These guidelines outline agency procedures for initiating and executing a Purchase Order Request for Proposals (PORFP) under the GIS Software Master Contract. This process applies to purchases under the following Functional Areas (FA):

• Functional Area I – Desktop/Server Software
• Functional Area II – Mobile Software
• Functional Area III – Software Maintenance and Support

PORFP Procedures Non-Executive Branch Agencies of the State of Maryland Government entities using the GIS Software Master Contract as a procurement vehicle

1. Determine software and maintenance and support needs. In making a selection, it is recommended that organizations assess what products already exist in the organization or other organization environments. This may help organizations select compatible products or at least identify technical requirements used towards making a selection.
   
2. Identify the corresponding GIS Software Master Contract Functional Area(s). See Functional Areas Descriptions​.
3. Create an agency Purchase Order (PO). The PO number becomes the “PORFP Number” used to identify the PORFP.
4. Complete all sections of the PORFP Template. For guidance, refer to the PORFP Template Instructions. Complete the PORFP Template as follows:
1. Section 1 - General Information: Captures PORFP Number FA selections, Manufacturer*, Small Business Reserve (SBR) designation, proposal due date**, and agency instructions governing the provision of products/services.
   *Only one manufacturer is allowed per PORFP.
   **DoIT recommends a 21 day period from release to the proposal due date.
2. Section 2 - Agency Point of Contact (POC) Information: Captures the contact information of the agency representative responsible for the PORFP.
3. Section 3 - Delivery Address / Worksite POC Information (if different from above): Captures the contact information of a secondary agency representative as needed if the delivery or work site address differs from the information captured in Section 2.
4. ​​​​​​​​​Section 4 – Scope of Work: The scope of work should include the following information by selected FA:
• ​​FA I & FA II – Detailed description of the business need, required functionality, product name and description, GIS SOFTWARE MASTER CONTRACT software version and release numbers, quantity of licenses required, and due date for delivery. If product specifics are unknown, Master Contractors may propose products based on a detailed description of the business need / required functionality.
• ​​​​​FA​​​​ ​​III – Description of required GIS SOFTWARE MASTER CONTRACT Manufacturer’s Software Maintenance and any associated deliverables. Include any unique requirements, for example restrictions on the time of day work can be performed. Indicate the start and end dates for services.
5. ​​​​​​​​​Section 5 - Evaluation Criteria – Technical Proposal: Communicates to the Master Contractors how their technical proposals will be evaluated. Criteria should be objective and aligned to the SOW, prioritized in order of importance in order to identify the best value proposal.
5. E​mail the PORFP to the Master Contractors in the applicable FA authorized to sell the required manufacturer product line or supporting services. If the manufacturer is not known, email the PORFP to all Master Contractors in the FA. To create the email, go to Select Master Contractor Contact List from the GIS SOFTWARE MASTER CONTRACT Software Contract Links. Follow the prompts to filter, select, and export the appropriate list of Master Contractors to email.
6. Upon receipt of the PORFP, Master Contractors should prepare and submit proposals or a GIS Software Master Contractor Feedback Form (See Step 6 below) in response to the PORFP. Proposals will provide two separate sections as follows:
1. ​​Technical Proposal
• Description of the GIS SOFTWARE MASTER CONTRACT software to be provided;
• Transportation and delivery schedule;
• Description of how the Master Contractor will provide the required and/or manufacturer’s software maintenance and support (FA III only).
• A statement that the Master Contractor is authorized by the manufacturer or distributor to provide the GIS SOFTWARE MASTER CONTRACT software or services as of the date of the proposal; and
• A guarantee that the proposed GIS software proposed is virus free.
2. Financial Proposal
   • For FA I, FA II and FA III, the proposed price including a screen shot of the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP); and
   • The agency POC or designee will receive proposals from the Master Contractors that choose to respond to the PORFP. If a Master Contractor chooses not to submit a proposal, the Master Contractor must submit a GIS SOFTWARE MASTER CONTRACT Master Contractor Feedback Form to the agency POC or designee. If any Master Contractor fails to submit a proposal or feedback form by the proposal due date, the agency POC or designee shall follow-up with the Master Contractor to request submission of a feedback form.
7. ​​​​​​​​The agency POC or designee reviews the technical proposal for adherence to the requirements defined in the PORFP.
   
8. ​​​The agency POC or designee establishes a process to evaluate technical proposals based on the evaluation criteria in the PORFP. The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with all applicable State laws and regulations and may include requests for clarification, additional information and best and final offers.
   
9. ​​​​​​Upon completion of technical rankings, the agency POC or designee reviews the financial proposals for each qualified proposal. For FA I, FA II and FA III the agency POC or designee will ensure the proposed pricing for the recommended proposal is at or below MSRP. Labor rates can be found by clicking Master Contractor Contact/Pricing Information from the GIS SOFTWARE MASTER CONTRACT Contract Links.
   
10. ​​​​​​​The agency will make an award based on the proposal that is “most advantageous to the State,” (See the “Basis for Award” Section of the PORFP).
    
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