Sample Statement of Work for Pre-Qualified Vendor Contracts

Statement of Work Agreement (SOW)

SOW-RFP PROJECT TITLE: Independent Review (IR) of theAgency and Project Nameactivity and Vendor.

VISION PO #___Contract PO #______

PRE-QUALIFICATION CONTRACT # __# and Contractor Name__

This SOW Agreement incorporates all of the terms and conditions of the Contract and shall not

in any way amend conflict with or supersede the Contract. The SOW contractor shall, in full

satisfaction of the specific requirements of this SOW Agreement, provide the services set forth

in this SOW Agreement. These services shall be provided in accordance with the

pre-qualification Contract and this SOW Agreement.

1Scope of Work

The scope of this IR is to evaluate theAgency and Project NameIT activity.

Deliverables Produced:

An acquisition cost assessment
A technology architecture review
An implementation plan assessment
A cost analysis and model for benefit analysis
A procurement negotiation advisory services on the contract if requested by State
An impact analysis on net operating costs for the agency carrying out the activity

The IR Contractor will complete an Independent Review Report covering the above and present it to the State of Vermont’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) for approval/sign-off. The report must be in the required format and be provided to the State Oversight Project Manager at least 5 business days before its presentation to the CIO.

Approach:

The Agency of Digital Services (ADS) Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) will assign an Oversight Project Manager (OPM) to be the direct contact for the IR Contractor for this engagement. All IR work will be coordinated through this State contact. The Contractor will also provide a project manager (PM) to work as the primary point of contact with the State. The PM will work directly with the OPM to define, manage, and control the IR scope, timeline, issue escalation and resolution processes. The OPM requires a verbal (or written) progress report twice a week on the status of the IR work from the Contractor PM.

The Contractor PM tasks and activities to complete this engagement include:

A Project Planning and Independent Review kickoff meeting with the primary goal to introduce the players and discuss the IR process going forward.
Review of all pertinent materials, contracts, SOW’s, project work plans and other documentation such as necessary to establish an understanding of the project(s) and proposed work being reviewed.
On site meetings: Approximately 2 days on-site at State offices in Vermont collecting information and interviewing stakeholders
A teleconference-call with the selected system vendor
Identification of risks and cataloging them into a risk register (State can provide template if required)
Facilitation of a discussion of strategies to mitigate risks with OPM, Project Sponsor and Stakeholders
Work with the various stakeholders to develop specific responses to each risk identified. It is our expectation that out of the risk analysis effort come specific plans/strategies and actions that are taken or planned to be taken to address those risks (i.e. accept risk, mitigate risk, transfer risk, etc.).
Work with OPM to ensure the Risk Response Plan is finalized with Sponsor before final review with CIO.
Conduct other meetings and collect other information as necessary
Create an Independent Review Report according to the Scope of Work, and deliver the draft document to the OPM.

The IR report produced should be all in one document. (For example, the State does not want one report, a separate Excel cost sheet and another document that is the risk register).
Agency of Digital Serviceshas a Memorandum of Understanding with the Joint Fiscal Office to provide them copies of the draft IR reports used for discussion at the IR meetings. As a result, the IR report provided to the OPM for the IR meeting should be watermarked “Draft & Confidential”. The watermark should be removed for the final version that the OPM will routing for CIO e-signature/approval.

Hold an on-site meeting with the State EPMO Project Manager, ADS Deputy Commissioner, Sponsors & State CIO to present the final review report and answer any questions
Update the final report incorporating feedback and submit the final report for CIO approval. OPM will “close” out IR with CIO once all Risk response plans have satisfied the CIO.
Via the OPM,obtain CIO sign-off to signify the acceptance of the IR deliverables at the conclusion of the IR engagement.

2Timetable

The start date of the review will be Start Date. The independent review is to be complete by/before End Dateand may be extended as needed until the project review is complete.

Based on our current knowledge, the engagement is listed below.

Project Initiation

On-Site Interviews

Interview with Vendor

Risk Identification & Mitigation Strategy Review with OPM

Draft IR Report

Submit Draft IR Report to OPM

Make updates to IR Report & submit final IR report to OPM

Present IR to CIO

Complete any follow-up work and updates to the IR Report

Obtain CIO sign-off via the OPM on the IR Report

3Payment Provisions

The maximum amount payable under this agreement is:

Pricing Schedule / State of Vermont
DESCRIPTION / Price
Agency-Project Name / $$.00
Total Project / $$.00
If required Procurement Advisory / $$.00

In no case shall the total amount payable, including any change orders or amendments that may arise, exceed $Bid dollars without written approval of the State of Vermont CIO.

Submit invoices to:

Mailing Address:

Accounts Payable, State of Vermont

Agency of Digital Services

133 State Street, 5th Floor

Montpelier, VT. 05633

RE: referencing the Contract PO number and Project Name.

Email Address:

copy the Oversight Project Manager –

Consideration and Payment:

Payments to the IRContractor shall be made at the completion and acceptance of the Independent Review final report.
If Procurement Advisory Services are required, the Oversight PM will approve and after acceptance of work, contractor would bill the State separately.
If appropriations are insufficient to support this Agreement after the project starts and/or should the State want to cancel this agreement due to services performed not up to the standards agreed to in the Agreement and the State and the vendor cannot agree on a resolution, the State may cancel the agreement. In the event the State cancels this agreement, the State will pay for all services performed up until the date of cancellation if the State accepts the work deliverables. Under this scenario the State will give a 5-day notice for cancelation and in process deliverables will be pro-rated based upon the work completed at the time of contract cancellation.
Contract Default; Remedies. Notwithstanding anything to the Contrary in the Contractor Documents hereto, if either party breaches a material provision of this Contract, which breach remains uncured for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice thereof from the other party specifying the breach (or if such breach cannot be completely cured within the thirty (30) day period, such longer period of time provided that the breaching party proceeds with reasonable diligence, as determined by the State, to completely cure the breach) either party, at its option, may terminate this Contract immediately by giving written notice and exercise such other remedies as shall be available under this Contract, at law and/or equity.
In no event shall any SOW Agreement or any document proposed by the Contractor (a) require indemnification by the State of the Contractor; (b) waive the State’s right to a jury trial; (c) establish jurisdiction in any venue other than the Superior Court of the State of Vermont, Washington County Division; (d) constitute an implied or deemed waiver of the immunities, defenses, rights or actions arising out of State’s sovereign status or under the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution; or (e) limit the time within which an action may be brought hereunder. Further, there shall be no limitation of liability, including a waiver of consequential, indirect, special, punitive or exemplary damages, or disclaimers of warranty without approval from the Office of the Attorney General.

No delay or failure to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to either party upon breach or default by the other under this Contract shall impair any such right, power or remedy, or shall be construed as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy nor shall any waiver of a single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default. All waivers must be in writing.

Taxes Due to the State. Contractor certifies under the pains and penalties of perjury that, as of the date this contract amendment is signed, the Contractor is in good standing with respect to, or in full compliance with a plan to pay, any and all taxes due the State of Vermont.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties have executed this SOW Agreement as of the date hereinabove set forth.

Signatures

Contractor

______

Signature Date

STATE OF VERMONT, Agency of Digital Services

______

Signature Date

Independent Review

XXX Project

For the

State of Vermont

Department

Submitted to the

State of Vermont, Office of the CIO

XXXX

(Date)

Table of Contents

Independent Review

XXX Project

Table of Contents

1.Executive Summary

1.1 Cost Summary

1.2 Disposition of Independent Review Deliverables

1.3 Identified High Impact &/or High Likelihood of Occurrence Risks

1.4 Other Key Issues

Recap any key issues or concerns identified in the body of the report.

1.5 Recommendation

1.6 Independent Reviewer Certification

1.7 Report Acceptance

2.Scope of this Independent Review

2.1 In-Scope

2.2 Out-of-Scope

3.Sources of Information

3.1 Independent Review Participants

3.2 Independent Review Documentation

4.Project Information

4.1 Historical Background

4.2 Project Goal

4.3 Project Scope

4.4 Project Phases, Milestones and Schedule

5.Acquisition Cost Assessment

6.Technology Architecture Review

7.Assessment of Implementation Plan

8.Cost Benefit Analysis

9.Impact Analysis on Net Operating Costs

10.Risk Assessment & Risk Register

Attachment 1 – Lifecycle Cost Benefit Analysis

Attachment 2 - Risk Register

Executive Summary

Provide an introduction that includes a brief overview of the technology project and selected vendor(s) as well as any significant findings or conclusions. Ensure any significant findings or conclusions are supported by data in the report.

1.1 Cost Summary

IT Activity Lifecycle: / <#> Years
Total Lifecycle Costs: / $
Total Implementation Costs: / $
New Annual Operating Costs: / $
Current Annual Operating Costs: / $
Difference Between Current and New Operating Costs: / $
Funding Source(s) and Percentage Breakdown if Multiple Sources:

1.2 Disposition of Independent Review Deliverables

Deliverable / Highlights from the Review
Include explanations of any significant concerns
Acquisition Cost Assessment
Technology Architecture Review
Implementation Plan Assessment
Cost Analysis and Model for Benefit Analysis
Impact Analysis on Net Operating Costs

1.3 Identified High Impact &/or High Likelihood of Occurrence Risks

Risk Description / State’s Planned Risk Response / Reviewer’s Assessment of Planned Response

1.4 Other Key Issues

Recap any key issues or concerns identified in the body of the report.

1.5 Recommendation

Provide your independent review recommendation on whether or not to proceed with this technology project and vendor(s).

1.6 Independent Reviewer Certification

I certify that this Independent Review Report is an independent and unbiased assessment of the proposed solution’s acquisition costs, technical architecture, implementation plan, cost-benefit analysis, and impact on net operating costs, based on the information made available to me by the State.

______

Independent Reviewer SignatureDate

1.7 Report Acceptance

The electronic signature below represents the acceptance of this document as the final completed Independent Review Report.

______

State of Vermont Chief Information OfficerDate

Scope of this Independent Review

Add or change this section as applicable.

2.1 In-Scope

The scope of this document is fulfilling the requirements of Vermont Statute, Title 3, Chapter 45, §2222(g):

The Secretary of Administration shall obtain independent expert review of any recommendation for any information technology initiated after July 1, 1996, as information technology activity is defined by subdivision (a)(10), when its total cost is $1,000,000 or greater or when required by the State Chief Information Officer.
The independent review report includes:

An acquisition cost assessment
A technology architecture review
An implementation plan assessment
A cost analysis and model for benefit analysis; and
An impact analysis on net operating costs for the Agency carrying out the activity
An overall risk assessment of the proposed solution

2.2 Out-of-Scope

If applicable, describe any limits of this review and any area of the project or proposal that you did not review.

A separate deliverable contracted as part of this Independent Review may be procurement negotiation advisory services, but documentation related to those services are not part of this report.

Sources of Information

3.1 Independent Review Participants

List the individuals that participated in this Independent Review.

Name / Employer and Title / Participation Topic(s)

3.2 Independent Review Documentation

Complete the chart below to list the documentation utilized to compile this independent review.

Document Name / Description / Source

Project Information

4.1 Historical Background

Provide any relevant background that has resulted in this project.

4.2 Project Goal

Explain why the project is being undertaken.

4.3 Project Scope

Describe the project scope and list the major deliverables. Add or delete lines as needed.

4.3.1 Major Deliverables

4.4 Project Phases, Milestones and Schedule

Provide a list of the major project phases, milestones and high level schedule. You may elect to include it as an attachment to the report instead of within the body.

Acquisition Cost Assessment

List all acquisition costs in the table below (i.e. the comprehensive list of the one-time costs to acquire the proposed system/service). Do not include any costs that reoccur during the system/service lifecycle. Add or delete lines as appropriate. Based on your assessment of Acquisition Costs, please answer the questions listed below in this section.

Acquisition Costs

Cost

Comments

Hardware Costs

Software Costs

Implementation Services

System Integration Costs

Professional Services (e.g. Project Management, Technical, Training, etc.)

<Other>

<Other>

Total Acquisition Costs

Cost Validation: Describe how you validated the Acquisition Costs.

Cost Comparison: How do the Acquisition Costs of the proposed solution compare to what others have paid for similar solutions? Will the State be paying more, less or about the same?

Cost Assessment: Are the Acquisition Costs valid and appropriate in your professional opinion? List any concerns or issues with the costs.

Additional Comments on Acquisition Costs:

Technology Architecture Review

After performing an independent technology architecture review of the proposed solution, please respond to the following.

State’s IT Strategic Plan: Describe how the proposed solution aligns with each of the State’s IT Strategic Principles:

1)Leverage successes of others, learning best practices from outside Vermont

2)Leverage shared services and cloud-based IT, taking advantage of IT economies of scale

3)Adapt the Vermont workforce to the evolving needs of state government

4)Apply enterprise architecture principles to drive digital transformation based on business needs

5)Couple IT with business process optimization, to improve overall productivity and customer service

6)Optimize IT investments via sound Project Management

7)Manage data commensurate with risk

8)Incorporate metrics to measure outcomes

Sustainability: Comment on the sustainability of the solution’s technical architecture (i.e., is it sustainable?).

Security: Does the proposed solution have the appropriate level of security for the proposed activity it will perform (including any applicable State or Federal standards)? Please describe.

Compliance with the Section 508 Amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1998: Comment on the solution’s compliance with accessibility standards as outlined in this amendment. Reference:

Disaster Recovery: What is your assessment of the proposed solution’s disaster recovery plan; do you think it is adequate? How might it be improved? Are there specific actions that you would recommend to improve the plan?

Data Retention: Describe the relevant data retention needs and how they will be satisfied for or by the proposed solution.

Service Level Agreement: What are the post implementation services and service levels required by the State? Is the vendor proposed service level agreement adequate to meet these needs in your judgement?

System Integration: Is the data export reporting capability of the proposed solution consumable by the State? What data is exchanged and what systems (State and non-State) will the solution integrate/interface with?

Additional Comments on Architecture:

Assessment of Implementation Plan

After assessing the Implementation Plan, please comment on each of the following.

The reality of the implementation timetable
Readiness of impacted divisions/ departments to participate in this solution/project (consider current culture, staff buy-in, organizational changes needed, and leadership readiness).
Do the milestones and deliverables proposed by the vendor provide enough detail to hold them accountable for meeting the Business needs in these areas:
Project Management
Training
Testing
Design
Conversion (if applicable)
Implementation planning
Implementation
Does the State have a resource lined up to be the Project Manager on the project? If so, does this person possess the skills and experience to be successful in this role in your judgement? Please explain.

Additional Comments on Implementation Plan:

Cost Benefit Analysis

This section involves four tasks:

1)Perform an independent Cost Benefit Analysis. Information provided by the State may be used, but the reviewer must validate it for accuracy and completeness.