.1 Submission Packet
8.1.1 Bid Cover Sheet (Attachment A)
8.1.2 Bid Form (Attachment B) - all pricing must be submitted on the bid form. Failure to complete
and/or sign the bid form may result in bidder being determined nonresponsive.
8.1.3 References (Attachment C) - each bidder must furnish a listing of at least three (3) trade references
along with the contact person, address, and phone number for each. These references must be
familiar with the bidder's abilities in the areas involved with this solicitation. Agency staff will use
these references to determine the bidder's ability to perform the services. It is the responsibility
of the bidder to ensure that the reference contact information is correct and current. Agency staff
will not conduct a search for references. Bidders should verify before submitting their bid that the
contact person and phone number are correct for each reference. Agency staff must be able to
reach two (2) references for a bidder within two (2) business days of bid opening to be considered
responsive.
8.1.4 Certifications & Assurances (Attachment E) completed and signed
8.1.5 Release of Bid as Public Record (Attachment F) completed and signed
8.1.6 IFB Request for Reconsideration (Attachment I) completed
8.2 Submission Requirements
All bids must be received by October 19, 2026 at 4:30 pm CST. Late bids will be rejected and remain
unopened in the procurement file. Ellisville State School will not be responsible for delivery delays, lost
packages, misdirected emails, or other errors. A Vendor may submit its bid in one of two ways:
The sealed envelope or package shall be marked with the bid opening date and time, and the number of the
invitation for bids (10:00 AM CST, October 20, 2026; IFB 2026-9.3, RFx #3160008232)
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8.2.2 Bids are subject to rejection unless submitted with the information included on the outside the
sealed bid envelope or package.
8.2.3 Sealed bids should be mailed or hand-delivered and labeled as follows:
IFB 2026-9.3 for Professional Nursing Services-SMRC
RFx #3160008232
Opening Date: October 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Ellisville State School
Attention: Armendia Pierce, Procurement Officer
1101 Highway 11 S
Ellisville, Mississippi 39437
SEALED BID - DO NOT OPEN
Electronic Submissions of this IFB via email must have the above language in the body of the
email and the subject line must be: SEALED BID: IFB 2026-9.3 for Professional Nursing Services-
SMRC
The email address for bid submission will be armendia.pierce@ess.ms.gov.
The Agency shall not be responsible for non-receipt of electronic submissions due to large files or technical
difficulties. The bidder must receive an email from the Procurement Officer that acknowledges date/time
of receipt of the complete IFB packet.
8.2.4 All bid packages, regardless of delivery method, must be received by the Agency no later than
October 19, 2026 at 4:30 pm CST. Bids submitted via facsimile (fax) machine will not be accepted.
It is suggested that if a bid is mailed to the Agency, it should be posted in certified mail with a
return receipt requested. The Agency will not be responsible for mail delays or lost mail. All risk
of late arrival due to unanticipated delay - whether delivered by hand, U.S. Postal Service, courier
or other delivery service or method - is entirely the responsibility of the vendor. All vendors are
urged to take the possibility of delay into account when submitting a bid.
8.2.5 Timely submission of the bid package is the responsibility of the bidder. Bids received after the
specified time will be rejected and maintained unopened in the procurement file. A bid received
at the place designated in the solicitation for receipt of bids after the exact time specified for
receipt will not be considered unless it has been determined by the Agency that the late receipt
was due solely to mishandling by the Agency after receipt at the specified address.
8.2.6 The time and date of receipt will be indicated on the sealed bid envelope or package by Agency
staff. The only acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the Agency office identified
for bid opening is the time and date stamp of that office on the bid wrapper or other
documentary evidence of receipt used by that office.
8.2.7 Each page of the bid form and all attachments shall be identified with the name of the bidder.
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