111-005-0040 Extensive Procurement Process The Board will use the following procedure for Extensive Procurements, except as provided for under OAR 111-005-0046 or 111-005-0048. (1) Announcement. The Board will post Solicitation notices for Benefit Plans or services on ORPIN. The Board may also post Solicitation notices for Benefit Plans or services in trade periodicals or newspapers of general or specialized circulation. The Solicitation notice will include a description of the Benefit Plans r services sought, the scope of the services required, evaluation and selection criteria, and a description of any special requirements. The notice will invite qualified prospective Proposers to submit Proposals. The notice will specify when and where to obtain the RFP, where to return the Proposal, the method of submission, and the closing date. (2) No remuneration will be offered to prospective Proposers for attendance, travel, document preparation, etc. unless otherwise specified in the RFP. (3) Pre-proposal conference. Unless otherwise specified in the RFP, the pre-proposal conference will: (a) Be voluntary; and (b) Be held in Salem, Oregon. (4) Protest of RFP specifications; request for change; request for clarification. (a) Protest of RFP specifications. (A) A Proposer may deliver a protest to the SPC not less than ten calendar days prior to closing, unless otherwise specified in the RFP. (B)Protests must be in writing and must include: (i) A detailed statement of the legal and factual grounds for the protest; (ii) A description of the resulting prejudice to the Proposer; and (iii) A statement of the desired changes to the RFP. (C) OEBB will not consider a protest after the submission deadline. (D) OEBB will provide notice to the protestor if it entirely rejects a protest. If OEBB agrees with the protest, in whole or in part, it will issue an addendum reflecting its determination under OAR 137-030-0055 and 137-047-0430 or cancel the solicitation under 137-030-0115. (E) If OEBB receives a written protest that meets this rule’s requirements, the closing may be extended if OEBB determines an extension is necessary to consider the protest and to issue any addendum to the RFP. (b) Request for change. (A) A Proposer may submit a written request to change the RFP specifications, unless otherwise specified in the RFP. If the RFP allows requests for change and does not specify otherwise, Proposer must deliver the written request for change to the SPC not less than ten calendar days prior to closing. (B) A request for change must include a statement of the requested changes to the RFP specifications as well as the reason for the requested change. (C) OEBB will not consider a request for change after the submission deadline. (D) OEBB will provide notice to the requestor if it entirely rejects a change. If OEBB agrees with the request for change, in whole or in part, OEBB will issue an addendum reflecting its determination under OAR 137-030-0055 and 137-047-0430 or cancel the Solicitation under 137-030-0115. (E) If OEBB receives a written request for change that meets this rule’s requirements, closing may be extended if OEBB determines an extension is necessary to consider the request and to issue any addendum to the RFP. (c) Request for clarification. (A) A Proposer may submit a written request for clarification of the RFP specifications, unless otherwise specified in the RFP. If the RFP allows a request for clarification and does not specify otherwise, a Proposer must deliver the written request for clarification to the SPC not less than ten calendar days prior to closing. (B) A Proposer may request that OEBB clarify any provision of the RFP. (C) OEBB will not consider a request for clarification after the submission deadline. OEBB’s clarification to a Proposer, whether orally or in writing, does not change the RFP and is not binding on OEBB unless the RFP is amended by addendum. (5) Addenda to an RFP following a protest of RFP specifications, request for change, or request for clarification. (a) Issuance; receipt. OEBB may change an RFP only by written addenda. A Proposer must provide written acknowledgement of receipt of all issued addenda with its Proposal, unless otherwise specified in the RFP. (b) Notice and distribution. The RFP must specify how OEBB will provide notice of addenda and make the addenda available. (c) Timelines; extensions. OEBB will issue addenda within a reasonable time to allow potential Proposers to consider the addenda in preparing their Proposals. OEBB may extend the closing if it determines potential Proposers need additional time to review and respond to addenda. OEBB will not issue addenda less than 72 hours before the closing unless an addendum also extends the closing, except to the extent required by public interest. (d) Request for change or protest. A potential Proposer may submit a written request for change or protest to the addendum by the close of OEBB’s next business day after issuance of the addendum, unless otherwise specified in the addendum. (6) Submission. All Proposals must comply with the RFP’s specifications. (a) If portions of a Proposal are deemed unacceptable or non-responsive to the RFP’s specifications, the Proposal in its entirety will be deemed non-responsive and will not be given further evaluation or consideration, unless a clarification of portions of the Proposal results in a determination that it meets the RFP’s specifications. If a Proposal is delivered late, it will be deemed non-responsive, will not be given further evaluation or consideration, and will be returned to the Proposer unopened. (b) Submission of Proposals must be in written hard copy or electronic format and must be delivered according to the RFP’s specifications. OEBB is not responsible for unreadable or incomplete electronic transmissions or for electronic transmissions that are not received by the SPC or designee as specified in the RFP by the closing date and time stated in the RFP. (7) Evaluation. Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria set forth in the RFP and applicable law. OEBB staff, Consultants, or other persons designated by OEBB may provide recommendations to the Board on determining the Competitive Range and selecting the ASP(s). (8) Rejection of Proposal. OEBB may reject any Proposal for good cause and deem it as non-responsive upon written finding that it is in the best interest of Eligible Employees, Dependents, Eligible Domestic Partners, and Eligible Early Retirees to do so or acceptance of the Proposal may impair the integrity of the RFP process. OEBB will notify the Proposer of the rejection in writing and provide the good cause justification and finding. OEBB is not liable to any Proposer for any loss or expense caused by or resulting from any rejection, cancellation, delay or suspension. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, OEBB may reject any Proposal upon finding that the Proposal: (a) Is contingent upon OEBB's acceptance of terms and conditions (including the RFP Specifications and requirements) that differ from the RFP; (b) Takes exception to terms and conditions set forth in the RFP; (c) Attempts to prevent public disclosure of matters in contravention of the terms and conditions of the RFP or in contravention of applicable law; (d) Offers services that fail to meet the RFP’s specifications or requirements; (e) Is late; (f) Is not in substantial compliance with the RFP; (g) Is not in substantial compliance with all prescribed Procurement procedures; (h) Is from a Proposer that has been debarred as set forth in ORS 279B.130; (i) Has failed to provide the certification of non-discrimination required under ORS 279A.110 (4); or (j) Is from a Proposer found non-responsible as described in OAR 111-005-0055. (9) Intent to award, discuss, or negotiate. After the protest period provided in subsection (4)(a) expires or after OEBB has provided a final response to any protest, whichever date is later, OEBB may engage in discussions and negotiations with Proposers in the Competitive Range. (10) Discussions and negotiations. If OEBB enters into discussions and negotiations with the Proposers in the Competitive Range, it will proceed as follows: (a) Initiating discussions. OEBB must initiate oral or written discussions and negotiations with all of the Proposers in the Competitive Range. (b) Conducting discussions. OEBB may conduct discussions and negotiations with each Proposer in the Competitive Range as necessary to fulfill the purposes of this section, but need not conduct the same amount of discussions or negotiations with each Proposer. OEBB may terminate discussions and negotiations with any Proposer in the Competitive Range at any time. In conducting discussions, OEBB and its designees: (A) Will treat all Proposers fairly and will not favor any Proposer over another. (B) Will not discuss Proposers' Proposals with any other Proposers. (C) Will determine whether other factors such as Oregon residency of the primary business office and Proposer demonstration of services and products, will be used to determine the ASP, if a tie between Proposers occurs. OEBB may consider any factors that it deems are in the public interest. (c) At any time during the period allowed for discussions and negotiations, OEBB may: (A) Continue discussions and negotiations with a particular Proposer or Proposers; or (B) Terminate discussions with a particular Proposer and continue discussions with other Proposers in the Competitive Range. (d) OEBB may continue discussions and negotiations with Proposers until determining who will be awarded contracts. (11) Notice of intent to award. OEBB will provide written notice to all Proposers of its intent to award the contract or contracts resulting from the RFP, unless otherwise specified in the RFP. OEBB’s award will not be final until the later of the following: (a) Seven calendar days after the date of the notice, unless the RFP provided a different period for protest; or (b) OEBB’s written response to all timely filed protests that denies the protests and affirms the award. (12) Right to protest award. An adversely affected or aggrieved Proposer may submit a written protest of the intent to award to the SPC. The protest must be made within seven calendar days after issuance of the notice of intent to award the contract, unless otherwise specified in the RFP. (a) The protest must be in writing and must specify the grounds upon which the protest is based. (b) A Proposer is adversely affected or aggrieved only if the Proposer would be eligible to be awarded the contract in the event that the protest were successful, and the reason for the protest is that: (A) All higher ranked Proposals are nonresponsive; (B) OEBB has failed to conduct the evaluation of Proposals in accordance with the criteria or processes described in the RFP; (C) OEBB has abused its discretion in rejecting the protestor’s Proposal as nonresponsive; or (D) OEBB’s evaluation of Proposals or OEBB’s subsequent determination of award is otherwise in violation of OEBB’s rules or ORS 243.860 to 243.886. (c) OEBB will not consider a protest submitted after the time period specified in this rule or after the time period specified in the RFP, if different than the time period specified in this rule. (d) The Board, OEBB staff, or their designee has the authority to settle or resolve a written protest meeting the submission requirements of this rule. (e) If a protest is not settled, the Board, OEBB staff, or their designee will promptly issue a written decision on the protest. Judicial review of this decision will be available only as provided by statute. (13) Award of contracts. OEBB will approve the ASP(s), taking into consideration any recommendations made by OEBB staff, Consultant, or designees and the evaluation criteria included in OAR 111-002-0005(3) and the RFP. Selection criteria may include, but is not limited to, Contractor or Consultant availability; capability; experience; approach; compensation requirements; financial standing; previous litigation and remedy applied; customer service history with OEBB and the members and customers it serves; debarment status; and references. (14) Contract. The ASP(s) must promptly execute the contract after the award is final and all contractual terms and conditions have been negotiated and agreed upon, consistent with any timeline(s) included in the RFP. OEBB will execute the contract only after it has obtained all applicable required documents and approvals. Statutory/Other Authority: Ch. 7 OL 2007 Statutes/Other Implemented: Sec. 19 & Ch. 7 OL 2007 History: OEBB 8-2016, f. & cert. ef. 10-26-16 OEBB 3-2016, f. & cert. ef. 10-6-16 OEBB 1-2016(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 6-10-16 thru 12-6-16 OEBB 2-2012, f. & cert. ef. 4-18-12 OEBB 1-2012(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 1-13-12 thru 7-10-12 OEBB 10-2011, f. & cert. ef. 5-3-11 OEBB 18-2010(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 12-13-10 thru 6-10-11 OEBB 1-2008, f. & cert. ef. 1-4-08 OEBB 1-2007(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 7-23-07 thru 1-4-08