SMPDD Career Coach Staffing Services RFP Q&A Response

Location:	Mississippi
Posted:	Sep 2, 2026
Due:	Sep 9, 2026
Agency:	Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District (SMPDD)
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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Temporary Staffing Services RFP

RESPONSES to VENDOR QUESTIONS

1. Must the proposing legal entity itself have been continuously active for the full three-year period?

The vendor must have been in business for a minimum of three (3) years prior to submission of its proposal.

Vendors should provide sufficient documentation within their proposal to demonstrate compliance with this

requirement. SMPDD will review organizational history, experience, and supporting documentation submitted

by the proposer when evaluating compliance with the solicitation requirements.

2. Can the experience of the company's owner, management team, or a predecessor/related business be

considered toward the three-year requirement?

See answer in question 1

3. If a business has undergone a name change, restructuring, or change in legal entity while maintaining

substantially the same ownership and operations, would its prior operating history count?

See answer in question 1

4. If submitting through a partnership, joint venture, or teaming arrangement, must every participating company

meet the three-year requirement, or only the prime contractor?

See answer in question 1

5. What documentation will SMPDD require to verify the three years in business?

See answer in question 1

6. Number of Positions: The RFP indicates that SMPDD anticipates up to 47 temporary employees at any given

time. Could you please confirm whether up to 47 Career Coaches is the anticipated maximum and, if available,

provide an estimated average number of Career Coaches expected during the initial contract term?

SMPDD anticipates that up to forty-seven (47) temporary employees may be employed under this contract at

any given time. Proposers should be prepared to support up to 47 employees simultaneously. SMPDD cannot

guarantee the actual number of employees that will be utilized during the contract period.

7. Budget: Is there an estimated budget or funding amount available for the temporary staffing/payroll services or

the staffing agency’s administrative/flat-fee costs?

SMPDD TEMPRORARY STAFFING SERVICES RFP – Q&A RESPONSE

SMPDD is not releasing an estimated budget for administrative or staffing services under this procurement.

Proposers should submit their most competitive pricing.

8. Award Structure: Does SMPDD intend to make a single award to one staffing services provider, or may multiple

providers be selected?

SMPDD anticipates making a single award under this solicitation but reserves the right to make multiple awards

if determined to be in the best interest of the program.

9. Recruitment Responsibility: Please confirm whether SMPDD will select and refer the Career Coach candidates to

the awarded staffing provider, with the staffing provider responsible for hiring and employment administration.

SMPDD will identify and refer individuals to the selected staffing provider for employment. The awarded

contractor will be responsible for hiring referred individuals as temporary employees and providing all

employment administration services identified in the RFP, including payroll processing, tax administration, E-

Verify, workers' compensation, required reporting, and W-2 preparation. SMPDD reserves the right to request

removal of any employee assigned under the contract. Replacement candidates will be coordinated between

SMPDD and the awarded contractor as program needs arise.

10. Replacement Candidates: If a Career Coach resigns or is removed from the program, will SMPDD provide the

replacement candidate, or will the awarded staffing provider be responsible for recruiting a replacement?

SMPDD will secure a replacement.

11. Payroll Frequency: Section IV indicates that temporary employees will be paid bi-weekly, while Section VII

references payroll processing on a monthly basis. Could you please confirm the required payroll frequency for

this contract?

Career Coaches shall be paid on a bi-weekly payroll schedule. References to monthly payroll processing within

the proposal instructions should be considered a clerical inconsistency. Invoicing to SMPDD is required after

each payroll.

12. Cell Phone Reimbursement: Is the required $25 cell phone reimbursement funded separately by SMPDD, or

should it be included within the proposed flat-fee reimbursement? Please also confirm whether any additional

administrative fee may be proposed for administering this reimbursement.

The required $25 cell phone reimbursement per pay period is separate from employee wages and separate from

the contractor's proposed flat-fee reimbursement amount. Respondents should clearly identify any

administrative fees associated with processing the reimbursement. The reimbursement itself should not be

incorporated into the flat-fee billing amounts.

13. Flat-Fee Pricing: Please confirm that the proposed flat-fee reimbursement is expected to cover all applicable

employer and staffing costs, including payroll processing, employer Social Security and Medicare taxes, E-Verify,

W-2 processing, workers’ compensation, and related administrative costs, with no additional fees other than

those specifically permitted by the RFP.

The proposed flat-fee reimbursement amount shall represent the contractor's employer-related and

administrative costs associated with providing temporary staffing services. As stated in the RFP, the flat-fee

reimbursement amount should include costs such as E-Verify processing, payroll administration, employer Social

SMPDD TEMPRORARY STAFFING SERVICES RFP – Q&A RESPONSE

Security and Medicare taxes, workers' compensation costs, W-2 preparation and mailing, and other

employment-related administrative expenses. Employee salary amounts are separate from the flat-fee

reimbursement amounts.

14. Is this a new contract? If not can SMPDD name the incumbents?

This information will not be provided.

15. Can SMPDD provide historical spending on incumbent vendors?

16. Are there any current pain points with the incumbent vendor?

17. Is there a Local vendor preference for this bid?

18. Are the temporary staffing services intended to provide Career Coaches only, or will additional temporary

staffing roles be required under this contract?

The immediate need is for Career Coaches.

19. How many temporary staff members does SMPDD anticipate needing for the AccelerateMS Career Coach

Program?

See answer in question 6

20. Will staffing needs vary by county, and if so, will SMPDD provide an estimated number of Career Coaches

required for each county?

Staffing needs may vary by county and school district. County-specific allocations are subject to change and will

be communicated as positions are filled.

21. Are Career Coaches expected to work onsite at designated locations, remotely, or through a hybrid model?

Career Coaches will primarily perform services at assigned schools and related program locations within the

SMPDD service area. Work assignments will be determined by SMPDD and participating school districts.

22. What are the expected working hours, schedule requirements, and contract duration for each temporary

employee?

Career Coaches generally follow the operational schedules of their assigned educational institutions. Their

contract term begins on July 1 of each year through June 30 of the following year. SMPDD renews each contract

based on an annual individual evaluation once funding is confirmed.

SMPDD TEMPRORARY STAFFING SERVICES RFP – Q&A RESPONSE

23. Will SMPDD provide workspace, equipment, and required technology for placed staff, or will the staffing

provider be responsible for any resources?

Program-specific workspace and operational requirements will be coordinated by SMPDD and participating

school districts as appropriate.

24. Will the selected staffing provider be responsible for the complete employment lifecycle, including recruitment,

screening, onboarding, payroll, taxes, insurance, and employee compliance?

Yes, except recruitment.

25. Are there specific background checks, certifications, licenses, or training requirements required before

temporary staff begin assignments?

Career Coaches must satisfy the fingerprinting and criminal-history requirements identified in Attachment A.

Participating schools will conduct fingerprinting and provide the results to SMPDD for suitability review and file

retention.

26. Will SMPDD require the staffing provider to handle employee timesheets, attendance tracking, and performance

reporting?

The contractor shall maintain payroll records and all employment-related records necessary to administer

payroll services and support invoicing requirements under the contract. SMPDD will track attendance and

performance reporting.

27. What process will SMPDD follow for approving candidates submitted by the staffing provider?

See answer in question 9

28. Will SMPDD have the ability to request replacement candidates if a temporary employee resigns, does not meet

expectations, or becomes unavailable?

See answer in question 9

29. Is there an established budget range or funding allocation for the temporary staffing services?

See answer in question 7

30. Should pricing include all staffing-related costs, including wages, payroll taxes, insurance, workers’

compensation, and administrative fees?

See answer in question 13

31. Does SMPDD have a preferred pricing structure (hourly bill rate, markup percentage, fixed fee, or another

format)?

Proposers must complete the pricing table included in the RFP and provide a flat-fee reimbursement amount for

each listed monthly salary level. Flat-fee reimbursement amounts must be stated as dollar amounts and not

percentages. SMPDD has not established maximum markup limitations.

SMPDD TEMPRORARY STAFFING SERVICES RFP – Q&A RESPONSE

32. Are there any limitations on staffing agency markup rates or administrative fees?

See answer in question 31

33. Will payment be made based on approved timesheets and hours worked, and what are the expected payment

terms (Net 30, Net 45, etc.)?

The awarded contractor shall submit bi-weekly detailed invoices identifying employee names and bill rates as

required by the RFP. SMPDD's normal payment processing procedures will apply. SMPDD does not provide

startup advances, payroll advances, or accelerated reimbursement schedules.

34. Will SMPDD award the contract to one staffing provider, or will multiple vendors be selected?

See answer in question 8

35. If multiple vendors are selected, how will assignments be distributed among them?

See answer in question 8

36. Does SMPDD require any specific certifications (MBE, WBE, DBE, local vendor preference, etc.) for participation?

Vendors located inside or outside Mississippi are eligible to submit proposals. The RFP does not require MBE,

WBE, or DBE certification. All proposers must satisfy the eligibility requirements identified in Section II of the

RFP, including active SAM.gov registration, a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and proof of non-debarment.

37. Are staffing firms outside Mississippi eligible to submit proposals?

See answer in question 36

38. Can SMPDD provide the evaluation criteria and weighting that will be used to score proposals?

Proposals will be evaluated on ability to service the target clientele and service area, cost/price, and

demonstrated ability and past performance. At least one reference must involve a contract funded with federal

and/or state funds. The RFP does not assign numerical weights to the evaluation categories.

39. Will prior experience providing temporary staffing services for government-funded programs be required or

preferred?

See answer in question 38

40. Will SMPDD accept references from subcontractors if the prime vendor doesn't satisfy the requirement for

references and past experience?

Proposers should submit references in accordance with the RFP requirements. SMPDD will evaluate the

references and experience information submitted as part of the proposal.

41. Is there an estimated budget or hourly bill rate range available for this engagement?

See answer in question 7

SMPDD TEMPRORARY STAFFING SERVICES RFP – Q&A RESPONSE

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

SMPDD Career Coach Staffing Services RFP Q&A Response

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See also