Questions from Bidders Meeting

The following questions and answers were compiled from the RFP bidders meeting that took place on June 19, 2000, and from various telephone conversations. Feel free to call Susan Kimberly at 205-934-2635 if you have other questions not addressed below.

Updated on 7/25/2000

1. A request that we speak to the concern presented by Part VII, letter e: "The Center reserves the right to adopt to its use all or any part of an applicant’s proposal and to use any idea or all ideas presented in a proposal."

Answer: Once a proposal is submitted, the document becomes public information and therefore the contents are available to anyone wishing to see or use them. Naturally, any copyrighted material included would be subject to protections afforded by applicable copyright laws.

2. What is the level of detail required for filling out the chart on page 10? Is there any flexibility with respect to following the proposed timeline and information given?

Answer: Yes, there is flexibility. You are urged to err on the side of more information rather than less. This is not to imply that each and everything that is proposed will necessarily be followed precisely and as described. Negotiations will occur once the finalists are selected. It is best to let the reviewers know how much you know.

3. Is there any problem with submitting proposals for both types of contracts?

Answer: Absolutely not. The best proposals that will do the most effective job of improving the quality of child care will be selected regardless of how many are submitted from one group or agency.

4. Is the funding coming from the same source for both types of proposals?

Answer: The same source of funding covers both types of contracts.

5. Does the approximately 4 million dollars that are available for funding these contracts represent the same quality dollars that the CMAs are currently using?

Answer: Yes. But we are hoping to include more funds to this total.

6. How will the initiatives that are supported by the Consortium affect the proposals submitted by those applying for the Type II contract?

Answer: The Consortium is the "provider of the last resort" and in no way will compete with the services that are contracted through these proposals. In all likelihood, Type II contracts will be closely related to the Consortium initiatives.

7. Will the 4 million dollars generally be applied to Category I contracts?

Answer: There may be additional money over and above this amount. Since these contracts will be comprehensive in scope, it is likely that a greater percentage of the funds will be applied to them.

8. Will the funds be automatic for a second year?

Answer: We are moving toward creating a longer commitment and hope to be able to provide multi-year funding, but this is not guaranteed. We anticipate that funding for a second year could be accomplished by an amendment to the first-year contract. We do not plan another round of extensive competitive bidding next year.

9. What is the target date when grantees will be notified of the results?

Answer: Our intention is to have the final decisions made by August 31.

10. Will the $4 million that are available for quality activities be evenly distributed among the 12 geographic regions?

Answer: The funds will be divided equitably, based on the population and number of child care providers within the region.

11. Does the chart on page 10 count toward the maximum number of pages (30) allowed for the proposal?

Answer: The chart is not included as part of the maximum 30 pages allowed for writing the proposal.

12. Is it possible to write more than the 12 pages allotted for question number 4 on page 7 if less than the maximum number of pages for other questions on page 7 and 8 has been used?

Answer: You may write more than the 12 pages stipulated as long as the total number of pages submitted is no greater than 30.

13. We have received a large number of questions referring to the begin and end dates found in the chart on page ten. The basic question is: Do the begin and end dates refer to the precise dates for each activity or to the time of implementation of the activities?

Answer: You are expected to provide the dates that you anticipate various activities to occur. If in your explanation it would be helpful to include organizational time and implementation, then feel free to include that as well. We do not expect that you will follow each detail precisely as described, but it is important to present an overall picture of how you expect the year to progress.

14. What is the amount or range of funding that can be requested?

Answer: We are not able to give a specific range for funding, since it is not clear how many proposals will be chosen. The total amount of money available for funding is approximately $4,000,000, which will be divided equitably among the regions in the state.

15. What are the permissible uses of funding?

Answer: Funds should be used for quality enhancement activities with the purpose of improving child care in the state.

16. In addition to the page count and margins, are there other formatting requirements? Is it okay to bind the original and copies?

Answer: There are no other formatting requirements beyond the ones mentioned in the RFP. You may bind the copies, but please leave the original unbound, since more copies will have to be made for distribution to the review committee members.

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